FNIRSI DSO-TC3 Review

[@MrTKorho]

Excellent video! I just received the device: the cheap MCU background is obvious, using the derived software as seen with DSO138 DIY oscilloscopes. The fluctuating frequency analysis is clearly because of the limited sample memory and oscillations within the sample window! It works as expected, but that limitation makes it very jittery. But overall it is brilliant cheap gadget! I think that the signal generator is not working at the same time with the oscilloscope, but the oscilloscope automatically feeds the square wave when running. But that is good enough for calibrating! If you change the signal generator signal mode, it doesn't seem to change the calibration mode signal during oscilloscope use! Thanks for the video! It taught me things, even when I have the device at hand!

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Hello Tommi, thanks for kind words and thoughts. How are you getting on with it? Real shame that you can't use the scope and function gen. at the same time. TC4 perhaps?

[@tomperli4513]

Good rolemodel , showing the warning page ! Loaded capacitors can be dangerous for Measurement- equippment !!!

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Thanks! Yes, I learnt the hard way many years ago!

[@haroldsmith45302]

Thank you for this well-presented and informative review.

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Very happy to hear it was useful to you Harold

[@TotiTolvukall]

The DDS output generates a 1kHz square 50% duty at 3.5Vpp by default. As for the accuracy, the TC3 needs some work - the TC2 was more accurate both in terms og Vpp/Vrms and frequency. It can keep anaccurate measurement of a 10kHz sine whereas the TC3 found it to be 10.098kHz and the Vpp was jumping "all over the place". I've already contacted FNIRSI and mentioned my concerns - let's see if they address them :)

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Thanks for the comment. Yes it would be nice if it was more stable on triggering too. Seems to be quite accurate on DC measurements (see my TC3 teardown video). Will be interested to see if FNIRSI respond to you.

[@AmigaWolf]

Your the first one who finally let us see something new, like calibrating the Oscilloscoop Probe, non of the other reviewers including the other English reviewer, knows you could do this.

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Thanks for the nice feedback :)

[@martinkuliza]

Calibrating the probe compensation is actually not all that impressive, it's a basic thing that any electronics tech worth their salt should do So.. He did it, Great , it shows he's competent on the basics and he isn't new to to the game Re your comment though Geez , what video's have you been watching where they don't do that as a basic thing that should always be done when buying a new scope. Probe compensation on a new scope is the same as putting fuel into a new car, it's not something that should impress but certainly something that should ALWAYS be done and something that should be paid attention to if needed again everytime the scope is switched ON I Agree that it's cool that he showed us that the SIG GEN can be used at the same time as the DSO, but probe compensation is not something that deserves a fuss. it would warrant a fuss though if he didn't do it. I would go back to those other channels and ask them What the fuck are you guys doing , you haven't even completed probe compensation........ Newbie Alert !! to the Author of this video WELL DONE GOOD VIDEO, VERY PROFESSIONAL

[@AmigaWolf]

@@martinkuliza All the the English video's that were out 4 months ago, did not do the calibrating part. But yeah, calibrating your propes is very important, but it looks like the ones i seen about the FNIRSI DSO-TC3 did not do it, and yeah that is stupid, but maybe they thought the FNIRSI DSO-TC3 cannot do it.

[@martinkuliza]

@@AmigaWolf maybe, but it also shows they are very amateur if it is so

[@AmigaWolf]

@@martinkuliza Yeah, but this a a very cheap mini scope, signal generator and component tester, and then you get people reviewing it, that do it as a hobby and not as a job. But yes still they should have know that.

[@mattrose-innes7948]

Thank you so much for the informative video i really enjoyed it, I think im going to pick one up. Was just wondering if there has been any software updates and what the process of updating is like?

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Hello, glad you enjoyed the video! There have been a few updates. The update history from FNIRSI is as follows: 2023/2/6 V0.1 Update the oscilloscope part of the DC voltage RMS measurement problem 2023/3/23 Oscilloscope: Update no-load effective value is too large Optimize automatic gear 2023/4/4 V0.21 1. Update the oscilloscope to measure the DC VPP problem 2. Fix the problem that the voltage test switch does not display 3. Correct the translation of "on-off" and "calibration" 2023/4/5 V0.22 1. Increase user experience (regardless of the set loudness, on and off will always keep the maximum volume reminder) Firmware update .zip file including an instructional video here: img.wqdres.com/res/0/20240222/cefff2a7802140d4ab9cdfb0b3f36d35.zip Manual Here: img.wqdres.com/res/0/20231229/25bb007cdced4bfba3072d16d70ff6d4.pdf

[@UkulelePusher]

Very interesting! What is the range of the signal generator? Online I saw the numbers 1 to 100 kHz. Does that mean 1 Hz to 100 kHz, or 1 kHz to 100 kHz?

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Thanks for the comment. Square and Pulse 1Hz to 100kHz Sine, Triangle and Ramp 1Hz to 10kHz

[@SteveH-TN]

Thanks for sharing this video and your thoughts. I just ordered one from Amazon. I have old Analog Boat anchor scope. But I an looking forward this more convenient form factor scope. Appreciate your input to my understanding this device.

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Most welcome. Hope you find it as useful as I do

[@mancap5909]

It's a good tool. Thank you for sharing an interesting video. We look forward to future video updates.

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Thanks for watching!

[@UkulelePusher]

Ah, now I see it in your video. The sine generator goes down to 1 Hz.

[@Lookin4Things]

I purchased 1 to see if I can determine the frequency output of my metal detectors, not the new multi frequency thats been developed. I'd really appreciate it if you could demonstrate that.

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Hello, what an interesting idea. Unfortunately I do not own a metal detector. You might want to try making a coil of wire that is almost the same size of the coil on your metal detector, connect the coil to your scope and hold it close to your metal detector. Good luck with it whatever you do.

[@Lookin4Things]

@ElectroBanana Thank you, That will provide a link to receive the frequency, otherwise the sending coil wouldn't necessarily communicate well to the straight antenna.

[@RainerK.]

There's also a TC2 without the oscilloscope, the LCR-TC2.

[@chiramihai1651]

Hello, thank you for this exhaustive review, i bought one today and i was curious about capabilities, im a beginner this is my first (toy) osscilloscope but, you know, ad astram per aspram 🙂. I think it is thery good for audio band, and , maybe, for calibrated IF am band (465 khz) if i remeber good.

[@abaikovs]

Hello, great review, I'm starting to learn thing or two about how to use oscillacope. Does it can measure thd on mains 230v and harmonics?

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Hello, no it does not measure THD unfortunately.

[@cincinattiblues]

Just calibrated my probe with the square wave. Then tested for other type waveforms with oscilloscope running. Seems it only runs the square wave output while the oscilloscope is running, which makes sense that at least you get to calibrate the probe, But a little let down that for using the oscilloscope now is needed a second type tone generator, unless a square wave is all you need.

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Yes I agree, would have been so much more useful if the signal generator could have been operational at the same time as the scope

[@paulperano9236]

With this new gadget you can build a signal gen and calibrate it. Use the XR2206 IC. I find that works well.

[@ElectroBananasYT]

That is an interesting thought Paul. Yes I have used the XR2206 before. A very old but good IC.

[@paulperano9236]

I have been able to get my XRs to well over 1Mb. OK they might not be Xtal stable, but I'm not building 'home defence' missile guidance systems. If all you want is audio they are very good. Use an unity gain Opamp as a buffer, (optional) and you have a 10s of mVs for testing amps. Put a small amp chip like a TDA7231A, (about 1 Watt) and your testing speakers, output transformers etc. Run the lot off a 12V brick of AA or AAA batteries and you have a portable, nice clean generator with no power supply noise. I'm working on a PCB board just for this. ;@@ElectroBananasYT

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Wow, sound very interesting. Some great ideas there. Would be interested to know how you got on with that project

[@ksamprocar-oh4ft]

Hello, Can it be used in automotive diagnostics? Does it support CAN, LIN and FlexRay protocols? And if not so what is the affordable one do you recommend for automotive repair?

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Hello there, no it does not support those protocols. Sorry I can't advise on automotive diagnostic equipment.

[@photomaster1]

You should also update the firmware for this if your version is 1 the new firmware is version 3 now..

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Thank you

[@martingerken7094]

I'd like to see the curves from the signal generator on a real scope

[@MinaevNikolay]

Удачи вам на вашем канале. Но рекомендую предварительно ознакомиться с прибором, написать сценарий и только потом снимать видео.

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Спасибо за добрые пожелания и ценные отзывы. Надеюсь, что некоторый контент был все же полезен.

[@AmigaWolf]

Finally i and many others have a reason to buy this, finally we now can see (ESR) ohms of caps, because without out that you can do nothing really with caps, because many times the uF is good, you also can see that with a Multimeter, because if the (ESR) ohms is to high the cap is also not good, because you could not see that with the FNIRSI DSO-TC2, or with a Multimeter. I ordered one myself more then a week ago from Banggood, so that i have a Digital Oscilloscope and a ESR meter in one, and more.

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Yes, could not bring myself to buy the TC2, but the TC3 with signal gen, scope and component tester was just too tempting. Have fun with it!

[@AmigaWolf]

@@ElectroBananasYT Thanks, yeah i will, hope you make more video's soon.

[@johnnybeacon4403]

Hi, I bought this device without a probe, can I still use it to test my car amp for clipping, the amp outputs 500watts 30volts, it's a car audio amplifier. Thanks. I've never used a oscope before.

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Hello Johnny, yes you could. Not sure if the 500W you are referring to is RMS or peak. Assuming it is RMS and your speaker impendence is 4 ohms, then the RMS voltage you would expect to see across the speaker before it clips could be approximated using the formula: voltage = Square root of (power x speaker impedance). So if you have 500Wrms and a 4 ohm speaker, then the RMS voltage before clipping should equal Square root of (500 x 4) = 44.72Vrms. The peak voltage you should see on your scope should be 1.414 x Vrms, or 44.72 x 1.414 = 63.23Vpeak and of course double this for the peak-to peak voltage. So on your scope you should see a wave form of around 126V peak-to-peak before it clips ( with a 4 ohm speaker and 500 W of true RMS power). See this video at the 34:10 mark for a video of me using this same scope to measure true audio power : kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpO7oXSCg7Gomrs

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Also, I assume you will be playing a sine wave into your system so you can see the clipping of the waveform?

[@johnnybeacon4403]

​@@ElectroBananasYTyes playing sine wave that matches the speaker 1khz for miss -5db, 40hz -5db for my subs. I have used a multimeter to set output using ohms law. But I should have the oscope in the mail tomorrow and will test for clipping on the RCA from the head unit, then clipping on the speaker outputs at the amp

[@paolorecchia2714]

I got it, and i do not understand why when i measure a capacitor, it gives to me different value of Vloss. If i make 10 measurement on the same capacitor i get 8 different value of Vloss...... what is the reason? Thanks for the video

[@ElectroBananasYT]

How much variance (%) do you get?

[@paolorecchia2714]

@@ElectroBananasYT as i told, the measurement is always different, and the variance can be 30-40%

[@paolorecchia2714]

@@ElectroBananasYT Do you know the reason? The Frw is updated

[@ElectroBananasYT]

What size/ value capacitor are you testing?

[@paolorecchia2714]

@@ElectroBananasYT various, from 4.7 to 4700 microF

[@danharcombe6569]

19.43 minutes must be test signal. Unable to change this in the generator.

[@Asian_Connection]

great video

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Thank you very much :)

[@laylanaseredeen8358]

Is it suitable for off-grid inverter for solar

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Hello, sorry I am not familiar with off-grid inverters. However I would not recommend this scope for used with mains high voltage 120/240VAC systems.

[@derekrevell]

I'm very disappointed with one feature of this tester and that is the Component Tester, I have a bunch of old Germanium transistors and this instrument doesn't report them as transistors but either as two diodes or two resistors, my long standing Multi-function Tester TC1, correctly identifies them as functioning PNP transistors.

[@ElectroBananasYT]

Hello Derek, thanks for sharing that information. That is a surprise. I also have a TC1, I will try it with some OC71s that I have and see if I get the same results. What version of firmware do you have?

[@derekrevell]

@@ElectroBananasYT I installed the latest version of the software as soon as I took delivery (i.e. Version : V0.3) Hopefully that is the latest version, sorry for the late reply I was on Holiday in Cyprus.

[@ElectroBananasYT]

I like Cyprus, must have been very hot! No problem. Did you see that FNIRSI have brought out a new transistor tester?

[@martinkuliza]

15:41 Not EFFECTIVE Series Resistance....... EQUIVALENT

[@UkulelePusher]

At 31:45 in this video you can see how to open the case: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iomoiY2ipZ2Sb7c