Agilent CertiPrime MSO7034B or MSOX3054A

[djsb]

I've just had a best offer bid accepted on an MSOX3054A Certiprime Scope on Ebay. I haven't paid for it yet but my dilema is that I have found a MSO7034B that is cheaper but slightly less bandwidth.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Agilent-CertiPrime-MSO7034B-Mixed-Signal-Oscilloscope-/170708357047?pt=BI_Oscilloscopes&hash=item27bf02cfb7

 I'm sure I can try to cancel the purchase and buy the MSO7034B (or at least try). Which one should I go for? I like the bigger screen and the 7034B appears to offer the same options (but but at around £1k for the upgrades as against £500 for the 3054)
The 7034 does not have the 1M sample update as far as I can tell.
Help, which one do I choose?

David.

[tom66]

According to eBay rules, you can't cancel a best offer if the seller accepts...

[KTP]

The 150mhz extra bandwidth of the 3054 is pretty huge.

The 3054 has a higher wfps (1Mil vs 100K)

The 3054 has a higher sample rate (4GS/2GS on the 3054 vs 2GS on the 7034)

The 3054 has better peak detect (250ps on 3054, 500ps on 7034)

The 7034B has a bigger screen, xga out standard (I think), higher capture memory...but other upgrades cost quite a bit more.

The 3054 is one generation newer tech, and possibly will get more firmware love than the 7000.

I think you will be very happy with the 3054 but the 7034 is nice too.  The $8K price on the 3054 with a 3 year warranty was quite a bargain

[EEVblog]

The 150mhz extra bandwidth of the 3054 is pretty huge.

Agreed.

The 3054 has a higher wfps (1Mil vs 100K)

Yes, it should be a faster scope all-round I suspect.

The 3054 has a higher sample rate (4GS/2GS on the 3054 vs 2GS on the 7034)

That's important for better HiRes mode operation.

The 3054 is one generation newer tech, and possibly will get more firmware love than the 7000.

Yes, likely.

The 7034B has a bigger screen, xga out standard (I think), higher capture memory...but other upgrades cost quite a bit more.

The screen is the major draw-card here really + the extra memory.
Great for MSO work, but otherwise maybe does not outweigh the other stuff?

The 3000 also has the WaveGen option. Not high-spec, but ever so useful.

The 7000 has LAN/VGA standard. Does the 3000 has the LAN/VGA module installed?

Dave.

[djsb]

No LAN/VGA or other options installed. I am going to ask if the wavegen option is turned on but as it's a refurbished model probably not.
I'll go with the one I've won on Ebay. Lower upgrade prices than the 7000 series and they might introduce a USB option in the future. Can the 3054 be upgraded to 1GHz later on?
Just have to wait until the end of October for delivery and then I have to pay over £1K in VAT and customs charges. They do cost £8K + VAT new on Farnell's website so I've saved SOME money.

David.

[KTP]

One place where the 7034 seems to seriously beat the 3054 is in the digital section:

3054 digital:

Maximum sample rate 1 GSa/s; 1.25 GSa/s (1 GHz models)
Maximum record length 1 Mpts per channel standard, max 1.25 GSa/s for the 1 GHz model (with digital channels only)
2 Mpts per channel with DSOX3MEMUP memory upgrade option(with digital channels only)
Minimum detectable pulse width 5 ns
Channel-to-channel skew 2 ns (typical); 3 ns (maximum)

7034 digital:

Sample rate 2 GSa/sec one pod**, 1 GSa/sec each pod
Maximum input frequency 250 MHz
Maximum memory depth One pod/both pods (with scope channels turned off) Standard 8 Mpts/4 Mpts
One pod/both pods (with scope channels turned on) Standard 2.5 Mpts/ 1.25 Mpts
Glitch detection 2 ns (min pulse width)

[EEVblog]

Can the 3054 be upgraded to 1GHz later on?

Yes, Agilent are doing this for my scope. But it's a complete motherboard swap (presumably new 1GHz front end + maybe faster ADC or something. No idea how much it costs.
But then you are into expensive active probe territory anyway, as the passive probes only go to 500MHz.

Dave.

[djsb]

I notice that there is a new 1GHz model on sale now

http://www.agilent.aspen-electronics.com/msox3104a

Maybe the mainboard is from that new model. I hope that there is an upgrade path at some point in the future. May not need it or ever use  the extra bandwith but it's nice to have the choice.

Anyway I'm on bread and water for the next few years so will have to make do.

David.

[mikeselectricstuff]

The other factor to consider is whether the 7034B firmware still has the same oversight re. trial licenses as the 5000/6000. A 7000 pimped out with all the decoders, segmented memory, mask test etc. would be rather better value than the 3054..!

[djsb]

I don't understand what you mean about trial licenses. I agree about a fully pimped out 7000 series being better value if one could be found used on ebay in a few years time. Certiprime are charging £1K for each option upgrade on the 7000 series but around £500 on the 3000 when you buy a refurbished scope. I dont like it that I will have to pay more later for some options. But I suppose that business.

David

[mikeselectricstuff]

I don't understand what you mean about trial licenses. I agree about a fully pimped out 7000 series being better value if one could be found used on ebay in a few years time. Certiprime are charging £1K for each option upgrade on the 7000 series but around £500 on the 3000 when you buy a refurbished scope. I dont like it that I will have to pay more later for some options. But I suppose that business.

David

On the 5000 and 6000 (so presumably the 7000, not sure if the B version has changed anything) the free trial licenses have an end date but no start date, so you can install them and wind the clock back so they last forever. Even if they expire you can reset the clock and reinstall them.

A these are old models, it is unlikely there will be much in any new firmware update worth having, so even if they 'fix' it there is no reason to upgrade.
 
So for as long as the free trials continue, buying an old model means you can have all the options for free.

[djsb]

It's arrived all the way from Penang in Malaysia via Amsterdam! Just got to unbox it and find somewhere to put it.
I'll detail the full cost if anyone is interested. It's been delivered by DHL Global Forwarding and is packed in a strong box with fibreglass tape applied to the box edges.
I'll unpack it over the weekend. Please let me know if you would like any photo's (don't know why as it will be identical to the one reviewed by Dave).

David.

PS I forgot to mention it's the MSOX3054A I've bought.

[member_xyz]

David,

Please keep posting your experience with 7000.

I am currently considering purchasing used 7000 MSO scope.

If possible please advise what price discount did you get.

Thx
John

[Smalldog]

I was in this same boat, except I was looking at the MSO7014B instead of the MSO7034B.

I ended up getting the MSOX3054A (http://www.ebay.com/itm/181197633883) with a $5,000 best offer.  I was hoping to avoid sales tab, but that was an extra $405.  I wonder how much lower I could have gone with best offer.  The higher bandwidth isn't important right now, but could be in the future.

Has anyone bought one of these Certiprime pieces of equipment and it had extra options installed that were not listed?  Next step is to spend $800 on the "ultimate scope" bundle to get everything unlocked (I really only care about SIP, I2C and UART, so everything else is a bonus) and get the DSOXLAN module to get VGA and network capabilities.

For anyone that has the DSOXLAN module, what resolution does it put video out at?  Just trying to gauge if I should get a new monitor or if a 19" will suffice.

Thanks,
Smalldog

[djsb]

I'm still waiting for the "Ultimate scope bundle" to launch in the UK. I was told (by Agilent contactcentre) it would be the 1st March. Still waiting.

David.

[AndyC_772]

You can get the bundle easily enough:

http://uk.farnell.com/agilent-technologies/dsox3appbndl/application-bundle-3000-x-oscilloscope/dp/2408589?Ntt=dsox3app

http://www.agilent.aspen-electronics.com/dsox3appbndl

When I bought my MSOX3054A last year I just contacted Agilent and asked for the extra options I wanted. They worked out at about half price, which of course was great for the time, so I ordered a bunch of them. Of course, if I'd known the bundle was going to be released then maybe I'd have held back on a few - but as it turns out I've put them to good use in the meantime, so it's no big deal.

The LAN/VGA module produces 640x480 IIRC. You certainly don't need a new monitor for it - I had a dirt cheap s/h 17" LCD screen off Ebay which I used for my old Tek TDS654D, and that was perfectly adequate. The Agilent's screen is big, bright and clear enough that I don't really use the video output at all any more, though the network port is handy for screen captures as it's quicker than using USB.

[djsb]

Thanks Andy,

David.

[Smalldog]

Since the 2000, 3000 and 4000 series of scopes are now just over 3 years old, is the "ultimate scope" bundle just a last chance cash grab by Agilent before phasing them out in favor of whatever Keysight Technologies is going to come out with?

Thoughts?

Smalldog

[AndyC_772]

Probably, yes.

Does that make it bad in any way?

[Smalldog]

Probably not, unless the next model is cheaper and has more features .  But makes me wonder if they're trying to move out the remaining inventory.

I am hoping to grow into the scope, so for me, I feel it's money well spent. 

Smalldog