Pocket scope

[Robert Roland]

Sometimes the multimeter just does not provide enough information,
while the bench scope is too cumbersome to move around.

I have these cheap pocket scopes around, and I thinking of getting
one. It seems there are several types and versions about. Does anyone
have any experience, recommendations or other advice before I buy?

I have seen two versions from seeedstudio.com, the "DSO Nano" and the
"DSO Quad". I have also seen some on dealextreme.com, which are
slightly cheaper, but, judging by the customer comments, can run the
same firmware.

Are there any others I should look at?
--
RoRo

 

[Tom Biasi]

"Robert Roland" wrote in message
newssftt6hfbe5ie4f4a9h8elm6gppojl3inl@4ax.com...

Sometimes the multimeter just does not provide enough information,
while the bench scope is too cumbersome to move around.

I have these cheap pocket scopes around, and I thinking of getting
one. It seems there are several types and versions about. Does anyone
have any experience, recommendations or other advice before I buy?

I have seen two versions from seeedstudio.com, the "DSO Nano" and the
"DSO Quad". I have also seen some on dealextreme.com, which are
slightly cheaper, but, judging by the customer comments, can run the
same firmware.

Are there any others I should look at?
--
RoRo

What is your intended use for the scope?

Tom

 

[Winston]

Robert Roland wrote:

Sometimes the multimeter just does not provide enough information,
while the bench scope is too cumbersome to move around.

I have these cheap pocket scopes around, and I thinking of getting
one. It seems there are several types and versions about. Does anyone
have any experience, recommendations or other advice before I buy?

Yes. Don't.

The "DSO Nano" is much too slow and the "DSO Quad" is too delicate,
(Max 80 Vpp at the probes) has only two analog channels and is nearly
impossible to purchase.

I have seen two versions from seeedstudio.com, the "DSO Nano" and the
"DSO Quad". I have also seen some on dealextreme.com, which are
slightly cheaper, but, judging by the customer comments, can run the
same firmware.

Are there any others I should look at?

<http://www2.tek.com/tekselect/tk_tekselect_extr.inquire?p_price_model=US/CANADA&p_product_type=Oscilloscopes,
Basic&userAction=look&p_model_flex=>

Have a look at that factory refurb. TDS2012B at $1369. Yum!

--Winston

 

[Winston]

Winston wrote:

Have a look at that factory refurb. TDS2012B at $1369. Yum!

Well, that didn't work too well!

Try this:
Log to: http://www.tek.com/
Along the top of the screen click on the sixth tab from
the left: Purchase > Used Test Equipment.
Scroll down to the lower left corner and select your
country. Then in the dialog box titled "Category",
select 'Oscilloscopes, basic'.

There you will see a list of available scopes.

If they work as well as did the old TDS520, they are
a joy to use and very competent test gear.

--Winston

 

[Tobias Gadelha]

I recommend the Fluke 123.
Search about this.
It's very easy to use and robust.

 

On Thu, 26 May 2011 23:29:40 +0200, Robert Roland <fake@ddress.no>
wrote:

Sometimes the multimeter just does not provide enough information,
while the bench scope is too cumbersome to move around.

I have these cheap pocket scopes around, and I thinking of getting
one. It seems there are several types and versions about. Does anyone
have any experience, recommendations or other advice before I buy?

I have seen two versions from seeedstudio.com, the "DSO Nano" and the
"DSO Quad". I have also seen some on dealextreme.com, which are
slightly cheaper, but, judging by the customer comments, can run the
same firmware.

Are there any others I should look at?

You'll get more bang for your money if you use a scope that connects
to a PC. There are several USB-based scopes, both n kit form and
built. Here's an example from Instructables:
http://www.instructables.com/id/DPScope-Build-Your-Own-USBPC-Based-Oscilloscope

The kit and the assembled & tested scopes are available here:
http://www.pdamusician.com/dpscope/

I have no connectionto the seller except as a collector of test
equipment ;-)

John

 

[Tobias Gadelha]

Em quinta-feira, 26 de maio de 2011 18h29min40s UTC-3, Robert Roland escreveu:

Sometimes the multimeter just does not provide enough information,
while the bench scope is too cumbersome to move around.

I have these cheap pocket scopes around, and I thinking of getting
one. It seems there are several types and versions about. Does anyone
have any experience, recommendations or other advice before I buy?

I have seen two versions from seeedstudio.com, the "DSO Nano" and the
"DSO Quad". I have also seen some on dealextreme.com, which are
slightly cheaper, but, judging by the customer comments, can run the
same firmware.

Are there any others I should look at?
--
RoRo

Other interesting scope USB is DSO-2090 USB
It is common here in Brazil

Ola pessoal sou do Brazil vocęs conhecem?
I'm from Brasil, do you know?

 

[Tobias Gadelha]

It's the link -> http://www.saelig.com/whats_hot/PS049.htm

 

[Robert Roland]

On Thu, 26 May 2011 18:14:58 -0400, "Tom Biasi"
<tombiasi@optonline.net> wrote:

What is your intended use for the scope?

Hobbyist use. I have a bench scope (with LA) for use in the "lab", so
the pocket scope will not be the primary scope.

The idea is that is will fill the gap between the bench scope and the
multimeter. Here's an example:

A friend could not get his motorcycle started, and asked me for help.
I found there was no spark on #1 or #4 cylinders, so I wanted to check
if the signal to the coils were OK. I had not brought the scope, and
the multimeter did not give me enough information.
--
RoRo

 

[Robert Roland]

On Thu, 26 May 2011 20:29:22 -0700, Winston <Winston@BigBrother.net>
wrote:

The "DSO Nano" is much too slow

I agree with you there.

and the "DSO Quad" is too delicate,
(Max 80 Vpp at the probes) has only two analog channels

With a 10x probe, that should be workable, and two channels is
certainly much better than one. Although there have been occasions
where I have wanted more than two channels on my bench scope, it does
not happen often.

and is nearly
impossible to purchase.

What do you mean? Is it not simply a matter of clicking "Add to cart",
and go ahead? They say they have 173 units in stock:
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/preorder-dso-quad-4-channel-digital-storage-oscilloscope-p-736.html?cPath=174

Have a look at that factory refurb. TDS2012B at $1369. Yum!

I already have a bench scope.
--
RoRo

 

[Robert Roland]

On Fri, 27 May 2011 05:28:03 -0700 (PDT), Tobias Gadelha
<tobiasgadelha@gmail.com> wrote:

I recommend the Fluke 123.

I am sure it is a fine instrument, but at 16 times the size (volume)
and 10 times the cost, it is not really an alternative.
--
RoRo

 

[Robert Roland]

On Fri, 27 May 2011 12:25:54 -0400, news@jecarter.us wrote:

You'll get more bang for your money if you use a scope that connects
to a PC.

Sure, but an important point here is the portability. Lugging a PC
around is even more hassle than carrying the bench scope.
--
RoRo

 

[Tom Biasi]

"Robert Roland" wrote in message
news:6otvt6hifunsnctsc1bcvi7ku56anq24nr@4ax.com...

On Thu, 26 May 2011 18:14:58 -0400, "Tom Biasi"
<tombiasi@optonline.net> wrote:

What is your intended use for the scope?

Hobbyist use. I have a bench scope (with LA) for use in the "lab", so
the pocket scope will not be the primary scope.

The idea is that is will fill the gap between the bench scope and the
multimeter. Here's an example:

A friend could not get his motorcycle started, and asked me for help.
I found there was no spark on #1 or #4 cylinders, so I wanted to check
if the signal to the coils were OK. I had not brought the scope, and
the multimeter did not give me enough information.


I don't like them, way too slow unless they have improved a lot.
Anyway maybe you will like this one or something else they sell:
http://www.vellemanusa.com/us/enu/product/view/?id=522380

Tom

 

[Winston]

Robert Roland wrote:

On Thu, 26 May 2011 20:29:22 -0700, Winston<Winston@BigBrother.net
wrote:

The "DSO Nano" is much too slow

I agree with you there.

and the "DSO Quad" is too delicate,
(Max 80 Vpp at the probes) has only two analog channels

With a 10x probe, that should be workable,

None are on offer with the special connector. Funny that.

and two channels is
certainly much better than one. Although there have been occasions
where I have wanted more than two channels on my bench scope, it does
not happen often.

and is nearly
impossible to purchase.

What do you mean? Is it not simply a matter of clicking "Add to cart",
and go ahead? They say they have 173 units in stock:
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/preorder-dso-quad-4-channel-digital-storage-oscilloscope-p-736.html?cPath=174

Check the review page.
You'll see chatter from customers who've paid their money but have *yet*
to receive their 'scope. Something's afoot, methinks.
<http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/index.php?main_page=product_reviews&products_id=736&cPath=174&zenid=f45e55236626794fe69010370cb0f3a5>

Have a look at that factory refurb. TDS2012B at $1369. Yum!

This'd make a *fine* field scope.

--Winston

 

On Fri, 27 May 2011 21:26:18 +0200, Robert Roland <fake@ddress.no>
wrote:

On Fri, 27 May 2011 12:25:54 -0400, news@jecarter.us wrote:

You'll get more bang for your money if you use a scope that connects
to a PC.

Sure, but an important point here is the portability. Lugging a PC
around is even more hassle than carrying the bench scope.

Don't know what your bench scope is, but my laptop is smaller and
lighter than the Tektronix 2247 on the bench.

John

 

[Bob Masta]

On Fri, 27 May 2011 21:26:18 +0200, Robert Roland
<fake@ddress.no> wrote:

On Fri, 27 May 2011 12:25:54 -0400, news@jecarter.us wrote:

You'll get more bang for your money if you use a scope that connects
to a PC.

Sure, but an important point here is the portability. Lugging a PC
around is even more hassle than carrying the bench scope.

A laptop is admittedly a lot larger than a "pocket" scope,
but it has a nice big display, can store lots of data, and
do other tricks like spectral analysis.

If you don't need high speed or DC response, you can use the
built-in sound card. You'll need to rig up your own
interface circuit if you want to view more than a few volts.
See "Input Range and Limiter Circuits" at
<http://www.daqarta.com/dw_0all.htm> for a simple approach.

You mentioned checking a motorcycle ignition circuit. I've
used the above approach with a simple "inductive" pickup
consisting of an alligator clip-lead wrapped around a plug
wire to measure RPM on a car engine using Daqarta. The
observed pulse is pretty narrow, so this is not really much
of a "display" application, but Daqarta can trigger on it to
feed the built-in frequency counter.
<http://www.daqarta.com/dw_freq.htm>. It measures
"instantaneous" RPM by inverting the pulse-to-pulse period,
so you don't have to wait for a high-resolution result like
you would from a conventional counter.

Best regards,





Bob Masta

DAQARTA v6.01
Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis
www.daqarta.com
Scope, Spectrum, Spectrogram, Sound Level Meter
Frequency Counter, FREE Signal Generator
Pitch Track, Pitch-to-MIDI
Science with your sound card!

 

[Jamie]

Robert Roland wrote:

On Fri, 27 May 2011 05:28:03 -0700 (PDT), Tobias Gadelha
tobiasgadelha@gmail.com> wrote:


I recommend the Fluke 123.


I am sure it is a fine instrument, but at 16 times the size (volume)
and 10 times the cost, it is not really an alternative.

For a cheap one, this works ok ...

http://www.ageta.hu/download/HDS1022.pdf

Jamie