[Elecraft] Oscilloscopes

[Don Wilhelm]

The real key to using an oscilloscope for debug is that bit of knowledge
that comes from study of the circuit that you are trying to troubleshoot.
If one does not know what the signal should look like in the first place,
the only thing an oscilloscope will show is a bunch of 'pretty pictures'.

A complete service manual with typical displays shown would go a long way,
but even that needs to be coupled with some generalized study so the user
will have a good grasp of the tolerances to be expected and the specific
settings on the K2 which will produce those typical displays.  That kind of
information becomes second nature to the experienced technician/engineer,
but I know from experience that it can befuddle the newcomer (example - the
number of questions on this reflector wondering about not finding exactly
the voltage reading stated in the K2 manual) who does not have a grasp of
the permissible tolerances.

One way to gain some of that experience is by building something for your
study:
Build up some oscillator circuits (see the theory section of the ARRL
Handbook - every ham should have one), and probe around with both the 'scope
and a DVM while asking yourself  "Do I understand what I am observing and
why?".  After a bit of that and similar learning experiences, you will find
yourself an 'old hand' at doing troubleshooting on most any equipment.

73,
Don W3FPR

Life is what happens when you are making other plans