Since my Siglent SDG1020 has too many limitations for my liking, I'm looking into getting another AWG. After checking what's available on the market it essentially comes down to either the Rigol DG1062z or the Siglent SDG5082 (the Rigol DG4000 is out because it essentially combines a high price with low sample memory).
The Rigol does have the large memory (8Mpts standard, 16Mpts option) and LAN as a benefit, as well as slightly better specs in sine mode. The Downsides are the price (the DG1062z is quite a bit more expensive than the SDG5082), and that there doesn't seem to be any AW software available from Rigol.
The Siglent SDG5000 on the other side is cheaper (for the price of a DG1062z I could even buy the SDG5122), the better paper specs in pulse/square mode and overall higher bandwidth in all modes, and that there is some software (although its crap) available. The downsides are the small (512kpts on Ch2) and really small (16kpts on Ch1) sample memories, the absence of LAN (really, Siglent?), and (judging by Dave's Teardown video) the questionable build quality (corrosion). Coming from the SDG1000 I have also concerns re the UI (which isn't very good on the SDG1000).
But the lower price and the higher bandwith is just too tempting, so I'm almost decided on the SDG5082/5122 (or even the 5162, we'll see). But before I buy I would like to get some comments from people that do have a SDG5000 and can give some comments/feedback.
What I'd like to know in particular:
- How good is the real-world performance, especially with very short pulses (i.e. <100ns) with low PRF? What about jitter (the SDG1000 had some issues there)?
- How is the build quality of newer exemplars (I hope the corrosion in Dave's video is a thing of the past)?
- How good is the UI, especially in comparison with the Rigol DG1000z Series?
- Any major hardware or firmware bugs?
- On the SDG1000, the rotary knob is also a push button which serves no purpose. Is that the case with the SDG5000 as well?
- How good is file management (which was cumbersome on the SDG1000)? I assume FAT(32) is still the only supported file system? How about memory sticks larger than 4GB? Long file names?
I'd also like to hear if anyone has experience with both AWGs.