Zelscope for $20 - Windows software scope!

[lineup]

Download a 14-day evaluation version of Zelscope here (720 kB)
(right-click the link then select "Save Target As...")

By installing the evaluation version, you acknowlegde the terms of the License Agreement.

Pricing:
Single user US$ 20
.

What Zelscope software oscilloscope, for Windows does,
is use your existing PC soundcard = input of audio signals

Then you use this program as an Oscilloscope.
This is a low cost & very simple solution.

I have installed the 14-days version.

Some thoughts, What is needed, as I can understand:

1. use a test-CD
2. a cable from amplifier output to soundcard input
3. if testing amplifier at Very high Output voltages, you may need some attenuator
to adjust not to get TOO High input level for your soundcard


Website,
with free download of this program (fully functional but 14 days limit)
http://www.zelscope.com/

See my attachment for SCREENSHOT from my install


Regards
lineup

[lineup]

hi

At first some facts:
----------------------------
1. I used a test-CD with special test signals.
I have no doubt signals are of good quality.

2. I used my Technics Cd-player. It has got 24bit-resampling.
I set Re-Sample to ON.

3. I have Sound Blaster 24-bit Live! soundcard.
It is a medium quality rather low price card.


As can be seen in attachment,
400 Hertz square wave is not too bad.
But not perfect.
The quality when using this www.zelscope.com Software Oscilloscope
is of course dependent on the quality of your Sound Card.
Especially when dealing with square waves.
They may be difficult for a CD recorded with 44.100 kHz.


lineup

[lineup]

.

Here is an attachment of the Screen Capture of zelscope windows
and all the Scope 2 Channel settings options.

The first picture in post above was saved by using the built in
'Copy scope monitor screen to Clipboard'.

You can also 'Save directly as a .BMP image'.


lineup

[cpemma]

This might interest you for higher frequencies (I've not tried it). Uses PP.

[lineup]

Originally posted by cpemma
This might interest you for higher frequencies (I've not tried it). Uses PP.

Yes, look good.



As can be seen, Uses this Parallel port circuit
with National 8-bit Analog to Digital Converter. http://www.national.com/pf/AD/ADC0820.html
And the free downloadable software makes an Oscilloscope of this.

There are also some links to other PC Oscilloscopes.
http://www.geocities.com/lptscope/

[neutron7]

44.1 khz sampling rate is not great. say you have a 10khz waveform. then you will have sometimes 3 sometimes 4 points to describe the entire wave. you will not be able to see crossover distortion, overshoot or any other details of the wave.

the peaks of the waves may not fall in place of the sampling points so you could not even measure amplitude very well.

i would go with the hardware. except it uses the priinter port. maybe a USB2 scope would be a cool project.

[lineup]

Originally posted by neutron7

44.1 khz sampling rate is not great. say you have a 10khz waveform. then you will have sometimes 3 sometimes 4 points to describe the entire wave. you will not be able to see crossover distortion, overshoot or any other details of the wave.

the peaks of the waves may not fall in place of the sampling points so you could not even measure amplitude very well.

i would go with the hardware. except it uses the priinter port. maybe a USB2 scope would be a cool project.

right.

1. The source of signal into Amplifier.
Better use my Function Generator.
CD (16bit 44.1kHz ) signals are limited. Especially for squarewave testings.

2. PC Soundcard should have as high resultion and sample freq as you can afford.
My Sound Blaster Live 24-bit is told to have 24 bit / 96 kHz sampling.
Of course would not hurt to upgrade to 24/192

3. www.Zelscope.com is a good working software.
It is also possible to do a Fourier FFT Spectrum analysis.
There are for sure other much more advanced PC Oscilloscope softwares out there.
But maybe not that many for $20 dollars.

PS. I found a crack .... so I have it now for NOTHING. DS.
************************************************** ***


I will hook up my Function Generator
and let the scope look at some square waves = 1 kHz standard

Will be interesting to compare to 400 hertz square wave from my test CD ( see image in post above ).
And this will show what PC-Card + Zelscope can really do.
Without CD 44.1 kHz limitation


Regards, lineup

[neutron7]

on their site it mentions 44.1 khz support but will it actually support higher bitrate and sample depth?

[awpagan]

any analogue signal into a pc will have "pc" noise on it and needs compensation before converting to digital, but the idea works well for a cheap solution.
I used the trueaudio software a long time ago.

the free version of trueaudio is still very capable
http://www.trueaudio.com/rta_abt1.htm

I would prefer the usb way, if i could afford it.
http://www.bitscope.com/software/

allan

[lineup]

hello

Here is a Fourier analys
of a 1 kHz sinus 1.0 Volt,
generated by my fucntion generator

Using Zelscope Oscillope.

Picture was exported using the built 'Export as .BMP'
Then I made it smaller and converted.