How should I choose my next scope - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: DarkBabylon
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2017, 11:20:52 am
content: Hello, I've been working on my sid 6581 project. Specifically one of the parts is an oscillator, and decided to use a quartz crystal. However the crystal is 10MHz. The problem appeared when my usb oscilloscope is found to be insufficient to make the measurements needed at that frequency.Thought it is time for an upgrade, however I am looking for a cheap enough, at most 500$, and good enough for audio and micro-processor applications around the order of magnitude of 10Mhz AC. As to the number of chennels I think 2 would be enough.How do I chose one (from given specs such as bandwidth, samples per second etc and what do they mean)? Are there any you recommend?

author: danadak
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2017, 11:51:44 am
content: One of the best scopes for its value currently is the DS1054Z, its 50 Mhz,so far can be hacked to 100 Mhz, 4 channel, serial buss decode, FFT,around $ 400. Lots of info on the blog about this scope, has had a fewfirmware revisions.Dave has done reviews on it. And other low end scopes.Regards, Dana.

author: sainter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2017, 01:00:24 pm
content: I would say the new X1000 series KeySight scope is worth looking at. starting at 400-500$, but I would definitely would save up for model with function gen.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2017, 08:28:14 pm
content: I would not want a built in function generator personally, that task is better handled by a separate instrument. Generally speaking I'm a believer in "do one thing and do it really well" rather than try to do everything.Depending on how much space you have, you might look at some of the older CRT based instruments as everyone wants the little lunchbox style LCD instruments now so prices on the older more bulky stuff are very low. For $500 I got a Tektronix 1GHz, 4 channels, 4GS/s loaded with options. For what you're doing, something much less fancy is probably more than adequate. That said, expect the older instruments to need a bit of work unless someone has already gone through it. Personally I enjoy fixing something up but it's not for everybody.

author: DarkBabylon
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2017, 07:02:40 am
content: Looked on some the recommendations, and still deciding. I also found a seller on ebay which sells a hantek dso5072p for the price of 184.25$.(http://m.ebay.com/itm/Hantek-DSO5072P-Digital-Oscilloscope-2Channels-70MHz-1GS-s-7-TFT-WVGA-800x480-/272531749940?nav=SEARCH)Should I go for that one?

author: danadak
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2017, 10:51:03 am
content: One of the best ways to make a decision like this is a decision matrix inExcel.Just open up a spreadhseet, Vertical column is a specific scope, horizontalrows a scope parameter/capability. Row column entry is your 1 thru 5 ratingof that importance, sum the columns, you have your answer.Search the forum, I think you will see most comments on Rigol for low endscopes.Choice of a scope also has a lot to do with what your anticipated usage is,if you are working on audio that's drives a number of considerations thatwould be different than if you are working on a quad core Ghz processordesign for cell tower solution.Regards, Dana.

author: DarkBabylon
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 04:55:51 am
content: Thank you for the responses. I see what I should do.