General > General Technical Chat
The Rigol DS1052E
Simon:
--- Quote from: TrentO on October 29, 2009, 11:31:22 pm ---flolic-- no vacuum cleaner, roger that. I just left it for now and put it back together. It still works. ;D
I just used it to troubleshoot my Tektronix 2445.
I'll take it apart again for close-ups of the analog front-end, probably tonight.
I wouldn't worry about the EMS tracking thing-- It's total B.S.-- according to the USPS shipping label on the box, they got it an hour-and-a-half after it reached customs. EMS claims that customs held on to it for three days. I think someone at EMS is behind on the manual data entry.
It all worked out, but they're definitely not a FedEx, UPS, DHL, or even USPS.
Now actually having done something with it-- the fan is definitely noisy-- more so than most PC's, except for those on hi-flow-gamer CPU's. I'm also a big fan (no pun intended) of the "Modern" color-scheme/skin. And it's FAST!
Speaking of hi-flow-gamer CPU's/PC's-- I was thinking about changing that clock crystal to a 200Mhz one, and liquid-cooling that sucker....
-Trent
--- End quote ---
Likewise mine suposedly spent 3 days in customs in the UK yea right but this end was "out for delivery" on thursday night ! but did not get it till the monday... we were having postal striles here in the uk. I still say that a metal sheild around the supply would not go amiss, like others said its a great scope but clearly a CHEAP build
TrentO:
--- Quote from: flolic on October 30, 2009, 07:15:34 am ---Vacuum cleaner is ineffective, can cause ESD damage and you can very easily tear off some small SMT component if you accidentally touch PCB.
OTOH compressed air is joy to use, especially if it is from bigger size unit (that portable "briefcase" size air compressors without tank is no-go...). Canned air can be used too, but is not that effective as the real stuff.
--- End quote ---
I recall, "back in the day," when I used to install/maintain telco equipment, that we had an 3M ESD-safe vacuum cleaner that was kinda pricey for something that simply sucked air... A single replacement filter was more than a single day's pay-- that unit was supposedly useful for cleaning board-level stuff without fear of zapping anything.
I'm leaving my Rigol 'as-is' to remind me to buy the LeCroy or Tektronix O-scope next time.
GeekGirl:
--- Quote from: TrentO on October 31, 2009, 08:07:20 am ---
I'm leaving my Rigol 'as-is' to remind me to buy the LeCroy or Tektronix O-scope next time.
--- End quote ---
Shhhhhsssss, you will start us all drooling mentioning the L word ;)
TrentO:
I just took delivery of a used Tektronix TDS-220, from a shady-looking character on eBay.
After having spent the last hour-or-so playing with it... I then decided to TAKE IT APAHT!
Initial observations, versus the Rigol DS-1052E--
1. The TDS-220 is a noticeably lighter-- maybe 2/3's the weight of the Rigol. Light is good. But my anxiety over losing either unit to a fall off-of my bench is high. (I have a hole pre-dug in my backyard just in case the cat knocks it over.)
2. The Rigol actually feels sturdier and more solid than the Tektronix.
3. The spinning action of the dials actually feel better on the Rigol, especially with the tactile 'bumps' on the v/div knobs.
4. The knobs themselves are better on the Tektronix-- the Rigol knobs are all a little off-axis, which causes the spin to be off-axis. (Shitty molding-job on the knobs-- the rotary encoders are good units.)
5. Color display on the Rigol, versus monochrome on the Tektronix-- I would choose color, of course! Much easier on the eyes.
6. Teeny-tiny sample depth on the Tektronix. Massive sample depth on the Rigol, but you need to navigate a menu to activate it.
7. Back-lit buttons on the Rigol, not lit on the Tektronix. Excellent for low-light environments. However, I find the bright-red run/stop button, when stopped, to be very annoying. It's simply too bright.
8. No relays clicking (ever) on the Tektronix. Better for those days when you decide to work on your electronics projects in bed, without fear of waking your spouse.
9. More dedicated buttons on the Tektronix, in more 'traditional' locations. I did not have to read the manual to understand the basic operation of the Tektronix-- function is very much like the CRT analog oscilloscopes of yore. It took a fair amount of time to understand the Rigol-- a lot of nested menus.
10. USB-stick and USB-pc interface on the Rigol-- No challenge here-- advantage definitely Rigol.
11. NO output on my 'new' Tektronix-- I don't have the interface module.
12. The Rigol is faster on the display and menu navigation. However, there is less need to use the menus on the Tektronix... So in use, the Tektronix is faster and more convenient (for me.)
14. There appears to be MORE noise on the low v/div on the Tektronix than the Rigol. (Take that, Simon!)
15. Better rubber feet on the Tektronix-- My Rigol has harder rubber feet that don't grip very well. It slides-around more readily.
Observations after taking it apart--
1. The design is more efficient on the Tektronix--very little shielding in use, far less cluttered mainboard.
2. Although the interior plastic on the Tektronix is metalized, there is no over-all metal shielding-can like the rigol.
3. As expected, the build quality is higher on the Tektronix-- built by techs with cotton gloves, no after-the-fact soldering, no fingerprints, etc. In fact, my used Tektronix looks cleaner and newer on the inside that my new Rigol!
4. Much easier to take apart the Tektronix, than the Rigol-- less than a minute for the Tektronix, more than 1/2-hour (the first time) for the Rigol.
5. Better hardware, better materials on the Tektronix, but the Tektronix but it feels like an older design-- like the difference between a high-end VHS-VCR versus a cheap Blue-Ray player.
6. No rust after 7+ years on the Tektronix, but the shielding (edges) are already rusting on the new Rigol.
7. MOST IMPORTANTLY-- no loud-ass fan on the Tektronix.
--- End quote ---
So Trent's final analysis--
1. Advantage Rigol 1052E! For all of its faults, $400 US ain't bad, especially for all those great features!
2. HOWEVER-- what I'll probably end-up using more-- the Tektronix TDS-220, because-- 1.) it's SILENT, and I wouldn't have to clean it like I do with my PC's every year; 2.) it's more convenient to use, especially for quick measurements, where I don't need to document the results of my tests.
3. What I'd actually tell other EE-types (and EE-groupie chicks) I use-- the Tektronix TDS-220. The intrinsic confidence is higher with the Tektronix. I would never tell the guys at the EE-Peninsula Club (downtown) that I actually own a Rigol.
4. IF I could only have ONE, I would probably choose the Rigol 1052E.... Or ditch both and get a new LeCroy WaveAce 212. ;)
-Trent
Simon:
you confirm my impression of the rigol, very good for the money but built cheaply, I suppose as always the move from analogue to digital is a bumpy one and not as straight foward as I would have hoped. but remember if for the sake of a bit more shielding it could have been better its a pity they didn't for another tenner,
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