Hantek 4in1 DSO3064A PC Based USB Automotive Diagnostic Digital Oscilloscope /Arbitrary Waveform / Generator Spectrum Analysis / Frequency Counter4CH 200msa/s 60mhz Bandwidth

Hinted around with family and got this as a Christmas present. I am a mechanic in a shop that realizes the importance of being able to use an oscilloscope effectively. The shop owns a Modis, no, not the new one. The one that's as old as I am. I thought about getting one of the tiny pocket scopes but the screens are so small it wouldn't be an improvement and the controls looked cumbersome. My boss wanted a Pico but continually read that they had a learning curve and computer savvy mechanics aren't exactly a dime a dozen so an intimidating scope would be a hard-sell (let's face it, most mechanics are "part-swappers," not "techs." I won't claim to be the final word in automotive diagnostics by any stretch but I work with smart folks and we've figured, collectively, that if we flex our elbows our knuckles don't drag. . . usually). I work on cars so that is my perspective from which I evaluate the value and utility of this tool. I.E. it has a signal generator. . . I will never use that function. But, on to brass tacks.For my fellow pessimists, the bad first: it isn't free (but you knew that).1.Unless they've changed the inputs this unit DOES NOT HAVE BANANA CONNECTORS. . . I would love to shout that at Hantek. Look at your multimeter (mine came from the Crafty-male place, I'm cheap), the connectors that fit in your multimeter, be it Fluke, or whomever, the connectors I have an accesory set and extensions for WILL NOT FIT. Price and buy BNC to Banana adapters (or whatever your region of the world calls the adapters). They send leads that work but the hassle isn't worth it, you'll spend so long setting the tool up that it'll never come out of its case. If you're buying this for circuit-board diag at a bench, you'll probably fine (they have built in attenuators 1X/10X). My boss was so anxious to see the scope work that he bought the adapters, I think he found them for 16 dollars apiece, you need 4 of them.2. This scope has a ground for each channel; unlike a Modis, which I learned on, that has a common ground and four positive leads. (the Modis Ultra drops down to 2 channels btw so forget complicated overlays!) Your options are: buy the adapters I mentioned and ground each one (not a bad idea because you automatically eliminate a bad sensor ground as a potential culprit for things like CKP's or G40's for you Euro-folks. . . normal people. . . be thankful you don't know about G40's ;), option two is to purchase a "ground quadrupler," boss mentioned its existence, I like my individual grounds because they reduce the risk of "missing the obvious" like a bad ground or something and because frequently, I'd be using only one channel anyway. Additionally, being forced to locate power and ground for each circuit makes you think about how that circuit works and can jog your memory about other potential causes (does your circuit have constant power and pulse to ground or constant ground and pulse hot? Is it AC generating? Hall-effect? etc.)3. If you're coming from a "plug and play" scope like a Modis (to which I refer because: they're common, I've used one, and most other techs in scope classes seem to use or be familiar with them) this scope will be a learning curve. This scope makes you think about what type of lead you're using more and what type of signal that lead is sending: powered? attenuated? AC? DC? I've also had problems because I didn't pay attention to where my "trigger" was set and missed the signal because it was under or over threshold (like I said, I'm not the sharpest cookie in the box. . . think about it). Plan to spend some time playing with this tool off-the-clock. If you're like me, you'll fiddle around a while and then start getting it. Probably spent about 4-5 hours all told before I could find what I was looking for pretty reliably; not to say I never got anything in that time but there's a difference between "lucking out" and developing a repeatable methodology in using a tool like this.4. AC adapter. . . . why can't this tool just mooch off USB? Because it would make your power supply angry! Mine came with a wall-wort with about 6' of cord. You could probably strap a battery to it but if you're inside, get a cheap extension cord.5. Learning your wave-forms again. I went from a scope with a screen the size of my phone that has the resolution I can count on two hands (not quite that bad) to a laptop screen. . . . the wave forms look different! It freaks you out to see how noisy some signals are when you're used to a tiny screen with a scope that has a "noise filter." Did I mention? No "filter" button for signal clarity, you DO get used to it and accept it as a more accurate view of reality. Like being legally blind with glasses off (like me) to seeing quite well with them on (thanks Dr. Optometrist!).Now for the good.1. You get everything you need to start. I got power supply, scope, 4 leads, software cd (the tiny type), and I even got a spiffy carry bag that can hold my laptop (it's a tiny laptop.) Note, while it's everything you NEED, it's probably not quite what you WANT, least not if you're an automotive technician. (yes, the BNC leads bug me!)2. Let's face it, this thing is CHEAP compared to a PICO and it's probably what your tool guy wants per month for a Modis Ultra or Verus. You do have to supply the computer but a cheap laptop or good netbook is what, $250-350? And you wanted a new one anyway, don't lie.3. Doesn't require a desktop to run. What I mean is, a decent laptop can keep up. I run a Win 7 Home AMD dual core 1.6 ghz with 2 gigs of ram, it's basically a netbook. There is a lag on mine but most tablets post these specs now, your phone is probably faster than this computer. That said, my computer can keep up. It gets angry with several channels going, the lag gets to be quite pronounced occasionally, but it will slog through. Would it run better on my quad core monster desktop? Of course, but my netbook is the size of the scope and it has a battery so you can retain mobility and use this tool.4. If you're looking to cut your teeth on scopes (at least for automotive use) this one is a great, affordable place to start.Bottom line: there are many scopes that are "neater," by which I mean that you'll have a cord or two hanging around, it's not all in one. (However, I had everything setup for a relative compression test on a Subaru and condemned a dead cylinder in less than 10 minutes with no Check Engine light starting point. 1. Please, time yourself for a mechanical compression test on a Subaru. 2. Most shops start at 30-60minutes for diag. This leaves you 20 to mechanically verify the results without "guessing" which one is dead.) Rabbit trail, sorry. Additionally, there is a learning curve, at least there was for me, but I've heard that many lament the Modis as the reason techs can't use a scope today, they're "too user friendly." Also, you're going to end up buying adapters. Unless you're doing something very different with your scope than I am with mine, you'll be disappointed with the tool if you don't because all your accessories are probably for the other type of connector.These quirks and inconveniences aside, IF YOU NEED/ REALIZE YOU OUGHT TO NEED AN OSCILLOSCOPE AS A TECHNICIAN, BUY THIS ONE. The price point of this tool belies its capabilities. Once you learn to use it you'll be rather irritated at the price of other oscilloscopes. Like I said, I can't speak to the usability of this tool for other fields, it may be the worst scope ever for calibrating your electron microscope (but if you own an electron microscope. . . you have too much money. Stop being cheap.) but for automotive technicians, this thing rocks. As you accumulate waveforms, you can show customers "before and afters" and then show them how much their ailing vehicle looks like the "before." It'll help you as a tech, generate income, make your diagnoses more-certain (once you learn what you're doing), sales get easier sometimes (picture is worth 1,000 words), and it may even "learn you something" about what you're doing.I would, in a heartbeat, buy this tool again. I was not sure about it because most other scopes cost so much more but for the 3-5 times per week I use this as a mechanic, it really does a superb job.