PC-Based Instruments

Two affordable USB oscilloscopes with a built-in function generator

A USB oscilloscope is a good alternative to a normal oscilloscope in a home lab. These instruments are handy and a good deal less expensive than a normal oscilloscope. In this article we examine a pair of two-channel units that also include a built-in function generator: the PicoScope 2203 and the Velleman PCSGU250.
USB oscilloscopes are available nowadays in all price ranges and quality levels. The idea behind these instruments is simple: why not use the computing power and display capabilities of a PC (which in most cases is already available) to display the signal waveforms? After all, a modern oscilloscope is not much more than a dedicated computer with a screen (not especially large in some cases) and a few buttons and knobs.