subject: Why Are Digital Oscilloscope Ideal For Use [print this page] The oscilloscope as we know it has been around for over a century, and during its lifetime this relatively simple invention has played a major role in hundreds of vitally important scientific discoveries. It will not be an exaggeration if I say that without the advances and discoveries the oscilloscope has allowed us to uncover, the world today would be a completely different place.
For those who are uncertain about what an oscilloscope is, perhaps the most recognisable type are those used in hospitals (and consequently on TV medical dramas) to measure strength and regularity of a patients heartbeat. You know that machine that flat lines and makes a continuous beep when a patient dies. Thats an oscilloscope. But of course this TV stereotype isnt the sole use of an oscilloscope as theyre essentially measuring devices they have all sorts of practical applications, from sound engineering to electrical maintenance.
There are two main types of oscilloscope currently available, and while simple cathode ray (also known as analogue) oscilloscopes are still in use, its now much more common for scientists and electricians alike to use digital oscilloscopes to measure wave shapes and frequencies. Digital oscilloscopes are much more portable and customisable than their analogue counterparts, they have much larger memories and its far easier to record the data they gather. Because of their portability, digital oscilloscopes are ideal for in-field diagnosis and quick measurement, and their low cost has made them especially popular with hobbyists and amateur electronics enthusiasts.
There are a number of very high quality oscilloscopes currently available to buy, and like with so many products these days the best deals are available on the internet. Whilst some oscilloscopes can cost hundreds and even thousands of pounds, amateurs can get their hands on an oscilloscope that should meet their requirements for a good deal less.
When considering your purchase of a digital oscilloscope, there are a couple of key things to consider. The first, and perhaps most obvious, thing to check is that it has an easy to read display no matter how accurate your oscilloscope may be, its useless unless you can clearly and easily monitor the data it is reading and displaying. You also want to check the connectivity options available on your item ideally you want to be able to connect it to a computer or monitor via USB, but even if thats not a priority you should at least get one that records the data its collecting. Many digital oscilloscopes are capable of recording data on to SD or Micro SD cards, so it shouldnt be too tricky to find one with this capability.
If you are an electronics hobbyist or amateur engineer, a good entry level digital oscilloscope is the DSO Nano V2. Costing under 100 (you can pick one up here http://proto-pic.co.uk/dso-nano-v2-pocket-sized-digital-oscilloscope/ for just over eighty pounds) the small but perfectly formed DSO Nano is ideal for basic electronic tasks, while if youre after something with a bit more power and a larger display, the Nanos big brother the DSO Quad is available for under two hundred pounds.
