Best lab meters according to redditors

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look up DSO138 on Amazon. Bare bones but it'll do the job and it's a whopping $25. If you fancy DIY and soldering you can get it as a kit for far cheaper. I have heard of people making module versions of it.

This is more or less my portable / cube bench. It should be more than adequate.

• $58. Hantek HT6022BE20Mhz 6022be PC Based USB Digital Storage Oscilloscope, 20 MHz Bandwidth
  
• $63. KKmoon High Precision Digital DDS Dual-channel Signal Source Generator Arbitrary Waveform Frequency Meter 200MSa/s 25MHz
  
• $59. 75W Soldering Station & Solder Tip Cleaner With 10 Pack of Solder Tips & Extra Rosin Flux
  
• $58. 30 Volt DC 5 Amp Switch Mode Bench Power Supply
  
• $39. True-RMS Autoranging Digital Multimeter

Oscilloscope kits are great. I just did this one a little while back. It was a lot of fun and handy for the price. They sell an acrylic case kit separately too.

kuman 3O-IUX5-O0TZ DSO 138 DIY Kit Open Source 2.4" TFT 1MSPS Digital Oscilloscope Kit with DIY Parts + Probe 13803K, SMD pre-soldered https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0195ZIURK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LzIQDbP8TT31D

I also got this little signal generator kit to check the O-scope function.

Naravis Gelatinized Black Maca... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HM70CMY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

That is the wrong way to learn about growing. It's costly and slow. Just watch some YouTube videos and go try. It's how I got started. I knew 0 about growing anything 6 months ago. Now I've got a successful crop and have a single tomato plant with over 20 tomatoes on it and many bell peppers growing, okra, pablano peppers, raddish, lettuce, basil, potatoes, kale and brussel sprouts. I've only spent about $200 too.

Most Helpful links/videos:

Intro to NPK: https://youtu.be/-gtFvhEjA3o

This is a great intro to nutrient deficiencies and effects on plants and how to diagnose: https://youtu.be/9SotrCwqfHo

Cheap Vinyl Downspout grow box: https://youtu.be/bYhwJIarjQ0

Pool noodles instead of rockwool, rocks, or cups: https://youtu.be/rFQiDbkjxY4

Common Veggie EC and pH: http://www.homehydrosystems.com/ph_tds_ppm/ph_vegetables_page.html

Easy to use nutrients:
https://www.amazon.com/MASTERBLEND-4-18-38-Complete-Combo-Fertilizer/dp/B072F2BL9D/

Cheap good EC meter (EC is shown in μs/cm instead of the more common ms/cm, as in above link, so the EC shown should be divided by 1000 to get normal EC numbers; it's easy, just remember when it shows 2300 EC, that's an EC of 2.3, or 700 is 0.7. Also note I've found with all these EC meters you need to dip and then swish them around in the solution and then read it, otherwise it will read inaccurate due to tiny air bubbles on the probes) https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01FPG89CE?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Cheap good pH meter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07R4FMYY4?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Easy micro greens, which you use to sprout seeds you want to grow or eat as micro greens:
http://imgur.com/gallery/VARfNoo

ReUse 2 disposable plastic food containers, a cheap poly wicking cloth, and your choice of grow bed (dirt, coco coir, whatever)...

Stack the two containers.

Make 2 long cuts in the bottom of the top container thru the lid of the bottom container, along the 2 longer sides.

Push the cloth thru the 2 slots, such that it's layered across the bottom of the top container and the ends are hanging in the bottom container.

Fill bottom container with water.

Place grow bed material in top container on top of cloth.

The cloth wicks up the water and keeps the grow bed moist. You don't have to water it but maybe once every two weeks and can leave the micro plants there for staging plant growth every couple weeks cause they will grow slow. If you don't use dirt as the grow bed, you will need to replace water with a weak nutrient solution after three or four weeks.

WA state medical patient with RA and wanting to do a real grow for almost a decade. Helped a few friends with their grows and trim sessions over the years and also attempted a few outdoor hidden grows with little success (bad weather, theft, pests/animals). Finally decided to save up and do it properly now that I have space indoors. I have been lurking /r/microgrowery for over a year now and have learned a lot and want to thank you all for everything you do. I also want to thank the YouTubers Growing With Mr.Tight, JustinTime2Grow, and medgrower1 for also being excellent resources. Now onto the details:

 

    Equipment

Gorilla Grow Tent 4x4

2x 600w MH / HPS lights for a total of 1200w. 75w per sq. ft.

400 CPM 6in In-Line Fan

Phresh Filter 400 CFM

Hygrometer

TDS Meter

Infrared Thermometer

Grow Room Glasses

 

    Plants

Blue Dream - DJ Short x Santa Cruz Haze. 80% Sativa / 20% Indica. 7-8 week flower cycle

Boy Scout Cookies - Girl Scout Cookies Thin Mint x Pre-98 Bubba Kush. 60% Indica / 40% Sativa. 8 week flower cycle.

Darth Vader Haze - 4-way Black Haze Black Cross. 100% Sativa. 9-10 week flower cycle.

Grand Daddy Purple - Big Bud x Purple Urkle. Indicia Dominant. 8-9 week flower cycle.

 

    Grow Medium and Feed

5 gal Smart Pots

Fox Farm Ocean Forest Soil

Fox Farm Trio

18-6 Lighting cycle for veg. full 1200w of MH.

Using tap water and PH Down (is around 8.0 right out of the tap). I let the water sit for at least a few hours to let any chemicals leech out into the air and bring it closer to room temp.

 

The GDP went in almost a full day later. It was a younger clone and I was worried about the transplanting shocking it, but turned out fine. One of my MH bulbs had bits of broken glass in the outer part and didn't work so I had to wait on a replacement arrived on day 6. Also I ordered the wrong size Phresh filter and am waiting for the refund to process so I can get the right size. Temps have been hovering around 80F ambient with the lights on and 40% RH.
Temp minimum during dark cycle is 68-70F and humidity maxed out around 85% RH.

First watering with nutrients will be as soon as the soil dries a bit more (still damp at knuckle deep). Will be doing a half strength of the Big Bloom for the first feed likely tomorrow morning an hour or so after the lights kick on.

I eventually want to get an 8x4 to use as a flower tent and have the 4x4 as a veg tent to set up a perpetual grow. I am also seriously looking at the GrowBlu lights for veg when I do this, the results I am seeing from the guys on YouTube using them just looks amazing. I also want to switch over to en Ebb and Flow type system instead of soil when I do that, but that is something I need to look into much more.

There's a lot of them on Amazon. I had the wonderful outstanding opportunity to use this specific one a month or so ago. I mean, color screens are cool. But all in all, it was a giant pain in the ass to use. It locked up a couple times and just has the 9V battery dangling off the bottom of it. Will it get the job done for our purposes? Absolutely.

Meanwhile this goes for 80 bucks and it's a large readout multimeter and scope all in one. No need to build it yourself. No need to tiptoe around it so you don't break it.

Even a $20 oscilloscope(full disclosure: this is my video) is better than a DMM when it comes to debugging anything beyond the most basic circuits. But if you really want to splurge, buy him a ~$349 Rigol 1054Z. That's a professional-level instrument on a tinkerer's budget... I used to use a $40,000 Tek scope, and honestly I prefer the Rigol's user interface... I only use the $$$ scope when I need more than 100 MHz analog bandwidth (which is rare for most engineers to ever need).

I would go with a Rigol DS1052 or DS1102 because they are a very thoroughly tested unit at the $300 - $400 price point. If you want to go lower than $300 buy a second hand scope.

http://www.amazon.com/Rigol-DS1052E-50MHz-DSO/dp/B003MYND5A/ref=pd_sbs_indust_1

I build one of these, quite useful for an electronics beginner like me to have an inexpensive way to visualize the waveforms.

this doesn't seem that wide

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6PUX70/

I have a Rigol DS1054Z and it is a really nice piece of equipment, it's not overly expensive at $400 but may be complete overkill for automotive work (I'm not sure what kind of signals you'll be looking at).

Are cars a lot of lower voltage logic signals? Or is it a mix with a lot of analog stuff as well?

This is my basic one, works really well. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QDYFMM3/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_3o1sDb2XMVTAX

did you get a kit?

i'm interested in some basic audio and control circuitry testing.

for the audio i really only need to be able to see if there's clipping or significant distortion compared to the output of a known well performing amp.

for the control it's even simpler, i just want to be able to monitor voltage being applied to some terminals in real-time, but my multimeter is insufficient to track 4 outputs with momentary voltage.

do you think these kits would be a better option than something like a cheap Hanatek scope?

https://www.amazon.com/Hantek-HT6022BE20Mhz-Digital-Oscilloscope-Bandwidth/dp/B009H4AYII/

Something like:

http://www.amazon.com/Rigol-DS1054Z-Digital-Oscilloscopes-Bandwidth/dp/B012938E76/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462302494&sr=8-2&keywords=oscilloscope

If you need cheaper, there are USB scopes.

I have four (six?) oscilloscopes and there's other stuff not shown in that pic. You really want an oscilloscope and I feel blind without one.

If you need a cheap one I found that a USB oscilloscope is adequate for lower speed work.

https://www.amazon.com/Hantek-HT6022BE20Mhz-Digital-Oscilloscope-Bandwidth/dp/B009H4AYII/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=usb+oscilloscope+hantek&qid=1567189174&s=gateway&sr=8-4

The only issue I had with this oscilloscope is that I had to force loading of an unsigned driver.

I would not recommend a cheap scope meter (they suck) and would not get a cheap handheld one like this as a primary scope (still kind of sucks but more useful):

https://www.amazon.com/Signstek-Portable-Handheld-Digital-Oscilloscope/dp/B00HEZKY28/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1567189465&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin%3A4343061011&s=industrial&sr=1-1

DSO Shell kit - it's a $30 kit that makes a half-decent oscilloscope. If he's working with Arduino and audio he'll wish he had an oscilloscope at some point, and it's a fun little kit to solder.

Used analog scopes on ebay are in the $100 to $200 range, and many are quite good. But Rigol digital scopes are as cheap as $260 and probably easier to use. You can also get a USB scope that uses your computer for the interface and display for I think about $100.

Great visuals!!! If you wanted to one up you try testing for purity with a tool like this
edit* formatting

Providing you have access to a PC/Mac, the easiest way to learn is to hook a synth up to your PC and get some free oscillator software. For Windows there are a number of free applications, I personally use (and would recommend) Visual Analyser. For Mac and Linux I don't know of any, but I am sure they exist.

Most stand-alone units are overkill for audio waveforms (they're aimed at electronics engineers, who need tens if not hundreds of megahertz of frequency range), and they are often pretty big and heavy. Some exceptions are units like this one (which is basically an MP4-player with custom firmware). That said, nowhere will your waveforms look as good as on an old analog beast of a scope, preferably in a dark room (example).

Many homebrewers, including I, use this < $5 meter from Amazon Prime.

Testing pH of water is meaningless for your purposes.

I've heard a lot on here, and online, it's pretty common for your first batch to die off, the key is if you have babies or the first batch has babies in your water, if the water is in the acceptable parameters that you say, will be born and used to your water and will thrive. I just recently started and my first batch all died I got from my LFS then I orders 10 from shrimp farm .com and it came with 2 extra, and I almost didn't notice it came with like a dozen, must've been born a day or two before shipping or maybe even on the way, baby shrimp smaller than a grain of rice. All of them are still going strong and I have 3 berried females right now. Of that batch I've lost 3 or 4 adults.

Edit: also saw your looking at getting a TDS meter off Amazon. Be selective in what you choose, I got a couple on there I returned because they were giving me extremely adverse / fluctuating readings all the time. You want to make sure you get one that has ATC, Automatic temperature calibration, or something like that.

I got this one and verified it still my school chemistry lab testing their tap water, RO water, and DI water and compared it with their readings and it was pretty darn close.

Professional TDS ppm Meter | Digital Test Pen Combines EC, TDS & Temp (3-in-1) | 0-9999 ppm & ± 2% Accuracy | Quick and Easy Testing For Hydroponics, Ro System, Pool, Aquarium, Spa and Water Hardness https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FPG89CE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fNB2AbFRA3C04

It's out of stock right now it looks like through Amazon? May be available through other sellers or sites ?

Invest in one of these, it looks like it'll save you money in the long run.

Oscilloscope

It's not a synth, but this DIY oscilloscope is only $20, and you can order them with the SMD parts presoldered. In case you don't settle on a DIY synth, you can get a prebuilt one and this guy for soldering fun!

I got mine from Amazon for about 60 bucks. It has lasted me 2 years so far. Same for my ph meter at the same price point. As long as you properly maintain it these things will last.

HM Digital COM-100 Waterproof Combo Meter for EC, TDS and Temperature, 1-Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VVVEUI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_GXPvzb690905F

I didn't even know that it had all those measurement settings until I had it for a while and then decided to read through the manual hah. I was measuring using a different conversion factor than tds Nacl and my ppm numbers were super high.

After changing to the NaCl conversion factor my numbers are much closer to the bounds I mentioned in my comment.

For testing something this simple, you could probably get the answer with something dirt cheap like a DSO138 Kit , $25 unassembled, $30-40 assembled. There's also a 'bigger brother' versions, the DSO202 or DSO221 which are still <$100 assembled.

I apologize for not linking. That was poor Reddit etiquette.


Apera Instruments AI209 PH20... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ENFOHN8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Professional TDS ppm Conductivity... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FPG89CE?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Ahhh now I understand...

This is where a TDS meter is needed to check the PPM. An example: http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Tester-Quality-Purity-Filter/dp/B007VK4YY0/ref=sr_1_2?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1417057910&sr=1-2&keywords=ppm+meter

The ppm depends on the nutrients you use. I have used a few different brands. Most of the ones I have used recommended the ppm to be around 1100. Keeping it at the recommend ppm will ensure you are not under/over feeding your plants. The ppm can vary somewhat but rarely do I have to adjust between water changes. So much depends on the quality of your water. I used to buy reverse osmosis water and my results were very good. I am thinking of getting my own unit just for growing purposes.

Even before I got my meter I followed the directions on the nutrient bottles. I still got good results. Not knowing if they were getting the proper amount of nutrients is why I bought a meter. It's a labor of love and I wanted to make sure I wasn't wasting time and money.

Just a little side note. I cannot tell you which nutrient brand is best. I like to experiment with different ones. But I can tell you that going organic was quite difficult for me. I had to adjust almost everything daily.

I'm pretty happy with this scope:

http://www.amazon.com/Siglent-SDS1052DL-TFT-LCD-Bench-Top-Oscilloscope/dp/B00GQNN70A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419176995&sr=8-2&keywords=siglent+oscilloscope

It's only 50 MHz and two channels but that is a huge improvement over
no scope.

I'm religious about instrument choices when the company's picking up the tab, but I can't afford to be a snob with my own money.

Are you in college? Or is there a nearby college you can make friends with? This is the sort of equipment they should absolutely have on hand.

If you're able to transport yourself, this may be a great place to look: https://www.electronicsfleamarket.com/schedule

Otherwise, I've no experience with these, but you might check out standalone units like this: https://www.amazon.com/Handheld-Oscilloscopes-DSO-Nano-V3/dp/B015X6LZFO

There's also stuff like this where you might be able to get more bang for your buck if you're able to supply a computer: https://www.electronicproducts.com/Test_and_Measurement/Benchtop_Rack_Mountable/Top_7_PC_based_USB_oscilloscopes_of_2017_for_hobbyists_makers_and_pros.aspx

Or go the engineering route and DIY: https://hackaday.com/tag/diy-oscilloscope/

The cheap scope on a chip would work for this.... any number of them on amazon and they are fine for basic stuff with ardino or rpi


https://smile.amazon.com/kuman-3O-IUX5-O0TZ-Digital-Oscilloscope-pre-soldered/dp/B0195ZIURK/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Oscope+kit&qid=1572835568&sr=8-3

Get an EC meter and PH meter and just feed at 1.5 EC your plants will tell you if they are lacking something and you can address then. If you have a solid nute base and maybe some calmag you should have no problems

Base Nute https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-FloraNova-Bloom-Quart/dp/B000W7C87Y
Calmag https://www.amazon.com/Botanicare-Cal-Mag-Plus-Quart/dp/B004JKBMRW/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1481303031&sr=1-1&keywords=calmag

With the above base nute follow the lucas formula and you will have above average results with good genetics and paired with a hempy bucket you will kill it

It's one of these just sitting on top of the dx7 I think. Cheap as fuck but definitely not pretty. I think its the red pcb clashing with the dx7 pastels that is problematic.

Few options at that price point.

Others have already mentioned Owen and Rigol, I'd add https://www.amazon.com/Siglent-Technologies-SDS1202X-E-Oscilloscope-Channels/dp/B06XZML6RD/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&keywords=siglent%20oscilloscope&qid=1503249344&ref_=mp_s_a_1_1&sr=8-1 siglent. They are all about the same quality scope,great for hobbiest but not the best for daily use. I believe keysight just came out with a dsox1000 pretty close to your price set as well.

You are going to want to balance tools and parts.

TOOLS (must haves)

• Multimeters (At least two, I suggest starting with one cheapo ($5-$10) and one in the $30-$50 range)
  
• Variable regulated power supply with current limiting (Skip the cheap/dangerous chinese crap and get a used HP/Agilent/Keysight one off ebay like this or this.)
  
• Breadboards (several)
  
• Jumper wires
  
• Wire strippers and cutters
  
• Decent soldering Iron ($50-$100) (DO NOT CHEAP OUT ON THIS)
  
• Desoldering pump and/or wick (The ctrl-z of the soldering world)
  
• Heat shrink tubing for sealing connections (Especially if you are going to be doing outdoor stuff)
  
• Microcontrollers (I suggest starting with an Arudino Uno since it has the largest amount of online support material, you could get an Uno kit, any of them will be fine)
  .
  .
  TOOLS (eventually)
  
• Logic Analyzer (Let's you see the logic signals in your circuit which is super helpful for debugging, I have a bitscope micro which is decent, but the software kinda sucks and is more than just a logic analyzer)
  
• A function generator (variable voltage and frequency for sine, square and triangle waves) (Again I suggest used off ebay, something like this.)
  
• Oscilloscope (a really amazing tool for actally seeing what is going on in your circuit)
  .
  .
  PARTS (vaguely in order of usefullness)
  
• Elenco Resistor Kit
  
• Elenco Capacitor Kit
  
• Elenco Transistor Kit
  
• Elenco Diode Kit
  
• Elenco LED Kit
  (Of couse you don't have to get the Elenco kits, those are just the ones I use and really like)
  
• Voltage regulator ICs (Great for providing regulated power to things that need more than what your arduino can provide)
  
• Trimmer Potentiometer Kit (really useful to have around for many projects)
  
• Old electronic equipment to scavenge parts out of (Many of my parts have come from old equipment or broken ATX computer power supplies. Tearing stuff apart is both fun and yields great parts.)
  .
  .
  .
  I think that's all for now...

id try on of these Rigol DS1054Z Digital Oscilloscope
:https://www.amazon.com/Rigol-DS1054Z-Digital-Oscilloscope-Channels/dp/B012938E76/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1479681375&sr=8-3&keywords=oscilloscope
they're pretty nice

Personally I'd start very small, like $50. I just put one of these together and it works well enough for home projects. I would not buy any specialists tool until there is a specific need for it.

You can get a similar Rigol DSO for about $400

Test your tap waters ph,tds, gh and kh. Here are shrimp parameters . If your tap water isn’t ideal I would recommend doing the ro water with a remineralizer.

I don’t think stratum is worth is for neocaridina shrimp since they require kh in there water. The kh will run the buffering real quick. For neocaridina I think sand is the best substrate.

I would highly recommend looking at different types of mosses there’s a lot of very cool ones besides java moss.

[TDS-3] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VTQM70/ref=s9_acsd_hps_bw_c_x_6_w)

It all depends on what speeds you need. I regularly look at signals between 100MHz and 200MHz, so I recently bought https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XZML6RD/ which is the cheapest I could find a 200 MHz scope. It's also seems to be the breakpoint for scope bandwidth on a budget - anything faster was over $1000 instead of ~$400.

Logic analyzers make more sense for digital work... but if your problem can be solved with a logic analyzer you can usually use the internal one (Each FPGA brand has something that works similarly: Chipscope, SignalTap, Reveal).

I only pull out a scope when I'm worried about analog fuckery like contention/ringing/rise time issues.

Bok choi has been the easiest thing for me to grow by far so there's definitely something off in your system.

Having a pH pen and an EC pen is pretty much critical to diagnosing nutrient solution problems. This is the pH meter I have, which is kind of mid-tier but comes with calibration solution. Also pick up some storage solution as it will reduce how often you have to recalibrate the pen vs keeping it dry. EC meter you can go cheap on, I use this one and get good results.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VVVEUI/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's this. Apparently I can measure in EC. Gonna have to read the manual. :-)

Thanks!

Rigol DS1054Z

Upgrade the firmware, you'll find simple instruction online. Very cheap, small, and light.

Signstek Upgrade Portable Mini Nano ARM DSO211 Pocket-sized Handheld Digital Storage Oscilloscope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DRUWPM6/ref=cm_sw_r_taa_UqmJyb29ZDF2R

I have access to one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Siglent-SDS1052DL-TFT-LCD-Bench-Top-Oscilloscope/dp/B00GQNN70A#

But, I have no idea how to use it in this application. I've only used it a few times to make sure the 16MHz crystal on the board is actually outputting 16MHz. Is there a document or a video somewhere that would explain how to use it for this? Is this scope even fast enough?

Affordable oscope if OP goes this route. This will be most accurate, but a multimeter will suffice.

Just a cheap diy kit I picked up off amazon. It requires soldering and when I was finished it didn't work. I had to spend about a day googling and scouring through old forum posts to find someone who had a similar issue and see how they fixed it.

Edit it was specifically this one. I got it to teach myself how to solder and even if I fucked it up, I was really only out like 20 bucks.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0195ZIURK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_VkuyDb6BQPFJT

This:

Steve Meade Designs SMD DD-1 Distortion Detector https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ND3NDDF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_p8JtDbY4Q4CAF

I've tuned with an oscilloscope, and the SMD DD1 makes the process idiot proof.

So, for a basic beginning to get into electronics you need:

1. A soldering iron. For troubleshooting and assembly it is important to know how to solder. There are a bunch of YouTube videos on the subject.
   
   
2. Hookup Wire. 22 AWG solid core is the best wire in my opinion for use in breadboards and general repair.
   
   
3. A Multi-Meter. Probably the most important diagnostic tool you could own. This is not the end all best meter but it is a good DIY soldering experience. You learn some soldering basics while building your own test equipment.
   
   
4. An Oscilloscope. This is a cheap beginner build it yourself scope. This is the second most important tool for a circuit designer to own. This particular kit is good enough for basics.
   
   This would be a starter kit which would help build up soldering skills and start building up knowledge.
   
   Getting Started in Electronics is a good read for a beginner to understand basics in circuit theory. I may have seen this floating around the interwebs as a PDF when Radio Shack was going down.
   
   

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-COM-100-Waterproof-TEMP-Meter/dp/B000VVVEUI

This is all I need right? Will it come calibrated/with some solution?

I have this one and I'm happy with it. I have another cheaper one which is good and useful, but the Rigol has much finer control than that one.

I would suggest not getting a software 'scope, no matter what you do, because it may rely upon an audio interface, and I haven't yet seen an audio interface that has DC-coupled inputs. (You need DC-coupled if you are going to analyze signals under 10-40Hz or so, because an AC-coupled interface will not represent them correctly.)

just so yall know the Rigol DS 1054Z can be hacked to be a 100MHz scope (normally 50MHz) and have extra triggers

You can get an OK Tektronix portable for about $400. It's not fancy, no color, but it works and gets the job done for most people who are looking for a cheap scope such as this device. People who need the better scope are not going to consider a bluetooth adapter for their phone.

Color one on Amazon for $550

Generic Brand for $279

I had the black and white version of the color Tektronix and spent $399, but it was also 100MHz not 50. But I don't see it on Amazon, and this was 6 years ago.

Other options

USB Scope, 40MHz, with cheap probes - $99

Cheap generic 72MHz scope - $170

Generic Handheld, 25MHz - $225

Cheapest generic Standalone 25MHz - $249

The point is, for a 12MHz scope, and 2 probes, and uses your tablet / phone, $179 doesn't buy you much. There are other options out there that would be a better choice.

You might ask /r/audiorepair to see if anyone has a lead on a schematic. Make sure the output relay is clicking and try using the front/rear channels as well. In cases like this it helps to have an oscilliscope to probe the signal as it goes through the amp and see where it stops. I have a $85 DSO Nano V3 specifically for this and the fact that it's battery powered helps keep things safe since there is no path to ground.

Cool, those ESS have Heil AMTs. Sounds like a good project.

You can pick one up, from a reputable brand, on Amazon for $22.

Hah yeah, it's a Rigol DS1054Z, about the least expensive new scope you can buy.

I've found a few pages that talk about this type of DTR-only reset circuit for the ESP8266, but it's based on the Arduino schematic.

edit: also SJ2 is a solder jumper with a cuttable trace in case I need to disable the auto-reset.

I've had my eye on this Rigol oscope for years now, haven't been able to talk myself into it yet:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003MYND5A

Is there a different one you'd recommend with good features but perhaps a bit cheaper? I'm not a pro, just a hobbyist that likes nice tools.

Here's the cheaper one: https://www.amazon.com/JYETech-Source-Digital-Oscilloscope-pre-soldered/dp/B0195ZIURK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1493921911&sr=8-2&keywords=oscilloscope

Think i could get one and put it in my car? Stepdown converter to a 9v from a 12v i find somewhere and put it somewhere visible? My car doesn't have a readable volume meter so there's no way to see if I'm clipping. I was thinking this preassembled one would be nice because I'm useless at soldering

https://www.amazon.com/Longruner-DSO138-Digital-Oscilloscope-Assembled/dp/B06XZ1VXRV/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1536098600&sr=8-5&keywords=diy+oscilloscope&dpID=51L6Ian6HkL&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch#customerReviews

I used to have an under-sink charcoal filter system (basically like a brita, but it comes out of a faucet) that cost around $50-90 to replace every 6 months to 1 year...one time I was looking on amazon to replace my filter and I discovered that an RO filter system was not that expensive...

For $190 (around the cost of 2-3 replacement charcoal filters) I got an RO system that makes very tasty water...much better than the charcoal filter... and I haven't had to replace any of the filters in the system yet after about 3.5 years.

I'm using a TDS tester, still getting around 10 ppm...comparable to most bottled water that I've tested (my normal tap water is about 180 ppm).

Also, the replacement filters are much cheaper than the charcoal system.

for PH i own this one and i bought this calibration solution.

For PPM this guy.

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People highly recommend BlueLabs however, Im poor and these work LOL

This one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QDYFMM3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_0aIZCbP3NHHH0

You don't actually need that high of a sample rate, since it's just audio you're dealing with the highest you'll be scoping will be ~20kHz. But should you ever do anything else you'll want a higher rate. Here's what I would recommend: Rigol DS054Z

Edit: I bought the Tenma one for the same price and it is nowhere near as good as that Rigol. Seriously for the value, if you want to spend less than $500 that's the one to go with.

there's two kits under 50 bucks (amazon Canada) that seem okay,

this one doesn't have a case if you're into that. but it's pretty decently reviewed

this has a case but apparently there's issues with the enclosure

this one is already built so I might lean towards this but it's more pricey

Popular hobbyist benchtop scopes are rigols DS1052E and newer DS1054Z. Both easily hackable for expanded features.

Seeed studio also has very decent pocket scopes, ready-made DSO models



I own the DS1052E(hacked) and DSO Nano V3(alternate firmware) personally. Both have been great, but id opt for the newer 4ch rigol if i were on the market now

They seem a bit expensive from amazon, though...

Get a 5 stage RO/DI unit from BulkReefSupply (BRS) (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulk-reverse-osmosis-filters-systems/reverse-osmosis-systems.html). You can integrated it directly into your water line under the sink OR you can use the attachments to run it from the faucet, just screw it in and go. There are three lines, red, black, blue. The red is the water input, black is "waste" water that just goes down the drain or you can use it to water plants, and the blue line is the purified water. Get the auto shutoff switch/valve/floater thing (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reverse-osmosis-float-valve.html). Get a 20gallon or 30gallon rubbermade container, drill a hole in it, install the float/auto shutoff and connect the blue line. Turn it on and forget about it for a full day because that's how long it takes to make that amount of water. Double check the shutoff valve works first by holding it in the off position and making sure that the unit shuts off and doesn't explode.

Second, you can use RO/DI water for freshwater tanks you just need to use a buffer, here is a good article about that: http://www.liveaquaria.com/PIC/article.cfm?aid=65

BRS has a great video on how to setup the RO/DI unit you just bought, they are < $150 and work perfectly. Get a cheap TDS meter, these (http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Tester-Quality-Purity-Filter/dp/B007VK4YY0/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1419568328&sr=8-7&keywords=tds+meter) work great but make sure you order it right away because they ship from hongkong, so you can check the PPM (parts per million) in your water, if it starts to go above zero you need to change out parts of your ro/di unit, could be the membrane or carbon.

edit: lastly, you can drink this water just fine.. BRS even sells a tank to hold pressurized water and a dispenser. it bypasses the "DI" phase http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-add-on-faucet-kit.html

edit 2: i am not affiliated with BulkReefSupply, i just really rely on them for the best info on the net and best products, plus good prices.

Maybe you should try to get your hand on one of those devices. It would probably help you with the tuning.

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https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Meade-Designs-Distortion-Detector/dp/B07ND3NDDF/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=steve+meade+designs+smd+dd-1+distortion+detector&qid=1570110521&sr=8-1

I can recommend this one. Two channels for ~$80. I have the 4-channel version and it works great.

Generally you should follow the instructions on the fertilizer as instructed, if there are any. Then test your water with a TDS meter to ensure you have acheived the right concentration. I use this one.

Hopefully you picked a water soluble fertilizer, preferably one meant for hydroponics. I have heard of getting by with other fertilizers such as miracle-gro but this kind seems like a hack job to me personally. General Hydroponics make some cheap and effective hydro concentrates that are a good place for beginners

Ah ok thanks. Could I use this to see the waveforms? https://www.amazon.com/Longruner-DSO138-Digital-Oscilloscope-Assembled/dp/B06XZ1VXRV/ref=sr_1_3?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1502441536&sr=1-3&keywords=oscilloscope

Is that a decent oscilloscope? Is it this one on Amazon? If so, how do you connect to it?

I use an O'tool module for a scope which I like because it's a lot smaller than the Mordax. You can probably score a used version 1 pretty easily.

There's also this:
https://www.amazon.com/Handheld-Oscilloscopes-DSO-Nano-V3/dp/B015X6LZFO
There's a cheaper version of that somewhere as well.

EDIT: Found it. https://www.adafruit.com/product/468

Something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Quimat-Handheld-Pocket-size-Oscilloscope-Assembled/dp/B0728GCBLD/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1

I see a whole lot of other ones but can't justify spending 400 dollars to fix a 2 dollar part.

You could pickup an oscilloscope such as this one and see if there’s anything funny going on with the power. A few evenings of YouTubing should get you familiar with how to use it and what to look for. Could be a bad transformer supplying power from the utility.

Google how to set amp gain with DMM or buy a cheap oscilloscope

Doesn't get much cheaper than these: http://www.amazon.com/Signstek-Pocket-Sized-Handheld-Digital-Oscilloscope/dp/B00DRUWPM6

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XC6CV9J/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524025653&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=tds&dpPl=1&dpID=519PqGmOMPL&ref=plSrch

I got this one, the temperature takes forever to read but the other functions are quick and seem accurate.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0195ZIURK/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1499210029&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Diy+dso&dpPl=1&dpID=511YMguI%2BbL&ref=plSrch

Is there a tool that can give me the PPM for N-P-K?

I ordered these.
PPM: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071CP4P1J
pH: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FPG89CE

I was just on amazon looking for that a minute ago. I only have 50 bucks to spend right now and there is one for just under that.


Here it is.


I am not sure if this is also a ph meter, but I have no problems with ph, I'd just like to get my ppm right and bonus if I can get ph meter combo for the same price.


Does anyone have any experience with this or recommend a different $50 model?

These are the models I went with, they've been working flawlessly so far:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YBUH4RC
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VK4YY0

Definitely worth every penny, even if they do end up breaking sooner.

Not that they are totally worthless, but most people say a used <$100 scope is better.

The other option is save your money for something like this for $400: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012938E76/

There are firmware mods that take it to 100MHz and open up all kinds of features, like serial decode.

You can have good luck scouring eBay or craigslist for a used analog scope. Also some of the the Chinese off-brand models have good reviews (Ex - Rigol DS1052E 50Mhz scope)

As far as a bench top PSU I used an old ATX power supply from a desktop supply which gives 12V/5V/3.3V rails.

Sounds good. I find it amusing that you played it upside down.

Is that scope one of these?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0195ZIURK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am almost done building one with the intention of using it in my eurorack setup. What does the nob do on it?

If you have an iPad an oscilloscope can be yours for $300.

Otherwise as pointed out, you can get a 50MHz or 100MHz resolution oscilloscopes for around $400.

What other equipment are you looking to get?

Try eBay for used equipment, and Google Product Search for new and used equipment.