Software / USB Scopes?

Tech Christmas · 01-21-2008, 11:09 PM

Hello all... My trusty Tektronics scope went for a swim during Katrina and you know that darn thing just hasn't been the same since...

I redid my workbench and instead of lugging my laptop to it when needed, I'm going to put a desktop out there... I figure since I have the machine anyway, I may as well use it for a scope.

Anybody using any of the software (sound card) scopes and/or any of the USB scopes? I can buy a reasonable scope off ebay for $150 probably so I'm not looking at $500 USB solutions.

So far I'm looking at this http://www.apogeekits.com/pc_oscilloscope_pcs100.htm

And/or a software scope.

Anyone fought this battle before me and can save me some time?

RJ · 01-21-2008, 11:15 PM

It's a little more but I went bitscope and like it very much.

RJ

Tech Christmas · 01-21-2008, 11:25 PM

Opps wrong link above.... looking at THIS one.

http://parallax.com/Store/Microcontr...%2cProductName

Thanks RJ, googling now. EDIT: Yeah I had seen that and linked it... Didn't like the price however. ;-)

Obviously for free / cheap I'm not expecting much but it beats no scope at all which is what I have today.

**scorpia** · 01-24-2008, 01:21 AM

free/cheap i can actually help with,

as for how usefull it is , well thats upto you.

check http://www.semifluid.com/?p=24

but i guess you get what you pay for.

i have tried it and it does what it says it does. also check out the rest of his site. has some neat "projects"

Peter

**kostyun** · 01-24-2008, 10:38 AM

That link looks quite cool - I may have to make one (I don't need a full "scope" but it would be nice to have something)

**scorpia** · 01-24-2008, 04:06 PM

biggest problem with it is it can only measure the voltage range of the pic. ie 0-5v. it really needs an input opamp stage.

I emailed him once about it and he said there was someone working on an input stage but never heard any more about it.

still for the effort it might be a fun project.

**stempile** · 01-25-2008, 08:22 PM

I messed around with the Parallax scope once. I went through the understanding singles book. The scope itself isn't fast enough to read communication signles from the parallel port or high speed serial data.

ms

Tech Christmas · 01-27-2008, 05:10 PM

scorpia thanks for that link... even if I don't make one for me that is EXACTLY the kind of thing I was hoping to find for my nephew that I teach geek stuff to.

And Matt, thanks, you might have saved me a few bucks.