There are best oscilloscope for automotive of different oscilloscopes out there with wide ranging prices and specifications. Choosing one can be daunting. The best place to start is not to look at adverts or scope specifications but rather to think about what you want to do with it.

For example: what sort of things do you plan to measure (on the bench or under the hood) and how many signals will you need to measure at once? You may also want to consider whether you need a portable unit or a PC-based solution.

The other key feature is the sample rate which defines how many times per second the device samples the signal. A higher sample rate allows the device to reveal the true amplitude and duration of the signal. A high sample rate is essential for automotive signals which are often fast-changing and complex.

Driven to Perform: Top Picks for Automotive Oscilloscopes

Other important features include the number of channels and the resoultion of the display. The latter is especially relevant if you need to view multiple channels at once. Finally you should also consider whether the device has advanced triggering and analysis capabilities, or whether it has selectable hardware filters to remove noise from the signal.

Some devices have a dedicated automotive waveform library and include guided tests. Others like the PicoScope 2204A have a built-in pattern trigger which can automatically configure the instrument for an application. The PicoScope 2204A can even visualize the ignition spark process to help diagnose intermittent problems. It also has a number of accessories such as the Coil-on-Plug probe which uses revolutionary technology to measure ignition waveforms without disconnecting wires.