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How to Read the Signals on an Oscilloscope

An oscilloscope measures the voltage across an electrical circuit in a specific time period. An oscilloscope, in contrast to a volt meter, displays the shape of the wave, whether it is round or square. Oscilloscopes are used in various applications, such as building ham radios and refining sound recording equipment. A voltage signal can be viewed in the oscilloscope window. You can read the voltage, frequency and time period of a given circuit.

Things You'll Need

Testing probes
Calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare your oscilloscope, powering it on, adjusting the settings and connecting the probes across the circuit you want to test.
- 2
  Adjust the "Y-Amplifier" control until the height of the wave fits on the screen. Set the "Timebase" control until one full cycle of the wave appears on the screen. One full cycle consists of a peak and trough. Set the "AC/GND/DC" switch to "GND." Adjust the "Y-Shift" until the wave is centered in the vertical axis. Set this switch to "DC."
- 3
  Determine the peak-peak voltage across the circuit. Multiply the "Y-Amplifier" control value, in volts per centimeter, by the number of vertical squares from the peak to the trough. Each square represents 1 cm.
- 4
  Determine the peak voltage or amplitude voltage by dividing the peak-peak voltage by 2.
- 5
  Determine the time period of the circuit. Multiply the "Timebase" control value, in milliseconds per centimeter, by the number of horizontal squares from one peak to the next.
- 6
  Determine the frequency of the circuit by taking the inverse of the time period, or dividing 1 by the time period.

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