Additional help for those struggling to use their oscilloscope

Perry Babin · 5th July 2011, 05:13 PM

If you're having trouble learning to use your scope, I've made some changes/improvements to the oscilloscope page on the car audio site (page #73). If you still have questions or suggestions for additional content for that page, post them here.

ppia600 · 6th July 2011, 01:25 AM

You are TOO nice dood

VictoriaGuy · 6th July 2011, 03:16 AM

Direct link to scope page

jeanious2011 · 6th July 2011, 03:45 AM

Am thinking about gettin me a scope. Nothing special pretty much just for amplifier repair/experimenting.

blancolex300 · 12th July 2011, 08:08 PM

Great info!

Custom Chris · 13th July 2011, 09:45 AM

Oh excellent! Thank you chap.

I am also looking to buy one, they're not cheap for a newbie though. I have always thought of buying one and now after getting in to this malarkey, I narrowed it down to this one here:
HPS140 Handheld Pocket Oscilloscope Free Delivery : Oscilloscopes Function Generators : Maplin

Can anyone advise if this will be sufficient for diagnosing problems?

NickParr666 · 13th July 2011, 11:32 AM

Hey Chris,

I'm no expert but reading Perry's notes he did say to stay away from LCD scopes. I have one myself only because I'm restricted on storage space but I am happy with it. It does take a little getting used to as you don't get the nice smooth trace as you'd get with a CRT but it works for me. I brought my Philips PM95 from eBay from about £120. They come up every now and then so keep an eye out.

Perry Babin · 13th July 2011, 02:56 PM

A handheld scope is OK if you absolutely have to have a portable scope but if you plan on doing more repairs, buy a good used CRT based scope. You should be able to buy one for about the same price.

If you buy from ebay (or similar) and the scope doesn't have a warranty, make sure that the scope has a locked waveform displayed on it. Don't buy one that is untested or one without a locked waveform displayed because there's a good chance that it will not work properly. If you're unsure about a scope, email me a link to it and I'll try to help you get one in good working order.

babin_perry@yahoo.com

Mark.Clappers · 13th July 2011, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Custom Chris

Oh excellent! Thank you chap.

I am also looking to buy one, they're not cheap for a newbie though. I have always thought of buying one and now after getting in to this malarkey, I narrowed it down to this one here:
HPS140 Handheld Pocket Oscilloscope Free Delivery : Oscilloscopes Function Generators : Maplin

Can anyone advise if this will be sufficient for diagnosing problems?

You can still get new analogue scoops quite cheap, I have no intention to push you in the direction of any specific supplier but a quick Farnell search came up with this:

DIGIMESS|HUC70-01 MO10 - GERMAN VERSION|OSCILLOSCOPE, DIGIMESS, 10MHZ | Farnell Nederland

Personally I really like the size and functionality of the Tektronix TDS3054B but that's a bit more expensive..

Just my 2c

Custom Chris · 13th July 2011, 04:24 PM

Thanks for the responses guy's!
I'll have a look about and see if there is anything else that fits the bill

5th July 2011, 05:13 PM	#1
Perry Babin diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Louisiana	Additional help for those struggling to use their oscilloscope If you're having trouble learning to use your scope, I've made some changes/improvements to the oscilloscope page on the car audio site (page #73). If you still have questions or suggestions for additional content for that page, post them here. __________________ Links >> Basic Car Audio Amp Repair --- Basic Car Audio Electronics --- Basic Transistor Testing --- Basic Switching Power Supply Design --- Basic Computer Skills << Links

6th July 2011, 01:25 AM	#2
ppia600 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Louis y ana	You are TOO nice dood __________________ Don't worry... you can always turn the gain down!

13th July 2011, 02:56 PM	#8
Perry Babin diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Louisiana	A handheld scope is OK if you absolutely have to have a portable scope but if you plan on doing more repairs, buy a good used CRT based scope. You should be able to buy one for about the same price. If you buy from ebay (or similar) and the scope doesn't have a warranty, make sure that the scope has a locked waveform displayed on it. Don't buy one that is untested or one without a locked waveform displayed because there's a good chance that it will not work properly. If you're unsure about a scope, email me a link to it and I'll try to help you get one in good working order. babin_perry@yahoo.com __________________ Links >> Basic Car Audio Amp Repair --- Basic Car Audio Electronics --- Basic Transistor Testing --- Basic Switching Power Supply Design --- Basic Computer Skills << Links

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6th July 2011, 03:16 AM	#3
VictoriaGuy diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Victoria, BC	Direct link to scope page

6th July 2011, 03:45 AM	#4
jeanious2011 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas	Am thinking about gettin me a scope. Nothing special pretty much just for amplifier repair/experimenting.

12th July 2011, 08:08 PM	#5
blancolex300 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2011	Great info!

13th July 2011, 09:45 AM	#6
Custom Chris diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2011	Oh excellent! Thank you chap. I am also looking to buy one, they're not cheap for a newbie though. I have always thought of buying one and now after getting in to this malarkey, I narrowed it down to this one here: HPS140 Handheld Pocket Oscilloscope Free Delivery : Oscilloscopes Function Generators : Maplin Can anyone advise if this will be sufficient for diagnosing problems?

13th July 2011, 11:32 AM	#7
NickParr666 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Thatcham	Hey Chris, I'm no expert but reading Perry's notes he did say to stay away from LCD scopes. I have one myself only because I'm restricted on storage space but I am happy with it. It does take a little getting used to as you don't get the nice smooth trace as you'd get with a CRT but it works for me. I brought my Philips PM95 from eBay from about £120. They come up every now and then so keep an eye out.

13th July 2011, 04:24 PM	#10
Custom Chris diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2011	Thanks for the responses guy's! I'll have a look about and see if there is anything else that fits the bill

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