Tutorial: How to use an Oscilloscope #2 - How to acquire a signal.

[@dimasaviador]

I'm a teacher. I started my career when I was sixteen. 63 now. You are an excellent teacher. I knew nothing about oscilloscopes, but now after watching your videos, I'm planning to buy one. Just waiting until I get to your explanation in regard to their specs. Go ahead. Keep on with your fantastic videos. Best wishes, Dimas de Moraes e Castro Filho. Brazil.

[@cmreel]

Take your time and let it sink in, I am grateful for the detailed information and the effort you have made. Ignore the ungrateful and rather rude replies.

[@budzillasohoski9858]

What an outstanding compilation of videos. I have learned more in watching two of your videos that I have from using my oscilloscope blindly in a month. I don't want to write a novel here but I've always been an electronics tinkerer and wondered about an oscilloscope but just never had enough need to go out and purchase one. Well recently I bought a Lamborghini Diablo that had some engine/computer issues and the folks at Lamborghini kept saying "This would be almost simple if you had an oscilloscope." Well I purchased one and in one single day I isolated a problem that has been plaguing me for just over 8 months. (Timing voltage threshold) You have a brilliant way of teaching without belittling the student. I just wanted to write and say thanks and I'm sure I speak for others as well when I say that you are an excellent teacher.

[@orcasea59]

I learn so much with every video. You are a wonderful asset. Thanks for what you do.

[@xrayer4412]

As a photographer myself, I really like that you describe the oscilloscope with a camera. Nice work!

[@Paulmadog]

Thanks so much for giving your time and effort to produce these wonderful lessons. I learn vast amounts from all of them.

[@dneitzke]

Just learning about tube radio/amps,ect (again) which sat on the shelf for 35 years. my how the world has changed. appreciate your time to share your knowledge. many thanks!!!

[@cliffordcarnicom]

I am grateful that you take your time and that you are very clear. Folks that want to go to MTV can go there to get their quick fix; I will take my time and listen to you and I appreciate your thoroughness. I am on #2 now, I plan on watching your series here.

[@mjlorton]

Thanks Clifford, I appreciate the feedback.

[@tonypoloney8721]

Thoroughly enjoying this series. Just what I've been looking for. Many thanks.

[@salvovulcan9725]

Really interesting, I saved all your tutorial to study properly. You can not imagine how long I was hoping to find something similar. I bought dozens of books ... I appreciate your passion for this topic. thanks thanks thanks

[@mjlorton]

My pleasure, thanks for the feedback.

[@ash30697]

I'm doing the same

[@JohnClulow]

Photography and cameras are a very helpful analogy. That idea occurred to me during your first video, and as an amateur photographer I appreciated how you developed that comparison so thoroughly in this video. It's always helpful to have a "mental model" one is already familiar with to apply in exploring new territory. I can't wait to go ahead with the next videos in your series. Thanks so much for taking the time to make and share them !

[@gervaisdube1843]

Thanks for your fine and detailed info. As a passtime I started electronic soldering and Arduino programming. I bought an inexpensive DIY oscilloscope and a signal generator to practice my new soldering skills. You show exactly what I now need, acquiring an analysing signals. Very interesting, thanks for your support!

[@alanrajjeffrey]

mjlorton really good work, myself an amateur at this found it really useful as a start thanks for describing using a noise ( or a voice signal i don't know) where the real application of a oscilloscope lies

[@amorag59]

Hi, thank you for putting the time in for these. We used scopes at uni and I never fully understood some of the key features until they were broken down in a matter as presented in your vids, thanks!

[@zyghom]

man, I just bought the oscilloscope and your videos are superb for the beginner ;-)

[@chenghuabvue1952]

Just the right video to watch for my electronics 1 lab. Thanks!

[@mjlorton]

Chenghuab Vue My pleasure, thanks for the feedback.

[@keithpz68]

Many thanks for your info. Your teaching speed is perfect for a beginner like me.

[@demithach6738]

I got to tell you, I took it all in. you are great teacher. I learned from you in this 2 videos. I know more than 2 years in colleges.

[@jonmullins8460]

I love the camera and video analogies. I've been trying to learn electronics and (ham/CB) radio repair via youtube. Oscilloscopes have always fascinated me, but I had no Idea how to properly use one. Unfortunately, I'm only able to afford a used CRT at this time, but this is very valuable information.

[@ykalidas]

Thank you for putting out very useful tutorial. I think for machine learning practitioners as well in data science realm, understanding basics of signals greatly helps, your tutorial is very useful.

[@mjlorton]

Thanks John, appreciate the feedback.

[@rbmwiv]

Great video and excellent explanation of how a scope works. I’ve been using a Tektronix 2232 crt scope still love it for certain things just bought my first modern scope a Hantek 5000 series with 200 MHz bandwidth. Got it for a song $212.73 shipped to my door in 3 days. Looking forward to using the new one with all of the features. Thanks again for a great series. I only knew analog and was looking for a good teacher to show me how to use my new tool properly. My one thing I miss is the old school knobs rotary encoders aren’t quite the same.

[@relval3306]

you have a good quality speaking voice, easy to listen too. good analogies.

[@mjlorton]

Good question...the scope is acting as a multimeter but showing readings over time. The Channel 1 BNC has a ground point (like a multimeter COM) and then the signal in (V- voltage input). It's just measuring the potential difference between those two points over time...but it's one signal.

[@mjlorton]

Thanks very much for the feedback. Maintenance and calibration are not really required for this level of scope...so as long as you don't damage it doing silly measurements...cheap to keep.

[@kjamison5951]

Many years ago, we were being shown how to use a DSO with an AUTO button. It didn’t work. Specifically because the pulse we were trying to capture was too small for that particular model of scope. The lecturer took time to explain it all to us. He went through the procedure for manually adjusting everything in order to capture that tiny pulse and there on the screen, the pulse appeared. He reset the controls and asked a class mate to capture the exact same pulse. The guy pressed the AUTO button three times in a row and then said he couldn’t understand why it was not capturing the pulse. Manual setup is always better if you get the chance.

[@mjlorton]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@mjlorton]

Thanks very much for the feedback.

[@davesans01]

Thanks for your videos I just found your channel and really enjoy it. I am a audio engineer but a total noob when it comes to using and oscilloscope I just bought a old analog Tektronix

[@andreazecchi812]

That's really a great explaination! Clear and usefull, in every single point. Thanks so much!

[@harryohanson]

Holy smokes!!! I have never seen that many testers in one place 😳😳

[@SeanBZA]

Most important as well is to read the manual first. It will often give at least a basic description of the front panel controls and the uses and limitations of them, along with what they require to operate. It often had desriptions of what to avoid as well, like trying to offset a DC signal too much as the input amplifiers or ADC will either saturate or be exposed to overvoltages that could cause problems.

[@ForeverTechh]

Dear sir ur tutorial program is very useful for me plz continue prepare more depth program on oscilloscope that how we cam take signal on electronic parts or from electronic board i will very thank full

[@Pollys13a]

Again, very good, clearly explained. Thanks.

[@mjlorton]

Hi Cliff, I used to own one and did a small video on it. I will be getting another one soon for review...but they are very handy.

[@cyberwasp461]

I really enjoy your tutorials and feel confident in using my scope. I was wondering if you could maybe do a few more showing practical uses. An example I could follow would be extremely helpful.

[@garydonais758]

Hardly the place, but I would love to see a comprehensive review of the fluke 1587 insulation test capable multi meter. I am considering a purchase in the near future and nobody breaks this stuff down like you. Thanks again for the selfless work you do for all of us.

[@mjlorton]

Hi Kevin, there are pros and cons to each...I hope to do a comparison when I get to the USA. Cheers, Martin.

[@snaprollinpitts]

thanks Martin, I'm glad you do these videos, they help me a lot!!!

[@mjlorton]

Good, I was about to type you an answer when I saw this...hope the video helped. Cheers, Martin.

[@bambam144]

again very, very good job martin respect! and a huge thumbs up for this video!

[@mjlorton]

bambam144 My pleasure, thanks for the feedback.

[@Evlengr]

By the way. I have also made tutorials for tech support and I have to commend you for not doing what I did....Ummmm ....umm.ummm. I never knew I said umm so much. So once again kudos to you sir....thank you!

[@mjlorton]

That would make an interesting meter for review...I see tester.co.uk have it so I will try get my hands on it...will probably have to be once I'm in the US. Thanks for the feedback.

[@garyk.8674]

very clear and easy to understand.

[@needarandomname4330]

I couldn't stop looking at those multi meters :O

[@terrybrown5514]

Great tutorial needed it for new adventures on new job.

[@scottj8319]

Many thanks!

[@DaveMcAnulty]

Great video. Can you talk about when you might need/want a 50ohm terminator in an upcoming video? Seems like people always use them when using a signal generator. Also, be great to see a 2-channel example of a baseline signal and another signal passing through an opamp or something!

[@nozynoz]

looking forward to your next video, A Big Thank you.

[@ivanthegreat7990]

thank you for all your tutorials !!

[@mjlorton]

My pleasure, thanks for the post.

[@FalcoGer]

ac coupling basically means the signal is put through a capacitor. dc is filtered out, so you only get high frequency stuff through.

[@BY2NY]

I would really like to know how to look at the mains wave; just curious. It would be great if you could shed some light about it too in the future videos. Thank you, Martin!

[@MrSlowestD16]

Ah, look forward to both the o-scope comparison as well as the more advanced techniques - especially the intermittent signal part. The problem I "have" (the thing I'm interested in analyzing) is that I don't know what to expect on the wire. All I can say is it's probably digital, and 12v or under. Other than that there's no data (source is a black box so to speak), but the signal specs are unknown, and what's worse is it's multiplexed. So yeah, def. looking forward to your info on how to find anomilies in the signal. One thing I don't quite get, when you're not stopped (displaying live), the signal looks very 'static' when zoomed in...but it's not, is it? Like if you zoom in on a wave, is that a particular wave or is that multiple monotonic waves going through the same point and the difference simply doesn't display on the screen? .. I'd expect to see some fluctuation in it if each was a 'different' wave, but if the buffer is large enough to capture say 50 seconds (times however many cells), what's the purpose of 'standing still' (switch turned to red) - you can just zoom in at a particular point and if you have 10 cells, 500 seconds should be enough, no?

[@ceilingwalker1]

Another awesome video. Thank you Sir.

[@snipersquad100]

I look forward to the next video.

[@celtichongy]

Good one Martin,

[@tom474e]

Very good.

[@mjlorton]

Hello....in T4D #40 I tested the UT81B's limits on the function generator...hope that will provide a little more insight. Cheers, Martin.

[@sokhadotcom5149]

good stuff Martin. keep up the good work!!

[@jcournoyer2]

I saw that you introduced a function generator on it that had a Mains on it. I also understand that this is the case where you can hurt yourself or the equipment you are using if you are not very careful on selecting your ground source. I am a hobbyist as well and know mechanical much better that electrical. I have seen the term used on some devices that the mains is isolated. I am thinking that the mains of that device is isolated from the mains of the oscilloscope. Is that a true statement? Is this function generator you used considered an "isolated" mains device?

[@franciscoalvarez5215]

Wow, brother. That's amazing.

[@craigpickard9212]

Definitely a Saffa. Lekker work boet!

[@angelasuncion8395]

it’s been more than 4 years now , you should have more multimeters in that back wall. lol

[@TXLorenzo]

Martin, thanks for the video, but I think you need some more multi-meters,lol.

[@ChurryHN]

love love love oscilloscopes now !!!

[@hurrdurr25]

Really good

[@threemoonsinjune1324]

Hi, I am not sure if you have already answered this question or not but I figured I would ask anyway. Why not just always use the 'automatic' button to save time from locating the signals ourselves? or do you always use it to locate the signal and just use volts/Div. and Time/Div. buttons to make adjustments to the signal?

[@CsrxRacer]

You are the best!

[@galieogalilei1118]

Hi Mjlorton I have a question: suppose I need the scope to adjust the Azimuth of a open reel to reel machine and I need to monitor the output of the machine. If the machine uses rca plugs, which kind of probe I need and how I connect it to the rca cable coming out of the output, from the recorder? Thanks a lot, great tutorials btw!!

[@cmennenger]

Hello, I noticed in one of your videos you were using a Hantek hand held dso. I would like to purchase a scope of that caliber for my auto repair shop. Have you done a review of this scope in a previous video? I would like your opinion of this piece of equipment before I purchase one like it. Keep up the great work. Take care. Cliff

[@jennyminskey4086]

Hello, There is a high pitched frequency noise in my home. I believe it is a "mosquito" device. What can I use to find it? Thank you!!

[@gbowne1]

I need a good megger.. insulation tester for checking phase rotations on large AC motors for machine tools.

[@jameswinnaing7714]

thank you

[@cmj20002]

Do you have a multi meter?

[@tcalcut]

I was going to post this exact same comment but you beat me to it ... !!!

[@Starlite123]

I was here to learn about an oscilloscope, what is a "multi meter"? When I Google it I get Naked Meter Maids and other misc... O_o

[@rbmwiv]

If you don’t know what a multi meter is you don’t need a scope. A multi meter measures all kinds of things ac dc voltage amps ohms etc anything electrical until you need to slow time down to view the Siginal integrity then you need a scope.

[@Starlite123]

All Things M3 ? You can use your "multi meter" maybe you can get a reading? I use a multimeter for testing but hey ok... boy you are slow :)

[@ForViewingOnly]

Hi Martin, I see you have a nice 20MHz function generator: Would you be able to use it to test the Uni-T UT81B hand held scope at higher frequencies (1MHz and above). From what I've seen online, the UT81B will start to show a square wave as a sine wave at frequencies higher than 1MHz. I would be great to have a follow-up video to your first review, where you could compare the readings with your Agilent. Thanks for listening.

[@Kennynva]

New to all this...if I have a 30mhz scope which probes should I use???? a 30mhz probe only???

[@cyrusIIIII]

How to capture nonovolt order voltages from output of a sensor? Is it possible to do it in an environment with noise?

[@zeuth_Sengsou]

Can you posted network analyzer tutorial, thanks you.

[@arvindgaur5067]

Good work, I am wondering if you can tell me how to store wave form on my USB memory. I got ISO-TECH IDS6102A-U osc. or If you can tell me where and how to use help for this regard. Do not have user manual!!

[@iknowsstuff]

What is your opinion on that rs soldering station

[@MegaKbyrne]

I have Analog only. Will it do the same as Digital? Do I also need digital? Best Kevin

[@youssefdirani]

Hi, what I don't understand is: When it is in the "run" mode (the actual timing is our usual timing) and the sweep time base is set to e.g. 100 microseconds/div, obviously we would see at maximum 10 microseconds within our horizontal 10 divisions e.g., so does the oscilloscope update its image constantly or every amount of time (how much?) since it's in the run mode? How does it work?

[@youssefdirani]

by the way, thanks for the good video!

[@InsanePlanter]

good video do u recommend those little black dso thingy r they powerful

[@keeganjacobs5913]

My oscope doesn't get to 3 mili seconds, it will go from 5 mili seconds to 2.5 mili seconds. Is there a way to get my horizontal time line to be at 3 mili seconds per division ?

[@suntech18]

Can i travel with oscilloscopes in flight

[@jesterraj]

Can u do a review on the velleman hps50?

[@mjlorton]

Thanks Rob...there are some odd folks out there...

[@InsanePlanter]

good shit

[@FunCrusher303]

I have a question, can you read brainwaves with an oscilloscope ?

[@vencentbauer]

Wow lots of meters dam

[@matthieuvankints3343]

oke, to start... thank you for your tutorials!!! really appreciated!! but some constructive criticism! please speed things along a bit. i know you try to cover the basics, but they are basics... so also rather simple to comprehend. specially with such nice analogies (which they are) but you explain so slow.. think you could put the same amount of info in about half the time of streaming and still be very clear. on the other hand, you try to cover the basics, but in the 1st tutorial you really skipped very fast over how to connect things to the scope (leads / probes) which is rather essential. for one, one can't really focus on a signal if one doesn't know how to get that signal to the scope, and also if you do things wrong you can really mess things up so i find this a real miss. again. this can just take a minute or so. but please do. again though thank you!

[@mjlorton]

Matthieu Kints, van I appreciate your post, however, there are folks that want me to go slower..as well as those like yourself who want it faster. I can never please everyone... As it's a new topic for me and perhaps many others on my channel I decided to do it at a more relaxed pace.This was also more about understanding concepts than an in-depth practical / tutorial. That will follow in good time.Cheers, Martin.

[@TaiViinikka]

You can now play KZbin videos at 1.25x normal speed -- which is about the difference between slow, relaxed speech and Rome or NYC speech. :) Fortunately Martin's diction and articulation are super clear and make perfect sense at 1.25x.

[@yaboytoby]

Tai Viinikka i watched between 1.5x and 2x and still very clear to me

[@matrixmodulator]

Matthieu Kints, van just skip or fastfoward damn, this is nice tutorials for free :D

[@VV-lq4di]

Very helpful. You are an excellent teacher. Thank you.

[@threemoonsinjune1324]

nvm... you answered my question. lol

[@brandenvs]

Are YOu South African ?

[@TheWrencher]

Why do you need so many DMM's?

[@SuspiciousAra]

NOT enough multimeters, please fix this! :D

[@GerardoZuniga]

too much detail get to it already !

[@ducklandwikeno]

You talk to much , Get right to your point first than talk . I think that's better .