--- title: Is Red Pitaya board a USB oscilloscope ? description: The Red Pitaya board falls under the PC-based oscilloscopes and might be categorized as a USB scope. image: https://content.redpitaya.com/hubfs/Gray%2c%20White%20and%20Black%20Quote%20Instagram%20Post%20(11).jpg --- [![Red Pitaya](https://content.redpitaya.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Red_Pitaya_November_2021/images/redpitaya-logo-des.svg "Red Pitaya")](https://redpitaya.com/) [![Red Pitaya](https://content.redpitaya.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Red_Pitaya_November_2021/images/redpitaya-logo.svg "Red Pitaya")](https://redpitaya.com/) - Products - [STEMlab 125-14 Gen 2](https://redpitaya.com/stemlab-125-14-gen2/) - [STEMlab 125-14](https://redpitaya.com/stemlab-125-14/) - [SIGNALlab 250-12](https://redpitaya.com/signallab-250-12/) - [SDRlab 122-16](https://redpitaya.com/sdrlab-122-16/) - [STEMlab TI (Texas Instruments)](https://redpitaya.com/stemlab-ti-texas-instruments/) - [Multi-channel Solutions](https://redpitaya.com/multi-channel-solutions/) - [Accessories](https://redpitaya.com/accessories/) - [Applications](https://redpitaya.com/applications/) - Documentation - [Technical Documentation](https://redpitaya.com/documentation/) - [Teaching materials](https://redpitaya.com/teaching-materials/) - [Student projects](https://redpitaya.com/student-projects/) - [User forum](https://forum.redpitaya.com/) - [About](https://redpitaya.com/about-us/) - [History](https://redpitaya.com/history/) - [Distributors](https://redpitaya.com/distibutors-red-pitaya/) - [Blog](https://content.redpitaya.com/blog) [Shop](https://redpitaya.com/shop/) - [ACADEMIA](https://redpitaya.com/academia/) - [RADIO AMATEURS](https://redpitaya.com/radio-amateurs/) - [Home](https://redpitaya.com/) - Products - [STEMlab 125-10](https://redpitaya.com/stemlab-125-10/) - [STEMlab 125-14](https://redpitaya.com/stemlab-125-14/) - [SIGNALlab 250-12](https://redpitaya.com/signallab-250-12/) - [SDRlab 122-16](https://redpitaya.com/sdrlab-122-16/) - [Accessories](https://redpitaya.com/accessories/) - [Applications](https://redpitaya.com/applications/) - [Resources](https://redpitaya.com/documentation/) - [Shop](https://redpitaya.com/shop/) - [About](https://redpitaya.com/about-us/) - [Blog](https://content.redpitaya.com/blog) - [Compare](https://redpitaya.com/compare/) - [Login / Register](https://redpitaya.com/my-account/) ### Red Pitaya Blog [Home](https://redpitaya.com) » [Blog](https://content.redpitaya.com/blog/tag/blog) » [Blog](https://content.redpitaya.com/blog/tag/blog) # Is Red Pitaya board a USB oscilloscope ? - Posted by ![Red Pitaya Technical Editorial Team](https://content.redpitaya.com/hubfs/Red-pitaya-fav-ikona.png) [Red Pitaya Technical Editorial Team](https://redpitaya.com/Red-Pitaya-Blog-team/) , July 1, 2020 ![](https://content.redpitaya.com/hubfs/Gray%2c%20White%20and%20Black%20Quote%20Instagram%20Post%20(11).jpg) The difference between PC-based oscilloscopes (referred to as a USB oscilloscope) and stand-alone oscilloscopes is that a USB oscilloscope does not have buttons or a screen and is connected to a computer through a USB. The device is then controlled by the computer and the results are displayed on the computer screen. ![Gray, White and Black Quote Instagram Post (11)](https://content.redpitaya.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gray%2c%20White%20and%20Black%20Quote%20Instagram%20Post%20(11).png?width=191&name=Gray%2c%20White%20and%20Black%20Quote%20Instagram%20Post%20(11).png) Red Pitaya board certainly falls under the PC-based oscilloscopes and might be categorised as USB scope even if the interface used for control and data communication is Ethernet or WiFi and not exactly USB. This is just because of the large use of USB oscilloscope term but not of terms like Ethernet oscilloscope or Wifi oscilloscope. Similar situation would be calling a copy machine a xerox machine; a lot of people will refer to it as a xerox machine even if it is made by a different manufacturer.     At the same time a Red Pitaya board can turn into any of the popular instruments like: Digital Logic Analyzer, LCR meter, Vector Network Analyzer, Spectrum Analyzer, Bode Analyzer or Signal Generator and so on, thanks to the ability to go to the web marketplace and download apps that have been developed by the company that created it and even by other users.   ### About the Red Pitaya Team The Red Pitaya Technical Editorial Team is a cross-functional group of technical communicators and product specialists. By synthesizing insights from our hardware developers and global research partners, we provide verified, high-value content that bridges the gap between open-source innovation and industrial-grade precision. Our mission is to make advanced instrumentation accessible to engineers, researchers, and educators worldwide. ##### Categories - [academia (47)](https://content.redpitaya.com/blog/tag/academia) ##### Recent Posts - [![Non-Invasive GERD Detection: Continuous Esophageal Monitoring via Radiofrequency Spectrophotometry](https://content.redpitaya.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog%20featured%20image%20-%202026-09-17T104035.026.jpg?width=767&name=blog%20featured%20image%20-%202026-09-17T104035.026.jpg)](https://content.redpitaya.com/blog/non-invasive-gerd-detection-radiofrequency-spectrophotometry) [Non-Invasive GERD Detection: Continuous Esophageal Monitoring via Radiofrequency Spectrophotometry](https://content.redpitaya.com/blog/non-invasive-gerd-detection-radiofrequency-spectrophotometry) September 29, 2026 - [![How a $500 Open-Source MRI Console Sparked a Global Research Ecosystem](https://content.redpitaya.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog%20featured%20image%20-%202026-09-17T131400.982-3.jpg?width=767&name=blog%20featured%20image%20-%202026-09-17T131400.982-3.jpg)](https://content.redpitaya.com/blog/open-source-mri-console-ocra-marcos-red-pitaya) [How a $500 Open-Source MRI Console Sparked a Global Research Ecosystem](https://content.redpitaya.com/blog/open-source-mri-console-ocra-marcos-red-pitaya) September 22, 2026 - [![Probing the Wire: Red Pitaya & Zephyr RTOS Workshop with EESTEC](https://content.redpitaya.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog%20featured%20image%20-%202026-09-17T130509.363.jpg?width=767&name=blog%20featured%20image%20-%202026-09-17T130509.363.jpg)](https://content.redpitaya.com/blog/zephyr-rtos-nordic-logic-analyzer-workshop-eestec-ljubljana) [Probing the Wire: Red Pitaya & Zephyr RTOS Workshop with EESTEC](https://content.redpitaya.com/blog/zephyr-rtos-nordic-logic-analyzer-workshop-eestec-ljubljana) September 17, 2026 ##### Subscribe to our newsletter ![Red Pitaya](https://content.redpitaya.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Red_Pitaya_November_2021/images/redpitaya-logo-wh.svg "Red Pitaya") An open-source solution for hobbyists, professors, radio amateurs and industrial clients. **Red Pitaya** Velika pot 21, 5250 Solkan Slovenia, Europe Phone: +386 30 322 719 Email: [info@redpitaya.com](mailto:info@redpitaya.com) **Red Pitaya US** TX, Dallas - Downtown Republic Center 325 N. 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