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I second the analogue scope recommendation. There in the US you should easily be able to get one around or under the $100 mark. If you want to capture individual packets then you'll need a good DSO. Watch this video for more tips on what a good electronics lab needs: youtube.com/…
@avra Is there a specific reason you can't mount the device on the rim and use a counter weight to keep the wheel balanced? If so could you instead run a sensor from the hub to the rim? It might help to reconsider the mechanics of your situation before focusing so much on the electronics.
You should be able to customise the shapes for your needs. I had done this a few times over the years but never really learnt how to do it 'by the book'. However, if you go to the menu View > Drawing Explorer Window you will see a folder called Masters (there will be items in it so long as you have shapes on the page). If you double click a shape in the masters folder it will let you edit it. I'm not sure how to save the master from there on in but it shouldn't be difficult to Google.
Yeah I'm not overly keen on my design, hence my quandary. The main reason for it being whack is I'm trying to stick to the four points I can easily get wires to. Most of the Openers circuit is smd. The points I've chosen either have header posts or will be easy to solder wires to. I do like your solution using Pin 7 of the PIC but I'd have to solder a lead directly to the leg of the IC or one side of a smd and I'm not confident enough with an iron to try that.
