Electronics > Beginners
When to buy an oscilloscope ?
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rstofer:

--- Quote from: spec on January 12, 2019, 02:54:57 pm ---Why did I say to delay as long as possible? The fundamental reason is that with high-tech products the performance keeps improving and the price keeps dropping. Not only that, but today's red-hot product will be available on the second hand market for a much reduced price within a year or so. Of course, you can take this philosophy to the extreme and never buy anything (I still havent got a new car). :)

--- End quote ---

And this results in "analysis paralysis".  Of course something else is coming down the line.  The questions are:  "When is it coming?" and "Will I be able to afford it?".  A side issue is: "What do I do in the meantime?".

On the low end, Rigol and Siglent have it pretty well covered.  There is no reason for them to create a product that competes with the ones I have because, for the entry level, they're not going to put out the highest tech at that level and wipe out their higher level scope sales.  I think we are about teched out for a while.

In the end, drive  a stake in the ground!  This much money and no more!  These minimum features and no less!  Then buy something while realizing that it is the first scope, probably not the last scope.  There will be evolution just as in the PC industry and how many generations of PCs have we gone through since 1980?
StillTrying:

--- Quote from: GilbouFR on January 12, 2019, 11:48:24 am ---I have been checking for models to buy and it seems the Rigol DS1054Z is the way to go, it's about 430 euro.
But I am wondering about a cheaper one that has only 2 channels, the Siglent SDS1052DL at 290 euro or even the HANTEK DSO5102P at 300.
--- End quote ---

Don't buy a low-res LCD, and don't buy a DL+ or CML+ either!
If you're not too bothered about budget the Siglent X-E's look good value to me.


--- Quote ---But I'm wondering if I should buy something and put it on my lab desk when I'm not going (maybe ?) to use it for some time.
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No, wait until you need it.
rstofer:
So, if you bought it early, you could come up with a 555 astable oscillator of variable frequency which you could use as a signal source.  Then you could learn how to use the scope before you actually needed to.

Now, cash flow is always a consideration but if that is relatively unimportant at the moment, look through the scope discussions that come up about every week.  There are 3 or 4 entry level scopes:

Rigol DS1054Z         => a more mature design with 4 channels upgraded to 100 MHz (bugs are fixed)
Siglent SDS1102X-E => a newer 2 channel 100 MHz scope
Siglent SDS1104X-E => a newer 4 channel 100 MHz scope that can be upgraded to 200 MHz
Siglent SDS1204X-E => a newer 4 channel 200 MHz scope - identical to upgraded SDS1104X-E but more expensive

Those are the currently discussed entry level scopes.  There are other players and I'm not going to chase USB scopes down a rathole.  Those above are capable 'real' scopes.

You can also research 2 channels versus 4 channels pretty easy because it is argued all the time.  If you go into microcontrollers, you will appreciate 4 channels.  If you play with audio, it won't matter.

Just use a 9V battery:

http://www.circuitstoday.com/variable-frequency-oscillator
Brumby:

--- Quote from: FakeDave on January 13, 2019, 02:08:34 am ---Thank you for reminding me that I should do a lot more learning/fooling around with my analog scope before I start combing through Ebay for a DSO.  :-+

--- End quote ---

Excellent approach.

It is my opinion that it is better to know what it is you want in any purchase before parting with the cash and playing around with that type of product is, perhaps, one of the best ways to do so.

Play with your analogue scope and find out what it can do.  Along the way you will find out what it can't do.  This is where you start making a list of the features you want - and what specifications/level of sophistication you will need in these features.  This is where you begin "window shopping" and getting a feel for what is actually available in the market.  This list will get refined the closer you get to actually needing some of these features - and that's when you start planning which direction your pennies will actually be sent.


As stated above, premature purchasing will probably deliver you a product that will be exciting when you unbox it, but by the time you need its features, it will likely represent an expensive investment in an underpowered feature set.


In short - it's always best to know what it is you want before you go out and get something.

Edit: typo
spec:

--- Quote from: rstofer on January 12, 2019, 11:05:41 pm ---In the end, drive  a stake in the ground!  This much money and no more!  These minimum features and no less!  Then buy something while realizing that it is the first scope, probably not the last scope.  There will be evolution just as in the PC industry and how many generations of PCs have we gone through since 1980?

--- End quote ---
And this results in buying a product that you may regret. It is much better to take you time and get a scope that you will be happy with for years. Buy wise and buy once is the saying.
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