USB-based Oscilliscope suggestions?

[CarbonWerkes]

Hey all
Sorry if this has been beaten to death, but I didnt see anything in my search on USB->PC oscilliscopes.

Most of my work is automotive, but sometimes I need to be able to tap in to verify phasing on stepper motors, or to look at a CAN bus, etc. Im looking for a relatively inexpensive and portable 2 channel (4 would be great, but probably too ostly) DSO. Absolute accuracy is not really a primary consideration for me (Im fine with +/- 10%), and I expect that 25-50mhz is adequate for fine detail on serial protocols like I2C. Im using a Fluke 123 now, which has only 512 data points, and that is far too limiting. Any suggestions? I saw a few models on Ebay in the $200 range, but have no idea if they are worth their weight in water.

Any suggestions or links to threads on this would be appreciated-
Regards,
Rob

 

[CarbonWerkes]

Sorry for the oscilloscope misspelling- not enough sleep this week (or month)

 

[GTstartup]

http://www.picotech.com/oscilloscope.html

 

[CarbonWerkes]

GT-
Thanks, yes I found them yesterday doing some searching. Looks to me like they are in the $700-$1000 range though, and Im looking for something probably in the $300-$400 range if such a beast exists. I should have posted that, as the term 'relatively inexpensive' is pretty mushy.

Rob

 

[jimkirk]

http://www.vellemanusa.com/us/enu/product/list/?id=523011

has some items that might be interesting.

 

[mcgyvr]

http://www.picotech.com/picoscope-2202.html

A search on google for "USB ocilloscope" yields TONS results.

 

[itsmoked]

I think CarbonWerkes is looking for a recommendation not links to every USB scope maker. Skogs uses an excellent one he vouches for but I think it's pretty pricey.

I have a Tektronix handheld that's really nice but not as nice as the $3500 price tag would imply.

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.-

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Jack Ganssle has written a review of three USB "micro" scopes including the Parallax USB oscilloscope ($149), the USB Instruments Stingray ($220), and the Picotech Picoscope 3206 ($1,535). Ganssle's conclusion is that the inexpensive Parallax scope is suitable for educational and hobby use while the demands of serious embedded development may require a fully functional device like the Picoscope that emulates all the features of a physical scope. It appears from the review that all three require the user to run the proprietary MS Windows OS to use the software interfaces.

http://www.embedded.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=160902529

I remember reading a review of several USB-based hobby-level o-scopes/DLAs within the last year, but I can't recall where... maybe Circuit Cellar Ink or Electronics Design?


Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[Skogsgurra]

I have used all of these, except for the Parallax. The Pico scopes are real good. But, you have to be very careful with your input signals. Minor transients kill the faster ones. There should be a VERY LARGE WARNING text. Not just the "MAX 20 V" seen on the box as it is now. I killed one 3206 when a transient hit my rig in a very normal measurement set-up. Same happened to a colleague. So, instead of having two great two-channel fast USB scopes, we now have two single-channel fast USB scopes.

That never happens to my LeCroy four channel 200 MHz scope. Also, the Pico Technology repair and guarantee policy leaves a bad taste.

I have been more lucky with my TiePie HS4. It is a four channel USB scope with a somewhat lower (can't remember now) band-width and higher vertical resolution, WS 424. It costs about same as the 3206, but has four channels. I use it a lot when travelling (laptop + HS4 + probes fit together in computer bag) and it has never let me down. The TiePie software is "new think" and it can do lots of things I never thought of before. It also has a very nice feature that lets you install many of them on one laptop (powered hub needed) so you can have a fast 12 or 16 or (perhaps even more) channel system at a very interesting price.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

--------------------------------------
100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...