Best USB oscilloscope review

I did a best USB oscilloscope review a few years ago and to be honest what was available left me a bit warm. The cheaper stuff didn’t really inspire me and the more expensive ones were nearing the price of a dedicated digital storage oscilloscope. The price and performance of some of these digital oscilloscopes is pretty breathtaking. Have a read of my article best hobbyist oscilloscopes for more information if your looking for one of those. I think you’ll be surprised. Anyway back to the story. Things have changed a lot since my original guide so this is my updated version. There are now some really good USB oscilloscopes available.

Advantages of a USB oscilloscope

One of the advantages of a USB oscilloscope is that if you buy a dedicated stand alone device you’re not paying for hardware you don’t necessarily need. Because of the hardware requirements or a stand alone oscilloscope you’re paying for a screen, some switches and controls and a power supply. With a USB oscilloscope the controls, screen and power supply are all in the computer. This should in theory make them cheaper to manufacture, so the price should be cheaper.

If price is a major issue for you it could be the difference between having an oscilloscope and not. Having an oscilloscope is definitely an advantage to not having one!

Another advantage is that by using a laptop or PC means you will usually have a larger display than a dedicated oscilloscope.

A USB oscilloscope is usually smaller than a stand alone oscilloscope. Some of the USB oscilloscope cases are much more robust than dedicated oscilloscopes. They are also smaller if you are tight for space and your hobby is based in a flat or bedroom were everything has to be put away in cupboards afterwards. Size matters!

USB oscilloscope software

Another advantage of USB oscilloscopes is the software. If your not to keen on the software that came with the oscilloscope you can use an alternative. You’re not stuck with what came with it. With a oscilloscope your stuck with the software version on your hardware.

Disadvantages of a USB oscilloscope

One of the main disadvantages of a USB oscilloscope is the you need to have a PC or laptop to use it. How big or small a problem this is for you is down to the individual. I spend a lot of time staring into a laptop screen so I find it a bit irritating to have to do that when I’m doing my hobby. Using a laptop makes it all feel a bit too much like work.

I also prefer the tactile feel of a proper oscilloscope in the same way I prefer a real synthesizer as opposed to a software version of it. If your someone who doesn’t mind hooking up to a laptop you might find a USB oscilloscope ideal. Another issue is that a lot of them don’t have the bandwidth of a dedicated scope. If you not sure what is meant by bandwidth check out my article oscilloscope bandwidth here.

On the other hand do you really need a 100 MHz bandwidth oscilloscope? Yes its nice to have a 100 MHz or even a 150 MHz one to show off but how often do you really need it? I’m scratching my head to remember when 20 MHz bandwidth wasn’t enough for the job.

Things to consider when buying an USB oscilloscope

If your unsure whether an oscilloscope is something you need be sure to check out my buyers guide is an scope worth it,to help you decide.

If you do want to buy a USB oscilloscope here are some of the things to consider.

Number of channels

Most of the USB oscilloscopes have two channels. I’ve not had many occasions to actually use both at the same time. I mainly just use a single channel. If you need more than two channels you’ll have to pay a lot more. There are a few four channel USB oscilloscopes available and a popular eight channel one for automotive use.

Bandwidth and sample rate

As I’ve mentioned before its nice to have a large bandwidth but do you really need it? Along with bandwidth you need to consider the sampling rate. Sample rate is usually measured in giga samples per second. Its important because if you’re not sampling the waveform enough times you wont see the proper shape even if the bandwidth is large enough. With a 20 MHz bandwidth you would be able to see a waveform of 4 MHz and you would need a sample rate of at least 20 mega samples per second.

USB digital storage oscilloscope

This is a 2 channel, 20 MHz bandwidth oscilloscope with 48 mega samples per second in single channel mode. For your money, at just over £60, you get a very solid metal case. According to the Hantek website it’s anodised aluminium with rubber end panels and it certainly gives you the impression of quality and durability. Much more so than any of the stand alone digital oscilloscopes. It looks like you could drop it and it would survive (I obviously didn’t try this though). You get 2 60 MHz probes, a USB cable, software CD and manual. This simply connects to your computers USB port with no other power supply needed. The case has connections for the supplied probes and that’s about it for setting the hardware up.

Windows versions and driver comparability

Talking of software it is supposed to work with all versions of Windows from XP to windows 10. To use Windows 10 you have to disable Windows signed driver verification. Otherwise Windows 10 won’t let the drivers instal. I’ve had to do this with other devices including my USBASP microcontroller programmer. Which then had it’s drivers erased by another Windows 10 update and wouldn’t work. Windows operating systems can be a right pain. For this reason I use the oscilloscope and programmer on an old Windows 7 laptop with no internet connection. This ensures Microsoft can’t screw it up any more. The specifications of the requires laptop are very low and just about any old laptop will do.

I would check out the manufactures website, rather than rely on the CD that comes with it. This could well have been made months before anyway. Also on the website you can download the manual and have a read before you buy.

I mainly build synthesiser modules and the highest frequencies I encounter are the clock signals for the microprocessors that are sometimes used. I also used to own an old analogue Telequipment oscilloscope so this Hantek one is an upgrade and does pretty much everything I need it to do. The price and size make this my favourite USB oscilloscope. Any real criticisms that I’ve read aren’t taking into consideration the costs and are comparing it to stuff over several hundred pounds. Which to me is stupid and not really fair.

You can use third party software for this oscilloscope if you don’t get on with the official Hantek version. Looking on the internet you will find there are several different ones available.

Is the Hantek 6022BE worth it?

If you don’t have, and can’t afford a fully featured scope then this will certainly help you learn and may help you know more about what you require when you come too look for a dedicated oscilloscope in the future. Yes, it’s definitely worth the money for what it does. Depending on how advanced you get it might be perfectly suitable for all your future needs. It’s enough for me.

If the specifications aren’t enough with this budget USB oscilloscope Hantek also make other models.

The Hantek 4074BE has 4 channels and a bandwidth of 70MHz.

The Hantek 6254D boosts a bandwidth of 250 MHZ and is also 4 channel.

Automotive USB oscilloscope

A USB oscilloscope, particularly the robust Hantek range is particularly useful for automotive use and Hantek make a model specifically for that purpose. The Hantek 1008C has eight channels and has specific automotive tests built into it and is well worth a look if that’s your market.

Summing up the best USB oscilloscope review

There are now some really decent USB scopes available now. I used to like to actually see what I was buying buy using the high street shops but there aren’t many left any more where I live. Now it’s a case of shopping online. I’ve linked to several of the best USB oscilloscopes available from Amazon above. Anyone who’s read any of my other buyers guides knows I like Amazon for online purchases.

It’s mainly a trust issue having been left having to pay for goods I didn’t receive from eBay. The other main reason is I know I can return stuff if it’s not right. For me that makes them my first choice for online shopping.

Especially Amazon prime, which is well worth the subscription fee for the next day free delivery alone. You can try it on a 28 day free trial and I’ve included a link to it below.