On Sun, 3 Feb 2002 22:41:29 -0500
Gary Russell <gary-russell@PSUALUM.COM> wrote:

> I am just a home hobbyist (no corporate $$ to help out).
>
> I have a background in software and have just started to experiment with
> microcontroller application development.
>
> Do people consider an oscilloscope a "must-have"? A logic probe just doesn't
> cut-it for rapidly changing pins. Does simulation using MPLAB completley
> eliminate the need for real circuit checking? (I'd be surprised).

For a hobby, maybe it is not necessary to have a 'scope.  But I can think of a
times when a storage scope was worth its weight in gold.  Debugging I2C and SPI
drivers, finding compiler interrupt handler bugs, and presenting an oscillograph
to a memory manfuacterer showing their product is not to spec are a few.

> I have read very interesting .pdf from Tektronix which really pushes $$$
> DPOs, but I do not have a multi $k budget for my (new) hobby.
>
> Can anyone recommend an entry-level 'scope for use in developing PIC
> circuits/applications.

For a low cost storage 'scope see:

http://www.linkinstruments.com/oscilloscope21.htm

I think you can get a 100MSa/s for 525USD.

> My budget is not without limits, but I want to get something that will be
> useful. Is spending, say, < $500 a fruitless exercise?
>
> TIA.

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