USB port testing

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PLabrie
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Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2015 12:43 pm

USB port testing

Post by PLabrie »

Is the Pico scope software able to test USB ports (voltage check), Bluetooth connection tests or WiFi tests?
thanks,
Paul

Richard_Boyd

Re: USB port testing

Post by Richard_Boyd »

Hi Paul,

It really depends on what you are looking to accomplish when you say test USB ports, Bluetooth connection tests or WiFi tests.

USB 2.0 has a transmission speed of 480mbps. This would equate to a logic speed of 240MHz, to fully reproduce and characterize this signal you would need a scope with a bandwidth of 1.2GHz. The PicoScope 4425 is the fastest automotive oscilloscope on the market, but it isn't that fast. So you would not be able to monitor the communication lines (D+ and D-) etc on USB. However, you would be able to do a very basic voltage supply test and ensure that the port is providing +5V and ground - this would be a basic test that you could even do on you multimeter (though the scope would show you if the system has noise on the power supply that the multimeter would not).

Bluetooth and WiFi both operate in the 2.4GHz to 5GHz range, yet again outside the range of the scope. But yet again, one would be able to prove that the modules were receiving power. These modules also usually communicate to other network modules via CAN etc, so you would also be able to use the scope to monitor the internetwork communications.

So, the question would be, what are you looking to accomplish on these tests Paul? Simple power tests or more in depth communication tests?

Regards,

Richard Boyd
Pico Technology

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