Choosing between two oscilloscopes.

[atomheart]

Hi

I'm looking to get my first oscilloscope. I'll mostly be measuring lowish frequency signals for now. I like building guitar effect boxes and a scope always helps me understand what's going on better. I also want it so when I get to electronics 2 lab (opamps) I can fully do the lab at home.

I'm looking at around $500 to spend on this. I liked these two

http://www.newark.com/tektronix/tbs...AFF-CJ-4150139-Newark+Redirect+Link&source=CJ

http://www.amazon.com/Rigol-DS1102E...8&qid=1427556909&sr=8-1&keywords=oscilloscope

I don't think I would need the extra bandwidth from the Rigol. I'm also used to the Tektronix menu system, so I would prefer to keep with Tektronix...just wondering if I'm overpaying for the name alone.

I would also like to get a variable DC power supply that's decent for around $200-$300, hopefully something with a very low noise output.

Any advice on what I should get? Budget is around $800 for both...I know that isn't a lot for test equipment, but I'm trying to do this cheaply since it's not for professional level stuff. Let me know if any other info is needed. Thanks.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

If it was me, I would be more likely to go for the Tektronix scope. Tektronix have been making quality scopes for a very long time.

Reading reviews (especially proper reviews) on both of them, may help you decide.

I'm not sure why you want a power supply which has got a "very low noise output.".

I presume you know that you can get low cost, small, very easy to use voltage regulators (linear), such as the 5 volt, LM7805. In both fixed voltage and variable voltage (LM317) formats. They are fairly low noise, depending on how low you want to go.

In more complicated circuits, with multiple voltage requirements, you would need to use them, anyway. Or if you made a final (usable) soldered, version of the circuit, would usually include them.

Do you have any idea on what maximum voltage and current rating, you want for the power supply ? (If you have no idea, that is fine).

For general purpose, bench/hobby use, 30 Volt, at about 2 amps maximum, was a common type, some time ago.
The wider availability of affordable switch mode types, means that higher current ones, such as 5 amps, are much more available now, than they use to be.

A long time ago, switch mode power supplies, were considered (electrically) noisy. And Linear ones, much less so. But they may have improved, by now.

 

[atomheart]

If it was me, I would be more likely to go for the Tektronix scope. Tektronix have been making quality scopes for a very long time.

Reading reviews (especially proper reviews) on both of them, may help you decide.

I'm not sure why you want a power supply which has got a "very low noise output.".

I presume you know that you can get low cost, small, very easy to use voltage regulators (linear), such as the 5 volt, LM7805. In both fixed voltage and variable voltage (LM317) formats. They are fairly low noise, depending on how low you want to go.

In more complicated circuits, with multiple voltage requirements, you would need to use them, anyway. Or if you made a final (usable) soldered, version of the circuit, would usually include them.

Do you have any idea on what maximum voltage and current rating, you want for the power supply ? (If you have no idea, that is fine).

For general purpose, bench/hobby use, 30 Volt, at about 2 amps maximum, was a common type, some time ago.
The wider availability of affordable switch mode types, means that higher current ones, such as 5 amps, are much more available now, than they use to be.

A long time ago, switch mode power supplies, were considered (electrically) noisy. And Linear ones, much less so. But they may have improved, by now.

For guitar effect circuits having a low noise supply makes it sound better. A battery sounds better than a cheapo 9v wall adapter powered effect. Also at least in my experience when viewed on a scope the waveform from a battery powered circuit usually looks cleaner and less fuzzy. I just thought it would make diagnosing problems easier if I had less factors to worry about (like a noisy supply).

I used some regulators to make my own variable supply from an old N64 power cord. It had a 12v, 5v, and 3.3v lines already, I just added on a variable reg with a pot to control the output. It works OK, I had just wanted something a little safer/more legitimate.

I think for my purposes <1A and <30v would be fine. Most of my circuits are 9v powered, but the occasional microcontroller or DSP changes that.

Thanks.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

For guitar effect circuits having a low noise supply makes it sound better. A battery sounds better than a cheapo 9v wall adapter powered effect. Also at least in my experience when viewed on a scope the waveform from a battery powered circuit usually looks cleaner and less fuzzy. I just thought it would make diagnosing problems easier if I had less factors to worry about (like a noisy supply).

I used some regulators to make my own variable supply from an old N64 power cord. It had a 12v, 5v, and 3.3v lines already, I just added on a variable reg with a pot to control the output. It works OK, I had just wanted something a little safer/more legitimate.

I think for my purposes <1A and <30v would be fine. Most of my circuits are 9v powered, but the occasional microcontroller or DSP changes that.

Thanks.

It sounds like, you want something like this:

Here Don't be put off, if it shows a UK link. They distribute/sell in the US as well.

But a cheaper one, may be fine for you.

You may need to look around for a good quality bench linear power supply, to suit your purposes.

Better audio circuits, especially if you are designing them yourself, can be made to partially/somewhat-fully reject variations in power supply voltage, and to a lesser extent noise.

Just the fact that you have dangly leads between the power supply and your project, can be enough source of noise/interference to ruin what you are trying to do. Which is why I would sometimes (if it needed to be very low noise, such as a very accurate, high resolution A2D converter) put the voltage regulator, as part of the circuit itself.
I.e. Bench lab power supply,dangly leads, then my LM7805 (or whatever voltages) are required.

Yes, audio stuff can be rather problematic to stop it picking up, stray noise/interference. It can be a very complicated subject area, all in itself. Grounding can also be a significant part of the problem.

Take the above advice as being very course and rough. There are many different opinions, as to what the best way to do things are.

My preferences were, on board voltage regulators (even though the bench supply is regulated), and ideally circuit(s) which minimize susceptibility to power supply voltage variations. With op-amps (which was usually my preferred route), this is easy to achieve. But if you are using discrete transistors and stuff, it can be more problematic, to design out power supply effects.

I'm NOT an expert in the field of audio electronics, so if you get better advice, please take it.

DSPs are a good way of eliminating a lot of the problems, I described above. Once the signal has reached the DSP, hopefully cleanly. You can almost completely, forget about electrical noise (there are some, usually tiny, digital quasi-noise like effects, ironically, especially if the sampling rate and/or resolution is not too good), until you finally output the signal(s) again.

There are many potential problems/difficulties with audio circuitry, the above (PSU ones), are just scratching the surface.

 

[villageidiot111]

Have you considered the Rigol 1054Z oscilloscope? It is probably the best budget scope on the market right now.

 

[harrkev]

You really can't go wrong with either scope. Tek does make some good stuff. Rigol is a bit lower end, so you MAY have to deal with some firmware bugs, but Rigol also makes good, solid stuff. I would give Tek an "A" and Rigol a "B+."

 

[Fallen Kell]

If you have yet to find it in your research, go watch some of the EEVBlog videos on youtube. They cover quite a few scopes and the features they have (as well as go into what makes certain ones more useful for certain kinds of work). They also cover bench power supplies, soldering irons/stations, etc....

 

[uclabachelor]

At those price ranges, you can't go wrong with either scope. The Rigol does seem to offer better bang for your buck due to better specs on paper but that doesn't always translate to a better scope when using it.

It's like choosing between a Hyundai Accent or a Toyota Yaris.

 

[mcs-testequip]

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[sm625]

Would a Digital Storage USB Oscilloscope work for you. They are much much cheaper. Check this thing out:

http://www.amazon.com/SainSmart-Portable-Handheld-Oscilloscope-Bandwidth/dp/B00FYGEFYM

 

[polarmystery]

Have you considered the Rigol 1054Z oscilloscope? It is probably the best budget scope on the market right now.

This is the only choice for scopes <$500 that are brand new.