An oscilloscope is a device used to visualize and analyze electrical signals over time. It is commonly used in electronics, physics and engineering to observe the behavior of circuits and waveforms. There are several important considerations when choosing an oscilloscope. These include: number of input channels, bandwidth, memory depth, and features.

When selecting an oscilloscope, you should consider the frequency of the signals you will be measuring. This is measured in MHz. Higher frequencies are more difficult to read and require a more expensive device. Generally speaking, the best hobbyist oscilloscope will be able to capture signals up to 100 MHz.

The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Hobbyist Oscilloscope for Your DIY Projects

Another key consideration when selecting an oscilloscope is its real-time sampling rate. This is the number of samples per second that the device can take. A higher sample rate means that the device can capture more detail in the captured waveforms.

The Hantek DSO5102P is a great option for beginners and hobbyists with 2 input channels, 100 MHz bandwidth, 1 GSa/s sample rate, 40 Kpts memory depth and 7-inch 64K color display. It also comes with a built-in arbitrary/function waveform generator that can generate a variety of waves including square waves, sine waves, triangle waves etc.

Another excellent option is the Siglent SDS1104X-E. This oscilloscope has 4 channels, 100 MHz bandwidth, real-time sampling rate of 1 GSa/s and 14 Mpts memory depth. It also has a triggered hold function which allows you to stabilize repetitive or one shot waveforms so that they appear stationary. It also has a built in math function, FFT and analog bus measurement capability and protocol triggering/decode.