SparkFun Electronics - Digital Oscilloscope DIY Kit

Products

Full catalog
(PDF)

Product Info

Digital Oscilloscope DIY Kit

sku: KIT-09484

Description: This kit includes everything you need to build your very own, fully functional, digital oscilloscope. Once you've got it up and running, the oscilloscope features up to 5M samples/second, 8-bit resolution, up to 50Vpp max input voltage, and more!

This kit includes a semi-populated PCB, with all of the surface mount components already soldered on for you. The components left for you to solder are all through-hole. This is on the higher end of difficulty as far as through-hole kits go.

This kit pairs nicely with our BNC Probe Kit! A 9V power supply is required to run the oscilloscope; supply is not included.

Features:

9VDC power supply voltage
<280mA current draw
5M samples/second (AUTO mode only)
8 bit resolution
256 sample memory depth
1MHz analog bandwidth
100mV/Div-5V/Div sensitivity
1MΩ impedance
50Vpeak-to-peak max input voltage
DC/AC coupling
Save and display up to 6 captures to memory
Transfer screen capture to PC as a bitmap file (serial adapter not included)
Backlit LCD display

Dimensions:

110x65x25mm
Weight: 70g

Documents:

Pricing

	132 in stock backorder allowed

$59.95	price
$53.96	10-99 (10% off)
$47.96	100+ (20% off)

	quantity

click on image to enlarge

Comments

26 comments

Log in to post comments.

	by mpechner +3.4 \| Nov 24, 2009 at 4:21pm 0
By the above note, is this the version with the bnc? All other sources for this kit I've seen come with an RCA connector. Even the images you posted show the rca. Otherwise you will need to order a bnc connector to use the mentioned bnc probe. The board is set to allow for a board mounted bnc connector. I've built this one. cool little scope.

	by jrisom +1.3 \| Nov 30, 2009 at 11:55pm 0
It is an RCA connector, even comes with an RCA plug for making your own cable to use to hook up to the scope. And the BNC kit comes with an BNC to RCA adapter so all's well with the combo. Time for me to get soldering.

rxn

+2.4

| Dec 4, 2009 at 7:15pm

+0.15

Disclaimer: I own one of these, and it is kind of a piece of crap. Granted, it's the *cheapest* oscilloscope you can possibly buy, anywhere, so from that point of view, this thing is awesome.

I'm not sure if they've fixed it in the newer revisions, but the front panel hole for the LCD is too small so you are going to have to route it out with a Dremel or other tool. Also, as soon as you get it, update the firmware to the latest version. The newer ones might be shipping with the latest firmware, but I know it made mine way better, it even upped the sample rate!

	by joachim +2.8 \| Dec 20, 2009 at 3:17am +0.15
I have two of these. The first was an attempt on full diy, with all components in the bag and none soldered. It took a while and now I have no clue where the error(s) are. The next one I bought with all smd's soldered, but when I added the through hole parts, I certainly don't measure what the guide tells me I should see. What is the best forum to troubleshoot these? Joachim

	by daschick +2.6 \| Jan 7, 2010 at 11:59pm +0.15
I have made it to the 5vdc test but the screen keeps dimming on me. I have checked for shorts and can't find any visually. I just found the Google Group they have which I'll try next: http://groups.google.com/group/jye-tech-oscilloscopes

mikelehen

+1.7

| Jan 10, 2010 at 2:03pm

This is a cool little kit. Inexpensive and a slick design.

*However* it's probably not the most amazing diagnostic tool. I've never owned a real scope, but I was trying to use this to debug a remote reset circuit for an arduino, and found that attaching the probe to the reset pin of the arduino completely changed the behavior of the circuit. I'm pretty sure that's not supposed to happen. :-)

[disclaimer: It's possible I messed something up when building the scope kit or my circuit was exceptionally fragile or something.]

	by Applekid +3.8 \| Jan 14, 2010 at 8:23am 0
Yup, I think it's something with your circuit. I attached this to a basic hello-world LED blinking program timed to 60 Hz and got the expected square wave with no averse effects to the actual blinking LED

Tesla

+1.4

| Jan 14, 2010 at 11:16am

Slick little kit, works well, but there are some key points that took some work and reading to figure out about it.
A: The parts list (not included in the kit) does not match the parts bag. The notes in the assembly instructions (also not included) don't line up with the board or parts bag.
B: The assembly instructions themselves are greatly lacking.
C: Useful notes if you're building this kit: Install the lone diode at position D3, and a jumper at D4. If you use the power jack, you do not have to install J3 (it's also used for applying power, but is not required). Bolting the VR and heatsink to the board may short the heatsink against a pass-through. Finally, you may want/need to trim the flange on the 3 button caps nearest the LCD, so they don't hang up against the LCD.

eddiem

+2.4

| Jan 30, 2010 at 7:50pm

I built one and it seems to work. I have multiple real CROs I don't plan to use it.
I was hoping to hack it for some other purpose but the source appears to be closed and I'm not going to bother writing from scratch. I'll be putting my time into coding for the nokia knockoff or an OLED instead.
It would be nice if some of the source could be opened up. Even if complete CRO code remained closed some of the drivers (LCD) etc could useful.

raygeeknyc

+4.5

| Jan 30, 2010 at 9:30pm

+0.15

Since 2 people have it working, I'll accept that my completely dead one is due to something I did wrong.

I have installed what was included and added the D4 jumper, but I don't even get a backlit LCD. Some of the voltages described in the troubleshooting guide are correct and some aren't.

Tesla: Thanks for the top about jumper@D4 which led me to realize that there may be other parts than what's in the kit.

Are there any other not-included parts that are needed? Specifically - my parts did not include any hardware for jumpers, are there any that are needed?

Thanks
---Raymond

	by Applekid +3.8 \| Feb 27, 2010 at 11:46am 0
Since the D4 jumper was missed, did you catch the JP1 jumper too? Once you verify 5V at the test point, you should bridge that jumper so that it actually starts feeding power to the rest of the circuitry. That one caught me off guard for a while.

	by Klone38 +1.2 \| Apr 26, 2010 at 4:37pm 0
I fumbled with it for hours with incorrect voltages and a unlit LCD untill i paid attention to the rear circuit board pic where it shows JP1 jumped. when i connected it it worked perfectly. P.S. it is a great little kit but it really needs to be better documented.

	by RobertC. \| Apr 29, 2010 at 3:47pm
Sorry you had the problem. Did you see the instructions on this product page? Step 5. "... short JP1 ...." The instructions are a bit sparse though. Sorry you had an issue with that, it's easy to miss!

	by Klone38 +1.2 \| Apr 26, 2010 at 4:41pm 0
Sorry, i forgot to add that the pic that i saw with JP1 jumped was the actual completed board on the manufacturers website (jyetech.com)

	by CumQuaT +2.2 \| May 6, 2010 at 5:26am +0.15
Argh... I bought one of these but the instructions and parts lists I can find are all for a DIFFERENT model board... Now my scope doesn't work and just makes an awful high-pitched whine when I turn it on!

	by RobertC. \| May 6, 2010 at 9:09am
I just grabbed one from stock and am looking at it. The instructions appear correct. Are you referring to the correct assembly notes: http://www.jyetech.com/Products/LcdScope/Assembly%20Notes.pdf If you have further issues, please contact tech support at techsupport at sparkfun dot com.

	by JohnBoxall +1.7 \| May 6, 2010 at 10:22am +0.29
This is a fascinating piece of work. I have assembled it and written a kit review with demo video at http://wp.me/pQmjR-9n

	by RobertC. \| May 6, 2010 at 10:27am
Great! Thanks for that.

LordNothing

+2.3

| May 28, 2010 at 7:55pm

+0.15

first thing i noticed about this when i got it is the complete lack of useful instructions. i took some time trying to dig up all the information i could on the thing.

i installed the main board parts, did the 5v test, installed jumper, tested again. everything seemed ok. i attached the headers to the lcd module, inspected them carefully to make sure they were ok.

things were going smoothly until i discovered that the heat sink was blocking one of the 2 pin headers. i had decided to simply rotate the heat sink 180 degrees.

soldering lcd headers to the main board was rather daunting, as there were several smd components very close to some of the pads. but i managed to get around them. i power up. the screen lit but was blank.

after checking some of the terminals i found several incorrect voltages, but the troubleshooting guide didn't say how to correct them. after some tinkering i got the thing to display the version number, but this only happened once or twice.

i check connections and touch up the pads but i finally came to the conclusion that i had either just bricked $60 bucks, or i had been sold a $60 brick, ether way, it sucks.

RossC

+1.1

| Jun 15, 2010 at 10:50am

I purchased the kit, and tried to follow the ambiguous directions. It was a total fail and after a few hours, I tossed it into electronics recycling.

I suggest to anyone reading this that they save their money and go for the somewhat similar assembled scope. That way you will get something you can use. For me this was a time consuming, frustrating and ultimately unsuccessful project.

And if you are wondering, I HAVE successfully put together many kits. This one has a poor design and incredibly poor directions.

Not at all up to the usual quality of SparkFun! Avoid this kit, read the other reviews!

Single T

| Jun 17, 2010 at 1:54pm

Hi Guys,
We are very sorry for the frustration related to this kit. We are working on obtaining a new set of directions to assist with building this kit. We have successfully built one of these kits here at Sparkfun, however, it is not one of our products. We are working on this problem, and hope to come to a solution shortly. Please contact tech support if you are experiencing issues.
Thanks,
Timothy

technician4

+1.1

| Jun 25, 2010 at 12:32am

i just purchased this unit and have subsequently found out it is among the 'older models': i was shipped 06202kp, there was originally a 06201p and 06201kp. the 'improved models' (JYEtech's phrase) are 06203p, 06203kp, 06204kp. this is kind of important because if someone is purchasing this here after having read a recent review they are unlikely to get all the functionality presented to them. the older revision boards are not firmware compatible with the newer revision boards. i'm not crying foul, i just think a good part of the frustration experienced here is due to the sparse documentation and link between it's revision and the board revision. what would be really helpful is having a clear link between board revision sold and assembly instructions listed on this product page.

lst2001

+1.3

| Jul 8, 2010 at 11:47am

Well, If Technician4 is correct about the revisions of the board, i.e. the latest is 06204kp, then this maybe the source of many problems others are having. I wonder how many of those who had problems contacted tech support? I talked to tech support and was told that the company has placed an order from thier supplier (this is not one of thier products). Hopefully they will get the latest level boards - delivery sometime in Sept. So I am going to wait till then before placing my order, and I will make sure that I get the latest level board

	by N8B \| Jul 8, 2010 at 1:09pm
The version currently in stock is 06202KP

Jetdillo

+4.1

| Jul 8, 2010 at 10:37pm

I must have been either really careful or really lucky or both because even though it took me a couple weekends to build this, it powered up, booted and worked successfully the first time.
This was my first serious SMD project and it definitely required some effort and patience. I found a couple places where I put placed something in backwards or put a capacitor in where a resistor should go, but managed to catch all of that before actually powering it on.

Oh, I have the RCA connector on my kit.

LordNothing

+2.3

| Jul 29, 2010 at 4:32pm

i kinda think my problem is with the negative voltage supply. i can get the lcd to fire up and show graphics for a couple minutes after a long period of inactivity (like a couple days). and for awhile the negative voltages are acceptable, but after awhile they go positive. at this point i dont know what do do to fix it, aside from replacing some of the surface mount components (not something im set up for or have the skill to do). at least the lcd module is still good, i might be able to use it elsewhere.