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Old 31st December 2007, 03:56 PM   (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by UTMonkey
BlueRoom - What software for PicKit2 are you referring to?
Microchip has PICkit2 standalone software, it allows you to name, diagnose and more your PICkit 2 (or Junebug). The excellent "UART tool" is there too which turns the programmer into a USB to TTL Serial terminal.
Download it from Microchip PICkit 2 v2.40
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/id...cName=en023805
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Old 31st December 2007, 06:26 PM   (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by UTMonkey
Hi All,

Really pleased, I got a digital oscilloscope for xmas.

Today was the first day I got round to actually using it, and I wanted to test that it was working ok.

The first test I thought of was to write a little program for my microcontroller that toggles a port (high\low) and measure the frequency of it.

The MicroController in question uses the internal oscillator at 8Mhz, which equates to 2MIPS.

The program which loops constantly uses 6 cycles on each iteration.

2,000,000 (MIPS) divided by 6 cycles = 333.33Khz.

My scope measures a frequency of 335.2Khz, just under 1.9Khz higher than the calculated value (over .5 percent higher).

Is this an acceptable difference? is my scope at fault? or the internal oscillator of the PIC?

Thanks in advance.

Mark
SWEET!

What model is it? I want to get one for myself in the near future. I found an old but working spectrum analyzer at a Hamfest for $30 bucks. But i skipped it, much regret.

Oh yeah, make sure you get one hell of a pair of scope probes. One time I was designing a class A amplifier and adjusting its outut gain, I was getting garbage on the end, you know rf pickup and unstable waveform. I though it was my theory that was wrong, but I got a few other airs and found out it was my probes. When I checked my waveform with good probes, I got a nice clean sine wave with my predicted voltage swing.
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Old 31st December 2007, 06:41 PM   (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by quixotron
What model is it?
Ya UTMonkey, tell us! I've always wanted to buy one, but have zero idea where to start.

I've looked at all the old scopes on Ebay over the years. Don't want to spend too much on that first one (the one you get to learn what you really needed), but I'm still lost.
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Old 31st December 2007, 06:50 PM   (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by futz
Ya UTMonkey, tell us! I've always wanted to buy one, but have zero idea where to start.

I've looked at all the old scopes on Ebay over the years. Don't want to spend too much on that first one (the one you get to learn what you really needed), but I'm still lost.
My advice if you're looking a decent, cost-effective(cheap), rugged o-scope would be to try a local hamfest. Alot of hamsters have good equipment for sale at bargain prices.

The new stuff, has all the latest dsp software and stuff and is really nice, but costs you your first born!

So that would be my game plan.
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Old 31st December 2007, 07:09 PM   (permalink)
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UTMonkey,
Sounds like you choose a good woman for a wife!!

I don't think there is too much to worry about with that small error. For now, just enjoy learning to play with your new toy!!
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Old 1st January 2008, 04:35 PM   (permalink)
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Hi All,

It's an OWON HDS1022M - http://www.tequipment.net/OWONHDS1022M.html

What made this a good option (for me) was that it is dual channel. I wanted to see what goes in to a circuit and what it spat out.

It looks faily crammed with options, so it is definitely going to keep me occupied for a bit.

My wifes other options were an OWON PDS digital scope, and a second hand analogue scope that was shown to me in these forums.

I don't think my wife wanted me to own a house brick so I reckon this is why I have this one.

Regards

Mark
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Old 1st January 2008, 05:26 PM   (permalink)
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I've wanted to play with the OWON scope, the 5022 is a real bargain I hope you can post your thoughts on yours.
How's the screen quality as it's STN not TFT, did you try using the Junebugs 30KHz mode (it's resonably accurate 29.98KHz on mine)
What is the USB software like?
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Old 1st January 2008, 05:43 PM   (permalink)
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I certainly will.

The screen quality is very clear, when it is powered on the backlight is lit automatically. You need a well lit room to read the screen with the back light switched off.

The power consumption is excellent, I have'nt needed to recharge it yet and I reckon it has been in use for about 3 hours on battery power (manual says six!).

I downloaded the PicKit2 software and went through the troubleshooting function to generate the 30KHz but I can't get a decent "grab" of the relevant pin with my probes so the readings are all over the place.

I havent installed the software yet but I will as I want to have a tinker with the IR module on the JuneBug (thats a bugger to grab with probes!)

Actually I want to see how I can record a wave and "review" it later - I think mucking around with IR will be useful for testing that.

I will put some information up when I getter a better idea of what I am doing

Mark

p.s. the manual assumes you know about scopes.....
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Old 1st January 2008, 05:45 PM   (permalink)
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Really nice Christmas present! - which I'd got one
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Old 1st January 2008, 05:56 PM   (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by UTMonkey
I certainly will.

The screen quality is very clear, when it is powered on the backlight is lit automatically. You need a well lit room to read the screen with the back light switched off.

The power consumption is excellent, I have'nt needed to recharge it yet and I reckon it has been in use for about 3 hours on battery power (manual says six!).

I downloaded the PicKit2 software and went through the troubleshooting function to generate the 30KHz but I can't get a decent "grab" of the relevant pin with my probes so the readings are all over the place.

I havent installed the software yet but I will as I want to have a tinker with the IR module on the JuneBug (thats a bugger to grab with probes!)

Actually I want to see how I can record a wave and "review" it later - I think mucking around with IR will be useful for testing that.

I will put some information up when I getter a better idea of what I am doing

Mark

p.s. the manual assumes you know about scopes.....
No software needed for the IR on Junebug to be see by your scope, just attach the probe to the IR detectors output pin (it has a built in pullup)

The 30KHz should be an easy capture for any scope, it can be found on the PGC an PGD pins both male (the 2x5 ICD connector) and CON3 along the top of the Junebug.
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Old 1st January 2008, 05:58 PM   (permalink)
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My 'scope is 44 years old and has mostly vacuum tubes (valves) in it.
Your nice modern portable 'scope makes mine look like an antique.
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Old 1st January 2008, 06:40 PM   (permalink)
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Hi Bill,

Just grabbed PGD and I am getting figures between 28 and 32KHz (all over).

A little concerned I rerun my blinky program and get a solid frequency reading so in conclusion it is probably something I am doing wrong.

Noob question - by "Pullup" do you mean that the output of the IR is high when there is no output, and the signal is grounded when there is an output?

Thanks for the help guys!

Mark

Last edited by UTMonkey; 1st January 2008 at 06:47 PM.
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Old 1st January 2008, 06:47 PM   (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by UTMonkey
Hi Bill,

Just grabbed PGD and I am getting figures between 28 and 32KHz (all over).

A little concerned I rerun my blinky program and get a solid frequency reading so in conclusion it is probably something I am doing wrong.

Noob question - by "Pullup" do you mean that the output of the IR is high when there is no output?

Thanks for the help guys!

Mark
Hmm the 30KHz looks solid enough on mine. Might be the triggering mode, make sure it's only set for single channel.

Yes the IR detector has a 30k pullup built in and should show high when not receiving. In a normally lit room they still show lots of sporatic noise so try to keep it sheilded from ambient light.
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Old 1st January 2008, 08:48 PM   (permalink)
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Thanks Bill, I have checked and it is.

I think I just need to suss out how it all works, I am sure there is something I am missing - no biggie.
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Old 1st January 2008, 09:39 PM   (permalink)
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Hi.
I just checked the manual. Nice. Very nice. Every feature but a soda dispenser. Your wife has an eye for electronic bargains. So, what were your other choices?

An improper trigger level setting can cause a lot of "wiggle" in your readings. Also, digital scopes need to display all of the signal in the vertical and two or three waves in the horizontal to get enough samples to measure against.

Have fun!
Happy holidays!
kenjj
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Last edited by kjennejohn; 1st January 2008 at 09:49 PM.
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