First time 'scope purchase

[numach]

Hi guys,

I know this question has probably been beat to death but I'm looking to buy my first oscilloscope and I'm torn on what to get. Budget is around the ~$400 range and I want something I can use for a while. 

I tinker with RPI/Arduino projects and do repairs of Arcade video game PCB's (maybe some monitor drive circuits too) and game console PCB's.

I am a video game collector with a fairly good sized collection which has been growing quite a bit the past two years.

As I've moved on to more rare systems and began getting into the Arcade machines especially I'm doing more and more repair work.  Up to now I've just been using a volt-meter, tracing out lines and using some trial-and-error but would like to take a more technical approach moving forward.

All that said, I've come down to two units: 

• Rigol DS1054Z
• Siglent SDS1202X-E

I've read and watched numerous reviews and I even stumbled across an 11-page thread on here from a few months ago with a lot of back and forth commentary.

What I've gathered is this: 

• The Rigol is pretty tried and true, and for someone just starting out it is/was a great place to start.
• The Siglent just plain has newer/better technology in it... but only has 2 channels. It's also a pretty new contender and has been buggy at times even if only minor things.  Hopefully that changes with FW updates... but I'm tempted to say "ain't nobody got time for that!".

The extra power, response and bandwidth of the Siglent is just plain attractive - BUT - thinking about all of the potential uses long-term I have to wonder if the Rigol is still better all around for me.

The primary use will be doing board repair on the Arcade/console machines I mention.  Testing input and output on NAND gates, possibly CPU (Z80, etc.) signals and amps such as the LM377/LM1877, capacitors and diodes, boards for switching PSU's, etc..

Anyways, I think you guys can get the picture.  I'm ready to pull the trigger on a purchase... I just can't decide what would better suit me - more bandwidth (and better hardware) or convenience of 4 channels with lesser specs.

Since the newest thing I can find on the debate between these two is from a few months ago I was hoping more people have had a chance to really work with the Siglent SDS1202X-E given that it was still so new at the time of what I've been able to find.

Right now my gut is telling me to ignore the flashiness of the Siglent and go with the Rigol. 

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated!   

[rstofer]

Hang loose a few months and consider the Siglent SDS 1204X-E - 200 MHz 4 channels.  Or buy the DS1054Z with the intent to upgrade at some point.

It's my understanding that the 1202X-E firmware upgrade has addressed the issues but, to be honest, I bought the DS1054Z so I haven't been paying attention to Siglent.  Search around here to see what has been going on.

I MIGHT add the 1204X-E to the bench when it is finally released for worldwide sale.  Right now it is being sold only in China. 

Keep track of user 'tautech' over in the Test Equipment forum.  He is a Siglent dealer in New Zealand and has his finger on the pulse of Siglent.

Many of the complaints about various pieces of test equipment (including that EPIC thread re: the DS1054Z) are talking about issues I consider to be 'at the margins'.  It's a darn shame there are problems but in my little corner of the sandbox, I'll never run into them. I kind of understand there is a difference between a $400 scope and a $30,000 scope.

[TK]

If you are into vintage game and computer repair, I suggest you to split the budget of $400 and buy a used scope (TEK 2465, Agilent 54622D) and a used old HP logic analyzer with 68 channels (HP 1670D).

[james_s]

I like the older Tek TDS340 scopes too when they're cheap enough, I wouldn't pay much over $100 for a working one though and like many HPs of the era they have the issue of the Dallas NVRAM/RTC time bomb. Hard for me to recommend one over the Rigol for someone who just needs a scope unless the budget simply doesn't allow it.

Something to consider when thinking about one of those big old logic analyzers is that you can spend a lot of money on a complete set of probes if it doesn't already come with them. Also it takes up a lot of space and has limited capture memory. I like my old HP1660 and use it occasionally but for most people a small USB logic analyzer makes sense. I do use mine for vintage arcade board repair but I use my scopes a lot more.