Non Engineer Type Needs a Little Help - Picking a DSO for My dDad

It depends what he's going to use it for.

Relatively slow stuff like audio, computer stuff, RF, relatively slow digital hobbyist stuff.

Real question is what's the highest frequency, fastest clock rate he'll want to look at?

Del

well.. I have an idea for a project for us coming up, it involves watching the wave form from a permanent magnet triggered ignition on a 3 cylinder 2 stroke engine that sees about 6000rpm with 3 ignition cycles per 2 revolutions, puts it at 150hz.. I think?

Back on topic... He's not going to be using it for anything in particular, but hes the typical engineer type who would want to figure anything out if it strikes his fancy... I would have to say mostly low frequency stuff.... but what rating rates how clear / accurate the display is? like say it will measure 1mhz but at what point does it start to get unclear, hard to read? Sorry for sounding like a dummy, but I don't know too much about instrumentation..

I'd suggest maybe taking the spec' of the cheapest Tektronixs DSO as a reference point. They aren't cheap, but there maybe old models on the market. I use the base model (from about 18 years ago) at work for gereral digital electronics clocked at up to 8MHz and it's been superb. Simple reliable effective. There are doubtless comparable models from the far east (I expect Tek ones are made out there).

These people seem to have a good range with reasonable base models.

Del

I've not knowingly used a Rigol oscilloscope. I say knowingly because their products are supposedly relabeled to other brand names and a few of their packages look familiar.

For low cost and a possible useful niche for automotive use you might consider the Nano V3. The single channel input is a severe limitation but the portability of battery operation can be a significant advantage. Again, I've not used this model. It is a little hard to argue with the price, particularly for a gift.A frugal portable two channel oscilloscope that looks interesting is this Hantek. If you can afford swinging for the fences Tektronix makes an outstanding product. I've used and wore out the predecessor to this model. [I wonder if I can pry some capital equipment money at work?]

Trying to be frugal for a gift is understandable. Test equipment is one of those things that can quickly break any budget and cutting cost may prevent a critical test from being done. I'm suggesting (mostly) low cost, battery powered portable oscilloscopes because measuring electric signals on an isolated platform (automobile engines in use while moving) is a special niche. Even if your dad wishes for a line cord powered $70,000+ LeCroy, Tektronix or Keysight behemoth, a battery powered oscilloscope he can go anywhere with will always be useful.

Here is a recent thread on same subject:

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/98281/Which-Oscilloscope

Memory depth may be important if your looking at a long waveform, and see pre and post trigger data.

I find these virtual 'scopes to be excellent and only cost a few hundred dollars. Check them out. www.picotech.com/oscilloscope.html‎

well I pulled the trigger, I bought him the nano. thanks for the input folks! I'll hopefully share our project when it becomes a reality :)

Glad we could help. Ho Ho Ho!

Looks like a great value! I am using a $29 data-logger myself, and it requires attachment to a computer, so I just used an old one. No where near the bandwidth for some high-end communications projects, but adequate for flow stuff.