A while back I got a new digital 'scope. The one I'd been using was okay, but only 8-bit and had some other limitations. The vertical resolution was actually starting to make it difficult to get accurate-enough readings of some things I was working with.
The new one is 12-bit. That is likely to be better than I will ever need. I'm happy with it. Being several years newer (and a different brand) it brings some new #features to the table.
One is that you can use it as a digital logic analyzer - it can sample a whole lot of inputs (rather than just 4 analog channels) quickly if it only has to tell on from off. But you have to get a whole lot of #signals into the #scope before you can do that, so you need a #connector with a lot of pins/signals.
You could use something standard for this type of application (which is still going to be a limited-audience part), or a custom thing, but those options are expensive. So instead, if you're the manufacturer, you find a common (and therefore #cheap) #connector with lots of #pins, and you re-use that. Done and dusted!
They picked ... the HDMI connector. It's there at the bottom of the middle of the control panel. And in the manual is the prominent (not) warning:
> WARNING: Non-standard HDMI interface, Siglent device ONLY, or you will damage your device.
Yes, if you plug anything HDMI-related into this obvious #HDMI port, you will cause damage to your 'scope, or your other device.
#oscilloscope #DSO #MagicSmoke #BadUI #bang