Scope for beginner

[Gyro]

Well, I need to get a better knowledge on eletronics, but what I understtod was that if my laptop doens't close the circuit throught its power supply ground I'll be fine correct? In case of that current that you talk about it would burn the laptop, the scope or both?

Yes, absolutely correct.

[Gyro]

Well, now I am confused. The hantek HAS and the owon HASN'T a logic analyzeR? Shouldn't it be suposed to be able to observe digital signals with a scope( a constant line with a certain voltage value???)

I'm not sure that the Hantek does either, I think the comment was about the Hantek's sample rate issues.

To do proper logic analysis a cheap logic analyser is helpful (one of the cheap <$10 ones mentioned previously), this is capable of streaming large amounts of data to your PC (as in your long duration streaming question) and doing protocol decoding (I2C, SPI, serial etc - not that these will be very relevant to your mechanical encoders). One major difference between scopes and LAs is that a scope can see analog signal levels and voltages, the LA can only see digital 1/0s over a narrow (max 5V voltage range) this is probably very relevant for your mechanical encoders. I would suggest picking up one of the very cheap LAs TOO so that you have all bases covered.

[TinkerFan]

Especially if you are planning to observe digital signals, you should consider, that the Owon does not have a built in logic analyzer. But the Hantek has a sample rate we better do not start looking at...

PS: Dave has made a video about scope grounds. You might want to watch it before choosing: http://www.eevblog.com/2012/05/18/eevblog-279-how-not-to-blow-up-your-oscilloscope/

Well, now I am confused. The hantek HAS and the owon HASN'T a logic analyzeR? Shouldn't it be suposed to be able to observe digital signals with a scope( a constant line with a certain voltage value???)

Greetings

You are right, the Hantek has a logic analyzer, whereas the Owon hasn't.
A logic analyzer is something similar to a scope, but it only can observe digital signal levels (on/off), but it has a lot of features for that, which a scope doesn't. It has for example 8 or 16 digital channels, instead of just 2. The other thing ist, that it often can decode bus signals, like I²C and SPI. That would be something you could not do easily with a scope. I think that would be quite good for you. But the downside of that scope is, that it is not isolated and that the sampling rate (basically the frequency at which the internal DAC reads the voltages in) is just about twice the frequency, which is really bad. The sampling rate should usually be 4 (better more) the bandwidth of the scope. It would only make sense to use that scope up to 12MHz (or less if you want more than 4samples/s).
You can probably exceed the bandwith limit (neglecting the sample rate), because at e.g. 20MHz the signal has just lost about 30%(-3dB) of its amplitude. But I am not an expert on this topic.

PS: I just read, that the LA is limited to 10MHz on the Hantek 6022BL and I also read Gyro's comment. So here is the seccond explanation...

[Gyro]

Ah ha, I see where a confusion has crept in... Hantek 6022be = scope, 6022bl = scope+LA

[TinkerFan]

Oh, yes I see...
So in that case (the 6022BE]) I would definitely buy the Owon. But if you consider buying a logic analyzer as well, I would start thinking, what I'd use more often.

[mecanico]

OH ok, now it makes sense!!! You guys rock!
I think that without LA I'll go with owon.

Greetings

[Galenbo]

.... I also would like ot be able to read some signals from car/bikes parts for example...

Get a 2-channel battery portable device, do not care about MHZ.

[Gyro]

OH ok, now it makes sense!!! You guys rock!
I think that without LA I'll go with owon.

Greetings

One thing you can do in return for the advice you have received from everyone... Please report back on your experiences. Too many people disappear after coming here with questions so we don't get feedback on how well it worked out. It also helps others in a similar situation. 

[V_King]

was in your situation last spring. rigol 1054z just showed up and was out of my price range. and after getting bored reading all the "expert" opinions on forums, had an option to try Siglent 1102CML, (100MHz, long memory, big screen) and it ticked all the boxes, looked well made and finally found Jack Ganssles' review on it with very positive feedback. bought it for a very reasonable price from uk retailer with warranty etc. and very happy so far. barely use second channel, mostly just debugging digital circuits. for logic work got the logic analyser from dangerous prototypes.

don't get bogged down with spending ages on deciding what to use. there will always be somebody unhappy with something. Your kids will not be inheriting it and 5-10 year down the road you either will be using a top end toy in your work place or have plenty of options for really low prices if everything keeps developing at such a paste.

[rrinker]

 I too recently picked up a Siglent 1102CML, for well under MSRP, yet new in the box. Even shipped from a US location so I didn't have to wait long. I was also swayed watching Jack's review of it and felt it would work well for what I need - probably a bit overkill actually. Now I'm itching to get building a new workbench so I can get all set up and start messing around with stuff again, except until I get my bum knee under control I'm not good for much of anything but hobbling back and forth to work. Hauling heavy wood and walking through the store to pick out the required materials is right out for now.

[mecanico]

That Siglent would be awesome, however to expensive...
Thanks for the info!

When I receive it I will post and update this!

Greetings