Hi everyone,

I'm a hobbyist work with microcontrollers, sensors, and other embedded system components. I want to invest in a Digital Oscilloscope (DSO) to enhance my learning and skills.

Budget: (around $300 USD) India

I'm looking for recommendations on specific features to prioritize. Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

 

Have a look at the Rigol range of scopes.

 

Hi everyone,

I'm a hobbyist work with microcontrollers, sensors, and other embedded system components. I want to invest in a Digital Oscilloscope (DSO) to enhance my learning and skills.

Budget: (around $300 USD) India

I'm looking for recommendations on specific features to prioritize. Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Depends on the type of signals you want to look at. "Microcontrollers, sensors, and other embedded system components" covers a huge range of requirements.

 

I have used a basic Tektronix TDS 220 2-channel 100 MHz DSO for most of my career.

Have a look at Rigol and Siglent DSO.

 

A good value for a little more money. Lots of aftermarket support and extras.
https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/12bit-rigol-dho800-scope.195972/
YMMV

 

Having enough bandwidth (and a high enough sample rate) for the signals you are dealing with is essential. It is also one of the main things that affects the price. If you are dealing only with relatively slow signals like I2C, any DSO will have enough bandwidth. SPI often runs with a 10MHz to 50MHz clock rate (and can go higher). Other signals (like USB) have much higher clock rates. There is a rule of thumb that says your scope bandwidth should be at least 5X the highest clock frequency so you can see the shape of the waveform; you want to be able to see whether the pulses have square edges, overshoot and ringing, etc.

Serial bus decoding and triggering is also really nice, although you can decode some protocols like I2C by hand if you have to. A Bus Pirate or inexpensive USB logic analyzer can also decode those signals; they just don't provide a convenient way to line up what you see on the scope with what you decoded.

Having more than two channels would sometimes be nice, but many of us have lived with two for our whole careers. A cheap logic analyzer is another option when you need more channels. Even a $13 one like this works in a pinch: https://www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-Analyzer-Ferrite-Channel-Arduino/dp/B077LSG5P2/ref=sr_1_3

 

I would suggest looking on Aliexpress. Wide selection and many well under your budget that would be fine for hobby work.
o 8 bits resolution is enough.
o bigger sample memories that you can access via your computer (USB usually) are good.
o if you get one that can connect to your computer and allows programming, you can have a lifetime of fun creating your own "features."

I've had a Hantek DSO-2090 USB scope for years, and have enjoyed writing my own apps for it for doing things like RS232 port monitoring.

 

If you do buy a USB scope, buy something supported (hardware and software) instead of some random clone.
https://www.picotech.com/oscilloscope/2000/picoscope-2000-overview

 

I have used a basic Tektronix TDS 220 2-channel 100 MHz DSO for most of my career.

Have a look at Rigol and Siglent DSO.

I'd go for the Tek any day. I have an ISOTech at work. It does all the same things as the Tek does, but the Tek is just so much easier to use.

 

If you can scrape up an extra US$80, This tool will really equip your lab: https://digilent.com/shop/analog-discovery-3/

It can give you these functions:

• Analog inputs: Oscilloscope, voltmeter, data logger.
• Analog outputs: Signal generator.
• Programmable power supply with/without readback.
• Digital channels: Logic analyzer (MSO/mixed-signal oscilloscope), pattern generator, static/digital I/O, protocol analyzer, external triggers.
• Channel combinations: Spectrum analyzer, network analyzer, impedance analyzer.
• Others: Curve tracer, script editor, calibration.
• SDK (Software Development Kit), supports C, Python and others, NI LabVIEW, MATLAB.

I use mine all of the time.