sampling rate vs frequency

[tejaroxx03]

What if we donno the frequency of the signal which we are measuring?? How can we guess the Sampling rate? I am a student and we are being given a limited time to perform experiments. So I am asking with a students perspective.

[Henrik_Volkers]

If you have a known frequency in your data (line frequency can be found nearly everywhere) you can make an educated guess 😄

Otherwise you learn the hard way, that a measurement that hasn't been properly documented hasn't been done (mean: has to be redone) . Samplerates and gains are some of the basics, strongly depend on the measurements you make.

[richard98]

The Nyquist theory that Travis quoted refers to the ability to measure a signal without aliasing.  If you sample at least 2x the maximum frequency in your signal you will ensure that your signal is adequately sampled to prevent aliasing.  However if you have a bandwidth-limited signal you can employ a technique of undersampling to accurately capture signals above the nyquist frequency.