Thread: portable oscilloscope

Unfortunately handheld scopes fall into two classes: cheap toys and expensive test instruments. Unless you are compelled to use a scope in the field, a handheld device has little benefit compared to a bench instrument.
For just under $380 you can pick up a from Emona Instruments. It will make your old BWD seem like a model T Ford.

I have one of those cheap toys I bought some years ago, probably first gen and lets say it still works.
I have it in a toolbox and might use it once every 2-3 months but lo and behold, it always switches on when I need it and does the job. Battery hold the charge for ages.
While the display is tiny and you don't get a resolution anything nearly as useful as a CRT (I am not yet convinced with the resolution of affordable bench DSOs either) it has a digital readout of all the values associated with an AC signal which is what I need for quick, basic 'on the field' measurements.
I don't use this to earn a living but for my hobby use I would not want to miss it.

However if anybody wants to donate me something better he/she is always highly welcome

For detecting the presence of signals a low bandwidth portable device may be useful. To measure signals accurately a high bandwidth is needed; for example, square waves will start to round off and lose amplitude at frequencies well below the stated bandwidth of the scope. The "5 times rule" means that a 10 MHz square wave will need a 50 MHz bandwidth scope to resolve the fifth harmonic of the fundamental frequency. For audio work a simple instrument will suffice but the digital domain demands a higher bandwidth scope. Affordable DSOs have made analog CROs obsolete (just look at the price of CROs on ebay). For under $500 there is plenty of choice in entry level DSOs.

Unfortunately, I have no donations to make to "The Nomeat Test Gear Organisation" but I shall keep my eyes open for possible endowments.