Oscilloscope - Useful tool or not?
 

Been wrestling with my new MS3 for a while now. Working with some smart folks here at MT and at TS but no solution yet.

One question I was asked was do I have an oscilloscope to do some signal tracing with? No, Not really. I don't think my antique 60's era Tektronix qualifies. I picked it up (freebie) thinking it might work - but no, the magic smoke came out. Still looks cool though ;)

So, what are the benefits of having a scope? How much do I have to spend to get something useful? Are PC based scopes any good? What level of PC processor do you need to make one of those work?

In addition to doing trouble shooting on the various MS gizmos, I would like to look at the high voltage ignition patterns and other such car related tests.

I find it useful enough to have one of these around...

OTC Perception, picked it up off of EBay for $250. Dual trace scope, and can test most anything electrical. Can check sensor inputs during operation. The other automotive oriented Scopemeter is the Fluke 98, does pretty much the same things as a Perception but they generally run at least double what I paid (usually more like triple). I don't think OTC supports the "update over the internet" part anymore unfortunately.

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Your OTC machine and pictures clicked something in my ol brain and made me go look at what my son bought a while back - a SnapOn Vantage Pro. At our shop, I mostly do mechanical bits, like building motors, while he is the electronics whiz and uses that thing and a SnapOn Solus. I had really never even put my hands on it before now.

SnapOn says that their machine, in addition to a component tester, is a two channel lab scope! Dang me - I may already have what I was asking about and didn't realize it!

Thanks to your post I think I saved me a bit of money! I will do a follow up on how the SnapOn thing works out.

Well, I've confirmed that our Vantage should work, but not as is. Seems it needs a secondary coil adapter lead ($33), and inductive RPM pickup ($101) and their secondary ignition wire adapter ($112). $274 Seems like a lot of money for this simple shite, - good ol SnapOn.

Did your OTC come with all the bits to do ignition traces? Lots of stuff in your box, but can't tell what all its for. Seems options are to find used stuff for the Vantage , scarf up a deal for an OTC or find something else. Anyone ever use a Hantek? eBay has an 8 channel one for $100.

Mine came with all the adapters, software, and even a video "how to" still shrink wrapped. Looking on EBay right after you started this there didn't seem to be any real bargains, but I found out that Cornwell and Mac also sold this under their own names. The Mac version was a "Wave" and the Cornwell had the "3820" from the OTC model number in it. I thin the Cornwell listing is still up.