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  • multicomp pro oscilloscope
  • mp720783
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first impressions: multicomp PRO handheld oscilloscope

Jan Cumps
Jan Cumps over 2 years ago

With the shopping cart I won in a project14 month, I ordered a handheld oscilloscope. In this post: my first impressions.
I 'll focus on using the instrument the very first time as a handheld test instrument. I will not review software, specs, competition.

image

If you have an Owon HDS200 series instrument, you can follow along. It's the same.

3 instruments in one

I have an MP720783 . A 70 MHz 2 channel oscilloscope, a DMM and function generator in a package that has the size and weight of a DMM. The 3 instruments can operate at the same time, but only one has the screen and buttons active at a time. You can use the function generator to serve an input test signal for your design, then use the oscilloscope and DMM to probe your design.

Overall look-and-feel is good. The buttons feel good and the display readability / clarity is good. Connections (except USB) are easy to get at. And there's a stable stand (if you dare to open it beyond the scary click position). I prefer to use the stand, because the reading angle is mediocre.

Overall first impressions are good, for all 3 modes. Using the instrument as a basic scope, generator or DMM is easy and intuitive. You can learn this in minutes, if you have previous experience.
Beyond that point, the interface gets more complex. The options are logical, not annoying and comparable to what other advanced instruments do. But at this point, the instrument is not as intuitive as a well designed bench instrument.

Being handheld, the instrument has an options that some bench instrument don't offer: (safe) isolation. The DMM is fully isolated, as expected. But also the oscilloscope and function generator aren't ground referenced. This can be an asset.
Be aware though, that the generator output and oscilloscope channel 1 + 2 grounds are common. And that both are also common with the USB connector shield. The instrument gives you safe options (CAT II) to do isolated probing. But you have to bring your brains to the party.

image

In the box:

  • an x1/x10 probe (with the usual accessories) and 2 BNC-to-crocodile probes.
  • rechargeable batteries
  • USB cable for charging and interfacing, wall wart
  • DMM probes
  • a pouch
  • manuals, software

Oscilloscope

This is the only relevant section you should care about. You'd get this instrument for its oscilloscope functions.

Two channel, 70 MHz in my case - there is a 40 MHz version too. The usual channel options are available:

  • probe x1 -> x10000
  • AC / DC coupled, GND
  • bandwidth 20 MHz / full
  • time base from 10 ns to 500 s
  • 10 mV to 10 V / div 
  • Sample and Peak Detect mode
  • X/Y

Measure

  • 7 measures (6 visible at a time across 2 channels), and a hardware counter
  • cursors (CH1 or CH2 vertical, or time)

Trigger

  • auto, normal, manual triggering and force
  • rising / falling edge
  • AC / DC coupled

Varia

  • sample depth (4K / 8K)
  • store wave form or screen print
  • auto

image

Overall look, feel and use is easy. You get a common signal on the display as fast as you would with a bench instrument. Scaling and moving X and Y are a bit more involved.
It gets harder (compared to a bench instrument) when you want to zoom in to a part of a captured wave, or trigger on more advanced scenarios (there's no hold/delay or external trigger). The functions I use in my day-to-day probing are available.

Signals are clear on the display. The annotations on the screen are easy to read. Refresh rate OK.

Function Generator

This module is not available on all models. It has the usual signals: sinus, square, ramp. Up to 25 MHz for sinus, in the low MHz for the other waves. There's also a set of popular signals, called arbitrary. They are predefined, so that name is a bit odd.

There's one BNC output. You can set frequency, amplitude (+- 10 mV to 2.5 Vp/p), offset and impedance. The +- 2.5 V includes any DC offset applied. For some waveforms, there's a symmetry setting. It sets the duty cycle for pulse waves and skews the ramps for triangle wave. The rise / fall time of the pulse wave can be set too. The ground is shared with the oscilloscope and the USB connector. 

Experience: It works. Definitely useable when you need a permanent test signal. The user interface of this module has seen less love than the scope. I don't see me using this on a regular base, except if I need one of the base waves quickly.

Arbitrary means that something is not predefined. This instrument says that it has arbitrary waveforms, but the ones served in that section are a known set of predefined waveforms. Your opinion may differ, but I would not call a fixed set of predefined waveforms arbitrary. 

I did not find an option in this instrument, under the arbitrary waveform menu, to define arbitrary waveforms.

DMM

This option is available on all instruments of the series. A fully isolated DMM. The ground is not shared with scope, generator or USB. Specs are good, not spectacular. The 20000 count is the spec that stands out.

t's not difficult to use, but the user interface is different from how a DMM normally behaves. 
There are also quirks e.g.:

  • how auto / manual behaves in different modes, 
  • that it displays intermediate / way-off measurement values while it stabilises, without showing it's still stabilising (other meters show ---- or the likes) 

The diode mode is good. I like the speed and latch of the continuity buzzer: just the right speed and stability to scratch over an IC and have beeps when there's contact.

Experience: works and will do the job. I do not like working with it though, because the interface is too different from what DMMs do. I believe this could be solved by having a UI engineer have a go at it.

Summary / verdict

This is a good product. The oscilloscope is a winner. An instrument that can have a main spot on the desk and in the toolbox. The two other options are useful, but I would never buy a separate handheld waveform generator or DMM that operates like these two options.

The unit sits good on the table, and using it with the probes is easy. A little bit too wide/rectangular for my hands to hold for a long time, but doable. The screen is clear inside and outside. A bit glary though, and scratch-prone.

end advice: Get it for the oscilloscope functionality. Take advantage of the two other options, but don't let them influence your purchase.

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Top Replies

  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 1 year ago +6
    The gummi protective flap that covers the USB came loose. I opened the instrument to place it back. Good excuse to post some photos of the inside:
  • Anthocyanina
    Anthocyanina over 1 year ago +5
    I'm liking this scope. It lacks fine adjusment for time and voltage, which has been hard to *adjust* to, but it's great for what it is. Here the same waveform, same settings, on this handheld and a bench…
  • scottiebabe
    scottiebabe over 2 years ago in reply to Andrew J +3
    I am guessing the tablet form factor is going to be the standard form factor for entry level scopes. A handheld scopemeter is a different tool I don't think the two are directly comparable.
Parents
  • Anthocyanina
    Anthocyanina over 1 year ago

    I'm starting to think I got a defective unit. I've been using it for the past couple of days and it keeps randomly shutting off, sometimes right after it's turned on, sometimes a few seconds later, soemtimes it's minutes, and sometimes it doesn't shut itself off. This happens with a full charge, with the charger plugged in, with low battery, it's completely unpredictable when it will turn itself off. Have you seen this behaviour with your scope? 

    I wonder if challenge prizes come with a warranty or not. hmmm.

    Thank you!

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  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 1 year ago in reply to Anthocyanina

    That doesn't sound so good. I've just purchased a couple of them after reading Jan's first impressions but have not yet had a chance to try them out yet.

    One thing about Multicomp Pro is there doesn't appear to be an easy way to verify if you have the latest firmware, access release notes, or application software. I bought a programmable DC Load at the same time and it wasn't supplied with the application CD so I had to chase it with Farnell to get a download link.

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  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 1 year ago in reply to Anthocyanina

    That doesn't sound so good. I've just purchased a couple of them after reading Jan's first impressions but have not yet had a chance to try them out yet.

    One thing about Multicomp Pro is there doesn't appear to be an easy way to verify if you have the latest firmware, access release notes, or application software. I bought a programmable DC Load at the same time and it wasn't supplied with the application CD so I had to chase it with Farnell to get a download link.

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