Oscilloscopes

A guide to oscilloscopes advising on which is the right scope for a particular application, which features are essential, what to look for and how to get the most out of your scope.

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Oscilloscopes are essential tools for checking circuit operation and diagnosing faults, and an enormous range of models is available. But which is the right scope for a particular application? Which features are essential, which not so important? This handy guide tells you not only what to look for, but how to get the most from your 'scope.


This new edition covers the latest improved models, including digital storage oscilloscopes, digital sampling oscilloscopes, time-domain reflectometers for use on metallic and optical transmission systems, and ultra high-speed single-shot event recorders. Other topics mentioned include the use of x/y and x/t plotters, thermal and dot matrix printers etc (whether built in or otherwise) as oscilloscope hardcopy output devices, and the use of personal computers with expansion cards providing oscilloscope or logic analyser facilities. Ian Hickman is one of the pen-names used by a professional electronics engineer of many years experience. BSc Hons, CEng, MIEE, MIEEE, a present and sometime member of various national and international standards committees concerned with equipment and systems level applications of electronics and communications. He is also the author of numerous articles in the technical press, and has written a number of books including 'Analog Electronics', 'Practical RF Handbook', 'EDN Designer's Companion' and 'Analog Circuits Cookbook', all of which are available from Butterworth-Heinemann.