Alan Wolke W2AEW from Tektronix joins us to talk Oscilloscopes. Alan is a field application engineer for Tektronix, the world's most well-known oscilloscope maker. He also has a YouTube channel that is chock full of great information for those wanting to better understanding oscilloscopes and test equipment in general. Alan joins us for a two part session to deep drive on oscilloscope features and applications. In part one, we introduce the oscilloscope, what it's used for, some introductory concepts, and some comparisons of analog and digital scopes. We also discuss probe quality.

Alan Wolke W2AEW

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/w2aew

QRZ - http://www.qrz.com/db/W2AEW

Twitter - https://twitter.com/alanattek

Rigol DS-1XXX Z Series:  https://www.rigolna.com/products/digital-oscilloscopes/ds1000z/

Great community support from http://www.eevblog.com/forum/

Inexpensive Used Tektronix or HP Scope, Tektronix 465B

Used Tektronix, Hameg, Leader, Kenwood, Hitachi

Don't buy a service grade scope!

Stay away from Vacuum tube models!

Tektronix 465, 475, 485

Tektronix 2215 (2200 series in general) 2225, 2400 series 2445, 2465

Make sure probes are rated for frequency or greater and make sure compensation range contains the input capacitance of the scope

Find Dave Jones video on Proper Probe Usage (how not to blow up your scope!) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaELqAo4kkQ

Pico Scopes:  https://www.picotech.com/oscilloscope/2000/picoscope-2000-overview

Bit Scope:  http://www.bitscope.com

Saleae:  https://www.saleae.com

Digilent Analog Discover:  http://store.digilentinc.com/analog-discovery-2-100msps-usb-oscilloscope-logic-analyzer-and-variable-power-supply/

Red Pitaya:  http://redpitaya.com

Alan's Best Suggested OScope Video Links for Show Notes

Video Index PDF file

Basic operating and controls tutorials:

• #242: How to use an oscilloscope on antique radios | NJARC
• #160: Oscilloscope Basics, and how they can be used in the hamshack | tutorial
• #11: Tektronix Oscilloscope Triggering controls and their usage
• #10: AC / DC Coupling on an Oscilloscope
• #238: Oscilloscope Vertical Position and Offset explained
• #206: Importance of 10X Probe Compensation with your Oscilloscope
• #9: Basic 1X and 10X Oscilloscope Probe tutorial
• #179: How to make a peak to peak voltage measurement on a scope
• #96: Tutorial on Digital Oscilloscope sample rate, record length and data processing
• #69: Basics of Analog Oscilloscope Bandwidth
• #68: Oscilloscope Probe Ground lead length affects on signal quality
• #65: Basics of using FFT on an oscilloscope
• #43: Analog Oscilloscope Basics: Making a Frequency Measurement
• #35: Using the ADD/INVERT mode on an analog scope to view differential voltages
• #33: Oscilloscope AUTO Triggering explained
• #31: Analog oscilloscope ALT, CHOP, ADD, INVERT vertical controls
• #25: Analog Oscilloscope bandwidth considerations

Some Useful Applications of a scope in the hamshack and radio workbench:

• #90: Measure Capacitors and Inductors with an Oscilloscope and some basic parts
• #72: Simple Station Monitor for Ham Radio using an Oscilloscope
• #7: Monitor your Ham Radio transmitter with an oscilloscope
• #8: Two-tone test of SSB transmitter output
• #37: Use a scope to measure the length and impedance of coax
• #162: How to measure coax velocity factor VF and impedance Z
• #138: How to Measure Output Impedance
• #135: Measure Capacitor ESR with an Oscilloscope and Function Generator
• #112: Use an Oscilloscope and Signal Generator help tune an HF Antenna, measure complex impedance