Hello,

I already own the books "How to Use Oscilloscopes and Other Test
Equipment" by R. Penfold, "The XYZ's of Oscilloscopes" by Tektronix,
and "101 Ways to use your ... Oscilloscope" by R. Middleton.

How do I get something to show up on my scope?

I haven't used one in 10 years.

I set the channel 1 button, turned power on, hooked up correct lead to
a circuit board (Lav-Volt simulation of circuit where computer sim
told me to hook it up) from scope, hooked up a function generator
where the simulation told me to hook it up (sine wave, range 10X and
freq knob set to about 1)  to circuit, tried focusing, tried
intensity, tried varying volt/div, and delay, but nothing would show
up.

How do I get something?


Thank you,
Christopher Lusardi

Chris L (c...@aol.com) writes:
> Hello,
> 
> I already own the books "How to Use Oscilloscopes and Other Test
> Equipment" by R. Penfold, "The XYZ's of Oscilloscopes" by Tektronix,
> and "101 Ways to use your ... Oscilloscope" by R. Middleton.
> 
> How do I get something to show up on my scope?
> 
> I haven't used one in 10 years.
> 
> I set the channel 1 button, turned power on, hooked up correct lead to
> a circuit board (Lav-Volt simulation of circuit where computer sim
> told me to hook it up) from scope, hooked up a function generator
> where the simulation told me to hook it up (sine wave, range 10X and
> freq knob set to about 1)  to circuit, tried focusing, tried
> intensity, tried varying volt/div, and delay, but nothing would show
> up.
> 
> How do I get something?
> 
You're probably starting with too much complication.

With the sensitivity up, any scope will show 60Hz sort of sinewave
(50Hz if that's what you've got coming out of your AC sockets) when
you touch the probe.  

What you didn't say is what kind of oscilliscope.  IN the old
days, the average scope was pretty rudimentary, and it required
no skill to get some sort of display.  But when they got
fancier, the triggered sweep often confuses people, because
they forget to set one of the often numerous switches, and
that causes a lack of display.

Focusing won't do anything.  Given a trace, it will merely allow
you to get a narrow trace.  But it won't cause the trace to
disappear.

Intensity can be a factor, because if it's set too low, you
won't get a display, and if the sweep is really fast, you may
need to turn up intensity to see the trace.

Positioning is a really important factor.  There should be
knobs for moving the trace vertically and horizontally, I'm
not sure the exact labelling or even if there is standard
labelling.  If the trace is off-screen, you may never realize
there is a trace.  Fancier scopes will have a momentary switch
which compresses the display, so no matter how far off-screen
the trace is, you will see it and be able to get it centered.
Otherwise, setting the adjustments to more or less center
should get you soemthing which can then be perfected.

But, if there's no trace, none of that will help.

Delay is usually about adding some delay between a trigger and
the display.  I can't see it being a factor here.

Usually the lack of trace is because one of the switches
for setting the sweep triggering is in the wrong position. If
it's in a single-shot mode, the trace will go from left to right
once, each time it receives a trigger voltage of suitable level.
If the level isn't right, you may not be triggering the sweep
and hence no trace.

Something like "auto" is usually a good mode to start with.

The fancier sweep modes, the more work you have to do with
all the controls, so if the sweep trigger switch is set
to the "wrong" position, you may have to fiddle with the
trigger level controls to get the thing to trigger.

Of course, there's always the possibility that the scope
isn't working.  If it's new to you, that's always a possibility.
Even if you've had it around for ten years, there is always
the possibility that something has gone wrong in that
time.

  Michael

Chris L wrote:
>How do I get something to show up on my scope?
>I haven't used one in 10 years.
>[...]tried focusing, tried intensity, tried varying volt/div, and delay,
>but nothing would show up.
> Christopher Lusardi

Has the instrument also been idle for 10 years?
If so, the lytics could have dried out / de-formed
and the scope just isn't working.
Slapping the juice to an electronic device
that has been in storage for an extended period is a gamble.

I would first try minimum sensitivity (10V/div??),
1ms/div, auto-trigger, and work the vertical position knob.
If you can turn the sweep off, you should get a dot.
Some scopes have a Beam Finder button.

On Sep 16, 11:42 pm, et...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Michael Black) wrote:
> Chris L (clusard...@aol.com) writes:
> > Hello,
>
> > I already own the books "How to Use Oscilloscopes and Other Test
> > Equipment" by R. Penfold, "The XYZ's of Oscilloscopes" by Tektronix,
> > and "101 Ways to use your ... Oscilloscope" by R. Middleton.
>
> > How do I get something to show up on my scope?
>
> > I haven't used one in 10 years.
>
> > I set the channel 1 button, turned power on, hooked up correct lead to
> > a circuit board (Lav-Volt simulation of circuit where computer sim
> > told me to hook it up) from scope, hooked up a function generator
> > where the simulation told me to hook it up (sine wave, range 10X and
> > freq knob set to about 1)  to circuit, tried focusing, tried
> > intensity, tried varying volt/div, and delay, but nothing would show
> > up.
>
> > How do I get something?
>
> You're probably starting with too much complication.
>
> With the sensitivity up, any scope will show 60Hz sort of sinewave
> (50Hz if that's what you've got coming out of your AC sockets) when
> you touch the probe.  
>
> What you didn't say is what kind of oscilliscope.  IN the old
> days, the average scope was pretty rudimentary, and it required
> no skill to get some sort of display.  But when they got
> fancier, the triggered sweep often confuses people, because
> they forget to set one of the often numerous switches, and
> that causes a lack of display.
>
> Focusing won't do anything.  Given a trace, it will merely allow
> you to get a narrow trace.  But it won't cause the trace to
> disappear.
>
> Intensity can be a factor, because if it's set too low, you
> won't get a display, and if the sweep is really fast, you may
> need to turn up intensity to see the trace.
>
> Positioning is a really important factor.  There should be
> knobs for moving the trace vertically and horizontally, I'm
> not sure the exact labelling or even if there is standard
> labelling.  If the trace is off-screen, you may never realize
> there is a trace.  Fancier scopes will have a momentary switch
> which compresses the display, so no matter how far off-screen
> the trace is, you will see it and be able to get it centered.
> Otherwise, setting the adjustments to more or less center
> should get you soemthing which can then be perfected.
>
> But, if there's no trace, none of that will help.
>
> Delay is usually about adding some delay between a trigger and
> the display.  I can't see it being a factor here.
>
> Usually the lack of trace is because one of the switches
> for setting the sweep triggering is in the wrong position. If
> it's in a single-shot mode, the trace will go from left to right
> once, each time it receives a trigger voltage of suitable level.
> If the level isn't right, you may not be triggering the sweep
> and hence no trace.
>
> Something like "auto" is usually a good mode to start with.
>
> The fancier sweep modes, the more work you have to do with
> all the controls, so if the sweep trigger switch is set
> to the "wrong" position, you may have to fiddle with the
> trigger level controls to get the thing to trigger.
>
> Of course, there's always the possibility that the scope
> isn't working.  If it's new to you, that's always a possibility.
> Even if you've had it around for ten years, there is always
> the possibility that something has gone wrong in that
> time.
>
>   Michael- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Here are the details of my scope. Again, how do I get something to
come up on my scope. Do I have to have the leads connected to
something,

Here are buttons with the word trigger in them:

B Triggering
-----------------
(1) B(DLY'D) Trigger [has a 2 position toggle, and a fine knob on it]

  Slope
  Level
  - 0 +


(2) Coupling [4 positions]
      AC [top position]
      LF REJ
      HF REJ
      DC [bottom]

(3) Source [5 positions]
      Starts after delay [top]
      Norm
      Ch 1
      Ch 2
      Ext

 (4) [Output connection]
       1M Ohms              20 pF
[This seems to be related to the Source button]

A Triggering
----------------
(5) B Trigger
  Slope
  Level
  - 0 +

(6) Coupling [4 positions]
      AC [top position]
      LF REJ
      HF REJ
      DC [bottom]

(7) Source [5 positions]
      Starts after delay [top]
      Norm
      Ch 1
      Ch 2
      Ext

(8) [Output connection]
       1M Ohms              20 pF
[This seems to be related to the Source button]

(9) Trigger Mode [has 3 buttons]
      auto button
      norm button
      Singl Swp button (push to reset)

(10) A Trig Holdoff [continuous turn]

    B ENDS A            NORM          Increase Serial


====================
There are also these buttons:

(A) Scale Illum
(B) A & B Sweep
      -----------------
      (B1) Delay Time Position has 2 knobs in 1, outter 0 to 9 and
inner 0 to 9 with inner causing outter to increment
      (B2) A and B Time/Div and Delay Time [has 3 areas labelled s,
ms, and us]
           s has 4 positions: X -Y, .5, .2, .1
           ms has 9 positions: 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1, .5, .2, .1
           us has 12 positions: 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1, .5, .2, .1, .05, .
02, .01
[This has 2 knobs labelled with 1st labelled DLYD SWP (Pull) and Lock
Knobs For A, and smaller inner one labelled Var]
 (C) Hertz Display [4 buttons]
       (C1) A Lock Knobs
       (C2)Mix
       (C3)A Inten
       (C4) B DLYD
(D) Invert
(E) Beam Finder
(F)Each channel has a vertical position knob
(G)Horizontal position
(H)100 or 20MHz Bw (Full) [3 positions]

[Next are 5 located together:]
(I) Ch 1
(J)Alt
(K)Add
(L)Chop
(M)Ch 2

(N) X10 Mag (in)
(O) [There is something labelled calibrator which doesn't seem to
move, it has a "C" shaped bar connecting 2 things?]
(P) there are a few tiny lights:
      3labelled UNCAL [one in A & B Sweep area]
      X10 Mag
      Ready in A & B Sweep area
      Trig
(Q) How do I use the ground small hole
(R) Each of the 2 channels has output leads
(S)Each of the Volts/Div has a 3 position switch labelled AC, GND, and
DC.
(T) On the back of the scope, ae 4 outputs which the leads can connect
to. They are labelled:
    1.A + Gate 500 Ohms 5.5 V
    2.B + Gate 500 Ohms 5.5 V
    3.Probe Power
    4.Ch 2 Vert Signal Out 500   20mV/Div
  There are also 2 holds with 4 holes inside each

Thank you,
Christopher Lusardi

On Sep 17, 12:30 am, JeffM <jef...@email.com> wrote:
> Chris L wrote:
> >How do I get something to show up on my scope?
> >I haven't used one in 10 years.
> >[...]tried focusing, tried intensity, tried varying volt/div, and delay,
> >but nothing would show up.
> > Christopher Lusardi
>
> Has the instrument also been idle for 10 years?
> If so, the lytics could have dried out / de-formed
> and the scope just isn't working.
> Slapping the juice to an electronic device
> that has been in storage for an extended period is a gamble.
>
> I would first try minimum sensitivity (10V/div??),
> 1ms/div, auto-trigger, and work the vertical position knob.
> If you can turn the sweep off, you should get a dot.
> Some scopes have a Beam Finder button.

Here is a picture of the oscilloscope which shows it was working about
a month ago.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180146937400&sspagename=ADME:X:RTQ:US:11

The manual says the scope should be on for 20 minutes before using it.

Chris Lusardi

On Sep 16, 7:25 pm, Chris L <clusard...@aol.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I already own the books "How to Use Oscilloscopes and Other Test
> Equipment" by R. Penfold, "The XYZ's of Oscilloscopes" by Tektronix,
> and "101 Ways to use your ... Oscilloscope" by R. Middleton.
>
> How do I get something to show up on my scope?
>
> I haven't used one in 10 years.
>
> I set the channel 1 button, turned power on, hooked up correct lead to
> a circuit board (Lav-Volt simulation of circuit where computer sim
> told me to hook it up) from scope, hooked up a function generator
> where the simulation told me to hook it up (sine wave, range 10X and
> freq knob set to about 1)  to circuit, tried focusing, tried
> intensity, tried varying volt/div, and delay, but nothing would show
> up.
>
> How do I get something?
>
> Thank you,
> Christopher Lusardi

go here
http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/tek/475/
and download
475.pdf(13MB)
go to section 2 of the manual,
it tells how to get started.

On Sep 16, 7:25 pm, Chris L <clusard...@aol.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I already own the books "How to Use Oscilloscopes and Other Test
> Equipment" by R. Penfold, "The XYZ's of Oscilloscopes" by Tektronix,
> and "101 Ways to use your ... Oscilloscope" by R. Middleton.
>
> How do I get something to show up on my scope?
>
> I haven't used one in 10 years.
>
> I set the channel 1 button, turned power on, hooked up correct lead to
> a circuit board (Lav-Volt simulation of circuit where computer sim
> told me to hook it up) from scope, hooked up a function generator
> where the simulation told me to hook it up (sine wave, range 10X and
> freq knob set to about 1)  to circuit, tried focusing, tried
> intensity, tried varying volt/div, and delay, but nothing would show
> up.
>
> How do I get something?
>
> Thank you,
> Christopher Lusardi

sorry, I gave you the wrong link in that other post

http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/tek/465/
download the pdf and look at the operating instructions,
it should have the info you need for familiarizing yourself with
the scope

Chris L wrote:
> On Sep 17, 12:30 am, JeffM <jef...@email.com> wrote:
> 
>>Chris L wrote:
>>
>>>How do I get something to show up on my scope?
>>>I haven't used one in 10 years.
>>>[...]tried focusing, tried intensity, tried varying volt/div, and delay,
>>>but nothing would show up.
>>>Christopher Lusardi
>>
>>Has the instrument also been idle for 10 years?
>>If so, the lytics could have dried out / de-formed
>>and the scope just isn't working.
>>Slapping the juice to an electronic device
>>that has been in storage for an extended period is a gamble.
>>
>>I would first try minimum sensitivity (10V/div??),
>>1ms/div, auto-trigger, and work the vertical position knob.
>>If you can turn the sweep off, you should get a dot.
>>Some scopes have a Beam Finder button.
> 
> 
> Here is a picture of the oscilloscope which shows it was working about
> a month ago.
> 
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180146937400&sspagename=ADME:X:RTQ:US:11
> 
> The manual says the scope should be on for 20 minutes before using it.
> 
> Chris Lusardi
> 

Preliminary check: turn it on and wait 1 minute,
turn the intensity all the way up (clockwise), push
the CH 1 button then press the beam finder button.
If you get nothing on the screen, turn the vertical
position knob for ch1 (upper left) to see if that brings
the trace on the screen.  If you can't get a trace
that way, something is defective.  The trace will be
shorter when you use the beam finder - that's normal.

Assuming you do get a trace while holding the beam finder
button in, use the vertical position knob to center it
vertically on the screen.  Don't move that position knob
after that, for the remaining tests.

Repeat the above for CH2, by pushing the CH2 button in
and doing the same things - use the CH2 vertcal position
knob.

Next:
Set the scope for auto trigger by pushing the button in.
Move the AC GND DC switches to GND. You do not need scope
probes for this, so you are purposely grounding the input.
Set the remaining switches/knobs to match the ebay picture.
Make sure A lock knobs is in Auto is in trig view is in
(but not held in with your finger).

That's the basics. If you can't get it to display a trace
doing those things, it is likely defective. However, if
you don't get a trace, it would be a good idea to get someone
who is experienced with 'scopes to verify that the problem
is really in the scope and not with something you are doing.

Once you do get a trace, you can set it up to look at waveforms
using your probes & function generator.  You set the input
switch (under the volts/div knob) to AC or DC, connect the
probe to the point you want to look at *and* connect the probe
ground clip to circuit ground.  Then you need to turn the
volts/div to an appropriate setting, and the time/div knob
to a setting that shows a display of enough time to examine
the waveform. Properly triggering the scope will require
setting the source and coupling switches and fiddling with the
trigger level control.

The 475 is a fine scope, and you got it for a good price.
Good luck with it!

Ed

On Sep 17, 4:54 am, Chris L <clusard...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Sep 17, 12:30 am, JeffM <jef...@email.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Chris L wrote:
> > >How do I get something to show up on my scope?
> > >I haven't used one in 10 years.
> > >[...]tried focusing, tried intensity, tried varying volt/div, and delay,
> > >but nothing would show up.
> > > Christopher Lusardi
>
> > Has the instrument also been idle for 10 years?
> > If so, the lytics could have dried out / de-formed
> > and the scope just isn't working.
> > Slapping the juice to an electronic device
> > that has been in storage for an extended period is a gamble.
>
> > I would first try minimum sensitivity (10V/div??),
> > 1ms/div, auto-trigger, and work the vertical position knob.
> > If you can turn the sweep off, you should get a dot.
> > Some scopes have a Beam Finder button.
>
> Here is a picture of the oscilloscope which shows it was working about
> a month ago.
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180146937400&sspag...
>
> The manual says the scope should be on for 20 minutes before using it.
>
> Chris Lusardi

Thats a nice scope.

I tried what earlier posts said for about 20 minutes, and I have not
been able to get anything on the display. Question: The calibration
"C" bar is suppose to give a square wave, so if I pinch one probe on
it where do I put the ground probe? I tried putting the black probe
into a tiny hole.

Anyway, two UNCAL came one. The manual says the UNCAL lights indicate:

1)Light indicates that the VAR control is not in the calibrated
position. [They are talking about the fine knob on the Volts/div.]

2) Light that indicates when the VAR Time/Div control is out of the
calibrated detent and the horizontal sweep rate is uncalibrated. [They
are talking about the fine knob on the A and B Time/Div and Delay Time
knob.]

I couldn't get the lights to go out.

What do I try?

Should I try hooking the 2 function generator probes to the
oscillocope? How do I do this?

Chris