Hi Yaakov,
I had even heard of "EasyScope" but after reading your post #135 I have downloaded it now but not yet installed it or even found out what it will do that I can't do directly with the scope.
Hi Wuerstchenhund,
Your story of your first scope reminds me of mine. I built mine in my mid teens around the late 1950s. It was based around a WW2 surplus cathode ray tube. (A VCR97) I found this photograph of it from when I took it into school for a science lesson.

I am sure it would not be allowed now as there were no covers on it and the EHT supply was derived from a mains transformer. The timebase and Y amplifier were not calibrated in any way.

Les.

 

Hi Yaakov,
I had even heard of "EasyScope" but after reading your post #135 I have downloaded it now but not yet installed it or even found out what it will do that I can't do directly with the scope.

Les.

EasyScope will allow you to do waveform capture, among other things, and to send commands to the scope.

You will need to install the LabView runtime components for communications. There is information online about that. The scope can talk USB or IP.

 

While you guys have been bickering and measuring scopes that sell for under five hundred bucks, I ordered an amazing $20 dlls ultra-miniature digital scope boasting an impressive (at least on paper) 1 MHz bandwidth and a beautiful 1.75" (diagonal) screen ...

​

Anyway, the thing's so small that it fits right in your pocket, and it's perfect for quick on-the-field machinery diagnostics such as encoder readings and RS232/485 monitoring ... it's a rather pretty (and useful) toy, and I don't care who hears me saying it ...

 

Hi Yaakov,
I installed "EasyScope" last night but I have only played with it for a short time. I will need to spend some more time to find may way round the software. Thanks for the pointer to "EasyScope"

Les.

 

While you guys have been bickering and measuring scopes that sell for under five hundred bucks, I ordered an amazing $20 dlls ultra-miniature digital scope boasting an impressive (at least on paper) 1 MHz bandwidth and a beautiful 1.75" (diagonal) screen ...

View attachment 174183​

Anyway, the thing's so small that it fits right in your pocket, and it's perfect for quick on-the-field machinery diagnostics such as encoder readings and RS232/485 monitoring ... it's a rather pretty (and useful) toy, and I don't care who hears me saying it ...

Having a waveform monitor is very handy for many things, but not if you need what real oscilloscope does. There are some DMM with scope functionality, and those can be pretty handy too.

The real distinction, outside bandwidth and channels, is usually triggering. Frequently these little scoplettes fail because they can’t trigger properly on a complex waveform and you can’t really see what you need.

Having said this, I just ordered on of these, because, itty bitty scope! It will go in my developing tiny tool kit which I will eventually explain here. It’s a little fin project I am playing with.

So, it better be worth the $30.99 (US Warehouse), @cmartinez! If not, I know which continent you are on!

 

If not, I know which continent you are on!

I'm not worried... there's space aplenty to hide down here...

 

Hi Yaakov,
I had even heard of "EasyScope" but after reading your post #135 I have downloaded it now but not yet installed it or even found out what it will do that I can't do directly with the scope.
Hi Wuerstchenhund,
Your story of your first scope reminds me of mine. I built mine in my mid teens around the late 1950s. It was based around a WW2 surplus cathode ray tube. (A VCR97) I found this photograph of it from when I took it into school for a science lesson.
View attachment 174145
I am sure it would not be allowed now as there were no covers on it and the EHT supply was derived from a mains transformer. The timebase and Y amplifier were not calibrated in any way.

Les.

We never had anything like this in science class when I went to school. Best I got was to build a radio in my junior year of high school I don't recall building anything in the senior year.

 

While you guys have been bickering and measuring scopes that sell for under five hundred bucks, I ordered an amazing $20 dlls ultra-miniature digital scope boasting an impressive (at least on paper) 1 MHz bandwidth and a beautiful 1.75" (diagonal) screen

So, mine arrived today, and so far I don't have to start the search for @cmartinez.

It's really very cool, and the only disappointment so far is that I can't switch 1x and 10x probes independently from the 5V and 50V inputs.

Quick tests also tend to indicate the 1MHz claim is... optimistic, but, it does seem to have a high level of utility for what its actually capable of.

Thanks, C.

 

So, mine arrived today, and so far I don't have to start the search for @cmartinez.

It's really very cool, and the only disappointment so far is that I can't switch 1x and 10x probes independently from the 5V and 50V inputs.

Quick tests also tend to indicate the 1MHz claim is... optimistic, but, it does seem to have a high level of utility for what its actually capable of.

Thanks, C.

View attachment 174609

Man.. thanks for that! ... I can finally crawl out of the hole I was hiding in and stretch my legs! ... glad to hear you're acceptably satisfied ...

 

Man.. thanks for that! ... I can finally crawl out of the hole I was hiding in and stretch my legs! ... glad to hear you're acceptably satisfied ...

There was no point in hiding before it arrived! Glad you are out of the spider hole. Get a nice beer.

 

So, mine arrived today, and so far I don't have to start the search for @cmartinez.

It's really very cool, and the only disappointment so far is that I can't switch 1x and 10x probes independently from the 5V and 50V inputs.

View attachment 174609

A small update. To deal with the lack of control over probe selection, and for mechanical convenience, I got this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3OTPRQ/ switchable probe terminated in MCX. It has no compensation adjustment but was spot on with a square wave, even better than I could achieve with compensation using the HP probe I was using with it.

 

So I finally had the time to unbox and plug my Rigol 1054Z today, and was suprised to see the power cable pin didn't have an earth pin mounted, nor did the box come with a pin.

Should I get one before moving forward?

 

So I finally had the time to unbox and plug my Rigol 1054Z today, and was suprised to see the power cable pin didn't have an earth pin mounted, nor did the box come with a pin.

Strange. The DS1054z should definitely be grounded as any other bench scope. And mine came with earthed power cables (one UK, one German).

Should I get one before moving forward?

I would recommend this, yes.

 

Splendid, I will do so.

 

Just caught up on the read. I just got a Hantek 5202P 2channel 200MHz. Couldn’t help myself it was the last one on Amazon for $269 shipped. Wish it had a little more memory depth but otherwise I’m happy. Very nice set up can’t complain for the price.

@cmartinez and @Yaakov i need something similar to take out to my model rocket launches. Battery powered and perfect for the field.

 

Just caught up on the read. I just got a Hantek 5202P 2channel 200MHz. Couldn’t help myself it was the last one on Amazon for $269 shipped. Wish it had a little more memory depth but otherwise I’m happy. Very nice set up can’t complain for the price.

@cmartinez and @Yaakov i need something similar to take out to my model rocket launches. Battery powered and perfect for the field.

I am seriously considering spending the ~100 bucks to get one of the two-channel 2.8” versions that include a function generator. Obviously not for the bench, but I have my tiny toolkit project, and that might just be great for it. Right now, this one is part of that kit. Still looking fo the best DMM for it.

 

I am seriously considering spending the ~100 bucks to get one of the two-channel 2.8” versions that include a function generator. Obviously not for the bench, but I have my tiny toolkit project, and that might just be great for it. Right now, this one is part of that kit. Still looking fo the best DMM for it.

What you've mentioned has been my point all along. What's good for the bench? vs What's good for the field? ...

I guess it all depends on the user's bench and the user's field.

 

What you've mentioned has been my point all along. What's good for the bench? vs What's good for the field? ...

I guess it all depends on the user's bench and the user's field.

Yes. In particular I have a concern with size, and I don't have an unlimited budget in stay case. I am trying to get everything as small and useful as practical.

 

I am seriously considering spending the ~100 bucks to get one of the two-channel 2.8” versions that include a function generator. Obviously not for the bench, but I have my tiny toolkit project, and that might just be great for it. Right now, this one is part of that kit. Still looking fo the best DMM for it.

I like that screen size a little better. I need reading glasses already. That seems expensive but the build looks like something that would last. I can’t get another toy so quickly after getting my bench scope.

My favorite domestic parts place has it for $89 overnight shipping included.
https://www.arrow.com/en/products/1...pd8zwRi0oomqhDnH3hI-uqaTfwhm_DhMaAqbhEALw_wcB

 

This is the one I have in mind.

https://www.amazon.com/SainSmart-Portable-Handheld-Digital-Oscilloscope/dp/B074QBQNB7/