Osciloscope for beginner - cheap 6 models to choose from?

[patb]

Hi guys,

I know that there are other topics on the forum regarding oscilloscopes for beginners, but I decided to post a new one with fresh list of models that I found available here and there (these are actually available in Poland where I live, but are also available worldwide AFAIK). Here we go:

- Atten ADS1102CAL (100 MHz, 1GSa/s, 40kpts, 480x234)
- GW Instek GSD1062A (60 MHz, 1GSa/s, 2Mpts, 320x234)
- Hantek DSO5102B (100 MHz, 1GSa/s, 1Mpts, 800x480)
- Owon SDS6062 (60 MHz, 500MSa/s, 10Mpts, 800x600)
- Rigol DS1052E (50/100 MHz, 1GSa/s, 1Mpts, 320x234)
- Siglent SDS1102CM (100 MHz, 1GSa/s, 2Mpts, 320x234)

The question is: which one to choose? Or maybe I missed some new interesting model. There is a lot of information regarding RIGOL thanks to Dave and you guys,:) but since we have several other interesting models I would like to ask you about them. I saw some info here on the forum about Owon SDS model and not bad opinions regarding Instek scopes.

Anyway, what do you think about buying one of these for beginner (in that case for me) just for learning/playing with analog stuff and MCUs (Atmel/Arduino, PIC, maybe some 32bit in the future). Regarding analog scope - I don't want to buy one, because I don't have room for it. DSOs are much smaller.

Thanks in advance for any response.

[sean87]

Yes please...this is a good question. I am also going to buy a scope and my budget is around 400€.

What I have found in a shop near me is "RIGOL DS1052E" for 350€ ...is this a right price or a rip off here is the link:
http://www.pinsonne-elektronik.de/pi1/pd31.html

Looking forward to some professional answer.

[Kiriakos-GR]

People, set on your profiles your Country: , you will get better help that way. 

[sean87]

People, set on your profiles your Country: , you will get better help that way.

Thanks for reminding I updated mine. I am fron Netherlands.

[patb]

People, set on your profiles your Country: , you will get better help that way.

There is a bug in the registration process. If you set the country during registration (which I did) it doesn't remember it after you activate account. Strange... Anyway, I've just re-set the country as you said.

[Ronnie]

Regarding analog scope - I don't want to buy one, because I don't have room for it. DSOs are much smaller.

Other forum members recommended to me to buy an analog scope for audio design but I'm from the Philippines as far as I know there is none to buy used analog scope that is why I acquired a brand new DSO.

[Mechatrommer]

Other forum members recommended to me to buy an analog scope for audio design but I'm from the Philippines as far as I know there is none to buy used analog scope that is why I acquired a brand new DSO.

there are many in ebay. but the shipping cost will be much expensive than a new dso.

[tinhead]

these are actually available in Poland where I live, but are also available worldwide AFAIK).

think about "warranty" and support before you buy something. In principle all these
DSOs are "buy and repalce in 3 yrs", but an DOA from a dealer not responding your emails
is bullshit - not worth to "save" few bucks.

- GW Instek GSD1062A (60 MHz, 1GSa/s, 2Mpts, 320x234)

a good one, but already 3yrs old technology, you will get for same money better models.

- Rigol DS1052E (50/100 MHz, 1GSa/s, 1Mpts, 320x234)

cheap one, but small display, higher waverform distortion as Instek and already old technology,
if Rigol then for example CA models .. see below

- Siglent SDS1102CM (100 MHz, 1GSa/s, 2Mpts, 320x234)

same as above, in principle copy of Rigol E, but with 2M memory. A big minus is support.

- Atten ADS1102CAL (100 MHz, 1GSa/s, 40kpts, 480x234)

internally same as above, a bit bigger display but everything else the same - except
no long memory, if you wish to do protocol analysis you will miss that.
As above, no support at all - buy and die.

- Hantek DSO5102B (100 MHz, 1GSa/s, 1Mpts, 800x480)

nice big display, best waveform refresh rate, a bit lower waveform distortion as these above,
many hacks available, but not cheap.

In two months 2M long mem and 2G flash drive model will be available - worth to wait?
Depends on how good Owon is.

- Owon SDS6062 (60 MHz, 500MSa/s, 10Mpts, 800x600)

a big unknown - if you can, spend some additional money for bigger model like SDS7xxx or SDS8xxx.
Display a bit bigger than Hantek, huuuge memory - but actually nobody can tell (yet) what really
inside. It can be a price/features killer for all other models here, depends of course on what inside
and how good the firmware is (Owon wasn't the best in the past).

A big plus is the size on desk.

Not in your list :

Tonghui TDS3xxx:
price between Rigol and Siglent, small display - but there are options with Gb ethernet and integrated AWG.
However, hard to get in Europe.

Rigol DS1xxxxCA:
lowest waveform distortion from all these models, but small display and no long memory.
Price getting daily lower, definitely good replacement for Rigol E - but only if you can live without long mem.

A good idea is first to check how much you can spend for an DSO, then what functions (e.g. protocol analysis)
you really need, then technical things like sample rate and memory, the support ...

[patb]

Thank you tinhead for the analysis of my list. I owe you one.

As for warranty, you are absolutely right. It seems that I can actually get a scope a little bit cheaper than in Poland (where I get true warranty), but as you said, it's probably not worth the risk.

From what I can tell after your post it seems that basically all scopes with small display (xxx by 234) are now obsolete. And to be completely honest I am looking now for a scope with higher resolution display and bigger screen. Just for convenience and of course better rendering of signal.

The curious thing is that those Tonghui scopes are available w/o any problems in Poland (http://www.biall.com.pl/company,Tonghui,964.html).

Right now I am thinking about two models: Hantek DSO5102B and Owon SDS6062. They have pretty much the same price tag here. Owon SDS7xxx is a little bit more expensive, but I don't want to limit myself by some hard money limit. So if you guys have other recommendations for beginner that are not-so-cheap I am all ears.

[Nermash]

I would give my vote to Hantek/Tekway. In fact, I would buy one immediately, but first I have to sell current pos dso I have.

Owon is interesting also, but I would like to see some real world reviews.

[patb]

I would give my vote to Hantek/Tekway. In fact, I would buy one immediately, but first I have to sell current pos dso I have.

Owon is interesting also, but I would like to see some real world reviews.

Yeah, I think the same at the moment. Hantek/Tekway is well known DSO and quite hackable one (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=1571.0). However, I would love to see some video review or simple demonstration of how Owon SDS works. There is virtually no info about that scope except https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=3924.0 (see scopeman's posts). Anyone interested in posting short video on youtube of that scope series? 

UPDATE:
Ordered Hantek.

[ChrisH]

Saw some posts regarding the Owon SDS6### oscilloscope on another forum and the word was quite favorable. I want to buy one for my bench for general troubleshooting but nothing less than 100 MHz really interests me.

Edit: Found this on YouTube, not much info but a look at the SDS6062 60 MHz unit:

https://www.youtube.com/user/WaveShingo?blend=2&ob=5#p/a/u/1/lSyhxIVbMCU

[patb]

I saw that video too, but, to be honest, it says nothing about the scope. Well, maybe except that it is really small and has GLARE screen (why?!). Anyway, if you buy this DSO don't hesitate and post some info here about it. I think a lot of people wants to see some details regarding this scope from end-user perspective. It may be good competitor to the Hantek DSO.

Regards,
Patryk.

[cseb]

Hi,

This is my view of the SDS1102CM after 2 weeks:

http://cseb.hu/siglent

Regards,
Csaba

[rf-loop]

I saw that video too, but, to be honest, it says nothing about the scope. Well, maybe except that it is really small and has GLARE screen (why?!). Anyway, if you buy this DSO don't hesitate and post some info here about it. I think a lot of people wants to see some details regarding this scope from end-user perspective. It may be good competitor to the Hantek DSO.

Regards,
Patryk.

I really can not understand these thousends of peoples who make these "video" reviews. I can ask one question: Why?
Maybe becouse they just want keep they own show after they have find first "video" capture unit or even videocamera.
Some reviews want show shaking things without any real information, just like kids show. Some want show his faces and just like keep some kind of liveshow "facebook".  but.. better that I do not say more.
-------

About Owon display.  In this review there is some kind of glossy film over TFT surface. Maybe original factory protecting "film" over it but red strip cutted away on the right top corner.

TFT is matte surface normal good quality panel. It is in practice same  panel as in Hantek. (just only different shape, Hantek 800x480 7" and Owon 800x600 8" but same product serie. )
(AFAIK: Owon have Innolux AT080TN52  (today Innolux is Chimei Innolux))

I think these reviewers do not think anything what they are doing.
Ohw well, but maybe some competitor have "payed" these?
Shame, pity.

-------------
SDS6062 is 60MHz "cheap" model in SmartDS serie. It have also only 500MSa/s.

Today SDS7102 is improved (4Q2011) and its analog BW is clearly >200MHz. (1GSa/s) (typical measured values 220-270MHz -3dB point dependent about individual unit and what V/div is used. (2mV/div excluded)

With 2 channels use it have  500MSa/s real time and NOT interleaved ADC (most cheap scopes have multi ADC interleaved principle what is really pity), but becouse Nyquist limit, it is not well useable over 150MHz with 2 channels in use becouse samplerate start limit useability.
If need more samplerate there is SDS8102 what give 1GSa/s also for two channel use but only with limited memory.
If with some fastest speed things really do not need 2 channel together SDS7102 have amazing frequency response and capture quality also. Thanks this to used ADC.  (it is ADC08D500 clone or ADC08D1000 clone in SDS8xxx))

7102 analog channel quality, ADC quality, display, and deep up to 10M capture memory per channel with FULL samplerate it rise this scope to its own class in this price group. There is no competitors at all as long as we talk DSO principle.

There need remember that Hantek have more features in UI and it is working (with high limits) with DPO principle.
But also somewhat about this can compensate with Owon deep memory and speed with deep memory.

Also Owon have showed that they have started new approach to customer service and I hope soon we can start talk about reputable company. Today they have working RMA procedure also and also it seems that they "self learn" and also change production if find problems in quality or design.

It is pity that Hantek FW/UI is better but HW ADC construction is just piece of Rigol/Atten/Siglent style crap (not real crap but it can be lot of better without this cheap interleaving).. But Hantek have been more time (what was Hantek FW soon after product have started)  Owon SDS serie is very new if compare to Hantek/Tekway DSO5000B/1000B series what start really be soon out of date (mainly becouse Front end/ADC/memory construction.
If there is Owon HW construction and Hantek UI/FW with small improving still... but this is dreaming.