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Flea-Scope: $18 Source Available USB Oscilloscope, Logic Analyzer and More [pdf]

rtestardi.github.io

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Re: Flea-Scope: $18 Source Available USB Oscilloscope, Logic Analyzer and More [pdf]

#71

For about the same price ($13), I'm happy with this logic analyzer I bought through amazon[1] a month ago. I spent more on probes[2] ($24) than I did the analyzer. ;-) To power it, I'm using SigRock/Pulseview[3], which sees it as a compatible clone. It's wild to be able to see signals a few tens of nanoseconds wide so cheaply. [1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077LSG5P2 [2] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLB63GL3 [3] https…

I have this exact one, and I don't reccomend using it with the Saleae Logic software, it constantly drops out and has issues enumerating. Haven't tried sigrock yet.

Re: Flea-Scope: $18 Source Available USB Oscilloscope, Logic Analyzer and More [pdf]

#72
post #56
post #33

Does the software provide a way to export recorded waveforms to allow analysis in other programs? And what is the maximum number of samples it can record?

What’s the use case you’re trying to solve for here?

Using an oscilloscope to find a signal, then writing custom DSP code to decode the signal. I'm thinking of stuff like 1 or n-wire binary protocols, NTSC, and such. Or am I supposed to be looking at software-defined radio (SDR) hardware?

Re: Flea-Scope: $18 Source Available USB Oscilloscope, Logic Analyzer and More [pdf]

#74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fair enough, but on the flip side - you either want to get into electronics or not. If not, there's no real point in spending the money, even if it's $2. If you do, then you probably don't yet have an understanding of what features you need, and the cheapest option will actually hold you back. Some specific issues: first, the number of inputs. A lot of circuit debugging is about "let's see how signal A looks like whe…

> you either want to get into electronics or not. If not, there's no real point in spending the money, even if it's $2 It's fuzzier than that; there are hobbies that look fun but I can't decide if I want to fully invest into them, but having a cheap, but not-great equipment is a good stepping stone. Besides, beginners won't have the skill to fully use fully-featured pro-level-gear. A cheap soldering iron is great for…

Ironically, beginners would benefit the most from a good soldering station, proper liquid flux and leaded solder. Seasoned electronics guys can probably solder anything with a cigarette lighter and a scrap piece of metal, but using proper tools makes a huge difference when you're just starting and might mean not dropping the hobby altogether because of a lousy first experience..

Re: Flea-Scope: $18 Source Available USB Oscilloscope, Logic Analyzer and More [pdf]

#75
post #65
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> very good oscilloscopes with 200 MHz bandwidth, good user interfaces, and responsive displays are selling for $300 This is a very strong first world POV. Those U$D 300 rank pretty high across world's minimum salaries [1], not to mention that prices can very likely double in countries like my own. Moreover, a large % of people that can really get a very good use of this (Kids in high school) usually have a lot less…

So starting with nothing at all, what is the total cost of ownership for the flea -cope? My guess, its over $300, (if $300 is your annual salary, your existing phone will probably not cut it). And for comparison, standalone toy oscilloscopes ( The problem is, with a toy scope, you aren't really gonna know if what you're measuring is real. This might be useful as a kit to build to learn how to program microcontrollers…

Where's that guess coming from? The scope is $18, the optional probe from elecrow is $5 extra. You most definitely have either an android phone or a laptop/PC with a browser from the last ten years already. As such the cost is pretty minimal. Say you bought a set of these kind of test probes with hooks at the front. A set would maybe cost you $10. Now you can use all your 9 channels. I don't understand your price calculations.

Every scope out there has an upper limit in terms of speed. If you have no use for it, don't buy it. This oscilloscope is first and foremost a learning resource.

Re: Flea-Scope: $18 Source Available USB Oscilloscope, Logic Analyzer and More [pdf]

#76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s a matter of perspective, though. For a white collar professional in the US? Sure. For most of the world’s population, the distinction between $300 and $18 is extremely consequential.

For the majority of humanity, it's several days' worth of wages vs several weeks or months.

Right. $18 is 6% of $300. For that to be a difference of little consequence, $300 must be an expenditure of little consequence. In the other direction $300 is 6% of $5000. There are people— a number of whom likely frequent this forum— for whom a $5000 expenditure isn’t particularly consequential, and getting an OK thing for $300 doesn’t make sense when you can get a pretty good thing for $5000. That certainly doesn’t mean someone being able to offer a useful version of a $5000 thing for $300 has no merit.

I see this sort of thing in amateur radio all the time. “Why on earth would anyone just starting out consider getting a Baofeng radio for $20 when you can get a better quality name brand equivalent for $200?” Well because $180 is a whole lot of money for a whole lot of people.

Re: Flea-Scope: $18 Source Available USB Oscilloscope, Logic Analyzer and More [pdf]

#77

For about the same price ($13), I'm happy with this logic analyzer I bought through amazon[1] a month ago. I spent more on probes[2] ($24) than I did the analyzer. ;-) To power it, I'm using SigRock/Pulseview[3], which sees it as a compatible clone. It's wild to be able to see signals a few tens of nanoseconds wide so cheaply. [1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077LSG5P2 [2] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLB63GL3 [3] https…

I have this exact one, and I don't reccomend using it with the Saleae Logic software, it constantly drops out and has issues enumerating. Haven't tried sigrock yet.

> I don't reccomend using it with the Saleae Logic software

The Saleae software is designed for use only with Saleae products. Anything else is a clone.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they intentionally made the software frustrating and buggy to use with clones. The software (which is great) is funded by hardware purchases.

Re: Flea-Scope: $18 Source Available USB Oscilloscope, Logic Analyzer and More [pdf]

#78
For the price this small thing is really awesome.

I think the posted title need to be improved and updated to include function or waveform generator instead of just More.

Perhaps because of that most of the comments here just focusing in the oscilloscope part.

As any who has dabbled with electronics know your typical workbench is normally consist of oscilloscope, logic analyzer, waveform generator, digital multi-meter and power supply normally 12V DC.

It seems to me this little $18 hybrid signals scope/generator can do almost all of these functions, and since they are integrated on the same device you don't need to synchronize them which is a big plus.

For old school HP/Agilent/Keysight electronics workbench discrete solutions can easily cost tens of thousands dollars, no kidding.

The modern version of this is the Digilent Discovery Pro 3000/4000/5000 series with price tags of several thousands dollars. They are described as the All-In-One High-Speed Mixed Signal Oscilloscope, Function Generator, Power Supply, and DMM. The cheaper version of this Digilent Discovery 1/2/3 series that cost around $400. But the latter is quite bandwidth and resources limited thus more comparable with the Flea-Scope [1].

[1] Digilent Analog Discovery 3 vs. Digilent Pro ADP2230 [video]:

https://youtu.be/yr9SGxiBAnI

Re: Flea-Scope: $18 Source Available USB Oscilloscope, Logic Analyzer and More [pdf]

#80

For the price this small thing is really awesome. I think the posted title need to be improved and updated to include function or waveform generator instead of just More. Perhaps because of that most of the comments here just focusing in the oscilloscope part. As any who has dabbled with electronics know your typical workbench is normally consist of oscilloscope, logic analyzer, waveform generator, digital multi-mete…

I'm at the character limit, so I'll take suggestions for a new title!

There's a lot of unique, interesting and useful features this offers, all of which are deserving of a spot in the title...

Edit: Seems like I have lost the ability to change the post title. Unfortunate

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