How to Select the Best Oscilloscope for Your Application (.PDF Download)

An oscilloscope is used to measure the voltage change of a signal over time. After a digital multimeter, an oscilloscope is typically the second most common piece of equipment found on an electronic test bench. This article is intended to help you learn the basics of oscilloscope functions and specs, and how to go about selecting the best scope for your application. We also provide an overview of the specifications we used when determining our picks for the best oscilloscopes.

At the end of this article you will find links to specific oscilloscope reviews based on maximum bandwidth. While bandwidth is typically the first specification people consider, you should also look at the sample rate, maximum memory depth, waveform update, resolution, and accuracy to fully understand what type of signal the oscilloscope is best suited to measure.