6/30/2023 0 Comments Gabotronics xscope![]() Logic Analysers like this one, can be had much more cheaply - but careful research is required, as to which analysis software can be used with them - and which Operating Systems they run on. In real terms, that is much cheaper than the Topward was and has far more functionality. My current pride-and-joy, is a Siglent SDS 1052 DL - which currently retails at ~£230. Eventually, I upgraded/downgraded/changed to the Hantek 6022BE, which as mentioned earlier, being PC-based, was quite awkward to use. ISTR it was less than £300, but allowing for 30 years inflation, that was still a lot of money. My personal oscilloscope journey started with the Topward 7021, when Maplin started selling them in the late 1980's. It is I find it so much easier to twiddle with physical knobs and switches, than it is to hunt for the mouse and start interacting with a virtual version. You always get what you pay for, of course, but I found one huge difference between PC-based 'scopes and real ones - and that is in usability. ![]() That probably fits the bill for your ADC readings, but for the other examples you gave (Serial, IR PWM etc), a Logic Analyser might be more suitable. Of course that was also mainly true for traditional analogue 'scopes, but it's rather easier to "confuse" yourself with the subsampling artefacts of a digital scope.Ĭlick to expand.For working with Analogue signals, that vary with time, you need a 'scope - any scope, being better than no scope. Secondly, it is a rather slow "Sampling" 'scope which means that for "higher" frequencies (potentially not far into the kHz region) it needs a "periodic" (continuous) waveform and a reliable sync / trigger signal. Unlikely, particularly for typical PICaxe projects, but it could be a very expensive mistake. Since it connects directly to your computer (USB connection for data and power) there is a slight risk that you might "destroy" the PC if you do something really bad. There are probably other advantages but I had better mention a few disadvantages: Also, as it uses your computer's screen, it's easy to take a screenshot (Print Screen), the "User Interface" is quite good and it has a storage / persistence capability for slower signals. It has several strengths and weaknesses: Firstly, it has two channels (plus an External Sync capability) it's amazing how often a second (displayed) channel is useful and sometimes it's absolutely essential. For example, I used it for a forum thread HERE (end of post #1). Personally, I have the original "DPScope SE" which uses identical software and is basically the same, but built inside a "box" with connectors for 'scope probes, etc. I reduced the delay until I could see the desired effect above. The scope showed that on my first pass, the delay was too long, running over into the next half-cycle. The program delays for a decreasing time before firing the triac to provide a "soft start" to a (simulated) A.C. Running at SETFREQ M16, "PAUSE 1" takes 317 microseconds incrementing to PAUSE 2 adds 250 microseconds. This screen shot from DPScopeSE shows that the triac on-time (red signal) was ramping as desired after being triggered by the zero-crossing trigger (blue): I like that it's so tiny, especially compared to the 70-pound used monster I had 40 years ago.Ī few days ago I wanted to look at the timing of an AC "cycle slicing" program which was attempting to capture a zero-crossing trigger of a 60Hz (North American) AC signal (tested using a 12V AC wall plug transformer) to fire a triac for an increasing period within the 8.33ms half-cycle time (120 half cycles per second). The awesome functionality-to-size ratio is due, in part, to the ATXMEGA32A4U microcontroller on board.I don't need to use my DPScopeSE very often, but it's illuminating when I do. The scope itself obviously allows simultaneous sampling of analog and digital signals but also has several advanced trigger modes, XY mode for plotting Lissajous patterns, phase differences or V/I curves, Spectrum Analyzer with different windowing options and even an arbitrary waveform generator with sweep on all parameters. ![]() You can also connect it to your PC and use Gabotronics' XScopes software to control the device and view waveforms. The on-board graphic OLED matrix can display waveforms, measurements and menu systems. At only 1 x 1.6 inches, this oscilloscope can be plugged *directly into a breadboard. The XMEGA Xprotolab is exactly that: The first ever mixed signal oscilloscope, logic analyzer and arbitrary waveform generator in a DIP module. What you probably don't *imagine is a DIP package. When you think about a piece of equipment like a mixed signal oscilloscope you usually think of, well, a piece of equipment. ![]()
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