Recomend a basic low cost oscilloscope?

[ReaperCustoms]

Hey guys, im looking to buy a oscilloscope, At this stage mainly to test coils for the optimal dwell settings but im sure ill find other uses for it...

What do you class as the minimum required specs for a scope used on a car?

Any actual models you can recommend? There is some cheap usb ones on ebay but are these a waste of time?

[arran]

I brought one of these a few years ago and it has been great
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/UNI-T-HANDHE ... 1e8b7b002f

It is just single channel and only goes to 8MHz but this is OK for automotive use.

[elutionsdesign]

The cheap USB ones are fine, mine is a Disco, google that, cost $175 and is dual channel. Been using it steadily for 5 years now and channel A just died, otherwise perfect.

[kjones6039]

and is dual channel.

Certainly not essential, but I would recommend to the op that, if you're going to purchase a scope, by all means get a dual channel unit!

Ken

[dontz125]

Sound card scope probe

[Hey_Allen]

If you can get by without data logging, you can often find CRT based scopes at affordable prices at electronics recyclers and swap meets.
I bought my dual channel 20MHz (or was it a 10MHz... either works for automotive needs!) scope for $20, and it worked fine other than slightly oxidized potentiometers on the controls. An afternoon of fiddling the knobs around while watching mindless entertainment on the TV and the scope has worked ever since.

[24c]

I had an old Tektronix CRT scope, two channel variety, ex school, that lasted me a while, but I needed something portable, that wasn't 240V outside when it was raining, so I bought a battery powered Velleman single channel scope with a crude display.

However, when you need to ask questions on a forum, you can't beat having a USB PC link, because that'll get you screenshots, and you can ask better questions.
So with this in mind, after using a camera previously, I bought a cheapo fleaBay USB scope, but the software isn't brilliant. It does its job, is prone to line noise/interference, but I think I'll be getting a higher end one in the future.

With hindsight looking at what is in the market now, I'd probably get a UNI-81T for portability, and a Hantek USB PC scope, but really I'm hoping that one day the tuning software will have a scope tab!

Mike

[dontz125]

but really I'm hoping that one day the tuning software will have a scope tab!

Now THAT'S something to send Phil a PM about! (rubbing-chin-thoughtfully smiley)

[racingmini_mtl]

but really I'm hoping that one day the tuning software will have a scope tab!

Now THAT'S something to send Phil a PM about! (rubbing-chin-thoughtfully smiley)

Even if you use the sound card as the scope input (with the limited bandwidth), you can't use a software-only approach. You still need at least some hardware connected to the PC. And I doubt anyone could beat the price of the cheap Chinese USB scopes.

Jean

[24c]

...you can't use a software-only approach. You still need at least some hardware connected to the PC. And I doubt anyone could beat the price of the cheap Chinese USB scopes.

I know a company that does use a software approach, via USB connection to the ECU, but I totally agree, the cheap Chinese scopes are unbeatable. However, wouldn't it be great, if instead of opening some Mickey Mouse clunky cheap software package that came with your Chinese scope, TunerStudio had a scope tab that used the USB attached oscilloscope outputs.

I'd pay for the option, and it isn't much different to having a Bluetooth adapter that is guaranteed to work with TunerStudio etc.

Just a 2¢
Mike

[R100RT]

...you can't use a software-only approach. You still need at least some hardware connected to the PC. And I doubt anyone could beat the price of the cheap Chinese USB scopes.

I know a company that does use a software approach, via USB connection to the ECU, but I totally agree, the cheap Chinese scopes are unbeatable. However, wouldn't it be great, if instead of opening some Mickey Mouse clunky cheap software package that came with your Chinese scope, TunerStudio had a scope tab that used the USB attached oscilloscope outputs.

I'd pay for the option, and it isn't much different to having a Bluetooth adapter that is guaranteed to work with TunerStudio etc.

Just a 2¢
Mike

Mike, great ideas!
Your a long way over here from your usual posting hangout lol?
Lorne

[racingmini_mtl]

I know a company that does use a software approach, via USB connection to the ECU ...

But if you're trying to see why your ECU isn't seeing a tach signal (for example), I don't see how connecting to the ECU will do any good. Unless there is something I'm missing or there are inputs on the ECU that can be used as separate scope probe inputs. In any case, there is still some sort of hardware needed to read the analog signal; in this case that would be the ECU.

However, wouldn't it be great, if instead of opening some Mickey Mouse clunky cheap software package that came with your Chinese scope, TunerStudio had a scope tab that used the USB attached oscilloscope outputs.

That could be useful but I would suspect that it is a job that is much larger than what it could be worth to Phil. And I must say that I like to use independent software/hardware when troubleshooting to make sure that what I see is real and not some artifact; there's nothing more frustrating than chasing a ghost.

Jean

[24c]

Jean,

They can monitor the VR, Hall sensor outputs of the ECU plug via the USB connector that connects to the ECU, and visualise these in their software package, which is very clunky, littered with odd translations and totally different to the TunerStudio/MSExtra experience. I have used a few of their base models in my projects, and they are surprisingly robust, and very different from the MS2 experience.

I also agree it's nice to have separate stuff, but integrated solutions have their place too, and I also realise it's a big ask for Phil (some stuff is available from FTDI, but not in Java AFAIK), when he has more important stuff to do. It was only a suggestion, a little bit of brainstorming and a tease!
Back on the OP topic, this was an oscilloscope I liked that had useful software. Not too expensive, dual channel with a signal generator too.

Mike

[ReaperCustoms]

Thanks guys, I ended up buying one of these:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Hantek-PC-10 ... 54090e454a

Now to learn how to use it!

[DaveEFI]

Thanks guys, I ended up buying one of these:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Hantek-PC-10 ... 54090e454a

Now to learn how to use it!

I bought one of those recently too - but not yet used it. Would be good to hear how you get on with it - as the instructions don't look brilliant.

I also have a small hand held one - about the size of a phone - which has served me well enough for use on the car, but it would be handy to capture a pic of the display, hence getting the Hantek.

Can't see me replacing my ancient Tek 465B in the workshop, though. To get a new one of similar spec would cost a fortune.

[ReaperCustoms]

Will do Dave, im eagerly awaiting it.