{"id":15207,"date":"2020-07-09T23:18:09","date_gmt":"2020-07-09T21:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cornay.co.za\/wp\/?p=15207"},"modified":"2020-07-09T23:18:09","modified_gmt":"2020-07-09T21:18:09","slug":"tablet-oscilloscope-claims-100-mhz-but-is-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cornay.co.za\/wp\/2020\/07\/09\/tablet-oscilloscope-claims-100-mhz-but-is-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Tablet Oscilloscope Claims 100 MHz, But Is It?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[LearnElectronics] grabbed a FNIRSI tablet oscilloscope<\/a> from a vendor from China. The device has a seven-inch touchscreen and claims to be a two-channel 100 MHz scope. But is it? Watch the video below and you’ll see.<\/p>\n

Spoiler alert: [LearnElectronics] was skeptical of the 100 MHz claim and it looks like it is more like a 30 MHz analog bandwidth. Despite that, it does seem like a pretty capable 30 MHz scope in a very handy form factor and a very cheap price: as little as $120 or so, depending on where you shop.<\/p>\n

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The test setup was a bunch of can oscillators and up to about 30 MHz, the scope did OK. After that, the results were less than stellar. However, we aren’t sure that the test setup — on a solderless breadboard — wasn’t part of the problem and we’d have liked to see the test done with some known good quality probes<\/a> as that can also contribute to bad readings even if the scope’s circuitry is up to par. We’ve seen reviews of these cheap probes<\/a> that suggest they aren’t bad, but they aren’t actually all they claim, either.<\/p>\n

The verdict? [LearnElectronics] likes it for a 30 MHz cheap scope. Of course, cheap is a relative term here. You can get a much better scope, but it will probably cost more than this one. For most of what you are probably doing with a scope, this seems like it would be adequate. On the other hand, throw in a few hundred extra dollars and you could have more channels, a more likely chance of measuring high-frequency signals, and probably enhanced measurement capabilities, too.<\/p>\n

We will admit, though, having a portable battery-operated scope can be super handy sometimes, and you don’t always need the highest speed. You probably use your cheap multimeter more than your six and a half digit bench scope, too, right?<\/p>\n

While the screen isn’t large, it is more convenient than a tube full of flames<\/a>. And while it may not quite make 100 MHz, it is cheaper than one that will do 100 GHz<\/a>.<\/p>\n