Hi everyone!

I've had a Vantage Pro for nearly a year now, I feel it's a great little labscope, but I am also still learning of it's limitations.  The shop I work for also has a Modis Ultra, but we only use it as a scan tool.  I like the PicoScopes and have heard a lot of good about them, but I do have to wonder, how easy is it to take one with you on a test drive?

It's hard to imagine trying to accurately diagnose many problems without a labscope anymore.  I've been an auto tech for 24 years, but I am here to learn.  In this industry, if you think you're done learning, you might as well hang up your wrenches and go home.  I look forward to being part of the community!

Tony H.

Tony,

Test driving with a Picoscope is fine, but there is a lot of action.

I think that it might be a good idea to have a go pro or the like at the same time so you can record video of the scope while you provide audio.

I find typing notes and individual capture details too hard so the video will help you put your work into context later.

That said I need to use an inverter to run my laptop, but that is my high power lap top.

As far a an Oscilloscope is concerned there is only one, you know it, you have found it and even with that scope you have now found the place for it.

Work well done

Welcome Tony.

PicoScope is a lot easier to road test with than other scopes.

It's a given that you have a bit more cumbersome stuff with you over a hand held but with either, you still have the logistics of getting the leads into the cab with you.

This minor inconvenience of a laptop more than made up for by the PicoScope recording capabilities.  You can record a very long period of continuous uninterrupted data.  No need to even look at the laptop screen at all.  When the event occurs, you need only touch the space bar on the keyboard.  Then you can pull over and examine your data.  If the signals you were monitoring had any problems, your WILL have it captured.  When you set this up properly, you cannot miss anything.

This method allows a test drive with one person without mowing down nearly as many pedestrians..... :o

WisRoadTripper wrote on Jan 26^th, 2016 at 5:43pm:

how easy is it to take one with you on a test drive?

Like Tom said, it's not much different than a hand-held scope, maybe even easier.  If I must take it on a test drive, I like to anchor the scope in the dash in front of the steering wheel.  Then I only have to run the USB cord down to the passenger seat, and on to the PC.  With a hand-held I would have to run all test leads to the passenger seat (or wherever you set the device). 

Welcome to the Nerdz, cheesehead.   :D

Thanks guys for the responses.

Logic, I like your Go Pro idea.  Would make it easier to remember driving conditions/what you were doing as the waveforms change.  I suppose a cell phone could be used to record a video also, if you can prop it up into position somehow.


Tom Roberts wrote on Jan 27^th, 2016 at 8:30am:

This method allows a test drive with one person without mowing down nearly as many pedestrians..... Shocked

In the area that I work, dodging Amish buggies is just as big a problem!  :o  Either way, I like the idea of easier and extended recording.


crackerclicker wrote on Jan 27^th, 2016 at 7:00pm:

Welcome to the Nerdz, cheesehead.   Cheesy

Crackerclicker, I see you're not so far away from me, my fellow cheesehead  ;D