Oscilloscopes for beginners from Udemy

Oscilloscopes are incredible: They can capture, display, and analyse an electrical input signal. They can automatically produce all kinds of measurements, like the period, rise time, width, duty cycle, max and min voltages, and lots more, and even decode communications protocols like RS232, and I2C.

Are you working with electronics and are interested in using an oscilloscope to gain a better understanding of what is happening inside your circuits as they operate?

Perhaps you already have an oscilloscope but are confused by all its buttons, knobs and menu options?

Perhaps you are thinking of getting one but not sure if its worth it, or not sure what to look for?

This course is dedicated to the oscilloscope, and it will help you answer these questions, plus lots more.

It will teach you how to use the oscilloscope that you already have, or are planning to get.

After the multimeter, the oscilloscope is the most useful test instrument for makers.

Over the last few years, their prices have dropped by a lot, and it is now very common for students and hobbyists to be able to afford one. Today, budget scopes offer a full array of capabilities.

You are probably familiar with the multimeter. This test instrument gives you a snapshot of what is happening in your circuit in a specific moment in time. For example, it will tell you that the voltage on a certain pin is 5.1 Volts.

The multimeter works in a single dimension.

The oscilloscope works in two dimensions.

On its screen, it will plot the voltage of your test circuit over time. You can see how voltage changes over time, and get the measurements that describe various aspects of its operation. You can use this information to dive deep into the inner workings of your circuit.

This is a course for people who are already familiar with basic electronics.

To make the most from this course, you will need to have a working understanding of things like Volt, Hz and duty cycle.

Because I use the Arduino and the ESP32 to create experiments based on which I demonstrate various features and capabilities of the oscilloscope, you should also have a basic understanding of those two technologies.

In the course, first I’ll talk about the various aspects of an oscilloscope, such as the most important features, functions, and controls.

Second, I’ll help you get comfortable with your oscilloscope, calibrate it and get it ready for use.

And third, I’ll show you how to use the oscilloscope by guiding you through multiple experiments. Each experiment is an opportunity to learn and practice several new workflows and operations. This third part, the experimental, consists the bulk of the course.

So I invite you to enrol in this course right now, and learn how to use your oscilloscope.

You can also have a look at the free lectures for more information about the objectives and structure of this course.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the purpose of the oscilloscope.
Understand the basic controls of the oscilloscope.
Learn how to calibrate and use the probes so that a signal is transmitted to the oscilloscope with minimal distortion.
Learn how to use the automatic and manual trigger function to capture a variety of signal types.
Understand the differences and similarities between bench-top, portable and pc/usb oscilloscopes.
Understand what you can and cannot do with an oscilloscope.
Become familiar with the various kinds of waveforms that are typical in electronic circuits.

Understand how to keep your oscilloscope and yourself safe.
Learn how to use the oscilloscope automatic measurement and statistics functions.
Learn how to take manual measurements using the cursors.
Learn how to use cursors in manual, tracking and automatic mode.
Build-up your skill and confidence through a series of experimentations.
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Understand the purpose of the oscilloscope.
Understand the basic controls of the oscilloscope.
Learn how to calibrate and use the probes so that a signal is transmitted to the oscilloscope with minimal distortion.
Learn how to use the automatic and manual trigger function to capture a variety of signal types.
Understand the differences and similarities between bench-top, portable and pc/usb oscilloscopes.
Understand what you can and cannot do with an oscilloscope.
Become familiar with the various kinds of waveforms that are typical in electronic circuits.
Understand how to keep your oscilloscope and yourself safe.
Learn how to use the oscilloscope automatic measurement and statistics functions.
Learn how to take manual measurements using the cursors.
Learn how to use cursors in manual, tracking and automatic mode.
Build-up your skill and confidence through a series of experimentations.
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Introduction

01.10 What you should know about this course

01.20 Software you will need

01.30 Hardware you will need

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Assumes familiarity with basic electronics concepts like voltage, hertz, and duty cycle, which may require some learners to acquire prerequisite knowledge

Uses Arduino and ESP32 to demonstrate oscilloscope features, so learners with experience in these technologies will likely find the course more accessible

Covers essential oscilloscope functions and controls, providing a solid foundation for understanding how to capture and analyze electrical signals

Includes hands-on experiments using Arduino and ESP32, which allows learners to practice new workflows and operations to build skills and confidence

Teaches how to calibrate probes and oscilloscopes, which is essential for transmitting signals with minimal distortion and ensuring accurate measurements

Explores the differences between bench-top, portable, and PC/USB oscilloscopes, which helps learners understand the options available and choose the right tool

Reviews summary

Practical oscilloscope basics

Learners say this course offers a solid introduction to using oscilloscopes, proving particularly useful for hobbyists, makers, and beginners with basic electronics knowledge. Many reviewers highlight the clear explanations and appreciate the numerous practical, hands-on experiments, especially those utilizing Arduino and ESP32. While the course effectively covers fundamental functions, controls, and measurements, a few students noted it primarily focuses on basic concepts and does not explore advanced topics. Successfully following the demos requires having an oscilloscope and the necessary hardware for experiments. Overall, feedback is largely positive, establishing it as a valuable first step for learning this key electronic tool.

Requires an oscilloscope and experiment hardware.

"You really need an oscilloscope to get the most out of this course and practice along."

"Make sure you have the Arduino or ESP32 boards for the experiments, as they are central to many demos."

"Following along with the instructor's demos requires you to set up the circuits he shows."

Requires familiarity with fundamental concepts.

"As the description says, you need to know basic electronics. It doesn't teach you Volt or Hz."

"Familiarity with Arduino/ESP32 is definitely a plus for the later experiments."

"Make sure you have a basic understanding of circuits before starting this course."

Hands-on demos are very helpful.

"The experiments are the best part, applying concepts makes them stick."

"Using Arduino and ESP32 in the examples was exactly what I needed for my projects."

"Following the demos with my own scope was incredibly insightful."

"The focus on using the tool with real circuits made a huge difference."

Ideal for those new to oscilloscopes.

"This course is perfect for someone who has never touched an oscilloscope before. It starts right from the basics."

"The instructor explains everything very clearly and breaks down complex concepts."

"I found it easy to follow along even with minimal prior experience beyond basic electronics."

"Helped me get over my fear of using my new oscilloscope."

Focuses on fundamentals, not advanced features.

"Good for getting started, but don't expect deep dives into advanced triggering or analysis."

"Covers the core functions well, but I wish it went into more complex scenarios."

"If you already know the basics, this might be too simple for you."

"It's truly for beginners, so it only scratches the surface of what modern scopes can do."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Oscilloscopes for beginners with these activities:

Review Basic Electronics Concepts

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Reinforce your understanding of fundamental electronics concepts like voltage, current, and resistance. This will provide a solid foundation for understanding oscilloscope measurements and signal analysis.

Browse courses on Voltage

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Review notes from previous electronics courses.
Work through practice problems related to Ohm's Law and circuit analysis.
Watch introductory videos on basic electronics principles.

Review 'Practical Electronics for Inventors'

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Supplement your understanding of electronics principles with a comprehensive textbook. This will help you better interpret the signals you observe on the oscilloscope.

View Practical Electronics for Inventors, Fourth... on Amazon

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Read the chapters related to circuit analysis and component characteristics.
Work through the example problems in the book.
Relate the concepts in the book to the experiments in the course.

Practice Oscilloscope Simulations

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Familiarize yourself with oscilloscope controls and settings through online simulations. This will allow you to experiment with different waveforms and measurement techniques without needing physical equipment.

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Find an online oscilloscope simulator.
Practice adjusting the timebase and voltage scale.
Experiment with different trigger settings.
Measure the frequency and amplitude of various simulated waveforms.

Four other activities

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Follow Oscilloscope Calibration Tutorials

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Learn the proper procedure for calibrating your oscilloscope probes. Proper calibration is essential for accurate measurements.

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Find a video tutorial on oscilloscope probe calibration.
Follow the steps in the tutorial to calibrate your probes.
Verify the calibration by measuring a known signal.

Build a Simple Waveform Generator

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Create a simple circuit that generates sine, square, and triangle waves. Use the oscilloscope to analyze the output of your waveform generator and verify its performance.

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Design a simple waveform generator circuit using components like op-amps or function generator ICs.
Build the circuit on a breadboard.
Connect the oscilloscope to the output of the waveform generator.
Adjust the circuit parameters to generate different waveforms.
Measure the frequency, amplitude, and shape of the waveforms using the oscilloscope.

Create a Troubleshooting Guide

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Document common oscilloscope issues and their solutions. This will help you solidify your understanding of oscilloscope operation and troubleshooting techniques.

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Identify common problems encountered when using an oscilloscope.
Research the causes of these problems.
Document the solutions to these problems in a clear and concise manner.
Include screenshots or diagrams to illustrate the troubleshooting steps.

Review 'XYZs of Oscilloscopes'

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Deepen your understanding of oscilloscopes with a dedicated guide. This will provide a more comprehensive understanding of oscilloscope operation and applications.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the chapters related to oscilloscope controls and measurement techniques.
Study the examples provided in the book.
Relate the concepts in the book to the experiments you have performed.

Career center

Learners who complete Oscilloscopes for beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Hobbyist Electronics Designer

A hobbyist electronics designer creates and tinkers with electronic projects for personal enjoyment. The content of this course may be useful to hobbyists, as it may help them use oscilloscopes to understand and improve their electronic creations. Oscilloscopes help hobbyists analyze circuit behavior, troubleshoot problems, and optimize performance. The course provides comprehensive instruction in oscilloscope functions, controls, calibration, and practical applications using Arduino and ESP32. By working through the experiments, hobbyists can enhance their skills and refine their electronic projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hobbyist Electronics Designer

Electronics Technician

An electronics technician builds, tests, repairs, and maintains electronic components and systems. This course, designed to help beginners understand and use oscilloscopes, is directly applicable to the daily tasks of an electronics technician. Electronics technicians use oscilloscopes to visualize and analyze electrical signals within circuits, diagnose faults, and ensure proper operation of electronic devices. The course covers essential oscilloscope functions, controls, and calibration techniques, all of which are vital skills for an electronics technician. You will also learn how to measure waveform attributes and use cursors, increasing precision in diagnostic work. By working through the experimental portion of this course, a student will feel more confident in their ability to diagnose and fix electronic issues, which is central to the role of electronics technician.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electronics Technician

Electrical Engineer

An electrical engineer designs, develops, tests, and supervises the manufacturing of electrical equipment. Understanding how to use an oscilloscope, as taught in this course, is a fundamental skill for an electrical engineer. The course helps new engineers use this instrument to analyze circuit behavior, troubleshoot design flaws, and validate system performance. Electrical engineers routinely use oscilloscopes to examine waveforms, measure signal characteristics, and diagnose anomalies in prototype circuits. By covering oscilloscope features, controls, calibration, and experimental applications with Arduino and ESP32, this course helps build a solid foundation for electrical engineers. By learning the oscilloscope basics covered here, and then building their practical experience, electrical engineers are empowered to design and troubleshoot complex electrical systems more effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Engineer

Robotics Technician

A robotics technician installs, maintains, and repairs robotic systems. The oscilloscope skills taught in this course are highly relevant to this role, especially with the increasing complexity of modern robotic systems. Robotics technicians use oscilloscopes to diagnose problems in robot control systems, analyze sensor signals, and ensure proper communication between different components. The course offers instruction in the calibration and use of probes, understanding waveforms, and taking measurements, providing crucial insights into system behavior. The experimental modules using Arduino and ESP32 offer practical training applicable to real-world robotic scenarios. A robotics technician who takes this course will gain valuable skills for troubleshooting and optimizing robotic systems, enhancing their effectiveness in the workplace.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Technician

Embedded Systems Engineer

An embedded systems engineer designs, develops, and tests software and hardware for embedded systems. This course may be helpful to anyone who wants to become an embedded systems engineer. The course focuses on oscilloscopes, which are essential instruments for debugging and analyzing embedded systems. Embedded systems engineers must analyze signal timing, voltage levels, and signal integrity using oscilloscopes. The course material covers oscilloscope functionality, controls, and calibration needed to effectively use this tool in their work. Since the course uses Arduino and ESP32 in its experiments, this may be particularly appealing to aspiring embedded systems engineers. Through this course, engineers will improve their skills in analyzing and optimizing embedded systems performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Engineer

Audio Equipment Repair Technician

An audio equipment repair technician diagnoses and fixes issues with audio equipment. This course may be helpful to an audio equipment repair technician by giving them the ability to use oscilloscopes to analyze audio signals, identify distortion, and repair faulty circuits. These technicians rely on oscilloscopes to assess signal quality and ensure optimal performance. The course presents a variety of topics related to oscilloscope setup, waveform analysis, and automatic measurements. The experiments on signal attributes can assist technicians to diagnose and repair audio equipment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Equipment Repair Technician

Automation Engineer

An automation engineer designs, programs, simulates, and tests automated machinery and processes. The utility of this course resides in how it teaches the use of oscilloscopes, which are vital in automation for analyzing signals within control systems, troubleshooting sensor issues, and optimizing system performance. Automation engineers rely on oscilloscopes to diagnose problems and ensure the precise operation of automated systems. The course covers key aspects of oscilloscope operation, from basic controls to advanced measurement techniques, with practical experiments using Arduino and ESP32. An engineer can use the knowledge gained from this course to better maintain and improve industrial automation systems, thus improving efficiency.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Engineer

Test Engineer

A test engineer develops and implements testing strategies for electronic products. This course may be helpful to one who wants to be a test engineer because it provides essential skills in using oscilloscopes to analyze and validate electronic circuit performance. Test engineers use oscilloscopes to measure signal integrity, timing, and voltage levels to verify that products meet design specifications. The course provides a thorough understanding of oscilloscope functions, controls, and calibration, along with practical experiments using Arduino and ESP32. It helps test engineers to conduct detailed signal analysis and accurately assess the performance of electronic devices. This course is focused and provides a foundation for test engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Test Engineer

Quality Control Inspector

A quality control inspector examines products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications. While this role involves a broad range of inspection techniques, this course focused on oscilloscope operation, provides inspectors with a crucial tool for assessing the electrical performance of electronic components. Quality control inspectors use oscilloscopes to analyze signal quality, identify anomalies, and verify compliance with industry standards. The course helps inspectors by introducing oscilloscope features, controls, calibration, and measurement techniques. By learning to interpret waveforms and use measurement tools, quality control inspectors can more effectively evaluate the quality and reliability of electronic products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Control Inspector

Circuit Board Designer

A circuit board designer creates the layout and design of printed circuit boards, or PCBs. This course may be helpful to anyone wanting to become a circuit board designer, teaching them to use oscilloscopes to validate and optimize circuit designs. Circuit board designers use oscilloscopes to analyze signal integrity, identify noise issues, and ensure that the final PCB meets performance requirements. The material covers various aspects of oscilloscope operation, from basic functions and controls to advanced measurement techniques. The experimental component of the course, based on Arduino and ESP32, adds practical, hands-on experience to understanding how circuits actually perform.

See salaries and explore the career path for Circuit Board Designer

Product Development Engineer

A product development engineer helps create new products from initial concept to market launch. This course may be helpful to a professional in this role, as it teaches them to use oscilloscopes to test and refine electronic components of new product designs. Product development engineers rely on oscilloscopes to analyze circuit behavior, optimize performance, and troubleshoot design flaws. By covering oscilloscope features, controls, calibration, and the experimental application of these techniques, this course may help engineers gain valuable hands-on experience. They can then more effectively develop and validate new electronic products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Development Engineer

Lab Technician

A lab technician supports scientific and engineering activities by setting up equipment, running experiments, and recording data. This course may be helpful for a lab technician, as it may help them to use oscilloscopes to accurately measure and analyze electrical signals in experiments. Lab technicians use oscilloscopes to verify the performance of circuits, troubleshoot equipment issues, and collect data for analysis. The course covers essential oscilloscope functions, controls, calibration techniques, and measurement skills. The practical experiments may also help lab technicians gain hands-on experience, improving their competence in a laboratory setting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lab Technician

Technology Teacher

A technology teacher educates students on various technological concepts and skills. This course may be useful for a technology teacher who wants to provide their students with foundational knowledge of oscilloscopes. Oscilloscopes are critical tools in electronics, and teachers can use this knowledge to enhance lessons and lab activities. The material presented in this course covers the functions, controls, calibration, and applications of oscilloscopes. The experiments using Arduino and ESP32 demonstrate the skills in a way that can be shared with students. Thus, a teacher will be better prepared to engage and educate their students in electronics.

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Science Museum Educator

A science museum educator engages the public with interactive exhibits and demonstrations. The knowledge gained in this course may be helpful to demonstrating the principles of electronics using oscilloscopes. These educators use visual aids and hands-on activities to explain scientific concepts in an accessible manner. The course provides understanding about the functions, controls, calibration, and applications of oscilloscopes. With course learnings, educators may be able to perform live demonstrations, explain signal waveforms, and engage visitors with interactive learning experiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Museum Educator

Electronics Assembler

An electronics assembler puts together electronic components to manufacture devices. An electronics assembler will benefit from this course to gain a deeper understanding of how the parts they are assembling function together, and to better troubleshoot malfunctions. Electronics assemblers may use an oscilloscope to test completed products. This course offers training in how to connect test leads, how to read displays, and how to use the automatic trigger function, all of which are helpful to someone assembling electronics. The ability to take measurements using the cursors will give the assembler more confidence in the quality of their work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electronics Assembler

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Oscilloscopes for beginners.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Save

Dedicated guide to oscilloscopes, covering their history, operation, and applications. It provides a detailed explanation of oscilloscope controls and measurement techniques. This book is particularly useful as a reference tool for understanding the various features and functions of an oscilloscope. It expands on the course material by providing more in-depth explanations and examples.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Paperback

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Putting Knowledge to Work

Kindle Edition

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Practical Electronics for Inventors, Fourth Edition

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Provides a comprehensive overview of electronics, covering both theoretical concepts and practical applications. It's a valuable resource for understanding the underlying principles behind the signals you'll be observing with the oscilloscope. While not strictly required, it offers a deeper understanding of circuit behavior and troubleshooting techniques. It is commonly used as a textbook in introductory electronics courses.

Practical Electronics for Inventors, Fourth Edition

Paperback

Oscilloscopes for beginners

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Practical oscilloscope basics

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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