Hello ,
If is possible please advice and help me ,
I want to buy a four channel automotive scope for use in an independent workshop.
I view on TiePie site a 4 channel differential automotive scope  and at Picotech site I found Picoscope 4 channel non differential automotive scope 
I did not found a comparison on the web between these two automotive scopes but after a web searching Pico seams to be a bit ahead albeit  both seem to be very well made and capable instruments .Which of one must be choosed ?
                                                                                                     thank you very much for your time

http://www.tiepie.com/en/automotive

xfiles wrote on Aug 7^th, 2013 at 9:33am:

Which of one must be choosed ?                                                                                                      thank you very much for your time

Pico scope from Autonerdz all the way! :)

I second that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Xfiles,

take some time and read thru this

http://www.autonerdz.com/picoquad4000.htm

HTH

xfiles,

Not sure what model you were looking at but You could do worse than the Tie Pie ATS5004D. Not bad but no match for Pico.

The differential inputs are no real advantage.  It is not necessary to have differential inputs as long as you are aware of the ground loop potential and ground any and all channels to battery negative.  Then there are no worries.

The Pico 4423 is hundreds of times more powerful than the ATS5004D.  The Pico can collect a hundred million samples on a single screen.  The ATS5004D 512,000.  Also the maximum streaming rate on the ATS5004D is ten thousand samples per second.  The Pico streams at up to 10 million samples per second.  So, in this mode, the Pico would be a thousand times faster.

Plus, PicoScope has some very powerful features like math channels.  I don't know if the ATS5004D software has this.

I think that the very fact you have asked this question suggests a Picoscope would better suit your requirements. There are far more resources available for a Pico over a Tiepie scope.

Regarding the point about a differential scope. Sure I can see the benefits but not enough to make me swap my Pico. Well not on that alone.

Which scope is better? TBH Tiepie beats Pico hands down on feature's. On scoping power it's Pico all the way.
Overall Pico wins. Superior support and a huge following that you can swap files and information with.

In my opinion I think Pico is dropping the ball a bit regarding features. Tiepie have been ahead of Pico before on the hardware aspect. If that was sorted they would have one very powerful scope.

Tom Roberts wrote on Aug 7^th, 2013 at 8:59pm:

I don't know if the ATS5004D software has this.

It appears they do advertise "I/O" channels which look a lot like Maths.

http://www.tiepie.com/en/classroom/MultiChannel_measurement_software/IOs

I see their RPM I/O has some cool features that are superior in theory, but I'd have to see it in the real world to decide if I would trust it or not.

http://www.tiepie.com/en/classroom/MultiChannel_measurement_software/IOs/RPM


nobbyclrk wrote on Aug 18^th, 2013 at 5:00am:

Tiepie beats Pico hands down on feature's.

They do offer an Ohm's measurement with 3% accuracy, and SureConnect is a nice feature reminiscent of ATS's probe open circuit bias voltage (don't know if that's how it works though). 

The ATIS Pro software is a great idea, but again it is something you would need to see first hand because their demo screenshots are all from one car.  You would need to ask yourself how complete the coverage really is.  Additionally, the scope kit only includes the ATIS lite.  The ATIS Pro software is somewhere around $650 extra.

Speaking of pricing, the TiePie standard kit is somewhere around $2900 USD (using Google's Euro to USD calculator).  Throw in the ATIS Pro software, and the price jumps to approx $3550 USD.  Pico's standard kit is about $2300 USD, and the Autonerdz kit (with all the extra hardware and Picogroup access) is $2350 USD. 

In the specs department, the TiePie isn't too bad, but the 128k buffer isn't even close to Pico.  I did see something that suggested it saves a full buffer before and after a trigger which is a nice feature.  An External trigger is advertised, but I don't know how useful it really is because the details seem sketchy.  They also mention the option of 12 bit, 14 bit, and 16 bit resolutions.  That sounds similar to Pico's resolution enhance feature because they also list the max sample rates at those resolutions.  12 bit gets 50MS, 14 bit gets 3.125MS, 16 bit gets 195.3KS. 

All things considered, you get much more scope for a much better price with the Pico.  And if you can handle the extra shipping and customs from the US, the Pico from Autonerdz is a real bargain.

i did my research and I CHOSE PICO best decision ever and still learning :) down load the free pico software and check it out . take a test drive, you can call autonerds and place a appointment and test drive pico live in a car :D

You need to talk to Tom Roberts Autonerdz when you buy from him no one in the world supplies a better package and support. Join this team you don't get eny better.

SEANMAC wrote on Aug 29^th, 2013 at 2:37pm:

You need to talk to Tom Roberts Autonerdz when you buy from him no one in the :-? world supplies a better package and support. Join this team you don't get eny better.

X2 on that Sean,

Not to brown nose But,  what I have learned here in a little over a year would sure have been a whole bunch less if I bought a scope somewhere else! The scope may be sitting in a shady spot all dusty -n- shit too.
SO, If you buy a pico scope from Tom, get the nerd series too so you can be full on your way!! There are people in here that will blow your mind with how they go about diagnosis and methods of scope use. They just may even help in reinsurance of a diagnosis when you brake the ice. I downloaded Apple pie software a while back and it looked to confusing. not saying its bad just looked overwhelming for a beginner. I'm sure they don't have a Forums like this neitha that will help ya. I agree TiePie does have some cool stuff though
[smiley=2cents.gif]

Seriously dude! ;) plus it would be kool to have someone from Romania in here

X2 on what Karl said :).

Quote:

They do offer an Ohm's measurement with 3% accuracy, and SureConnect is a nice feature reminiscent of ATS's probe open circuit bias voltage (don't know if that's how it works though).

AFAIK a voltage is applied through the hardware.


Quote:

The ATIS Pro software is a great idea, but again it is something you would need to see first hand

TBH I have had a look through it and as you say a nice idea but lacked in the models I would use - Asian. Perhaps it is better for the European market.
An option I don't think is worth the money.


Quote:

All things considered, you get much more scope for a much better price with the Pico.  And if you can handle the extra shipping and customs from the US, the Pico from Autonerdz is a real bargain.

Well put.

Although I still think Pico needs to work on improvements. Over the last few years Tiepie have added RPM and Duty cycle graphing. In todays world that is as important as volts and amps.
Duty cycle graphing has been brought up many times on this forum and really should of been added to the software long ago. So come on guys.
Recently they added J1939 decoding. How usefull that would be I'm unsure but another feature.

If we all patted Pico on the back for the great work they have done why improve an awesome product?

nobbyclrk wrote on Aug 31^st, 2013 at 8:53pm:

If we all patted Pico on the back for the great work they have done why improve an awesome product?

You're absolutely right, and that's why every release and beta gets a thumbs up or down in the Picogroup section.  I think the Picogroup suggestions forum is a good idea, and we know there are several Pico reps on here that digest what we suggest.


nobbyclrk wrote on Aug 31^st, 2013 at 8:53pm:

Over the last few years Tiepie have added RPM and Duty cycle graphing.

Well, the RPM graph they use is interesting, but I'd want to see it in person because we know the limitations when we do it with Pico.  Ours is more raw, so it might be interesting to see what theirs is like outside a simple 60hz signal.

You would have to educate me on why you would want a duty cycle graph, though.  I suppose I could see some use for it  :-/.

Actually, before this thread, I had no idea there was anyone trying to nip at Pico's heels.  Competition is a good thing, but they're gonna have to step it up to knock out the champ.  8-)

crackerclicker wrote on Sep 1^st, 2013 at 2:13pm:

Competition is a good thing, but they're gonna have to step it up to knock out the champ.

  Harumph! ( think Blazzing Saddles ). 

PRESTON wrote on Sep 1^st, 2013 at 6:06pm:

Harumph! ( think Blazzing Saddles ).

Lol!  I forgot that scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTmfwklFM-M

Quote:

You would have to educate me on why you would want a duty cycle graph, though. I suppose I could see some use for it

It's not me you have to ask. It's the ongoing requests that appears on this forum. In fact in there has been a few attempts to achieve it with the maths channel in Pico technique area.


Quote:

Actually, before this thread, I had no idea there was anyone trying to nip at Pico's heels

Tiepie have been around a long time. When I bought my 3000 I was asked why I bought that and not something with a higher sample rate etc etc etc.
I just have more reasons to use Pico over Tiepie than "it rocks".
There is many sides as to what makes the difference between a good and great scope. Not just speed.

nobbyclrk wrote on Sep 1^st, 2013 at 10:51pm:

There is many sides as to what makes the difference between a good and great scope. Not just speed.

Haha, definitely!


nobbyclrk wrote on Sep 1^st, 2013 at 10:51pm:

In fact in there has been a few attempts to achieve it with the maths channel in Pico technique area.

Ok, I see what you mean now.