A classic second calling
Martin Rowe, Senior Technical Editor -- Test & Measurement World, 6/1/2003
Electronic Test Instruments, 2nd ed., by Robert A. Witte. Prentice Hall PTR, Upper Saddle River, NJ ( www.phptr.com ), 2002. ISBN 0-13-066830-3. 371 pages. Price: $49.50.
Robert Witte's classic book, Electronic Test Instruments, provides timeless information for engineers, technicians, and students who understand electronic circuits but need a solid background in measurements and test equipment. Witte expands on the first edition (1993) by adding about 100 pages that bring the book up to date with current technology. For example, the chapter on oscilloscopes includes measurements on digital signals such as rise time, and the spectrum analyzer chapter devotes more text to digital modulation than the first edition did.
If you're already a test-equipment expert, you won't need this book, but everyone else will get something out of it. Using easy-to-digest diagrams, photos, and plots, Witte explains the fundamentals of general-purpose test equipment such as oscilloscopes, signal generators, multimeters, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers, power supplies, and probes.
After discussing basic electrical measurements and circuits, Witte covers each type of test equipment in just enough detail to provide a solid understanding without overwhelming you. He explains how test equipment can fool you and how to compensate for measurement errors.
For example, when covering oscilloscope probe compensation, he explains how probes can affect signals. He also explains how a spectrum analyzer bin can give false readings if its bandwidth is too narrow relative to a signal's frequency components.
A discussion of test equipment proves inadequate without a discussion of how to use that equipment. Witte completes the book with such a discussion, showing you how to construct circuits for numerous analog measurements. He covers voltage dividers, bridge circuits, RC and RL circuits, and more. Finally, he covers the often-overlooked attenuator and how it can affect measurements.
If you need an overview of test equipment, then Witte's book can add a wealth of information to your technical library. It is a fine reference that will serve you well for many years, for even though test equipment changes, measurement concepts remain the same.
