tutorial idea

Archive SparkFun Site Questions/Comments
1

I learned a lot from the “How to use a multimeter” tutorial. I would love to see something on the same level called “How to use an Oscilloscope”. 'Scopes are more or less a mystery to me, and I suspect a lot of beginners are in the same boat.

Thoughts?

Thanks –

Dan D

2

Do you know enough to even provide a list of topics you would want covered?

  1. How to buy

  2. Time base set up

  3. Vertical setup

  4. Trigger setup

  5. Math functions

  6. What a scope is good at

  7. What a scope can’t help with

…

In the mean time there are some good websites. Including my local LeCroy reps page at http://www.wd1v.net/ and his scope FAQ at http://www.wd1v.net/scopefaq/comments.php

3

Take a look at Tektronix’s tutorials page: http://www.tek.com/learning/oscilloscope-tutorial/

The scope primer is quite in depth, and the poster/pocket guide give you some quick references.

4

I moved this topic to the Sparkfun Site Questions/Suggestions subforum…

-Bill

5

  1. How to buy

  2. Time base set up

  3. Vertical setup

  4. Trigger setup

  5. Math functions

  6. What a scope is good at

  7. What a scope can’t help with

All of the above!

-Dan

6

Now is SFE had a wiki, we could start this tutorial in parallel and get some crowd sourcing going!

I will start with this:

  1. How to buy … Credit card is best

  2. Time base set up… Fasdt enough to see your signal

  3. Vertical setup… Adjust to fit your signal top to bottom for best accuracy

  4. Trigger setup… That was the Lone Rider’s horse!

  5. Math functions… ± FFT. Thats about it.

  6. What a scope is good at… Looking at signals

  7. What a scope can’t help with… Brushing your teeth.

Seriously, Anybody know a wiki where we could start this tutorial?