PC Oscilloscope!

[jackdetect]

http://www.bitscope.com/

Is any make or buy it? Look like ideal for metal detectors, especially Pi.
I like to make my one measuring equipment. But they kit online store is very confusing.
Any experience with bitscope?
Jackdetect

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

Re: PC Oscilloscope!

I was just looking over PC based scopes yesterday but I'm undecided. I have an analog scope but these PC scopes are digital which is nice and you get the spetrum analyzer.

Here's a link to several pc bases scopes, anyone have a recommendation?

http://www.newwaveinstruments.com/resources/rf_microwave_resources/sections/product_sections/analog_digital_dso_sampling_oscilloscope.htm#PC%20 Based%20Oscilloscopes

[jackdetect]

Re: PC Oscilloscope!

Hi Charles,
Thanks for link. I find lot of quality units, but they are not kit projects.
I have collection of couple disabled oscilloscopes, whose can not repair.
I like Pc based oscilloscope, because having a lot of Pc around, it is easy to replace. I like bitscope because having 8 bit digital analyzer parallel with analog signals. He have best ratio between price and capability, I think.
Jackdetect.

[Dan Golden]

Re: PC Oscilloscope!

I had a Link scope for many years and it worked fine. the only thing you have to watch for in any of them is
response time - most fill up a buffer and it may not respond in strickly real-time
rise time - governs what you "see" on front end of a signal. If rise time is not adequate it would maybe miss vital data.
total bandwidth - even tho they say 100 MHZ the accuracy at that speed may be very poor. To get a good bandwidth PC scope needs to sample at least twice as fast as the stated maximum an preferrablly about 4 or 5 times stated bandwidth AND the buffer needs to get into the computer and displayed befor the next buffer.
amount of memory - most have a buffer that gets filled by the A2D then this gets fed to the computer. this governs many of the above parms.

In many cases a PC scope is all you need, Now that I got a good analog scope I wouldn't go back to the PC scope except for doing a Fourier transform on the data to get a frequency spectrum (spectrum analyzer). You'll pay 1/2 or more for a PC scope versus a comparable analog scope. I'd say wait and save few more $$ and get a decent analog. $1300 buy a very nice analog. I got a Hameg.

[jackdetect]

Re: PC Oscilloscope!

Thanks for input. Hameg is excellent oscilloscope.
You right about accuracy. But detectors are always pickup lot of noise which having not periodical nature. That noise in useful signal, not allow to utilizing accuracy of oscilloscope, I think.
I only want to give emphasis on combination analog signals, and logic analyzer, because any modern metal detectors having digital command system. It is nice to see digital command lines, and analog effect of this, in same time. I agree, it is possible with two signal analog oscilloscope, but with bitscope, you can see all metal detector digital control lines, and four analog, in same time. Sampling frequency can not be critical for metal detectors, I think.
Can you imagine, all important signals of detector, on you monitor, in the same time!
But more serious problem for me is, how to prevent oscilloscope or PC EM noise, which having lot of influence on metal detectors in lab.
Best regards,
Jackdetect.

[KT315]

uno PC

hello,
if you are still not in course, a russian magazine has released an article on oscilloscope based of controller. it has even 2 channel. must be a good thing in any field Project tuning.

yours

[jackdetect]

Re: Learn and utility!

Hi KT315,
I will like to see any new oscilloscope project. Please send me the link. Lot of people can not understand a point of my interest. Most of new approach to metal detector design depending of A/D conversion. I try to learn, and make something useful, in the same time.
Thanks.
Best wishes,
Jackdetect.

[Carl-NC]

Re: PC Oscilloscope!

I have an Analog Devices 14-bit 100MS/s ADC eval board, LabView 6, and just bought a National Instruments data acquisition board. This will give the ability to capture waveforms and perform FFTs, but not sure about being able to emulate triggering. Also, no variable gain front-end, though that would be fairly easy to add.

--Carl