We all know an oscilloscope is a device that we use to plot signals. Signals are plotted in amplitude vs time. Which gives us a realistic idea about the nature and shape of the signals.
Since signal analysis is so useful for circuit designs. That a lot of manufacturers started producing oscilloscope way back then. The first scope was based on the cathode tube technology and was analog.
With time, we started manufacturing digital oscilloscopes as well. And now we have USB oscilloscopes as well.
USB oscilloscope is a small version of an oscilloscope that in my opinion are designed for hobbyists and casual user of oscilloscopes. But if you are professional then my recommendation is to look for a bench top scope.
Now, if you are a new buyer of USB oscilloscope, probably you may have a lot of questions. Like what parameters to look for in the best USB oscilloscope. Which brand to check out? And perhaps a lot more similar questions as well.
Well…
I have written this article just for you so you can select your first USB scope as effectively as possible.
At the end of this article, you should be able to:
- Know what is a USB oscilloscope
- Is USB better than a bench top oscilloscope
- Technical parameters to look for
- List of some best USB oscilloscopes that you can choose from
Sounds interesting? Then I am sure you will enjoy the rest of this article as well.
Let’s get started.
Best USB oscilloscopes
Benchtop oscilloscopes are the first priority if you are a professional or want to use oscilloscopes for a long time.
But if you are a hobbyist, or don’t have the budget yet, or just want to play with some small electronics projects, then a USB oscilloscope is the better option for you.
People often go with a USB oscilloscope when they don’t have enough bench space. As they are very small. You can place them anywhere. Also, you can carry them with you anywhere you go.
Now, the best USB oscilloscope that I and field professionals recommend is either the PicoScope 2204A, or other Hantek 6254BD. They are the best because they come from proven brands, a lot of people have used them, are reliable, high quality, and come in very decent price tags that anyone can afford.
In the rest of this article, I talk about the above mentioned models and other top quality models as well in great detail.
Choosing the best USB oscilloscope
Following are the key technical parameter to look for when selecting your best scope. Remember, these are technical terms. Instead of these, cost, personal budget, and brand reputation should also be considered.
a. Bandwidth
In simple words, bandwidth is the frequency range that a scope can measure effectively. It is the difference between the highest frequency and the lowest possible measuring frequency.
The rule of thumb for selecting your oscilloscope is to choose the bandwidth that is at least 5 times more than the signals you will be measuring.
b. Sample rate
It determines the amount of waveform information captured and displayed on the screen. The greater the sample rate, the more resolution it has, and as a result, you have every detail of your signal on display.
A good scope should have twice the sample rate as that of the signals you want to capture with your oscilloscope.
c. Channels
I believe that you should go for two channels. As it will give you the chance to measure and compare two signals at the same time. Especially if you are working with amplifiers.
d. Software updates
USB oscilloscopes have no screen. They use their software on computers. So, go for the scope which has a reliable brand behind it. And they are constantly updating the software.
e. Refresh rate
By refresh rate, I mean how quickly the data updates on your oscilloscope computer software. The higher this rate, the better.
Alright!
Now let’s see some of the best USB oscilloscopes in the following list.
List of top USB scopes
The following oscilloscopes are selected based on the above criteria. They are the best, you can pick anyone of them.
1. PicoScope 2204A
The first best USB oscilloscope that I have for you is from the famous PicoScope brand. This brand is well known and has thousands of happy customers.
The USB scope, 2204A, from PicoScope is amazing. It is like good hardware with good reliable software.
Important features:
- This little device has a total bandwidth of 10MHz. Which is very nice for most circuits
- Sample rate of 1GS/s which is comparable with some benchtop scopes
- Advanced trigger function
- A complete electronics lab in one compact, low cost, USB powered unit
In a short summary, the PicoScope 2204A (Amazon link) is an advanced oscilloscope that can also be used as a spectrum analyzer, function generator, arbitrary waveform generator, and protocol decoder out of the box.
2. Hantek 6022BE USB Oscilloscope
The next best USB oscilloscope is from the Hantek brand. Hantek is well known brand when it comes to making digital oscilloscopes. Thousands of people use Hantek oscilloscopes for various kinds of electronics projects.
The USB version scope from this brand is remarkable with two measuring channels.
Important features:
- A bandwidth of 20MHz which is sufficient for all major electronics projects
- It is designed for high performance
- 250MS/s real-time sampling which is not much but good
- 23 measurement functions including PASS/FAIL check, waveform average, persistence, intensity, invert, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and X-Y plot.
- USB 2.0 interface which means no external power source is required
- And it is very easy to use
In a short summary, the Hantek 6022BE USB Oscilloscope (Amazon link) is suitable for all major electronics projects that lie in the frequency range of up to 10MHz.
3. Hantek 6254BD
This scope is from the same above brand, Hantek. I am listing it here for people who are looking for 4 channel USB oscilloscope.
This oscilloscope is unique because you can use it as a function generator as well.
Important feature:
- Built in arbitrary waveform generator
- A bandwidth of 250MHz. This is professional level bandwidth range and is able to cover all the major electronics’ frequency spectrums.
- Sample rate of 1GSa/s
- Over 20 functions, including pass/fail test, trigger, dynamic cursor tracking, waveform record, and replay
- The best part is, it works with many 3rd party applications, including Openhantek, H-scope, and Openscope
In a short summary, the Hantek 6254BD (Amazon link) is a complete USB oscilloscope package that comes with a built in function generator. So you have two devices in one product.
4. Owon VDS1022I
The next USB type oscilloscope is from the Owon brand. This brand is popular for making various types of electronic measuring tools. The USB scope from this brand is amazing and comes with a very low price tag with such competitive features.
Important features:
- It is very thin which makes it very portable. It will take a small portion of your work bench space.
- Its bandwidth is 25MHz which is standard and can up to a maximum of 100MHz
- Record length up to 10M and maximum sample rate of 100MSa/sec
- The best part is, it has FFT mode with waveform displayed on the same screen
- Multi-trigger options and it comes with 2 channels
In a short summary, the Owon VDS1022I (Amazon link) is the best option for those who are looking for a USB isolation feature in a decent price range.
5. Pico 2205A
This USB oscilloscope is from the same Pico brand as I discussed above. This brand is famous for reliable tools. And the USB scope, the 2205A, is no different.
The 2205A is a digital oscilloscope as well as a function generator. This means you will have two devices in one small portable package.
Important features:
- It has two measuring channels and comes with quality probes
- It is an 8-bit oscilloscope with 25MHz bandwidth
- 1 GS/s sampling which is enough to cover all major applications
- 10,000 waveform circular buffer Up to 80,000 waveforms per second update rate
- High end features such as serial decoding and mask limit testing are included as standard
In a short summary, the Pico 2205A (Amazon link) is ideal for a wide range of applications including design, monitoring, fault finding, and repair. It delivers unbeatable value for money and is best for education, hobby, and field service use.
6. MaxiScope MP408
The next best cheap USB oscilloscope is from the MaxiScope brand. The MP408 is able to measure and test virtually all the electrical and electronic components and circuits in any modern vehicle, compatible with LIN, CAN, and Flex Ray data bus standards.
It features a one-click auto setup of voltage scale and time base, and allows manual editing of measurement parameter display.
Important features:
- High speed sampling rate from 80MS/S TO 20MS/s and incredible bandwidth of 20MHz
- It has 4 measuring channels and is able to capture signals at a higher speed
- It has color coded 4-channel control panel. Read/ display/ record/ playback high resolution waveform data.
- It has a direct power supply through a USB connection and therefore no battery is required.
- Vertical resolution of 12 bits which is quite convincing
In a short summary, the MaxiScope MP408 (Amazon link) is a very powerful 4 channel USB oscilloscope that can best be used for various kinds of electronics circuit testing and analyzing.
7. YEAPOOK ADS1013D
Now, this oscilloscope is different from all the above scopes. It is like a tablet with a capacitive touch screen – making it very advanced looking.
It is not just a good looking device. It has a one-key screenshot and saving design, built-in 1GB storage space, can store up to 1000 screenshots + 1000 sets of waveform data, and support UBS export.
Furthermore, it comes with a 6000mah high-quality lithium battery, which can last for 4 hours on a full charge.
It is 2 channel professionally designed handheld oscilloscope. Let’s see some key features of this device:
- 2 channels
- 100 MHz analog bandwidth
- 1 GSa/s Real-time sampling
- 240kbit Sample memory depth
- 7” color TFT- LCD touch screen with 800 * 480 resolution
- Capture instantaneous waveform
- Built-in high-voltage protection module
- Tolerate a continuous voltage of up to 400V
In a short summary, YEAPOOK ADS1013D (Amazon link) is one of the best alternatives to some USB oscilloscopes that are widely applicable in the academic experiment, electronic product design, debugging and maintenance, electronic engineering education, etc
Conclusion
You may be getting started with electronics, or you just want to have an extra tool in your lab. No matter what is the case. I can tell you that a piece of USB oscilloscope can add a lot of value.
Basically, any oscilloscope gives us the capability of measuring signals in terms of amplitude and time. With such information, we can analyze the signal properly for our systems and circuits.
Now, there are many types of scope to choose from, like old analog, digital benchtops, and simple USB ones.
My suggestion is if you want to go for a lifetime and professional scope, select the benchtop one. But if you are a beginner, short on cash, or just an electronics hobbyist, then a USB scope is the best option for you.
The selection of your USB oscilloscope should follow the following criteria:
- Bandwidth should be at least 5 times the highest possible signal you would measure
- Sample rate must be twice the highest signals
- Two channels
- Software updates on a regular basis
- High refresh rate as possible
Alright!
That is it. That is all I have for you about the best USB oscilloscopes. I hope I was helpful.
Thank you and have a grateful life.
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