[sdiy] PC based oscilloscopes

[Jay Schwichtenberg]

Couple of things to keep in mind here. First don't get anything that uses a
sound card. They are AC only usually between 20 Hz to 20 kHz or 20 Hz to 40
kHz (48 kHz & 96 kHz sample rates). Also any PC based instrument that you
get make sure it has XP or WDM drivers. If you do the Mac stuff then you
want System 10 drivers. Also make sure the company is going to be in it (ie
support the product) for the long haul. If you don't you may end up with a
antiquated deadicated box. When it fails you basically have to throw it
away.

IMHO: I think digital scopes are fine for non-critical analog and digital
stuff. But for real analog getting down in noise floors and looking at
distortion real analog is what you need. Most affordable digital scopes are
only 8 bits with newer models being 10 and 12 bits. There are some nice
features in digital scopes like transfering images, signal averaging and
special trigger options. I tried using Teks spectrum anylizer in one of
there digital scopes for audio and it was worthless. IMO it was designed for
rough RF measurements. Ideally I'd have a Tek 7XXX lab scope with 4 channels
in, dual timebase and a digital scope.

Jay

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> [mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of Tim Stinchcombe
> Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 8:50 AM
> To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> Subject: [sdiy] PC based oscilloscopes
>
>
> Hi list,
> 	Apologies for the slightly off-topic nature of the post, but I'm
> hoping one or two out there may be able to offer an opinion.
>
> I have recently become increasingly frustrated at the inability to get a
> hardcopy from my scope, and so I have just spent the last few
> hours trawling
> the web for PC-based/software oscilloscopes - it would be really
> nice to be
> able to peruse waveforms of my latest problem 'offline', and also embed
> traces in documents etc. There is quite a lot out there: some use the
> parallel port, others a PCI slot, still others USB; quite a lot of
> schematics and downloadable sw for DIY; kits for self-assembly; and the
> inevitable vast range of prices, from less than $100 to well over $10,000.
> And of course new things like bit resolution to think about now,
> as well as
> bandwidth/sample rate etc.
>
> Does anyone have experience of/recommend any particular brand? Anything to
> steer well clear of? Are there any advantages in going for parallel
> port/PCI/USB? Or do I just take pot-luck - 'you pays yer money
> and takes yer
> choice'?
>
> Any input/views appreciated.
>
> Tim
>
> (Or maybe someone has a scope camera and a lifetimes supply of
> Polaroid film
> going cheap? ;-) )
> __________________________________________________________
> Tim Stinchcombe
>
> Cheltenham, Glos, UK
> email: tim102 at tstinchcombe.freeserve.co.uk
>
>
>