Review of portable oscilloscopes from Aliexpress: which mobile oscilloscope is better to choose

Types of oscilloscopes

Depending on the principle of operation, there are several types (types) of oscilloscopes.

An oscilloscope is a device designed to study the amplitude and time parameters of an electrical signal.

1. Analog. These are classic models in which changes in the characteristics of electric current are immediately reflected on a phosphor-coated screen. Such devices are not capable of measuring current characteristics with high accuracy and storing the measured values, however, they continue to be in demand due to their low cost. There are models with both single-beam CRTs and multi-beam ones from (2 to 16).
2. Digital. In models of this, before displaying the result on the screen, an analysis of the current characteristics is performed. The processing results are displayed on the screen, most often a liquid crystal one. Digital oscilloscopes are capable of not only displaying changes in current characteristics in a circuit, but also storing the results for detailed study.
3. Digital phosphors. A type of digital oscilloscope, however, they display the image on a classic CRT.
4. Digital stroboscopic. They differ from conventional ones in their ability to read the signal not in a continuous mode, but periodically. With each cycle of the analyzed pulse, the point at which the current parameters are measured moves slightly in time. In this way, it is possible to obtain the complete waveform without having to carry out the entire series of measurements in one cycle. This reduces the requirements for the computing power of the device, and also makes it possible to achieve the effect of spectrum compression, when the measurement frequency of the oscilloscope is many times lower than the actual frequency of the pulse being studied.

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There is also a division into stationary and portable models of digital oscilloscopes. The latter have gained significant popularity due to the emergence of compact but powerful computing electronics, which make it possible to realize the potential of a semi-professional stationary oscilloscope of almost any accuracy class in the body of a portable device. It is portable models that are of greatest interest for home or semi-professional electronic laboratories, as well as for service departments.

Types of devices

Before you finally choose an oscilloscope, you need to know what types it is divided into. Based on the principle of signal reflection, the oscilloscope is divided into digital and analog.

Digital

With its help, static and mathematical processing of data obtained as a result of readings is carried out. Also, if you choose a digital oscilloscope, it is possible to detect impulse noise and store up to 10,000 waveforms in the device’s memory. The results obtained are displayed on the LCD display.

The selection of settings is carried out automatically, since the device has calibration and diagnostic functions. The errors of the product are minimal, so the data is of high quality. Such an oscilloscope is indispensable when it is necessary to obtain accurate diagnostics of equipment or a vehicle.

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How to choose an oscilloscope on Aliexpress

If the need for such a specific device arises for the first time, you should not rush and order the first item that suits the given description and favorable price. There are several ways to obtain reliable information about the offered product:

• studying ratings that are compiled with a detailed description of all the advantages and disadvantages;
• communication on a special forum, where absolutely real people who use an oscilloscope in their daily work leave their opinions;
• informational guide sites for Aliexpress in a specific technical industry;
• online stores, which also often have a description of the product - to make sure that buying on Aliexpress is undoubtedly more profitable;
• direct study of the assortment on radio markets or in special supermarkets to see firsthand that the model meets the requirements - weight, size, design, functional power.

The most important thing is to find a middle ground so that financial capabilities (or, rather, the funds that the buyer intends to spend coincide with his requirements for the device). An oscilloscope can be purchased as a tool that will be useful in the household - single-channel, with minimal functionality, with two channels of optimal power, and so on.

What to look for when choosing a portable oscilloscope

Depending on the intended scope of application, before purchasing the device, you should check whether the required characteristics are met. These include:

• number of channels. A single-channel model will be enough for amateurs; professionals may need a device with the ability to simultaneously analyze 2-4 signals;
• bandwidth. The minimum threshold for non-professional areas is 200 kHz;
• sampling frequency. The higher it is, the larger frequency range the device can analyze. In premium models it reaches 1 GS/s, in budget models it is an order of magnitude less;
• ease of control. The device must have keys with a visual representation of the functions assigned to them. If there is a touch screen, then navigation through the settings should be clear on an intuitive level;
• Memory. Can range from several dozen to virtually unlimited number of saved measurement results. It is very convenient if the device has the ability to take screenshots from the screen.

Finally, the device should be made of high-quality, scratch-resistant materials. It is desirable to have a case with stiffening ribs that help protect the screen. Also important is the range of included accessories: probes, cases, adapters, etc.

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Purpose, scope of application

An oscilloscope is used to study the parameters of electrical signals supplied to the input of the device. It converts the received data into a graphical image that can be analyzed. Using the resulting “picture,” the dependence of a signal, for example, voltage, on time is analyzed. The device can simultaneously receive from 1 to several beams (signals). Each of them comes to a separate input and is displayed as a separate graph on the screen (display). Thus, devices can be single-beam, double-beam, multi-beam (multi-channel).

Scope of application of the device:

• study of fluctuations in the values ​​of power grid signals or their instantaneous indicators;
• time-varying signals;
• characteristics of electronic circuits and its constituent elements.

The most common types of instruments are analog, digital and USB oscilloscopes.

Analog oscilloscope models

The device is based on a cathode ray tube (CRT), through which the signal is converted into graphic form. Many experts still prefer to use these models, considering them more familiar and reliable. Such devices have a number of advantages, but their design also contains many negative aspects. For ease of perception, the information is summarized in the table:

An analog oscilloscope is capable of solving some problems no worse than digital models.
However, you cannot put low cost at the forefront - functionality is important for business . Most users continue to use analog models due to their availability. However, on occasion, they prefer to acquire more modern products.

Voting for the best portable oscilloscope from Aliexpress

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Micsig ATO1104

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FNIRSI-1013D

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Hantek 2С42

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FNIRSI DSO 5012H

33.33% ( 1 )

ANENG DSO1C15

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KKmoon kkm828

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TOOLTOP ET120M

33.33% ( 1 )

FNIRSI-5012H

33.33% ( 1 )

Aramox DSO188

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Woopower ADS2050H

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Junejour DSO112A

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Kkmoon Probe DS0150

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