Tips on Using the Oscilloscopes

Pay attention!!  This could save you a lot of time!!

The Tektronix Oscilloscopes are industrial-strength instruments that are sold by Tektronix for big bucks, but partially donated to UW so we can use them in our courses.  Used in the right way, they are very powerful and productive.  However, the Tektronix tools have certain quirks that can make them difficult to use at times and which, if ignored, can lead to frustration.  Fortunately, some of these problems can be avoided by following a few simple guidelines and knowing where the possible problems lie.  On this page we will attempt to point out these problems, and where possible, give some ideas for avoiding or fixing them.  If you come up with new tips, please mail them to us and we will add them to this list.  By the way, this page is written on the assumption that you will follow our advice.  Specifically, we don't talk about what to do with all the bad things that happen if you don't.
 

General Tips:

• Keep it simple and don't stray from straightforward, proven ways of doing things.  Don't expect the tools to do things the way you think they should be done.  Don't fight the tools, go with the flow.  The tools always win.
• For quick setup of the TDS 3032s, press the "AUTOSET" button; this automatically configures the oscilloscope for a sensible display according to the characteristics of the input signal.

Grounding:

• Correct observation of an input signal requires an appropriate ground relative to the signal source.  If your display doesn't make sense (e.g. large offsets and/or voltages) yet the ground appears to be connected, try rotating the grounding collar of the probe; the electrical connection may have become dirty and intermittent.

Data Sampling:

• Analog oscilloscopes capture data continuously; however, digital oscilloscopes capture data by sampling at discrete time intervals.  In order for the captured data to reasonably represent the original source, it must be sampled at a rate of at least twice the frequency of the maximum frequency component of the source to be analyzed (per Nyquist theorem), or else aliasing may occur with the displayed waveform falsely representing the original signal.  Beware of this!  If the display doesn't make sense, suspect aliasing and ensure that the horizontal time scale is appropriate for the frequency of the signal being observed.  Try starting with the shortest time scale and working down to the display you want; alternatively, use the TDS 3032s "AUTOSET" feature to automatically configure the oscilloscope.