DSO vs. Analog Scope for 1Hz signals

Hi all,

Is there a way to examine slow clock pulses (around 1Hz)and supply rails for switching spikes or other instabilities using an analog scope? I've triedusing my 350Mhz Tek but it just seems hopeless for this kind of thing - unless there's an obscure setting or work-around for this kind of measurementthat I'm not aware of?

tia!

 

Phil Hobbs a écrit :

Well, I guess that if you wander around some of the bikini contests with
a Rigol onto your shoulder, you'd have a pretty good success

 

Phil Hobbs a écrit :

Oh, I never wear it on my shoulder

 

With a tee shirt that reads,
"Flirt Harder!
(I'm a geek and mostly clueless)"

To the OP you might look at Bob Masta's sound card software... (Well
OK the response of the sound card at 1 Hz will be pretty poor... but
it should do the edges ok.)

George H.

 

On Tue, 4 Dec 2012 12:44:36 -0800 (PST), George Herold

Thanks, George. You are correct: The sound card's AC
coupling typically rolls off below a few Hz, but edges are
just fine.

As it happens, I'm putting the final touches on some new
macros to allow reading pulse width and duty cycle. (And
frequency or period, of course, but Daqarta's Frequency
Counter can already do that.) They'll be in v7.20, out in a
week or so. I'll post a note here.

Best regards,


Bob Masta

DAQARTA v7.10
Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis
www.daqarta.com
Scope, Spectrum, Spectrogram, Sound Level Meter
Frequency Counter, Pitch Track, Pitch-to-MIDI
FREE Signal Generator, DaqMusic generator
Science with your sound card!

 

<>

Is there a way to examine slow clock pulses (around 1Hz)and supply rails for
switching spikes or other instabilities using an analog scope? I've tried
using my 350Mhz Tek but it just seems hopeless for this kind of thing -
unless there's an obscure setting or work-around for this kind of
measurement that I'm not aware of?


** As you do not state what it is you are trying and failing to see - I can
only guess at the problem.

The scope will not synch ?

You cannot see the pulses cos they are too short ?

You cannot see the rise and fall times ?

Far as examining DC rails goes, try using AC coupling and stop the time
base, leaving only a spot on the screen - this will allow you to
dramatically increase the vertical gain and see even very brief glitches.


.... Phil

 

Well, there's an obscure work-around all right. It's a Polaroid camera with a hood
that clamps onto the oscilloscope. Makes hardcopy, and everything.

 

Hmm, that "week or so" got dragged out a bit, but Daqarta
v7.20 has finally been released.

When you first start Daqarta there will be a pop-up message
that mentions "mini-app" macros and how to activate them.
The relevant one here is Pulse_Meter, which is activated via
F8 followed by U keys. (Or CTRL+F8 and select from list.)

It shows frequency, pulse width, and duty cycle for both
input and output channels, via 4 color-coded meters.
Right-click any meter to go to Help for this mini-app, which
discusses how to customize, add data-logging, etc.

Enjoy!


Bob Masta

DAQARTA v7.20
Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis
www.daqarta.com
Scope, Spectrum, Spectrogram, Sound Level Meter
Frequency Counter, Pitch Track, Pitch-to-MIDI
FREE Signal Generator, DaqMusic generator
Science with your sound card!