Engineering covers a range of disciplines, and due to how vast the sector is, most engineers need an array of different equipment to complete their job efficiently and timely. An oscilloscope is one of the more significant pieces of equipment an engineer may need, which is why we put together this list of the 5 best oscilloscopes for engineers. An oscilloscope is an electrical testing unit that displays a range of electrical voltages in a graph or another plot.
The behaviour of the electrical current can be studied to ensure it works correctly. Oscilloscopes show every detail of the electrical signal, like the frequency, amplitude, and distortion.
When looking for an oscilloscope, there are a range of parameters that engineers may want to keep in mind, including whether you need a scope, how many signals you regularly measure, what amplitudes you need and if the signals will be periodic or non-periodic. Once you have determined these parameters, it should be easy to pick the best oscilloscope.
Here at Mechanical Engineering HQ, we like to make engineers’ lives easier and have picked out the 5 best oscilloscopes for engineers on the market, making it easier for engineers to determine which one suits their needs the best.
Siglent Technologies SD1202X-E Digital Oscilloscope
The Siglent digital oscilloscope contains the largest display monitor of any oscilloscope on the market. This machine is basic enough for beginners to use but also sophisticated enough for experts to utilize. It has a basic dial interface that can be easily changed to suit any environment and simple measurement, making it extremely user-friendly.
Engineers working with electricity or electrical items, such as electrical and mechanical engineers, will find this equipment incredibly useful. The scope of this oscilloscope is impressive for such a reasonably priced machine. Its bandwidth is well-suited to interpret both simple and complicated signals.
The colour temperature monitor uses a variety of colours to show different temperatures, unlike many oscilloscopes that use one colour to show temperature progression. The high-frequency occurrence is measured in red, while they chose blue to represent the opposite. It contains a non-reflective screen and is lightweight, making it an excellent option for any engineer.
Rigol DS1052E Digital Oscilloscope
The Rigol digital oscilloscope is one of the most popular brands of oscilloscopes and has been on the market for many years. It contains two channels, a sampling rate of 1 Gsps and an input bandwidth of 50MHz. These factors make it perfect for a newly qualified engineer.
Compared to other starter oscilloscopes on the market, the specifications in this model are perfect for a beginner. When you purchase this machine, the buyer will receive 1 Mpts memory, an external trigger option, a decoder, and a record module. All these factors are more suited to an advanced model, making this machine a steal.
The bandwidth of this oscilloscope begins at 50 MHz but can be upgraded to 100 MHz if needed. It has a full-screen monitor for easy display even in awkward environments. It is a great starter oscilloscope for any engineer.
Siglent SDS1104X-E Digital Oscilloscope
This Siglent SDS1104X-E digital oscilloscope offers excellent fidelity and is highly efficient. It releases less noise than its industry equivalents. It contains the new super-phosphor o-scope technology now employed in modern oscilloscopes.
This machine quickly and reliably delivers measurements without any delays. The front panel reaction is also one of the many features of this oscilloscope. For the price and functionality, this Siglent oscilloscope is top-of-the-range, high-quality, with features that cannot be compared anywhere.
For engineers that do not want to make a more considerable investment into an oscilloscope, this model would be perfect. It has multiple menu settings, many signal options and decreased power consumption. There is serial decoding, and gate and zoom measurements are also included. Its monitor is bright, and it contains 14 Mpts of signal memory. This oscilloscope is perfect for an engineer that wants a machine that is easy to use with quick signal processing.
Hantek DSO5102P Digital Storage Oscilloscope
This Hantek digital oscilloscope is an excellent option for engineers as it has a bandwidth of over 100MHz and a sample rate of 1 Gsa/s. The sampling intensity is very high, meaning it can identify signals quicker and easier than other models. It contains a wide colour monitor that is seven inches in size. This feature makes it easy to see why interpreting signals is more precise than other oscilloscopes.
This oscilloscope comes with several features, including a customizable edge and distance. The user can also film, slop or overtime with it. This machine can easily connect to other digital devices, including laptops and computers, as it contains a USB port.
It contains four math features which include regular FFTs and automated measurements. It is reasonably priced and can record lengths up to 40K. This oscilloscope is easy to set up, with plenty of help online if you get stuck. All in all, it is an excellent choice for any engineer in the market for an oscilloscope.
Rigol DS1054Z Oscilloscope
Last on this list of the 5 best oscilloscopes for engineers is the Rigol oscilloscope is a great option for any engineer. Rigol is a well-known and trusted brand that makes high-quality equipment such as oscilloscopes. It comes with an excellent warranty to give the buyer peace of mind.
This oscilloscope has many great features, including a 50 MHz bandwidth, four different channels and 12 Mpts of standard memory. Also, it conveniently has a USB connection, a LAN (LXI) connection for an ethernet cable and free software for the oscilloscope.
It is more expensive than some of the other options listed in this article, but if you are an engineer that uses an oscilloscope a lot in your job role, this is the perfect piece of equipment for you. It comes from a trusted brand and can be subjected to a high amount of use, making it an excellent option for busy engineers.
The oscilloscope is a piece of equipment that can be very useful to many different types of engineers. When you rely on these machines to produce a data set, you need one that is high-quality, easy to read and reliable. Every engineer wants to know that they can rely on the results received to make any crucial decisions.
Thank you very much for being here and reading this list of the 5 best oscilloscopes for engineers, we appreciate you taking the time to read our content. If you have any other tools or working accessories you would like to add, or if you have used any of these previously that worked well, please let us know with a comment below!
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