Author Topic: Gw Instek GDS2204E (200MHz 4 channel DSO) review (Read 72998 times)

nctnico · « **Reply #25 on:** May 16, 2016, 02:15:30 pm »

I have been wanting to do an interesting experiment for a while now to see if there is a (practical) limit to the SPI decoding speed. I had to wait though for an FPGA project to come along so I didn't have to build a test setup for one simple test. I created a simple SPI signal generator which just outputs incrementing values (LSB first) with an SPI clock frequency of 125MHz and fed it into the GDS2204E. It turns out it can decode and trigger SPI at this speed just fine even though the clock signal looks like a sine wave.

rickv14623 · « **Reply #26 on:** May 16, 2016, 05:19:25 pm »

Nice job on the review.

MT · « **Reply #27 on:** May 16, 2016, 07:27:34 pm »

Great review, from where did you say you bought it?

nctnico · « **Reply #28 on:** May 16, 2016, 07:34:49 pm »

I got it from a Dutch dealer called Eleshop.nl

pascal_sweden · « **Reply #29 on:** July 31, 2016, 08:21:24 pm »

Pity that the review is mostly text, and hardly any screenshots!

saturation · « **Reply #30 on:** August 01, 2016, 03:49:55 pm »

What screenshots would you like, maybe the OP or others with similar models can add to it?

Quote from: pascal_sweden on July 31, 2016, 08:21:24 pm

Pity that the review is mostly text, and hardly any screenshots!

nctnico · « **Reply #31 on:** August 01, 2016, 07:25:07 pm »

I did make quite a few screenshots but the problem is that this forum makes it very hard to put a large posting together with the pictures sitting in the text nicely.

Kilrah · « **Reply #32 on:** August 01, 2016, 07:45:47 pm »

Very easy if you host the images externally.

nctnico · « **Reply #33 on:** August 01, 2016, 07:56:33 pm »

Quote from: Kilrah on August 01, 2016, 07:45:47 pm

Very easy if you host the images externally.

Yes, I started doing that recently but if Flickr ceases to exist then my postings will have to do without pictures. I used to use Imageshack but they have already purged all of the pictures I used on other fora.

Kilrah · « **Reply #34 on:** August 01, 2016, 08:47:29 pm »

I use Flickr for actual photography, makes little sense to use it for random forum stuff.
I use Photobucket for forum stuff, the interface is a bit slow but what I uploaded back in 2005 is still alive and kicking.

System Error Message · « **Reply #35 on:** August 01, 2016, 09:24:55 pm »

well you beat me to a review about it. trying to learn as much as i can with electronics.

One effective way to remove noise is to capture the wave and subtract it but this only works to a maximum of 1M memory, not available for 10M. I noticed that when you have subtract/divide the math works slower, i dont know if this is because of eliminating the noise so the wave seems to vary less or if it is actually slower. It seems that after some use the input noise gets very significant, around 2mV with nothing connected and a -0.2V deviation of voltage values. SPC doesnt fix this but i hope calibration will, i managed to get calibration started by using 2 probes and making sure ground is also connected though i will fully calibrate when i find a way to keep the 2 probes touching without any issue.

If i put the probes on a wooden surface i get other noises too but this isnt a scope issue.

I subtract input wave with probe connected before connecting so that i can see the right waveform and noise coming from what i measure.

The ability to capture 1M worth of wave and perform math with it is quite a nice feature and useful when you are comparing. I wish the scope was heavier, would make it easier to play with all the knobs and buttons.

dcarr · « **Reply #36 on:** August 01, 2016, 09:42:51 pm »

Thanks for posting a very thorough review.

David

pascal_sweden · « **Reply #37 on:** August 06, 2016, 04:21:31 pm »

Or why not make a video review on YouTube? If this oscilloscope is really that great, how come that there is no single video review about it on YouTube? (Besides the silly videos from the manufacturer itself)

Appreciate if you can make a video review about your brand new spanking oscilloscope!

What about MSO functionality? Can it be expanded with an MSO probe? How many digital channels? 8 or 16?

Which distributor did you buy it from? Is there a distributor in the Benelux?

nctnico · « **Reply #38 on:** August 06, 2016, 07:03:02 pm »

I guess nobody bothered to do a video review. My problem with a video review is that I don't want to dump a longwinded piece of raw footage on Youtube. I'm quite sure I lack Dave's ability to come up with a coherent story of the cuff like he does. I would like to try and make a video but I'm skeptic about my skills to do that succesfully. I'd need a script, preparation and lots of video editing which all translate in a lot of time I don't have. The text review I posted to begin this thread took me a whopping 6 or 7 weeks to complete.

About your questions: unfortunately no MSO function although it seems the firmware could deal with it because the MSO function buttons are disabled. It appears GW Instek uses one firmware sourcecode for all their scopes which is good because if they fix a bug, they fix it for all models (unless it is model specific) and need less effort for testing. I bought my GDS-2204E from Eleshop.nl. GW Instek has a European office in the Netherlands BTW (no, I don't work there).

pascal_sweden · « **Reply #39 on:** August 06, 2016, 07:17:12 pm »

That's nice to know about the European office. So it means good warranty procedures.
I am originally from Belgium, so definitely consider that as a plus.

GW-Instek used to have modular slots in the GDS2000A series. It's a pity that they took out that concept in the GDS2000E series.

But do they have an MSO model in the GDS2000E series, or is that only in the GDS2000A and GDS3000 series?

nctnico · « **Reply #40 on:** August 06, 2016, 07:21:24 pm »

So far no MSO in sight for the GDS2000E. The casing does seem to be prepared for an MSO plug so at least someone at GW Instek has played with the idea to add an MSO option to a similar model.

Kilrah · « **Reply #41 on:** August 06, 2016, 07:30:30 pm »

I'd have bought one already if it there was an MSO...

nctnico · « **Reply #42 on:** August 06, 2016, 09:19:20 pm »

If there was a version with MSO and 10Mpts I would have bought that one but OTOH I also have an MSO on my bench for nearly 2 years and I have not yet used the digital channels. 4 analog channels take you a long way and for serious digital debugging I use my logic analyser.

pascal_sweden · « **Reply #43 on:** August 06, 2016, 09:23:41 pm »

Which MSO and which Logic Analyzer do you have?

nctnico · « **Reply #44 on:** August 06, 2016, 09:36:47 pm »

Agilent MSO7104A and Tektronix TLA715 logic analyser.

AR · « **Reply #45 on:** August 07, 2016, 10:54:49 am »

Hello nctnico,

Stupid question , what the most used scope on your bench. Secondly has the GDS2204E got quieter inputs when they are shorted with the same bandwidth compared to The MSO7104A.

The local Instek distributor has finally got a GDS2000E series sample for me to play with.

nctnico · « **Reply #46 on:** August 07, 2016, 11:02:47 am »

I'm using the MSO7104 the most and that is mainly due to the much larger screen.

eeguy · « **Reply #47 on:** September 16, 2016, 03:19:26 am »

Quote from: tequipment on February 03, 2016, 01:51:34 pm

E is the economy version but really its just a new scope version. In some ways it has better specs.

Also it had a 20% price drop yesterday on our site www.tequipment.net

Thanks
Evan Cirelli

TEquipment.NET

Is it really true that the GDS2204E is newer, has better specs and cheaper than the GDS-2204A?

eeguy · « **Reply #48 on:** September 16, 2016, 10:31:26 am »

Where can I find more videos about the GDS2204E? On youtube, I only found six video under the name GDS-2000E. There are more under GDS-2000A. I want to make sure that I like the respond and UI of the GDS2204E.

JPortici · « **Reply #49 on:** September 16, 2016, 10:47:24 am »

try and ask GWi for a loaner?


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Author Topic: Gw Instek GDS2204E (200MHz 4 channel DSO) review (Read 72998 times)

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