PCO or PC Oscilloscope

What you are looking for in a PC based oscilloscope, is speed of testing and recording data, portability and security of that data. With the new laptop computers being light weight, with huge storage capacity, speed of recording data and accuracy of that data, the interface between the PC and the add-on oscilloscope probes and software, makes all your wishes come true.

Laptop Computer Oscilloscope

You can use either a laptop computer or a desk top computer as your interface for the oscilloscope. The interface might be through a video game port or an audio card when all you are recording are low frequency signals. Other interfaces are used for different types of data to be recorded.

Streaming Data Mode

If you require complete and uninterrupted data, then you will probably be recording in what is called ‘a streaming mode.’ In this method, the data is continuously recorded, hence the name: streaming mode. The speed of the stream is dependent upon the connection to the computer. You can use either an Ethernet cable or USB cable. Since Ethernet has been used for at least 30 years in the networking world, all computers, even old ones have built in Ethernet cards. This gives you the ability to use an older desktop computer that just happens to be sitting around and not doing much for the family or your shop. Even if you don’t have an extra computer, you can always find a used one in the newspaper or on line.

Block Mode 

The other method is called the block mode. The method is basically taking samples. Since the computer can accept these blocks at high speeds that increases the sample capabilities of the PCO.

With prices that begin around $200 and rarely exceed $2500 these machines are popular in even these tightest of days. The acceptance of the PC based oscilloscope is the result of an abundance of existing desktop and laptop computers. With the size and price of the hard disks these days, it is little wonder that buying an oscilloscope add-on to the already in place computer, makes good sense. PCO makes using the data so much easier, as you don’t have to capture and then move the data to a different machine. But if you want, you can email the data to your home for analysis or to another office.