Electronics > Beginners
Is An Oscilloscope Practical
<< < (6/15) > >>
alsetalokin4017:
Well, the answer is "it depends". That is, the most "bang for buck" in your price range would appear to be the Rigol DS1054z 4 channel, hacked to enable all options plus the 100 MHz bandwidth. But perhaps that is really "too much" bang. For instance I probably only use half or even fewer of the total feature set of my 1054, and I use the heck out of it for all kinds of things both hobby and semi-professional. In the latter role it has paid for itself several times over.

But maybe you only actually "need" something like the Analog Discovery mentioned earlier or another USB style scope that uses your laptop as the user interface. You could get something like the basic Hantek USB thingy for under 100 dollars, even including probes. Then when you realize you actually need some more capability for a particular project .... well, perhaps it's better to have the capability in a tool and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

alsetalokin4017:
4 channels or two? (Don't even consider a single channel scope unless someone gives it to you free, alongside a 2ch unit.)

Well, one may very rarely need 3 or 4 channels, or 3 with external trigger. But if you don't have them... it doesn't really matter whether you need them or not, you are "SOL" as they say.

Separate vertical controls for each channel, or just one set, selectable for which channel? OK.... if you rarely use 3 or 4 channels, why have their controls always there, cluttering up the panel space? Well, the extra channel encoders can always be viewed as spares, so when CH1 controls wear out you can swap the encoders for #4 over.... yeah OK that'll work.
jazper:
You can spend $50 for a used analogue scope and it will let you see sinewaves.

You can spend $100 for a USB scope

You can spend $250 or so on a two channel scope

You can spend $300-350 (maybe less with a 20% eBay deal or something) on a 1054z with 4 channels

You can spend $500 on a siglent 1104x-e

You decide what you want.

I would go a 4 channel over a 2 channel any day of the week, I would go for higher frequency if it fits in my budget. 4 channels has gotten me out of trouble a few times.

The siglent 1202, 1104 and the rigol 1054z are all good scopes. Ultimately it comes down to your budget
tautech:

--- Quote from: tvl on January 04, 2019, 03:39:15 am ---For what it is worth:

1- I really would rather not "hack" something to gain better features. Paying makes more sense, but it also increases the cost of the Rigol DS1054z

2- From what I've read, I had thought the Siglent SDS1202X-E received the best reviews when compared to the Rigol DS1054z

--- End quote ---
It has better specs and better features but always with 2 less channels. If you’re adamant you won’t need 4 channels it’s a good choice and yes there are cheaper options from Siglent but their specs are much lower than X-E’s and the reason why I don’t stock them.
Many members here are pretty happy with what the SDS1202X-E offers.
rstofer:

--- Quote from: tvl on January 04, 2019, 03:39:15 am ---For what it is worth:

1- I really would rather not "hack" something to gain better features. Paying makes more sense, but it also increases the cost of the Rigol DS1054z

--- End quote ---
There is no 'hack' about it!  The device was manufactured with the capability to switch between 50 MHz and 100 MHz.  The other options were always turned on by entering a code.  All that happens is somebody figured out how to derive the various option codes.  I prefer to think of it as 'unlocking' because the capabilities are already there.

Nevertheless, it's fair to take the DS1054Z off the table.

--- Quote ---
2- From what I've read, I had thought the Siglent SDS1202X-E received the best reviews when compared to the Rigol DS1054z

--- End quote ---

The Siglent is a couple of years newer and the UI is reported to work a lot better.  In short, the SDS1202X-E is the only credible scope in your price range still on the table.  Not a bad choice either!

Be careful of any Rigol review more than about a year old.  Rigol had teething pains (as has Siglent) and it took a few iterations of the firmware to get the problems resolved.  Doesn't matter, Rigol is off the table and Siglent is the last scope standing.
Navigation
Message Index
Next page
Previous page
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...

Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod