subject: What To Consider When Choosing An Ez Digital Oscilloscope [print this page] Digital oscilloscopes are utilized in a growing number of professions from physicists to automotive engineers and even medical researchers. Even as more people become familiar with this type of equipment, selecting the right one can still seem like an overwhelming experience. This is primarily because each manufacturer has multiple models which will likely provide a satisfactory result. For example, there are at least three EZ Digital oscilloscopes in each performance tier. As a result, it is important to answer some preliminary questions before focusing on specific scope specifications.
The general questions which need an answer require some time to really think about how and where the EZ Digital oscilloscope will be used. The first thing to consider is where the scope is most often utilized, such as on a workbench, at a customers place of business, or even under the hood of a car. This will answer any portability related issues are covered. The next thing to consider is the number of signals which need to be measured simultaneously as well as their maximum and minimum amplitudes. This will create a baseline set of specifications to follow when selecting an EZ Digital oscilloscope. Additional factors include whether the signals are repetitive or a single shot and how they need to be viewed (spectrum analysis and/or time domain).
Once these questions are answered, specific features can be addressed. One of the most important features to consider when selecting an EZ Digital oscilloscope is the bandwidth. This is the maximum frequency of the signal which can pass through the amplifiers. To ensure the best results, the bandwidth must be higher than the maximum frequency being measured. Keep in mind that the goal of manufacturers is to provide a specific frequency response within each design. This is often referred to as the MFED or Maximally Flat Envelope Delay. This type of frequency response provides quality pulse fidelity, while minimizing overshoot and undershoots.
The next set of features to look at when choosing an EZ Digital oscilloscope is related to the sample rate. With digital scopes, the sampling rate and memory depth are both important factors to consider. In most cases, the sampling rate will be described in mega samples per second or giga samples per second. It is important to note that most EZ Digital oscilloscopes provide two different sampling rates which are based on how the signal is measured.
Additional factors which may come into play when choosing an EZ Digital oscilloscope include resolution, accuracy, triggering capabilities, and input ranges. Every EZ Digital oscilloscope is designed to excel in certain situations and fulfill specific purposes. Only by considering all of the applicable variables will be best specific model stand out.
