An Oscilloscope is a complex electronic laboratory instrument commonly used to capture, measure, display and analyse the waveform and bandwidth of electronic signals. The device draws a graph of the instantaneous signal voltage as a function of time. You can learn more in our oscilloscope guide.

Oscilloscopes are essential tools for engineers, technicians, and scientists across various fields such as electronics, telecommunications, and physics. They are used to visualise and measure electrical signals, helping professionals diagnose and troubleshoot issues in electronic circuits by analysing parameters like frequency, amplitude, and phase shift. The small, lightweight handheld digital oscilloscopes are ideal for technicians working in service, maintenance, and installation applications

At RS, you can find a wide range of oscilloscopes from leading brands such as Keysight, Tektronix, Teledyne LeCroy, and RS PRO. These brands offer various models to suit different needs, from basic digital oscilloscopes to advanced mixed-domain and mixed-signal oscilloscopes. For those requiring precise measurements, calibrated oscilloscopes are available to ensure accuracy and reliability in your data. Proper calibration is crucial for maintaining the performance and accuracy of these instruments.

Oscilloscope types

The biggest distinction is whether they are digital or analogue oscilloscopes. There are several different types including.

• Digital Oscilloscopes: Basic type, has several capabilities from a processing basic waveforms to advance triggering.
• Storage Oscilloscope (DSO): Has a memory to store waveforms and display them for a period of time.
• Phosphor Oscilloscopes (DPO): use a parallel processing architecture to enable it to capture and display signals.
• Digital Sampling Oscilloscopes: Used for analysing high-frequency signals for example up to 50 GHz.
• Mixed Domain Oscilloscope (MDO): Can operate in more than one domain, i.e., in time to display waveforms and in frequency to display signal spectra.
• Mixed Signal Oscilloscope (MSO): Combines an oscilloscope function with that of a logic analyser.
• Analogue Oscilloscopes: Use cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) to display basic waveforms
• PC Oscilloscopes: Connects to a computer via USB or other interfaces, utilise the computer's display and processing power.
• USB Oscilloscopes: Compact and portable, often powered through USB, can be used with laptops, tablets, and even smartphones.
• Automotive Oscilloscopes: Designed for diagnosing vehicle electrical systems.
• Handheld Oscilloscopes: Portable and battery-operated, suitable for fieldwork.