Sometimes you see a video in your youtube subscriptions and know even before you watch it at all, that you are going to upvote it (before watching). Thanks for the video.
I'm too new at this to know the difference between wrong and right, electrolitically speaking that is. The world digs your videos! Thank you Alan! Cheers!
Also, make sure that the probe you are using is connected... can't tell how many times I didn't understand why I couldn't see anything... until I noticed the OTHER probe.. lol, but seriously now, great video! I knew a couple of these but it's good as a reminder!
Another reason for wrong readings is the following : Some people like to protect there scope, and place the scope behind a isolationtransformer or use a 2 lead powercable without grounding. When you remove (like a 2 lead powercable) or disconnect the groundpin (like a isolationtransformer does) in combination with a modern scope, then the safety capacitors in the EMI filter can't unload through the missing groundpin, but place up to 50% of the mains voltage on the negative part of the BNC connectors. Your negative lead of the scope is now no longer a 0Volt potential, which wil result in faulty readings (not to mention that circuits can be destroyed by this). Nice video :-)
I did a video on AC and DC coupling several years ago, and how interesting it is that you often use AC coupling when looking at DC signals (such as ripple on a power supply) and you use DC coupling when looking at AC signals (such as looking at signal quality in an amplifier). th-cam.com/video/Hkq-fvb5-NI/w-d-xo.html
I was working with a small am modulated signal and the carrier frequency didn't sync up with the modulating signal. Averaging made the whole thing disappear. Took a bit to realize what was going on
@@andrewjeddeloh4088 yep.. A combination of average acquisition, ac trigger and correct trigger hold off can be gold to lock on small signals like these
It is the best analog scope that was ever made. HP went into designing digital scopes because it could not make an analog scope any better than this one. But this scope is large, seriously large, and takes a lot of depth on the bench.
Great video Alan, I've fallen foul of all of these even though I'm well aware of them. Usually it just because of rushing and not concentrating and so seeing this video is a good crib sheet to check the obvious! Thanks.
I recall all those years at my bench i ran a T-piece BNC on one of the scope inputs, with a 75ohm BNC term on one & my probe the other, ready for composite video environment signals.
Great video as always from Alan. Yes I have made everyone of these mistakes, over the years. Thank goodness this channel exists. BTW I have a Tektronix 465B with a DM44 and it is a prize possession. However, my Tektronix 2465 is the scope I use the most. Digital scopes are fine, I own a few, but every serious scope user should have an analog scope,
Great reminder video! I sometimes forget and scratch my head, then it dawns on me :) Excellent videos as always Allen. Still love the old 465 CRT scope. I have repairs to do on mine. Seems like the power supply has voltages low or missing. I'm getting some odd traces and low brightness. One day I have to open it up and start checking the power supply rails. Thankfully, I have a 2465B as my backup. Not much of a fan of LCD scopes.
I'm an old metrology tech who use to repair all sorts of test equipment while in the Air Force and use to repair and calibrate those scopes. My favorite was the Tektronics 453 with its small screen. How many times had you replaced the tunnel diode in the trigger circuit? If your scope can't trigger, it's most likely the tunnel diode. I'd also lie to say, that scope appears to be in excellent condition. I do miss them.
Hi, Alan. I'm relatively new to your channel and am loving it. I have a 2465B Briteye, which some may deem overkill for a newbie, but 'starter' or 'beginner' anything never blew my skirt up. It's just as easy to learn on the most one can afford, and you spend less in the long run. I'm am working toward tube-radio restoration and your videos are really helping the learning process. Thank you so much for your willingness to share your vast knowledge.
If your scope is a BrightEye, then it *must* be a 2467. If it is really a 2465B, then it is not a BrightEye. The BrightEye scope had a very special CRT called a Micro-Channel-Plate CRT which gave an incredibly fast writing rate. It also tripled the price of the scope. Both are excellent scopes, so congratulations!
That is a very common error too, but this video was focused mainly on amplitude issues. I'll keep that in mind for another video on digital scope common errors.
In 52 sec you have just explained about 15 years of hard knocks! LOL! My boss keeps asking me if I can ship out my 200 MHz scope to different places around the country. I think I will set up a training program where everyone I ship to have to watch your videos here. ;) LOL! Of course I will have as part of the curriculum that they give you a thumbs up for each :)
A working 400-series? That's a unicorn, mate! Loved the format, never once touched one that wasn't beat to hell. Used to see them at auctions all the time, and people would bid them up toward list price when they were physically broken. I do love my 7904 tho.
Most every experts run into one of this problems once in a while. Very good explained! It does not need 60min vids to say important things. 73 de Olaf, DK6KF.
Excellent video as always, Alan! Brief, to the point and excellent content. I have a 465 on the line to be repaired (still unknown state), but I am glad to see yours still in great shape!
Thank you. I use to also compensate my probes sending up, down, up signals to both to see if they have the same response and finish in the same position.
Oh wow! At first glance, I thought you were using the FE's favourite scope, the Techtronix 468, then I saw it was a 465, with which I'm not familiar. Looks like the basic scope is the same, but the 468 had an 'add on slab' on the 'top/back' which did all the on screen measuring and special function cursors. I lugged that damn thing around for probably twenty years? But the thing was, I used it almost every visit. It never went wrong, it displayed beautifully and it would trigger on a flea fart, but only if you wanted it to. I always found HP scopes to be non intuitive and hell on wheels to trigger. I had to hand back my 468 when I got deeper into MRI (from CT) because it didn't have the bandwidth for 3 Tesla. In its place, I got a Fluke 199 digital, which was kinda neat, but........it wasn't a 468. Then it started to break down due to power supply problems and it never really worked after that, despite visits to our repair people. The 468 is dead. Long live the 468.
I used to use the “var” knob for 6dB or 3dB measurements. Set it to full scale using the knob then adjust the frequency till it hits the -3dB line on analog scopes. Or the other way round, adjust the reading to the -3dB line then when it hits full scale you have increased by 3dB. Just remember to turn it off when you’re done so that next time you use the scope it reads correctly.
Your video content is excellent and while I’m a pretty smart guy I am not an engineer, electrician or computer whiz, however your explanations bring it down to a level that I can follow and understand, thank for your methodologies used in your craft here!! I have 2 questions of non tech nature. 1. What is that item you are using as a pointer as you describe your schematics? 2. What is the device your are using to write on, some sort of what appears to be an e-ink tablet Again thanks so much - AC3D
Alan all your vids are great to watch. Have you ever thought of doing some on baluns (maybe you have already)? There is a lot of confusion out there on this topic. Would be good to have a clear guide on materials, construction and testing for CMR and SWR etc. Regards GM4GLG.
Hi OM. Why are Tek probes and others so sensitive to "hand effect" especially on higher frequencies ? I noticed strong amplitude variations on the scope when touching the probe cable on most probes. This also varies greatly depending on the distance from either end I touch the cable. Phil FM5GB. Regards.
I am five for five on these plus one. On my 475 the sense ring was filthy dirty so much so that the pin on the 10x probe was not making contact at all. I bit of cleaner and some hard cotton swabs handled that.
Wow, I'm now actually thinking about checking this for the circuit I was working on last night... I'm trying to build an avalanche-TDR and it's not really making any pulses. I am trying to probe the power supply, the TDR itself, and only see very little oscillations - way less than I think I should. I of course use a 10x probe for the >100V, but I still think it's not working, all those signals are a thousand times smaller, and sometimes not the correct frequency!
I have a question and I would like to get your support. I notice that when I do matching for PI configuration, the series part is capacitor, when I solder it, the impact looks like an parallel inductor, although the SRF is above desired frequency. What cause this behavior?
What scope would you recommend for the budget-minded with a bandwidth of 1GHz? I want to start getting into some UHF stuff, and the typical 100MHz scope won't cut it, let alone my 30MHz BK Precision scope. I'm looking not to spend more than $500, but can go up if there is nothing viable within that range; I'll just have to wait longer before committing to it.
I don't think you'll find any 1GHz scope that is going to be less than $500, even on the used market. You may have to look into building a down-converter (mixer and oscillator) to shift your UHF signals down into a frequency range where a lower frequency scope can be used.
W2aew can you make a video lesson focused on examples of using the vernier VAR control when would you use it besides measuring the rise time and fall time?The Sense Ring on the Oscope Probe changed automatically the volts per division by the function generations output amplitude voltage. How does the Sense Ring know to change the volts per division automatically depending on the voltage level driving the Oscope Channel input? is there a comparator circuit built inside the Sense Ring?
My video that shows how to measure inductors and capacitors with a scope is another example where you use the VAR control to setup 8 division full scale reading so that you can measure RC time constant by seeing when the voltage crosses the 5th division (th-cam.com/video/74fz9iwZ_sM/w-d-xo.html). The sense ring ONLY works with probes with the indicator pin - it does not work with simple coaxial connections to a function generator.
Yes the Sense ring only works with probes with the indicator pin. What I mean is that when you adjust the Function Generators amplitude output higher the Oscope with the indicator pin will "automatically" change the Oscope volts per division without you manually using your hand to change the volts per division dial. Adjusting the Function generators output level will automatically switch the dial position without using your hand manually. I think the Indicator pin has some type of signal comparator built inside the probe or Oscope to do this?
One more reason. If you measure your AC voltage with a DMM, it typically shows the RMS voltage. But the oscilloscope will show a sqrt(2) times higher amplitude.
I know, right? I saw that thing in this video and thought, "What!? Did Tektronix contract with Rigol to build their scope?" I guess that's like when you tell your kid that the song they're hearing is a Beatles tune...
Nice and informative video Alan, I really love all your videos, Thanks. To Alan and anyone else that may be able to give me guidance as I am just learning. I have a Tek TBS1052B beginner scope and I do not want to damage it. I am into model railroad and use Digital Command Control of the layout. As the signal is a form of squarewave both rails are sending the system commands to both rails. Because there is no negative rail as such, how would I connect the scope to see the signals being sent?
DCC is Alternating current with short and long pulses, if I remember right. It is going to be differential so the easy way is to use two probes and set the scope to differential mode.
As he says; a low pass filter. A square wave is the sum of all odd harmonics in proportion to their order; 1/3 of 3rd harmonic, 1/5 of 5th harmonic and so on. So you cut everything above the 2nd harmonic (which won't be there anyway) and viola! Sine wave. However, depending on how much power you are putting into it the circuit may be reflecting quite a lot back into the source (or dissipating it).
I have MICSIG STO1104C oscilloscope. I was measuring Vpp and the generator was set at 1V, but my Micsig said it was 1.3xx Vpp! So I measured it with my KEITHLEY DMM6500 and it was measuring 1Vpp! So I made sure I had everything set right, tried all 4 channels (one at a time) and I was getting about 1/3 more volts an all of them! So I took a probe from my other 100Mhz scope (Aktakom ADS-2111MV) and it was measuring 1Vpp! Are the included probes not accurate? Micsig is usually good quality, I think, so I don't understand what the heck is going on! (I don't like that the original probes are fixed at 10X and can't switch to 1X at all! Thanks!
@@w2aew Thanks for your quick reply! I did, and I also tried to change frequency settings... Redone the autocalibration that is one of the options, connected the probes, one at a time and connected it to the provided test port... I also purchased a new set of probes, from Amazon - Autoutlet P6100 universal probes and tested them also. Results: At 1Vpp from generator: DC-Coupling - 10X - Bandwidth is FULL - measures 1.2 to 1.225 Vpp; Next, all the same but HIGHPASS - I get 2.2 to 2.224 Vpp; Low Pass I get 1.02 to 1.04 Vpp. Have a great day!
what if you stick the probe on 230V AC? is it gonna explode the oscilloscope or it will read the peak to peak voltage, frequency etc? ( i don't own oscilloscope and never used one, im just a hobbyist in electronics and im interested to get one)
Nice and neat. All the extremely useful tips concerning scope probes in one video. I need to find a way how to hack my oscilloscope to indicate that I have a 10x probe attached. Or just get a Tektronix :D Thank you!
I never even realized that my scope can use the auto 10x probes. Your videos are SO much better than reading the instruction manual!
Perfectly explained. BTW, your 465B looks immaculate. One can tell you care a lot about the maintenance of your equipment.
That's what I thought!
Being an engineer for Tektronics probably helps him some too...
So even after doing this for 40 plus years, it is a nice to review the basics. Thanks.
Sometimes you see a video in your youtube subscriptions and know even before you watch it at all, that you are going to upvote it (before watching). Thanks for the video.
Great video! I graduated with an EE degree just last year and I wish they had shown us a video like this... So much time spent debugging...
I'm too new at this to know the difference between wrong and right, electrolitically speaking that is. The world digs your videos! Thank you Alan! Cheers!
Once again a clear, informative review of some basics that likely we've all messed up on in haste and wondered 'What's Wrong' . Thanks
Also, make sure that the probe you are using is connected... can't tell how many times I didn't understand why I couldn't see anything... until I noticed the OTHER probe.. lol, but seriously now, great video! I knew a couple of these but it's good as a reminder!
I've done that a few times. That's one reason why I try to keep in the habit of putting the colored rings on the probes.
Sometimes it's a good idea to backtrack to the basics. Especially when someone (like me) uses a scope infrequently.
Having the notes you’ve written in PDF is very useful, thanks great one.
Most of my videos have a PDF of the notes.
Another reason for wrong readings is the following :
Some people like to protect there scope, and place the scope behind a isolationtransformer or use a 2 lead powercable without grounding.
When you remove (like a 2 lead powercable) or disconnect the groundpin (like a isolationtransformer does) in combination with a modern scope,
then the safety capacitors in the EMI filter can't unload through the missing groundpin, but place up to 50% of the mains voltage on the negative part of the BNC connectors.
Your negative lead of the scope is now no longer a 0Volt potential, which wil result in faulty readings (not to mention that circuits can be destroyed by this).
Nice video :-)
This video took me back to the 70's classroom days. Thanks for the memories and refresher. Take care.
Nice ! Yesterday I posted a video about average acquisition and AC coupling, it can trick you some times.. And man.. the 465 is so beautiful
I did a video on AC and DC coupling several years ago, and how interesting it is that you often use AC coupling when looking at DC signals (such as ripple on a power supply) and you use DC coupling when looking at AC signals (such as looking at signal quality in an amplifier). th-cam.com/video/Hkq-fvb5-NI/w-d-xo.html
I was working with a small am modulated signal and the carrier frequency didn't sync up with the modulating signal. Averaging made the whole thing disappear. Took a bit to realize what was going on
@@andrewjeddeloh4088 yep.. A combination of average acquisition, ac trigger and correct trigger hold off can be gold to lock on small signals like these
Thanks Alan. Glad you're back with new videos!
More videos. Want more videos. Alan! The internet is boring, it's lacking substance. Your videos are gold.
Man, I want a nice analog scope like your 465. It's good to see you posting general tips like this Alan.
Thanks.
-Jake
It is the best analog scope that was ever made. HP went into designing digital scopes because it could not make an analog scope any better than this one. But this scope is large, seriously large, and takes a lot of depth on the bench.
@@yoksel99
Thanks, I wasn't thinking about the size. I'm accustomed to my tiny entry level Rigol. Space is a commodity in my tiny lab.
Great video Alan, I've fallen foul of all of these even though I'm well aware of them. Usually it just because of rushing and not concentrating and so seeing this video is a good crib sheet to check the obvious! Thanks.
I recall all those years at my bench i ran a T-piece BNC on one of the scope inputs, with a 75ohm BNC term on one & my probe the other, ready for composite video environment signals.
Great video as always from Alan. Yes I have made everyone of these mistakes, over the years. Thank goodness this channel exists. BTW I have a Tektronix 465B with a DM44 and it is a prize possession. However, my Tektronix 2465 is the scope I use the most. Digital scopes are fine, I own a few, but every serious scope user should have an analog scope,
Great reminder video! I sometimes forget and scratch my head, then it dawns on me :) Excellent videos as always Allen. Still love the old 465 CRT scope. I have repairs to do on mine. Seems like the power supply has voltages low or missing. I'm getting some odd traces and low brightness. One day I have to open it up and start checking the power supply rails. Thankfully, I have a 2465B as my backup. Not much of a fan of LCD scopes.
I'm an old metrology tech who use to repair all sorts of test equipment while in the Air Force and use to repair and calibrate those scopes. My favorite was the Tektronics 453 with its small screen. How many times had you replaced the tunnel diode in the trigger circuit? If your scope can't trigger, it's most likely the tunnel diode. I'd also lie to say, that scope appears to be in excellent condition. I do miss them.
Hi, Alan. I'm relatively new to your channel and am loving it. I have a 2465B Briteye, which some may deem overkill for a newbie, but 'starter' or 'beginner' anything never blew my skirt up. It's just as easy to learn on the most one can afford, and you spend less in the long run. I'm am working toward tube-radio restoration and your videos are really helping the learning process. Thank you so much for your willingness to share your vast knowledge.
If your scope is a BrightEye, then it *must* be a 2467. If it is really a 2465B, then it is not a BrightEye. The BrightEye scope had a very special CRT called a Micro-Channel-Plate CRT which gave an incredibly fast writing rate. It also tripled the price of the scope. Both are excellent scopes, so congratulations!
@@w2aew Typo 2467
Hey, your still rolling. I really enjoyed (and learned some things) your older vid's. You communicate perfectly
you should include aliasing in digital scopes.
That is a very common error too, but this video was focused mainly on amplitude issues. I'll keep that in mind for another video on digital scope common errors.
@@w2aew yes, make a video on DSO errors too, please.
In 52 sec you have just explained about 15 years of hard knocks! LOL! My boss keeps asking me if I can ship out my 200 MHz scope to different places around the country. I think I will set up a training program where everyone I ship to have to watch your videos here. ;) LOL! Of course I will have as part of the curriculum that they give you a thumbs up for each :)
A working 400-series? That's a unicorn, mate! Loved the format, never once touched one that wasn't beat to hell. Used to see them at auctions all the time, and people would bid them up toward list price when they were physically broken. I do love my 7904 tho.
Great video - gets right to the point and clearly explains each issue without a ton of extra words getting in the way.
I appreciate this video very much. No other video that I have seen emphasize these important aspects all together. Thanks a lot and congrats.
take care of yourself, my teacher, I've been waiting for your updates
Most every experts run into one of this problems once in a while. Very good explained! It does not need 60min vids to say important things. 73 de Olaf, DK6KF.
Excellent video as always, Alan! Brief, to the point and excellent content.
I have a 465 on the line to be repaired (still unknown state), but I am glad to see yours still in great shape!
Yep, you have a fine selection of videos and just added one. Big thanks.
Thank you. I use to also compensate my probes sending up, down, up signals to both to see if they have the same response and finish in the same position.
Oh wow! At first glance, I thought you were using the FE's favourite scope, the Techtronix 468, then I saw it was a 465, with which I'm not familiar. Looks like the basic scope is the same, but the 468 had an 'add on slab' on the 'top/back' which did all the on screen measuring and special function cursors. I lugged that damn thing around for probably twenty years? But the thing was, I used it almost every visit. It never went wrong, it displayed beautifully and it would trigger on a flea fart, but only if you wanted it to. I always found HP scopes to be non intuitive and hell on wheels to trigger.
I had to hand back my 468 when I got deeper into MRI (from CT) because it didn't have the bandwidth for 3 Tesla. In its place, I got a Fluke 199 digital, which was kinda neat, but........it wasn't a 468. Then it started to break down due to power supply problems and it never really worked after that, despite visits to our repair people. The 468 is dead. Long live the 468.
Yep, I've made every one of these errors. Thank you for the reminder. Excellent explanation.
I used to use the “var” knob for 6dB or 3dB measurements. Set it to full scale using the knob then adjust the frequency till it hits the -3dB line on analog scopes. Or the other way round, adjust the reading to the -3dB line then when it hits full scale you have increased by 3dB. Just remember to turn it off when you’re done so that next time you use the scope it reads correctly.
That 465B is in such fine condition, it looks like it came from a museum!
I've had it for about 30 years - it was in pretty good shape when I got it, and has had a pretty easy life since then.
Your video content is excellent and while I’m a pretty smart guy I am not an engineer, electrician or computer whiz, however your explanations bring it down to a level that I can follow and understand, thank for your methodologies used in your craft here!! I have 2 questions of non tech nature.
1. What is that item you are using as a pointer as you describe your schematics?
2. What is the device your are using to write on, some sort of what appears to be an e-ink tablet
Again thanks so much - AC3D
My "pointer" is an old, broken oscilloscope probe. The writing tablet is an e-ink tablet from www.remarkable.com
Thanks for the video! Reason #5 already trapped me once or twice :-)
Thank you. It's easy to make those mistakes.
Still one of the best electronics videos in TH-cam! Thanks... although this was more of a reminder to me. Still highly valued content!!
You have a very good resonance 🙏 👍
Brilliant! Very helpful scope tips
I never knew a scop that age had X10 detection. Great scope.
thank you. That probe calibration trick I never knew about
Nice. The last one I didn't even think about for sine waves but makes perfect sense.
Excellent, Alan! More, please and thank you.
Alan all your vids are great to watch. Have you ever thought of doing some on baluns (maybe you have already)? There is a lot of confusion out there on this topic. Would be good to have a clear guide on materials, construction and testing for CMR and SWR etc. Regards GM4GLG.
PS: fond memories of technicians at Martin-Marietta (Waterton, CO) routinely showing engineers how to use a scope properly. ^_^
Great video, especially the compensation bit at the end!
That is probably the #1 most common mistake --- many, many people lose the little screwdriver and never compensate their 10x probes.
Hi Alan,
Nice concise explanations and I have made a few of those mistakes. :-) Stay safe. 73 WB3BJU
#6 uncalibrated scope, that got me once (TDS3012)
Great video, great tips. The 2x one gets me many times! Thanks & 73. Mike (K2ZAD)
Outstanding video, many thanks for sharing. Take care
Hi OM. Why are Tek probes and others so sensitive to "hand effect" especially on higher frequencies ?
I noticed strong amplitude variations on the scope when touching the probe cable on most probes. This also varies
greatly depending on the distance from either end I touch the cable.
Phil FM5GB. Regards.
Tektronix probes have quite a bit of probe in front of the coax shield. The capacitance of your hand will de-tune the probe.
Hi Alan, Yes I've been guilty of one or three of these points Guilty as charged,, really good reminder.
73 Paul de M0BSW
Love your videos like this! They’re really helpful for we mere mortal newbies. Lol. 👍
I am five for five on these plus one. On my 475 the sense ring was filthy dirty so much so that the pin on the 10x probe was not making contact at all. I bit of cleaner and some hard cotton swabs handled that.
Enjoyed the tutorial Alan.
Great tips, thank you!
Dude your channel rocks. So much good info here.
My personal nemesis are switchable 1x/10x probes. I banned them from my workbench and life is good again
Again, well done video and explanation - simple and to the point! Thank you again for your videos!
first time i've seen your channel. good stuff sir. SUBSCRIBED
What writing tablet are you using?
Wow, I'm now actually thinking about checking this for the circuit I was working on last night...
I'm trying to build an avalanche-TDR and it's not really making any pulses. I am trying to probe the power supply, the TDR itself, and only see very little oscillations - way less than I think I should.
I of course use a 10x probe for the >100V, but I still think it's not working, all those signals are a thousand times smaller, and sometimes not the correct frequency!
I have a question and I would like to get your support. I notice that when I
do matching for PI configuration, the series part is capacitor, when I
solder it, the impact looks like an parallel inductor, although the SRF is above
desired frequency. What cause this behavior?
Uraaaa! New video! Awesome! Respect from Russia! ;)
Здравствуйте )
ryan.m Hello! I subscribed in your channel too. Have a nice day!)
Thank you for the refresher! Loved the video, thumbs up and subscribed
welcome back Alan! Nice video too :)
What I found amazing is that all the fixes or dummy reminders are covered on old Tectronix scopes and have been a victim of your last fix.
w2aew, Thank you for your educational videos. It's very valuable information delivered in a straightforward and practical way.
Memories, 30 years ago
What scope would you recommend for the budget-minded with a bandwidth of 1GHz? I want to start getting into some UHF stuff, and the typical 100MHz scope won't cut it, let alone my 30MHz BK Precision scope. I'm looking not to spend more than $500, but can go up if there is nothing viable within that range; I'll just have to wait longer before committing to it.
I don't think you'll find any 1GHz scope that is going to be less than $500, even on the used market. You may have to look into building a down-converter (mixer and oscillator) to shift your UHF signals down into a frequency range where a lower frequency scope can be used.
@@w2aew Okay thanks, I'd never thought about that. I'll definitely look into it.
Thank you. Glen
W2aew can you make a video lesson focused on examples of using the vernier VAR control when would you use it besides measuring the rise time and fall time?The Sense Ring on the Oscope Probe changed automatically the volts per division by the function generations output amplitude voltage. How does the Sense Ring know to change the volts per division automatically depending on the voltage level driving the Oscope Channel input? is there a comparator circuit built inside the Sense Ring?
My video that shows how to measure inductors and capacitors with a scope is another example where you use the VAR control to setup 8 division full scale reading so that you can measure RC time constant by seeing when the voltage crosses the 5th division (th-cam.com/video/74fz9iwZ_sM/w-d-xo.html). The sense ring ONLY works with probes with the indicator pin - it does not work with simple coaxial connections to a function generator.
Yes the Sense ring only works with probes with the indicator pin. What I mean is that when you adjust the Function Generators amplitude output higher the Oscope with the indicator pin will "automatically" change the Oscope volts per division without you manually using your hand to change the volts per division dial. Adjusting the Function generators output level will automatically switch the dial position without using your hand manually. I think the Indicator pin has some type of signal comparator built inside the probe or Oscope to do this?
Nice explanation
Great reminders!
One more reason. If you measure your AC voltage with a DMM, it typically shows the RMS voltage. But the oscilloscope will show a sqrt(2) times higher amplitude.
The sqrt(2) only holds for sinewaves. Also, beware that the AC measurement frequency range of most DMMs is quite limited.
The tektronix tds 2014 really shows how much rigol riped off the interface design from the tek scopes.
I know, right? I saw that thing in this video and thought, "What!? Did Tektronix contract with Rigol to build their scope?" I guess that's like when you tell your kid that the song they're hearing is a Beatles tune...
@@MichaelSchwagerPlace the Beatles never made an original song in their entire career though
Nice and informative video Alan, I really love all your videos, Thanks. To Alan and anyone else that may be able to give me guidance as I am just learning. I have a Tek TBS1052B beginner scope and I do not want to damage it.
I am into model railroad and use Digital Command Control of the layout.
As the signal is a form of squarewave both rails are sending the system commands to both rails.
Because there is no negative rail as such, how would I connect the scope to see the signals being sent?
DCC is Alternating current with short and long pulses, if I remember right. It is going to be differential so the easy way is to use two probes and set the scope to differential mode.
@@thomasmaughan4798 Thank you Thomas. I will have a look now
I came here to waste some time before sleep, accidentally learned how to use an oscilloscope.
There are even 100X probes that one got me the first time I used that one LOL.
Thanks Alan. Next question: why is there so much 60Hz noise on my signal?
Yeah, should have included "always connect your ground lead"...
Great advice for young players, have shared with our ham club's email reflector recommending folks watch. TNX Alan! 73 - Dino KLØS
Another one is X1 probe bandwidth. You can have a 500 MHz oscilloscope and if you use the probe in X1 adjust you would get errors at 30 MHz.
Of course, 1x probe bandwidth is rarely more than 10 or 20MHz max - often it is less than 10MHz.
Hahaha, first reason ‘user’ (me!) taking the reading.
I wish I were your neighbor. Thanks for the lesson.
Sir,could you make a video on designing a circuit to 'convert a square wave into a sine wave'.
Low pass filter
As he says; a low pass filter. A square wave is the sum of all odd harmonics in proportion to their order; 1/3 of 3rd harmonic, 1/5 of 5th harmonic and so on. So you cut everything above the 2nd harmonic (which won't be there anyway) and viola! Sine wave. However, depending on how much power you are putting into it the circuit may be reflecting quite a lot back into the source (or dissipating it).
I have MICSIG STO1104C oscilloscope. I was measuring Vpp and the generator was set at 1V, but my Micsig said it was 1.3xx Vpp! So I measured it with my KEITHLEY DMM6500 and it was measuring 1Vpp! So I made sure I had everything set right, tried all 4 channels (one at a time) and I was getting about 1/3 more volts an all of them! So I took a probe from my other 100Mhz scope (Aktakom ADS-2111MV) and it was measuring 1Vpp! Are the included probes not accurate? Micsig is usually good quality, I think, so I don't understand what the heck is going on! (I don't like that the original probes are fixed at 10X and can't switch to 1X at all! Thanks!
It sounds like your MICSIG probes aren't properly compensated. Have you compensated them on this scope?
@@w2aew Thanks for your quick reply!
I did, and I also tried to change frequency settings... Redone the autocalibration that is one of the options, connected the probes, one at a time and connected it to the provided test port... I also purchased a new set of probes, from Amazon - Autoutlet P6100 universal probes and tested them also. Results: At 1Vpp from generator: DC-Coupling - 10X - Bandwidth is FULL - measures 1.2 to 1.225 Vpp; Next, all the same but HIGHPASS - I get 2.2 to 2.224 Vpp; Low Pass I get 1.02 to 1.04 Vpp.
Have a great day!
Thx great! Could you make a video on oscillator measurements? Let's see 2m receiver oscillator. Probably when it's not working.
I think MANY people will just say, "Duh." Their error becomes a shocker when they find out WHY they are so cavalier about voltage readings! de KQ2E
Is there a way to automatically thumbs up your videos ?
also mention scopes display in p-p and a hand held fluke reads in RMS for
AC
Alan whats the device your writing on?
It is a tablet from www.remarkable.com
My basic electronics students knew this much.
what if you stick the probe on 230V AC? is it gonna explode the oscilloscope or it will read the peak to peak voltage, frequency etc? ( i don't own oscilloscope and never used one, im just a hobbyist in electronics and im interested to get one)
It depends on the rating of the probe.
Nice and neat. All the extremely useful tips concerning scope probes in one video. I need to find a way how to hack my oscilloscope to indicate that I have a 10x probe attached. Or just get a Tektronix :D Thank you!
very compact to the point very well explained :) thumbs up
NIcely timed, thanks....