Summary
If youre working with electronics, you need an oscilloscopeeven if you dont yet realize it.
What Are Oscilloscopes Used For?
The role of the oscilloscope is to capture and display an incoming signal.
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How Do Oscilloscopes Work?
An oscilloscope comes with at least two connectors.
The difference in voltage between the two points is whats being captured.
Scopes can be analog or digital, but both work in much the same way.
What Features Does an Oscilloscope Need?
Shopping for an oscilloscope means having to wade through jargon, but we’ve got you covered.
Its distinct frombandwidth, which is expressed in Hz.
The “bandwidth” here is the frequency at which the signal is attenuated by a given amount.
This is usually 3db, equating to a halving of the signal strength.
With one bit per sample, we can record two states: on and off or 0 and 1.
Weve written elsewhereabout binary and why it matters.
Connectors
Oscilloscopes, for the most part, come with eitherBNCorSMA-pop in connectors.
Match your choice with the probes youre buying.
Another consideration is the number of connectors available.
Oscilloscopes that offer many inputs can monitor many signals simultaneously.
Passive or Active Probe?
Probes can be passive or active.
Passive probes come with a built-in resistor and an adjustable capacitor, internally connected in parallel.
Active ones are more complex and work via tiny on-board amplifiers.
Resistance
The value of the probes internal resistor determines the amount of impedance you get.
The two main options are one megaohm or fifty ohms.
If youre just getting started, then a 1M connection is typically fine.
50 probes are typically reserved for low-voltage, high-frequency circuits.
Trying to build and troubleshoot circuits without one is like stir-frying without a wok.
Just make the investment, and dont look back!
