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Cheap PC Oscilloscopes - Any Recommendations?

Posted by Cliff on from the waves-on-screen dept.

Missionary Man asks: "I'm an electronics teacher looking for a good (but reasonably cheap) PC based oscilloscope for classroom demonstration purposes. I've done a reasonable amount of research and come up with a few contenders. Ideally I'd like something with a bandwidth of up to 40MHz and 2 channels. Does anyone have any tales to tell regarding the use of any of these scopes (or any others I haven't found or mentioned) and can recommend a suitable device?"

"Here's the list of my findings so far:

  • The DS2200C from USB Instruments will do 2 channels at 12 bit resolution, but only to 200KHz.
  • The PCS100 from Velleman at QKits runs to 12MHz, but only 1 channel. It has a bigger brother, the PCS500, that has 2 channels and 50MHz bandwidth, but is a lot more expensive.
  • Picotech do cheaper ones, like the ADC-40/42, but these only operate in the KHz ranges.
  • Link Instruments sell the DSO-2102S that runs to 60MHz with 2 channels, but it's a bit out of my price range.
  • Finally, I found the bitscope which seems to be just what I'm looking for, combining a 2 channel scope and an 8 channel logic analyzer for a reasonable price.
I'm hoping to spend US$300-$400. I recognize the software is a fundamental part of the successful operation of these units and any comments regarding the bundled programs would be most helpful too!"

8 of 321 comments (clear)

  1. FOP! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    First Oscilloscope Post!

    1. Re:FOP! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      DAMN BOTS

  2. Typical Open Source hippy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    I want a professional quality product, but I'm not willing to spend more than $3.50 on it.

  3. Re:Here's a good one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    I'd take a karma hit for telling you that you don't have a sense of humor, but since you posted AC so will I. Now: you don't have a sense of humor-get one!

  4. Re:Cheap PC Oscilloscopes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    .

    Your search - "Cheap PC Oscilloscopes" - did not match any documents.

    Suggestions:

    - Make sure you are a human.

    - Try different thought pattern.

    - Try getting a clue.

    - FOff you French Prick

    Also, you can try Suicide for expert help with your search.

  5. Re:Like Skee Lo, I wish... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    recient -5 spelling mistake

    High -5 improper capitalization

    schoool -5 spelling

    haveing -5 spelling

    teaches about electronics -5 poor structure

    books, they couldn't even afford to buy the chemicals -5 improper joining of sentences

    constant shifts in tense in same paragraph -5

    overall poor organization of thought -10
    YOU FAIL, go back to high school.
  6. Yeah, Um... by dupper · · Score: 0, Troll

    I have no experience or contact with oscilloscopes, so would someone please inform me why they cost so damned much, even used (and up to friggin $20K, new!). Yeah, thanks.

  7. Re:Some places to check out... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Considering the brilliance of many modders, maybe you won't!