Will this Oscilloscope work to measure LED data?

Hardware
1

I am looking at a scope on Ali and came across one for $28 that says it’s 10Mhz Will this work for basic testing of Esp/LED data signals?

Specs:

DSO510: High-Performance Flagship Model

The DSO510 is a powerful oscilloscope, offering advanced performance suitable for complex signal testing, research, and development. This model is an excellent choice for professionals handling intricate repairs or education environments requiring precise measurements.

Real-time Sampling Rate: 48MS/s

Bandwidth: 10MHz

Signal Type Support: Periodic analog signals and non-periodic digital signals

Trigger Modes: Single, Normal, Auto

Voltage Measurement Range: ±400V

Signal Generator: 50KHz

Key Features:

One-Click AUTO Mode: Displays waveforms instantly without complex adjustments.

HD LCD Screen: 2.8-inch display with 320×240 resolution.

Battery Life: Built-in 1000mAh lithium battery supports up to 4 hours of continuous use.

Recommended Use: Ideal for advanced repairs, development, and education projects.

2

It will definitely show you basic waveforms and give you an idea of what the output of an ESP looks like. To see if you’re getting data or not at all, it would be fine.

If you want to see why the output flickers with this or that termination or wire type, this probably won’t do it.

10 Mhz bandwidth gets you down to 100ns signal pulses, which are just about the minimum time for addressable LED specs. If you want analyze how things change, you probably need to get down to a 1/5 or better, a 1/10 of that. Then you can watch the rising and falling edges of the pulses, along with potential ringing/overshoot/undershoot. That puts you into the 50 Mhz range (minimum) and 100Mhz (or more) would be better.

Having said all that, having a scope is better than not having one so this is not necessarily a bad idea. You just may have to temper your expectations of the details it will actually show you.

PS: Ran down the mfg specs on that device and while I’d rate them as only Fair, overall this is probably a reasonably good buy at $50. Still not good enough to do real Lab grade work, but it should give you and idea of what’s happening under the Hood in your LED setups.

3

At least 20 MHz is what you want to look at edges in this range, although 10 MHz will give you a rough idea.

It’s not quite that bad. Rise time is 0.35/BW, so you’d be able to get down to about 35 ns.

4

Thanks guys!

You got me looking some more and at a decent hour and not 4AM LOL. That one was only $28. After a bunch of searching I came across one that lists at 120MHz 500MSa/s with Rising time:<3nS and 5ns-10sec time base with snapshot transfer to pc support vie usb and video analog video out for $42.

Please let me know your thoughts on this one: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804606821271.html

I just want something affordable to have a look at the different outputs of my Esp’s/level shifters etc etc etc… for a bit of insight and some troubleshooting here n there.

I think it only comes with a 1x probe I should have no need for a 10x probe correct? I think that is only needed over 40v?

I don’t care for the look of this one but if function over looks at a cheap price is there then I can live with it being kinda ugly lol.

Here are the listed specs:
dso1511g is an upgraded version of dso1511e, usb is changed to TYPE-C, signal generator and video output are added.

This is a kind of quality oscilloscope, ARM+FPGA+ADC architecture, with 120M bandwidth and 500M sampling rate, more stable and with higher precisions. Widely application on mcu debugging, car repair, home appliance repair, DIY electronic competition, power-supply debugging, inverter, etc. You can have a try.
Features:
Equipped with 320*240 resolution color TFT LCD display, with bright colors and high contrast, you can see the data clearly.
ARM+FPGA+ADC architecture, with 120M bandwidth and 500M sampling rate, more stable and with higher precisions.
High bandwidth: Up to 120M bandwidth can easily cope with measurement tests in various fields.
Squarewave generator: The upperside of the oscilloscope can output an adjustable squarewave of 3V amplitude, the frequency-adjustment-range is 0-2MHz, the accuracy is up to 0.1Hz. The duty cycle-adjustment-range is 1%-99%. It can be used to calibrate new probes, drive mosFETs, replace crystals, etc.
FFT: FFT is used to convert time domain waveforms into frequency domain and is widely used in harmonic analysis and other fields. Support three display modes: logarithmic, linear, and music spectrum.
Reference waveform: Lock the current waveform on the screen, and the normally refreshed waveform will not be affected. Reference waveforms are useful for single-channel oscilloscopes. With reference waveforms, you can easily compare the waveforms of two channels.
Complete trigger: Trig mode: Auto/Normal/Single; Trigger types: Rise/Fall, Trigger level: Manual/Auto
Waveform save/view: One-click to save the screen waveform, enter the waveform preview page, click the thumbnail to observe the full screen, and up to 250 waveforms piecture can be saved. Unwanted waveforms can be deleted.
Export picture to computer: through the USB cable connection, the user-stored waveforms can be exported to the computer(up to 50 at a time). You can copy it to a computer and use it for the paper material, or send it to others for analysis to find and analyze problems.
Detailed analysis: After stopping, you can move the waveform left and right to find the place youare interested in and expand (adjust the timebase) to observe the details and analyze the cause of the problem.
Power-supply: built-in rechargeable lithium battery, 3.7V, 3000mAh large caparity, full-charged can provides long working time.
Compact size: lightweight and portable, also can be used as a portable tool for on-site debugging.
Widely applications: suitable for mcu debugging, car repair, home appliance repair, DIY electronic competition, power-supply debugging, inverter, etc.

Specicifations:
Name: Oscilloscope
Model: DS01511
Material: ABS
Hardware solution: ARM+FPGA+ADC
Battery: 1 * built-in rechargeable lithium battery, 3.7V, 2500mAh (included)
Screen: 2.4 inch TFT LCD
Channel: 1
Resolution: 320*240
Bandwidth: 120MHz
Sampling rate: 500M
Rise time: <3ns
Storage depth: 128Kbit
Impedance: 1MΩ
Time base: 5ns-10s
Vertical sensitivity: 10mV/div-10V/div
Max voltage: ±40V(x1);±400V(x10)
Trigger mode: Auto/Normal/Single
Trigger type: rise/fall
Display mode: YT/Roll
Persistence: None/1s/∞
Coupling: AC/DC
Waveform measurement: 14 types
Precisions of measurement: ±2%
Reference waveform: support
Squarewave generator: support
Screenshot: support
USB picture export: support
Waveout: support
Frequency: ±0.01%
FFT: support
Language: CN/EN
Charge: micUSB 5V, 700mA
Item size: 73 * 93 * 32mm / 2.87 * 3.66 * 1.26in
Package size: 200 * 140 * 40mm / 7.87 * 5.51 * 1.57in
Package weight: 360g / 12.70ounce
Packing List:
1 * Oscilloscope
1 * Probe
1 * Cable
1 * Guideline

Or I saw this one that does not offer snapshot transfer to pc or video-out for $44: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806781001987.html

5

My first instinct on the “120M Scope” is to call BS.

Maybe it’s a fantastic Black Friday deal, but the specs/description don’t read like a typical scope.

Part may be something as simple as calling it a 120M scope rather than a 120Mhz - is that just a translation problem or a hmmmmmmm???

Again, for that kind of money what have you got to lose??

As far as probes go, a 10x is very useful above and beyond dealing with higher voltages - it will also likely increase the probe’s impedance and reduce your load on the circuit under test.
Important if you want to see the actual waveform and not the “loaded down” version due to the probe.

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6

Looks like I was wrong about the 10x The probe does indeed do 10x. It looks like it can’t get up to 120MHz but from the video I came across of this guy that does some basic testing of many cheap scopes it looks like it can get to 90MHz ± If anyone cares, here is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRjAXHQjAXU

I am thinking it is likely worth the $42 price. I just wish it didn’t have a LiPo pack in it and rather used an 18650 like some other models. :roll_eyes:

7

Make sure you have 10x. 1x are too slow and will be useless for this application. Sounds like it’s 10x if someone got to 90 MHz bandwidth though.

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