Measuring stuff like that unless you need real amplitude parameters is best   
   done by picking up the radiation. That affects the circuit the least. Remember   
   the law in science, you cannot measure anything without affecting it. If you   
   think that through    
   very carefully you will find it to be absolutely true but I know the usual   
   question like telescopes, and I have the answer to that. But for now as my   
   friend Raphael would say - fuck all that.    
      
   Depending on the gain your oscillator had, the probe capacitance could have   
   killed it. If you use the loop method, you are going to need a very sensitive   
   scope, I doubt 5mV/div would show you much. Capacitively might be better, just   
   don't ground anything    
   and get the probe near the collector. If you used the design on that page and   
   there is not inductor the loop trick will not work well. When you use a coil   
   then it is better.    
      
   The capacitance of the probe on the collector, remember even though it is   
   loaded by the capacitive divider and no doubt that got it a lower collector   
   resistor, you are still feeding the emitter. That makes the collector output   
   "soft" in a manner of    
   speaking. Like the focus voltage to a CRT, it usually has such low current   
   behind it you just don't have to worry about it. Just your body will short it   
   out and you might not even feel it.    
      
   That type of oscillator usually needs a buffer. If youo have use for two   
   polarities of it then use an FET and take off the source and drain with equal   
   load resistors on it, of whatever value you need. (then you pick the FET when   
   you know all the    
   parameters you require)   
      
   Or you can use an emitter follower. that is actually a misnomer because they   
   call THAT stage an emitter follower but in it nothing follows the emitter. It   
   is actually a common collector configuration. The emitter follows the base and   
   it presents much    
   less of a load to the previous stage.    
      
   On common this and that, like your common base. Learning ? Learn this. ALL   
   TRANSISTORS ARE COMMON EMITTER. The emitter is the terminal of the device that   
   is common to the input and output. the difference in what they call common   
   emitter, collector or    
   base stages only means which way you pointed it in the circuits. The   
   transistor hasn't changed. Which terminal is at signal ground ?    
      
   Common collector you get current gain but no voltage gain. Common base you get   
   voltage gain but no current gain.    
   Common emitter you can actually have both but that does not make it right for   
   every circuit.    
      
   If you are interested enough to get through this shit then you might just like   
   this field. And understand I look at things in a very unconventional manner.   
   However I submit this - I am successful at it.    
      
   Oscillators are not my strong point but I can see the circuit. the output   
   impedance is higher than you would think at quick glance. Usually it is like   
   the collector load resistor, and I guess it is. But that doesn't mean   
   capacitance can't stop it. up in    
   the MHz range it doesn't take much.    
      
   One thing you might like, I don't feel like finding the link right now so just   
   go search for impedance nomograph. There will be a hit at some university. It   
   is in HTML sorta, but I think Java or whatever. You can save it if you know   
   how, then you don't    
   have to get online to use it. But just bookmarking might be alright, it seems   
   to be staying put.    
      
   If you have interest and drive you might like this field. But I have this to   
   say, get your running shoes on because once you catch up you don't get a rest.   
   Technology moves fast these days. You want to catch it you have to be fast.    
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)