Why do you think there aren't more "good" USB oscilloscopes?

[JPortici]

To be honest i wouldn't have considered using one if i wasn't forced by my boss.
Because at the time it was the only truly affordable scope that could decode SENT (still is by the way, second in line is a siglent with a much higher price tag) but pretty soon i adopted the correct mindset.
An usb scope is not a tool for casual probing, for looking at waveforms, it's an acquisition device that must come with a very powerful software behind it.
If the software isn't there, then it's a crap scope you shouldn't be considering. That's why there aren't more good scopes, It's a niche that picoscope fit perfectly.

2N3055 correctly wrote that you need to look at Lecroy. Real Lecroys, of course, not the generic rebranded scopes with the same functionalities as everybody else. I you've ever used one, not just played with one, you'll understand.

What usually happens is that someone on the other side of the world place the probe where i tell them to, then they send me the acquisitions, then i do the analysis from my desk and minutes to hours later i send them the revised firmware or whatever. Sure the picoscope is not the only scope that does that, but is by far, to me, the one with the best interface, and the fastest software. I tried the infinuum software, hard nope.

Picoscope 6 of course, not that shit "app" they did with version 7, a new ui with less possibilities and the same age old bugs still there.

[David Hess]

I have had the opportunity to use them several times and have always gone with a standalone instrument, even if it meant using an obsolete one.

1. Their interface means that they take more workspace for a keyboard and mouse, and would require another monitor.  I might accept this if it meant adding just another monitor to my workbench but ...

2. The USB physical interface to the PC adds another potential ground loop and risks damage to the PC if there is an overload.  I have already had this experience.  Inexplicably they do not include an isolated USB port, and providing one may or may not work.  Ethernet would solve this but it is less common except in standalone instruments.

3. The input hardware has always so far proved to be substandard compared to older designs, but of course this applies to many modern standalone DSOs as well, but do not use them either.

4. Their user interfaces are horribly designed, at least for the ones I have tested.

Some USB oscilloscopes provide features lacking in standalone instruments, but I would require a special need.  Cleverscope comes to mind.

[coppercone2]

I wonder if one day there will be advanced traveling component level car repair men (or space ships) that need this kind of light weight miniaturized equipment.

The thing that screams "interseting" to me is a no interface scope that hooks up to a visor, like augmented reality. Or for fiber optics. That would actually be useful if you have a 0 access wire you need to probe while under something. Or I guess space suit guys in a drydock of the future that have it show up on their HUD.

[David Hess]

I wonder if one day there will be advanced traveling component level car repair men (or space ships) that need this kind of light weight miniaturized equipment.

The thing that screams "interseting" to me is a no interface scope that hooks up to a visor, like augmented reality. Or for fiber optics. That would actually be useful if you have a 0 access wire you need to probe while under something.

There have been "combination" instruments in the past for those who need to travel, but they never became mainstream.

If you are already burdened with a laptop, which seems likely, then maybe USB instruments make more sense, but would you want a USB only multimeter instead of  standalone one even then?

[coppercone2]

I wonder if one day there will be advanced traveling component level car repair men (or space ships) that need this kind of light weight miniaturized equipment.

The thing that screams "interseting" to me is a no interface scope that hooks up to a visor, like augmented reality. Or for fiber optics. That would actually be useful if you have a 0 access wire you need to probe while under something.

There have been "combination" instruments in the past for those who need to travel, but they never became mainstream.

If you are already burdened with a laptop, which seems likely, then maybe USB instruments make more sense, but would you want a USB only multimeter instead of  standalone one even then?

when there is a computer in the space suit and you can hook it up to the visor. Mechanic of the year 15000

[coppercone2]

There has been one point in my life where i reached for my keys when I had to measure voltage, then I realized I don't have a DMM on the keychain. Smartphone keychain dmm does exist but I don't own it. Like if you come across a battery, it would be very useful. The old question of "do I replace batteries or is it broken?"

It's because I use a keychain flash light quite frequently (beats the smart phone flashlight), and keychain scissors. If you are fond of battery devices for things like sparsey used lights (i.e. random cabinet light), thermometers, etc, it is desirable. Some of the things I improved with cheap AA battery devices were like a gigantic time saver, and I don't need to wonder how permanent the solution is, I just stick a light in there and if you wanna get rid of it in 3 months, no problem. Cable run requires like strategic planning. Thinking about putting up a easy 10-year life alkaline light system in a shed using 2x 6v lantern batteries. set&forget.Or some bull shit like crawl space lighting, infrequent service lights behind a control panel, etc. Sometimes there is room and you have to work there long and frequently enough to make a built in light worth the effort instead of wearing a head lamp.

[SiliconWizard]

There has been one point in my life where i reached for my keys when I had to measure voltage, then I realized I don't have a DMM on the keychain. Smartphone keychain dmm does exist but I don't own it. Like if you come across a battery, it would be very useful. The old question of "do I replace batteries or is it broken?"

It's because I use a keychain flash light quite frequently (beats the smart phone flashlight), and keychain scissors. If you are fond of battery devices for things like sparsey used lights (i.e. random cabinet light), thermometers, etc, it is desirable. Some of the things I improved with cheap AA battery devices were like a gigantic time saver, and I don't need to wonder how permanent the solution is, I just stick a light in there and if you wanna get rid of it in 3 months, no problem. Cable run requires like strategic planning. Thinking about putting up a easy 10-year life alkaline light system in a shed using 2x 6v lantern batteries. set&forget.Or some bull shit like crawl space lighting, infrequent service lights behind a control panel, etc. Sometimes there is room and you have to work there long and frequently enough to make a built in light worth the effort instead of wearing a head lamp.

 

[David Aurora]

My current life is a tech fixing audio gear and my previous life was as a recording engineer/producer, and in this world I've seen these exact same arguments hashed out for decades now with the same misunderstanding. Does a $500 USB audio interface replace a million dollar recording facility? Absolutely not. Is it the best tool for the job when you're fucked for time and need to edit drums on a plane between sessions? 100%.

I have a top of the range National Instruments USB scope, yet I would greatly pefere to use a bottom of the range Rigol/Siglent on the bench because of the convenience.
And there is somethign about having a scope right next to your work on the bench so you don't have the glance up at monitor. Same argument for handheld vs bench multimeter for bench use, handheld wins almost every time, you can bring the meter right physically close to the work.

Again- I'm not talking about REPLACING a bench scope. In my experience so far every DSO/USB scope can fuck right off for proper audio work anyway, CRO is the only way to fly when you need latency free probing. This is simply for taking out to jobs so I have everything I need to generate and observe basic signals in a laptop case. More detailed work can always be done back at work or I can return with parts/bench scope/power supplies etc if it must be done there as usually that's beyond the initial callout anyway so it doesn't make sense to have all that with me for a mystery job.

Agreed on the bench/handheld meter thing though, my bench meters are pretty much just permanently wired into things like dummy loads and everything gets done with my Fluke.