Sparkfun digital oscilloscope kit
Gregary Boyles, Sat Mar 28 2015, 02:27AM
What do you more experience folk think about this product?
It is kind of hard to come by one of the old analog scopes without having to travel quite far around these parts. But his product can be safely posted.
Re: Sparkfun digital oscilloscope kit
Daniel Kramnik, Sat Mar 28 2015, 05:03AM
Apart from making the most basic types of measurements ("is there a low frequency signal there or not?"), things like this are basically useless. Note that the screen is only 128x64, so you lose the LSB of the 8-bit ADC simply because the screen resolution isn't high enough, and it comes with a set of alligator clips instead of a real scope probe (always a bad sign).
Buying a used analog scope on eBay is definitely a much better idea.
Daniel Kramnik, Sat Mar 28 2015, 05:03AM
Apart from making the most basic types of measurements ("is there a low frequency signal there or not?"), things like this are basically useless. Note that the screen is only 128x64, so you lose the LSB of the 8-bit ADC simply because the screen resolution isn't high enough, and it comes with a set of alligator clips instead of a real scope probe (always a bad sign).
Buying a used analog scope on eBay is definitely a much better idea.
Re: Sparkfun digital oscilloscope kit
Gregary Boyles, Sat Mar 28 2015, 05:16AM
Bugger!
I guess I will just have to patient until an oscilloscope becomes available locally.
Gregary Boyles, Sat Mar 28 2015, 05:16AM
Bugger!
I guess I will just have to patient until an oscilloscope becomes available locally.
Re: Sparkfun digital oscilloscope kit
GrantX, Sat Mar 28 2015, 05:35AM
I agree, $80 AUD for a 1MHz (barely) single channel scope is a bit expensive. You'll also want a nice enclosure and perhaps some shielding, which will drive the cost up.
I have one of those crap handheld 1MHz DSOs from a chinese ebay store which is smaller than a phone, has a higher resolution colour screen, a handful of useful extra features and a proper scope probe, all for $85 with free shipping. And yet, its still frustratingly fiddly and inaccurate when compared to my full size 100MHz scope.
Spending the same amount of money on a used analog scope will give you the best possible performance. I imagine they are tough enough to survive shipping.
GrantX, Sat Mar 28 2015, 05:35AM
I agree, $80 AUD for a 1MHz (barely) single channel scope is a bit expensive. You'll also want a nice enclosure and perhaps some shielding, which will drive the cost up.
I have one of those crap handheld 1MHz DSOs from a chinese ebay store which is smaller than a phone, has a higher resolution colour screen, a handful of useful extra features and a proper scope probe, all for $85 with free shipping. And yet, its still frustratingly fiddly and inaccurate when compared to my full size 100MHz scope.
Spending the same amount of money on a used analog scope will give you the best possible performance. I imagine they are tough enough to survive shipping.
Re: Sparkfun digital oscilloscope kit
Gregary Boyles, Sat Mar 28 2015, 09:01AM
All of them I have found on ebay have been pick up only.
I found a couple on Gumtree - one in Cranbourne and one in Geelong. A long way to go if they turn out to be no good.
Gregary Boyles, Sat Mar 28 2015, 09:01AM
All of them I have found on ebay have been pick up only.
I found a couple on Gumtree - one in Cranbourne and one in Geelong. A long way to go if they turn out to be no good.
Re: Sparkfun digital oscilloscope kit
Kizmo, Sat Mar 28 2015, 09:27AM
Battery powered scopes are useful within this hobby :) One crazy guy even put his scope on top of a tesla coil (wrapped in foil) and measured streamer current.
Kizmo, Sat Mar 28 2015, 09:27AM
Battery powered scopes are useful within this hobby :) One crazy guy even put his scope on top of a tesla coil (wrapped in foil) and measured streamer current.
Re: Sparkfun digital oscilloscope kit
Gregary Boyles, Sat Mar 28 2015, 10:08AM
Grant, have you come across any sources of second hand oscilloscopes other than ebay and Gumtree?
Any Aus electronics mags with for sale sections, radio related swap meets or anything else?
Gregary Boyles, Sat Mar 28 2015, 10:08AM
Grant, have you come across any sources of second hand oscilloscopes other than ebay and Gumtree?
Any Aus electronics mags with for sale sections, radio related swap meets or anything else?
Re: Sparkfun digital oscilloscope kit
Justin, Sun Mar 29 2015, 03:02AM
You might be able to grab one of these units for fairly cheap, although you're probably better off long term buying a cheap digital oscilloscope like the Rigol DS1054Z.
Justin, Sun Mar 29 2015, 03:02AM
You might be able to grab one of these units for fairly cheap, although you're probably better off long term buying a cheap digital oscilloscope like the Rigol DS1054Z.
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