DSO150 testing and review: Is a new and "improved" $20 oscilloscope okay for a first scope?

I lightly go over the DSO150 (15001k, 15002k) and test its specifications to see if it comes anywhere close to what its supposed to.
Is it good? Is it bad? or does it lie somewhere in between... I still don't know, but will probably use it just for the mains isolation fact... and will take what it says with a grain of salt
I don't tear it down, but that is because I put it together from the beginning, and the case that it goes in is pretty annoying to fit together.

[@bobgillim]

The scope specs a 200kHz bandwidth. A square wave of 40 kHz is the max usable, as demonstrated. A square wave is made up of odd harmonic, 1st, 3rd, 5th, ... A 40 kHz square wave is a combination of 40, 120, 200 kHz i.e. the max bandwidth.

[@Hektabyte]

Seems fine for a 20$ instrument.

[@topherteardowns4679]

To skip the introductpry b.s. go to 12min to see waveform on dso150 of 200khz frequency. Terrible

[@batforjustice]

I noticed that you weren't using a X10 probe with it. I have a dso138 and a dso062 and they both do pretty well for most routine things. The noise is much higher and performance tanks if you use that alligator test lead.

[@1ceeb]

Thinking about getting this for car audio(setting gains without clipping, troubleshooting broken amplifiers), you think it would do the job? Mainly working with frequencies far below 20khz maybe 20-4000.

[@topherteardowns4679]

I actually think it would perform well for audio work. With the added benefit of isolation while working in the car. In the video I was just using my power supply to run it. But since then, i have just got a 9v battery case that has an on/off switch and uses a standard 2.1mm DC jack out. Works well-especially with a rechargeable 9v li-ion battery (which I plan on taking apart soon).

[@1ceeb]

Neat! Also the battery case was just what i was thinking about, great to hear it do well.

[@1ceeb]

@@Sound.wave_ It was great for setting RCA's

[@youtuuba]

That is the main problem with this scope. They list only one frequency specification, and it is only for the analog section, saying up to 200kHz, and even that is a stretch, because the displayed signal sags about 5% or so when you get up near that frequency. As for the ability to display any kind of meaningful waveform that you can trust, I would say don't exceed 50kHz, and for best reliability don't go much above the normal audio frequencies range of about 20kHz. Keep it in that range and this scope can provide good service. But can it replace a 'real' scope....NO, unless your needs are very limited. Still, a handy item for some situations where size and portability are important...but then, wait! It is AC powered as provided, unless you rig up an external battery.

[@topherteardowns4679]

I was trying to give tbis thing a fair shot, and use it as a "spectrum analyzer" to see the characteristic curv3s of different filters, driven by an exponential ramp...low freq stuff, 20khz MAX...it couldnt do it...at all, i tried every voltag3 setting, time base and qll combinations there-of. Nada.. so, I must say, the ONLY thing this is good for, is finding capacitor foil side... and maybe a paperweight

[@youtuuba]

@@topherteardowns4679 , I don't think there is any need to be esoteric about this scope's uses. It is perfectly good at displaying, with good resolution, waveforms and voltage levels in lower frequency ranges.....just normal 'scope stuff.

[@topherteardowns4679]

Esoteric? No, not my intention anyway. Just wanted to find if it could do something simple, and low frequency.. but, it had terrible trouble. I think, if someone got this as their first "scope", it would almost be impossible to have confidence in the signal being measured is the signal being displayed. Yes, it will show you a simple square wave at 1kHz or whatever, but its high frequency rolloff wouldnt even register the massivr inductive spike or ringing, (etc..), that is showing up from a fault in what your testing. ...but, that is me (foolishly) assuming that anywould would put ANY faith whatsoever in a cheapo $20 scope off ebay. I hope no one would be so foolish... all they really need to do is save a liiiiiittle bit more money, and an analog scope can be bought at a VERY reasonable price. My tektronix 465m cost me $25, free shipping (hell of a deal!)

[@youtuuba]

@@topherteardowns4679 , I agree that unless somebody knows what they are doing, and understands the limitations of this little, cheap, scope, that most potential buyers should save a few dollars and buy a decent used analog scope as their first, or only, scope. I have considered that if there were some school teaching a basic introduction to electronics course, and if they were on a tight budget, these little DSO's might be satisfactory to teach students the basic of how to use a scope, since at least the controls are pretty standard, and they could inexpensively use them to learn what a scope is all about, and how to use the controls to stabilize and view a waveform. But since this scope has no input protection devices at all inside, they would be best used simply connected to a signal generator.

[@TBL_stevennelson]

I looking to learn how to use it. I was hoping it could tell me if the diy power supply I build are putting out clean power. Recently I built many Op amp and amp kits from China. I was hoping to get the dso150 to tell me when it's clipping and get the voltage to calculate the watts. Thanks for the videos. Thanks for the Videos and any help to guys can give me

[@topherteardowns4679]

Im sure it would be fine for that, but, only to a certain extent. If there was any high frequency noise, it would be absolutely worthless.. For op amp regulating power supplies it would probably be okay..ish. But, I suppose that would depend on a whole lot of variables.. Npn or pnp pass element, load type, output capacitance, external interferences, shielding on the module/cables. And much much more im forgetting. Really, id say look for a $50 analog scope on ebay.. Even an old 100mhz scope would do 10000000 times better than this novelty

[@DreidMusicalX]

Now would this be alright for testing capacitors for guitars? Just to make sure which end gets soldered to the ground? I seen a video that says capacitors like Orange Drops are not always marked right.

[@topherteardowns4679]

Thats a good question, and I will test it and see, then let you know!

[@DreidMusicalX]

@@topherteardowns4679 Sounds great! I just wanted to test capacitors for building guitars and didn't want to spend a lot of money and then seen your video. I really appreciate it!

[@mareksvrcina5279]

Yes, you can. I have seen a video about it and the guy told that it performs even better than his real dso when testing the capacitor. If you still care.

[@topherteardowns4679]

Yes, it works pretty good, as the gentleman before replied. It would be best to make a small jig out of a small breadboard or something to put the caps to be tested in. Because the leads/clips on the dso are slick and fiddly. But, yea, not bad for testing caps....that pretty much sums it up though

[@DreidMusicalX]

​@@mareksvrcina5279 Yes I do. I stayed back from buying one until I knew for sure. Now now, ill buy one. Thanks!

[@nickgc1234]

you know a lot about this stuff im just getting into this. could you tell me if this would work on a car to check to see if there is a data stream to ecu or signal to maf etc,

[@topherteardowns4679]

I doubt it would show you anything too meaningful. At one of the timebases it would probably show something. But theres cheap ass logic probe designs that may be better suited. But, that depends on what all you need out of it. For example, If you just need to know its switching between levels, or if you need to know precisely how long its on high, or 0. Or if you need to see the data transferred i²c or spi or whatever. I got rid of this toy long ago. ...during the great toilet paper shortage, i used it to wipe my ass. Look on ebay. You could find a analog scope, like a legit tek or hp one, for less than $50. You wouldnt need to worry about if it could display it. 20mhz or 50mhz is more than enough grunt to read the comms between maf and ecm or whatever. Which, usually the maf sensor is nothing but a thermistor or a diode. Yes, really. Im sure it probably has an ADC to get the real world sensor values and put it into robot talk of 1s and 0s. Anyways. Hope this somehow helped.

[@andrewmullen5770]

Would this be a useful tool for ham radio equipment? Building,troubleshooting,etc.

[@topherteardowns4679]

Oh no...no no noooo way. I wouldnt trust it at all. I am going to make a new video using it with some audio signals, and using it to test the foil side of capacitors. Will be posting it up in the next day or two. Just making a couple circuits to use it on. For serious work, especially ham stuff (megahertz stuff) i would suggest watching ebay for cheap second hand scopes. I have seen quite a few good scopes go for less than $50 recently... Hell, i got one for 25$ shipped! A good one too, old tektronix bit of kit. Anyways. I wouldnt waste the money on it, just save another 20 or 50 and buy a second hand scope

[@alanramirez9990]

Do you think that could work for test sound power amps?

[@topherteardowns4679]

I would say...maybe.. Want to try it? I will send you mine and youcan have it. Email me your address, my email is molecularmetallurgy@gmail Hope itll work for you, but i wont hold my breath!

[@cosmoalien12345]

you've gotta voice like sylvester stallone

[@topherteardowns4679]

Hahahah, thank you?

[@thanhvan0212]

I need to test on Mainboard PC, Laptop Mainboard with frequency of 32.768KHz, 14.3Mhz, 33Mhz, 48Mhz, 66,100, 200Mhz, please ask is your machine can test? Thank you

[@topherteardowns4679]

No way. No chance. Spend a little more and just get a good analog scope. My first one was a 465m tektronix i spent 25$, delivered on

[@thanhvan0212]

@@topherteardowns4679 hi, where can i buy the 465m tektronix

[@topherteardowns4679]

Its not just that model you should search for. Look on ebay auctions for older analog oscilloscopes. They can end up selling for very very cheap. The EEVBlog channel has a great tutorial video (2 of them, actually), on finding a good oscilloscope for less than $50.

[@user-ev4ug4jb9n]

set up easy

[@crckdns]

Thanks for preventing me from buying this .. not worth for 40KHz

[@user-ns9cv6kb1e]

*$20 vs $400 above...* So should be having it's limitations