Quick hardware review... Cheap USB scope

[nhtshot]

I recently needed a 4-channel scope for some diagnostics. I really didn't want to fork over the $2k+ USD to Tektronix, so I figured I'd give one of those cheap-ass USB machines a whirl. Some of them (Pico) are quite expensive. I settled on the Hantek (Cheap Chinese).

A 4 channel 60Mhz scope for about $300. I really didn't expect much coming in.

http://www.hantek.com.cn/english/produc ... p?unid=122

Bottom line: The English version of the software is quite good. The hardware works pretty well and it has an ethernet, so you can remotely locate the head. It is definitely noisier then my Tek and if you have all 4 channels going, the update speed does drop a bit. Overall, though, great piece of kit. Considering the price, SPECTACULAR piece of kit.

Edit: They don't have a linux version of the software, but they do offer an SDK. Probably wouldn't be hard to interface it to any of the O/S scope viewer tools designed to work with soundcards.

[Fred]

Cool, thanks for sharing! :-)

[jharvey]

Nice little guy. Looks to cost around $400 to $600 on google shopping. Can you get it lower cost if bought direct from Hantek?

Can the PC software decipher I2C, SPI, ect packets? I'd seen the desktop Tek's can do it, I'm curious if this guy can as well.

[nhtshot]

It can't do I2C or SPI, but it can do CAN/LIN bus. For I2c or SPI, the Salae Logic is still a winner and it's also super cheap.

I paid ~$285 USD with shipping from Taobao (Chinese Ebay/Amazon), including an ignition probe. After making this post, I started looking and it doesn't appear that they have a Western world (US/EU) distributor. They really need one.

Perhaps an email to sparkfun is in order.

I don't think the guy speaks English, but if you're interested, I bought it from:

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=9952288114


Sean

[HotCat]

What a cheap price, but I've checked the price on Taobao, it's 1813.00 RMB, it's not cheap, nearly 1/5 of my month salary. BTW, another 1/5 was robbed by Chinese government