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Thread: Good Beginner Oscilliscope for Embedded Development

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Replies: 1 - Pages: 1 - Last Post: Nov 4, 2009 6:02 PM Last Post By: cfbsoftware

kdthomas

Posts: 4
Registered: 10/07/09

Good Beginner Oscilliscope for Embedded Development
Posted: Oct 28, 2009 8:44 PM

OK, I am just starting out with embedded (as a branch in my s/w development career), and want to be able to examine the behavior of my devices at a fairly low level. I have heard that one good tool to have in the bag is a good- quality scope, if I want to work at any kind of professional level.

First of all, do I really need a scope at all? It seems like it would be helpful, to watch the logic levels go up & down, if I have some kind of clock or crystal input, that it's behaving correctly, watching serial output, etc., etc. Is that a valid assumption?

Now, having said that ... what's a good ... not great ... but really good solid scope to start out with. If I need to, I can scrimp & save and spend up to $2K, but would rather spend around $1200-1500.

Thanks in advance for the input!

--Kerry

cfbsoftware

Posts: 7
Registered: 05/28/09

Re: Good Beginner Oscilliscope for Embedded Development
Posted: Nov 4, 2009 6:02 PM

in response to: kdthomas

usb , oscilloscope

If you are designing your own boards then an oscilloscope is essential. If you are just programming off-the-shelf commercial development boards with little or no additional peripherals then it is less crucial. Now that there are PC-based USB oscilloscopes available you can get something really good (much more than adequate for a beginner) for well under $1000. One place to start would be to look at the PicoScope range:

http://www.picotech.com/

Elektor electronics magazine published a review in May 2009 comparing the PicoScope 2203 and the Velleman PCSGU250. That might help you to weigh up the pros and the cons and decide what it is you really need:

http://www.elektor.com/magazines/2009/may/pc-based-instruments.925416.lynkx

--
Chris Burrows
CFB Software
Armaide: ARM Oberon-07 Development System
http://www.armaide.com

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