By David Herres Oscilloscopes typically display the amplitude of a signal on the Y axis as a function of time on the X axis. The resulting display can take the form of a straight horizontal line if it is a dc voltage, an irregular non-recurring and intermittent pattern for complex signals such as the human voice, […]
FAQ
How much bandwidth?
The cost of an oscilloscope depends primarily on its bandwidth and, to a lesser degree, on added features such as an internal arbitrary function generator (AFG) and other options. If the price of the instrument is acceptable, the rational choice would be to go for the best device immediately. But in the real world most […]
Understanding the basics: What is characteristic impedance?
We speak of 50- or 75-Ω coaxial cable. The novice wonders if these numbers apply to a given length, say 100 ft. Could you connect an ohmmeter to one end of the cable and expect to get that reading with or without the conductors shunted at the far end? The answer is absolutely not. The characteristic impedance […]
