When operating on a tight budget and in need of a new oscilloscope, users would often settle for an oscilloscope that features bare bones capability. However, with the economy oscilloscopes offered in the market nowadays, users need not suffer for their limited budget. They simply have to consider these five simple tips.
For optimum results, users should first consider the bandwidth, memory depth and sample rate of the oscilloscope.
The oscilloscope’s main function is to deliver an accurate representation of the signal viewed, and the combination of bandwidth, memory depth and sample rate determines the oscilloscope’s ability to accurately display the signal. To ensure that the oscilloscope has adequate bandwidth, users should consider the fastest signal rise time that needs to be viewed and use the formula:
Scope bandwidth = 2 X signal bandwidth, where signal bandwidth =1/ (2 X signal rise time).
To avoid missing key signal transitions, the sampling rate of the oscilloscope should be at least four times than its bandwidth.
Users should also select an economy oscilloscope with deeper memory. This enables the oscilloscope to store more data points over the acquisition period, allowing users to view the entire signal and still zoom in on specific areas of interest.
The second tip is to use the oscilloscope’s built-in measurement capability to eliminate errors and save time.
When recording critical information about the signal, such as peak-to-peak voltage or frequency, most of today’s economy oscilloscopes eliminate the need for manual effort and tendency for errors in calculations or readings. These oscilloscopes can calculate and display various voltage and time measurements with a simple touch of a button.
The third tip is — when in doubt as to how to trigger on the problem, users should utilize sequence mode to isolate specific areas of interest. Once the unexpected anomalies have been identified, users can refine the trigger conditions to determine the root cause.
When making the next oscilloscope decision, users should consider whether the sequence mode would provide benefits in their common tasks.
The next tip is to use pass/fail (go/no-go) mask testing to isolate problems or to make quick decisions.
Mask testing can be a very helpful tool as it allows users to know whether certain signals have to be within specific ranges for the design to properly work. Several economy oscilloscopes offer this kind of capability, enabling users to capture a “golden” waveform as well as define tolerance limits for correct performance.
The last tip is to consider usability. Users should choose an oscilloscope that features menus that are easy to navigate, showing the choices in dropdown selections. One of the clearest time savers is simultaneously displaying on the screen the entire captured waveform and the specific area of interest that the user have zoomed in. This allows users to view the big picture as well as the details of the signal all at once.
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