I dive into Pico Technology’s latest PicoScope oscilloscope software, PicoScope 7. Using a PicoScope 2000A (from the element14 Community), James walks through key measurements and demonstrations using the built-in arbitrary waveform generator. He explores new functionalities in PicoScope 7, such as the improved UI, a unique feature called DeepMeasure, and decoding I3C traffic.
I have been using the Pico Technology PicoScope 2000A for years. (Here is my older review!) It is an entry-level oscilloscope with 10 MHz bandwidth, 100 megasamples per second sample rate, and 8 kilosample of acquisition memory. Since it is USB-based, it has companion software running on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
PicoScope 7 introduces a significant visual overhaul. It features a highly flexible waveform display area, intuitive control boxes for timebase and trigger systems, and a left panel that holds channels and various functions. Users can customize the panel placement and quick-access buttons for enhanced workflow.
In this video, I demonstrate the software’s features using the 2000A’s built-in arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) to create a 1 kHz sine wave and other digital patterns. The DeepMeasure function, which provides detailed cycle-by-cycle analysis, stands out as a unique capability for in-depth measurement.
A highlight of the video demo is the I3C measurement, where I capture and decode I3C traffic using PicoScope’s free serial decoders. I then use reference waveforms to explain the differences between I2C and I3C protocols.
PicoScope 7 also includes advanced features like history mode, a detailed math editor, and FFT/Spectrum view, making it a versatile tool for engineers. The software is available for download even without hardware, allowing users to explore its features in demo mode.