Electronics Technician how-to
How to Measure a Signal with an Oscilloscope
Scopes show what signals are really doing.
Quick answer
Scopes show what signals are really doing. In short: connect; set; set, then complete the remaining steps below.
Step by step
Connect the probe ground to circuit ground.
Set probe attenuation correctly.
Set vertical and horizontal scales.
Set the trigger.
Measure amplitude, frequency and timing.
Save screenshots for documentation.
Safety reminders for electronics technicians
- Use ESD protection
- De-energize circuits before rework
- Use fume extraction when soldering
- Respect high voltage and capacitors
Key terms
Schematic · Oscilloscope · Multimeter · Ohm’s law · PCB · Solder joint: see the full electronics technician glossary.