PRACTICE ME-1: MEASURING SIGNALS WITH THE OSCILLOSCOPE

Objectives:
1. Getting used to the measurement equipment in the radio laboratory: Signal generator and
oscilloscope.
2. Observing a sinus signal with given parameters in the oscilloscope.
3. Representing and documenting properly the observed signals on the notebook.
Materials:
● Function generator*.
● Oscilloscope*.
● Single oscilloscope probe*.
● Practices notebook (normal graph paper).

(*) Physical materials can be replaced by the online virtual simulator in

www.linguarnia.com/osciloscopi Important: Use Mozilla Firefox as a browser!!

Procedure:
A. Connect the probe to the oscilloscope and test it: Switch on the apparatus and check the
probe by means of the test signal. Check the settings:
a. The channel sensitivity must be on 1v/div.
b. The time/div must be about 1ms.
c. The probe attenuation must be x1.
d. The coupling of the input must be DC.
e. The synchronization must be assigned to the channel that you will use (Trigger
MENU > source); and its level (Trigger Level) must be in the range of the signal in the
probe.
f. When you touch the test pin with the probe you must see a square wave 2Vpp and
1KHz of frequency (1ms of periode).

B. Switch on the function generator and select a sinus signal with 15KHz of frequency and with
2Vpp (approximately, because the generator control of amplitude usually is not accurate, so
you must adjust the level using the oscilloscope). Check the generator settings:
a. Check the frequency range is the right one (between 2KHz and 20KHz).
b. Check the frequency dial is in the right place (150).
c. Check the type of shape (sinus).
d. Check the attenuator buttons and select no attenuation.
e. Check the amplitude level (about 2V).
f. Check the offset level (no offset is desired here, so must be 0V).

C. Connect the probe to the output of the generator and adjust the controls in the oscilloscope
to adjust V/DIV and T/DIV, to observe the selected signal.
a. The oscilloscope screen should show at least one period, but not many of them, to
achieve the best accuracy (you must measure the number of horizontal squares).
b. The signal must fit vertically in the screen, in order to measure the number of vertical
squares.
c. The synchronization (Trigger level) must be in the range of the signal in order to
stabilize the picture.
d. You must make the start of the period coincide with a vertical line and measure the
time to the end of the single period (move the signal with Horiz. Position).
e. You must make the lower part of the signal coincide with a horizontal line and
measure the amplitude until the higher part of the wave (move the signal with Vert..
Position).

D. Represent in the graph paper of your notebook the signal shown in the screen. You must
 also draw the references (divisions of the screen) and mark the time of one period and the
amplitude of the wave with dimension lines.

E. Obtain calculating, the values of:

a. Frequency of the signal.
b. Peak voltage (Vp) of the signal.
c. Effective voltage (Vef) of the signal.

F. Put on the paper your name and date and send to the destination specified by your teacher:
a. A picture of the drawing with the wave.
b. A picture of the signal in the oscilloscope.