Gameboy Digital Sampling Oscilloscope

[PEU]

I found this is project in elektor magazine, it transforms a simple gameboy into a dual trace oscilloscope.

Anyone tried it?

Here is thelink to the full article schematics and pcb.

Do you think is worth the building time?

Pablo

 

[Pellidon]

It is 90 Pounds plus postage ready built. After just making ten circuit boards with two SMD caps soldered on them I would pop for the ready built. It does look promising and I have had a desire for an O-scope on the road on occasion.

If it had a wireless probe it would be the ultimate Trekkie Gadget.

My customers might freak out if I pulled out a Gameboy during a service call though. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nana.gif

 

[PEU]

geek solution:

put a black tape over the nintendo logo /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Pablo

 

[idleprocess]

Re-package the gameboy so it didn't look like a gameboy, but retained all the functionality.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

This is tempting....

 

[MrAl]

Hi there,

Very interesting Pablo. How much do they want for
a complete built up version and how much for a kit?

Please note however that this would have limited use
for switching circuits. Take the Zetex 300 circuit for
example...you'd see just three samples per cycle,
which wouldnt even tell you the duty cycle unless they
were clever enough to build into the scope repeated
sampling where the wave is 'built up' over several cycles
assuming a recurring waveform. The input bandwidth is
going to be much less then 1MHz for sure, and i wouldnt
doubt it if it was close to only 100kHz, making it useful
for audio work and line operated (60Hz) stuff.

We need to see the price to make a final decision i think.

Also, do we know the vertical resolution or # of bits?

Take care,
Al

 

[PEU]

Im the link from the 1st post is the complete article, and here are other projects for the Gameboy

Purchasing page

and if you enter GBDSO at google you get plenty of results.

Pablo

 

[BobVA]

Pretty cool, but it looks like you're out about 300 USD by the time you buy the kit, pay shipping/customs, buy probes and a Gameboy.

On the other hand you can get this:
http://www.electronix.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/17/products_id/11213?PHPSESSID=2d36c46c274995dd2be6519e35396e74

For about $200. Only single channel, but it appears to be (roughly) 10x faster and 10x more sensitive than the GBDSO.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon6.gif

 

[PEU]

Nice find also, here is the manual and the Homepage

Is this a good buy, or its just a toy? could it help to our hobby?

Pablo

 

[turbodog]

there is a nice fluke scope meter on ebay right now for $250

 

[PEU]

that one will sell on about 450 at the end of the auction...

wanna bet a cold one? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Pablo

 

[geek]

I've built and used several of Velleman's large kits and am very impressed with them. I've been eyeing that portable scope for some time now. Here's a place to buy it for $142:

http://www.apogeekits.com/oscilloscope_HPS10.htm

 

[PEU]

but it helps with building and improving "our kind" of circuits? I mean regulators/converters/etc

Pablo

 

[Ocelot]

I've got one of those portable oscilloscopes, and used it to look at noise in a home-built step-up current regulator.

It seems to work as advertised. It took me a while to figure out how to do what I wanted however...

Scott

 

[gadget_lover]

I have a DMM with built in scope. I find it's MUCH handier than grabbing my big scope and setting it up. I frequently grab that one first when looking at anythinhg electronic.

For basic electrical circuits, I use any of the 5 or 6 other meters I have around.

Daniel

 

[MrAl]

Hello again,

I think the Gameboy scope is more of a novelty then
anything else unless you're just doing audio work.
1MSPS isnt high enough for our switching circuits,
but maybe the other scope with 10MSPS will work
ok for the switchers too.

Take care,
Al

 

[da_guy2]

God living in canada suck. Once youve paied the exchange rate fees and the shipping fees and the taxes and duties that thing is gonna cost a fortune. Thers is NOWERE here to get anyhting liek that at a RESONABLE price.

David

 

[da_guy2]

Hey i was just doing a bit of looking. And found this little thing http://www.wittig-technologies.com/english/05_products/01_oszifox/oszifox_02_specs.htm anyone ever seen one?

David

 

[MrAl]

Hello,

I saw something like that at Radio Shack a long while back.
It had only 6 bits of resolution also but had a small
screen on the side.

Take care,
Al

 

[PEU]

the velleman's are promising, the model 40 even have a pc connection

Pablo