Whether you’re an electronic hobbyist tinkering in your garage or an engineer designing high-tech hardware, having the right tools can make all the difference. The following digital testing equipment for hobbyists and pros is essential to get the job done and ensure you’re making accurate measurements.

Digital oscilloscope – A vital tool to help you visualize and analyze electrical signals, an oscilloscope transforms non-electrical vibrations into 2-D waveforms that can be studied for their amplitude, frequency and timing. Look for one with a high bandwidth and sampling rate to provide the best signal fidelity for your applications.

Top Digital Testing Gear for Hobbyists and Electronics Experts

Digital multi-meter – A handheld digital multi-meter (DMM) is the most popular piece of test equipment among electronics hobbyists and students for making simple measurements and troubleshooting basic circuits. Look for a model with multiple ranges to cover all of your measurement needs and a display that shows the trend of a measurement. A DMM that uses button batteries is convenient for mobile use, but a model with rechargeable AAA or AA batteries is recommended for more advanced use.

Signal generator – A critical component to helping you generate precise signals for testing and calibrating equipment, signal generators provide a high level of performance that can be scaled to meet your application requirements. Look for a unit with a flexible number of input and output ports, as well as various voltage and current probes that can be customized for your specific testing scenario.