ScopeBuddy

ScopeBuddy turns an Elecrow CrowPanel Advanced 5-inch ESP32-P4 display into a hands-on oscilloscope trainer. It generates real 3.3 V digital signals, presents randomized measurement tasks, and reveals the expected values on demand.

Firmware 0.5.1 provides 15 single- and dual-channel lessons. The display can be operated by touch or with an optional rotary encoder.

What you need

Component	Requirement	References and sources
Display	Elecrow CrowPanel Advanced 5-inch, ESP32-P4, 800 × 480 (DHE04005D)	Official product page · Elecrow documentation · Amazon.de
Oscilloscope	One channel for the basic lessons; two channels for all lessons	Use high-impedance inputs and probes suitable for 3.3 V logic
USB cable	USB data cable for installing the firmware	Charge-only cables do not work
Rotary encoder (optional)	GIAK KY-040 module or a compatible 3.3 V encoder module	Wiring guide · Amazon.de
Enclosure (optional)	3D-printable ScopeBuddy enclosure	STL model · Model notes

The Amazon links are non-affiliate purchase links. Listings and availability can change; use the model names and electrical requirements above when selecting an equivalent component.

Assemble the hardware

1. Disconnect USB and any other power source before wiring the optional rotary encoder.
2. Connect the encoder as described in the wiring guide. Power it from 3.3 V, not 5 V. The optional radio module uses the same GPIOs and must not be installed or enabled at the same time.
3. If desired, print the enclosure. The STL uses millimeters and measures approximately 97 × 159.9 × 46 mm.
4. Connect oscilloscope CH1 to GPIO48. For two-channel lessons, connect CH2 to GPIO47. Connect both probe grounds to board GND.

GPIO47 and GPIO48 are 3.3 V logic outputs intended only for high-impedance oscilloscope or logic-analyzer inputs. Do not connect loads or external voltages to these pins. The pins also share expansion connector functions; do not attach an expansion UART or SPI device while ScopeBuddy is generating signals.

Install ScopeBuddy

The browser installer is the easiest installation method and does not require ESP-IDF, Python, or Git.

Open the ScopeBuddy web installer

1. Open the installer in Chrome or Edge on a desktop computer.
2. Connect the CrowPanel with a USB data cable.
3. Hold BOOT, briefly press RST while still holding BOOT, and then release BOOT. This download-mode sequence is required before every connection attempt.
4. Select Connect device and choose ESP32-P4 as the serial port.
5. Select Install ScopeBuddy, allow Erase Device, and confirm the installation.
6. Keep the USB cable connected until the installer displays Wrapping up.
7. Briefly press RST on the back of the display. ScopeBuddy then starts automatically.

The installer supports only the specified CrowPanel ESP32-P4 model. Installing the firmware erases existing ScopeBuddy settings and other flash data.

If the board is not listed, close other applications using its serial port, check that the cable supports data, reload the page, and repeat the complete BOOT/RST sequence. Firefox and Safari do not currently provide the Web Serial API required by the installer.

Run the first hardware check

ScopeBuddy includes two diagnostic signals for checking a newly assembled device and its oscilloscope connections:

1. Open Settings → Diagnostics → 1-channel test. GPIO48 should output 1 kHz at 50% duty cycle.
2. Open Settings → Diagnostics → 2-channel test. Both channels should output 1 kHz at 50% duty cycle, with GPIO47 following GPIO48 by 100 µs.

Stopping a test or leaving its page drives the outputs LOW. Detailed expected measurements and the validation record are in Hardware validation.

Lessons

Selecting a lesson starts an open-ended series of randomized tasks. ScopeBuddy avoids repeating any of the ten most recent signal configurations in that series. The return-to-start confirmation can be disabled in the settings.

Single-channel lessons on GPIO48:

• Periodic signal
• Pulse widths
• Burst
• Missing pulse
• Servo signal
• Tachometer signal
• Button bounce
• UART 8N1
• Alternating states

Dual-channel lessons on GPIO48 and GPIO47:

• Trigger/response
• Phase shift
• Frequency divider
• Ultrasonic echo
• Gated PWM
• Quadrature encoder

Build from source

ScopeBuddy 0.5.1 is built and hardware-tested with ESP-IDF 5.4.2. Install and activate ESP-IDF, then run:

idf.py set-target esp32p4
idf.py build
idf.py flash monitor

ESP-IDF's component manager downloads the required LVGL, display, and touch components. dependencies.lock pins the component versions used for release builds.

License

Original ScopeBuddy contributions are available under the ScopeBuddy Community License 1.0. You may build, study, modify, and publish them, including for education and research. Published modified versions must provide their corresponding source, retain a reference to this project, and use a distinct name.

ScopeBuddy devices and kits may be passed on at direct cost. Selling them for profit requires a separate commercial license from the repository owner. ScopeBuddy is therefore source-available, not Open Source as defined by the Open Source Initiative.

Elecrow-derived board-support material and other third-party components are not relicensed by ScopeBuddy. Their status and the exact repository license boundaries are documented in LICENSE.md and THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md.

Contributions are welcome under the process in CONTRIBUTING.md. Pull requests must accept the Contributor License Agreement, which lets contributors retain their copyright while allowing ScopeBuddy to continue offering separate commercial licenses.

Further documentation

• Rotary encoder wiring
• Enclosure model and dimensions
• Hardware diagnostics and validation
• Maintainer and release guide