Oscilloscopes - Sampling rate, waveform generation?

For general electronics and Arduino, how important is the sampling rate of an oscilloscope? I'm looking at some oscilloscopes, with options for 40/70/100Mhz sampling. Is it worth the extra bucks?

Also, how would waveform generation benefit me, a novice electronics builder?

For general electronics and Arduino, how important is the sampling rate of an oscilloscope? I'm looking at some oscilloscopes, with options for 40/70/100Mhz sampling. Is it worth the extra bucks?

  • Get the fastest digital storage scope that you can easily afford and your partner will not have a conniption with.
    At least 2 (two) channels).

Also, how would waveform generation benefit me, a novice electronics builder?

  • After being in the business for > 40 years, I use one maybe (maybe) once every 2 years :woozy_face:

Just took this image, wife does not know how much it costs :shushing_face: .

image

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Get one as fast as you can afford, preferably a bit faster. You will soon regret getting the slow one, you'll never regret a fast one and the extra money will be long forgotten.

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I have a 4 channel DSO and I find it invaluable for digital and LF analog work. Get one with as many channels and the highest sample rate you can afford. A 16 channel logic analyzer option is nice too but I find most digital work can get by with 4.

With 60 years in electronic design, I really appreciate a good wide bandwidth multi-channel analog scope though. I have several of varying bandwidth and I think they are the best for analog work. You can spend a lot and get a DSO with a high enough sample rate to do a passable job but for a fraction of the price you can find a great used scope. If I was going to settle for just one, I'd get a Tektronix 453. While I have an HP1205 500kHz scope for low frequency that really works well, the Tektronix scopes have always had better high frequency triggering.

That's my 2 cents worth. :nerd_face:

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Actually, I have a 453 but after looking over the ebay listings for analog scopes, I find that there are affordable Tek scopes with higher bandwidth available. Higher is better.

Thanks everyone. This is just for hobbyist interest, to play around with discrete components. Based on some comments here and elsewhere, I'm not worrying about a built-in waveform generator, and if I ever want one, I can buy a separate one.

Due to a few factors (space and money constraints, and the potential for how often it will (or will not) be used), I've decided to purchase this OWON portable oscilloscope. I figure it'll be good enough for goofing around with Arduino.

I have had a Tek 454 for many years. It was a Coast Guard surplus, then to some TV repairman, and then a bank repossession along with a bunch of other stuff. I saw the scope an bought it.

Be aware those scopes all use a nuvistor front-end and it one goes, you may have trouble finding a replacement. I have had replacements available from the time before the scope was built.

So, don;t be afraid of older scopes, if they still work. BUT get quality probes!

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I know a guy who makes partner-friendly receipts for just about anything. Just saying.

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For waveform generation it's often easy to use a spare Arduino with a small sketch to produce a special waveform. I've got a breadboard on my desk now that has one "target" Nano and two others generating signals to drive it.

I don't own an oscilloscope but I have one at work. In many years, I've I brought a couple of hobby-projects into work but mostly I've gotten by without one and I could have managed in these cases too.

If you have space for it, I'd recommend a full-size benchtop 'scope with a larger screen, larger easier-to-use controls and regular BNC probe connections.

One of my reasons for avoiding buying one is that I have too much "junk" already but if I "needed" one, I'd get a benchtop model,

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