Thanks for the insight echen1024. The specs are one thing, but the user experience with the gear can be something else. What is the sacrifice with only 100Kpts of memory compared with 14Mpts? Is it really just the ability to capture more of the waveform and analyze it later, or is there more to it than that?
Len
- Educational Pricing; I've heard rumours on these forums that Agilent offers student pricing (a discount of ~ 30% or so). If this is the case it could certainly tip in the favour of the Agilent scopes (As I am a University Student). Has anyone had any success getting educational discounts on Agilent products in Australia?
Cost of the Agilent came down to USD 1,572, so it is very comparable to the Rigol now. I am seriously thinking about getting it. After I use it for a while (hobby use...) I can decide if the USD 200 additional for the 1Mpt memory upgrade is worth it or not.
I found an interesting video on the Agilent memory upgrade that answers my earlier question. I was thinking only in terms of captured waveforms for later analysis and not scope performance. Martin Lorton (mjlorton on You Tube) shows some very cool performance numbers before and after his 1 Mpts upgrade. The real value of the increased memory is that the sample rate is orders of magnitude better at the slower time bases. Here is a link to Martin's video showing the performance comparison. If (when?) I get the Agilent, I will certainly get the memory upgrade.
http://youtu.be/Dts-9nRH87s
- Educational Pricing; I've heard rumours on these forums that Agilent offers student pricing (a discount of ~ 30% or so). If this is the case it could certainly tip in the favour of the Agilent scopes (As I am a University Student). Has anyone had any success getting educational discounts on Agilent products in Australia?
- 2Ch to 4Ch upgrades ... Dave's review of the Agilent DSOX2000 series gave the impression that you could upgrade the 2ch to the 4ch via a software licence, but the pictures I see of the 2 channel scopes don't even have the knobs or BNC connectors for the 4 channels. Can anyone confirm whether the 2 channel is upgradable to the 4 channel?
- Waveform updates, Agilent raves about having 50 thousand waveform updates per second. Doesn't the Rigol do this too? The 100Kpoints standard memory in the Agilent seems a little mean compared to Rigol's 14Mpoints.
- Signal Generator, Does the Agilent come with this as standard? I wasn't going to bother with the Rigol as a standalone generator could be bought for ~$400 anyway.
- Overall feel and build, Dave gives both the Agilent and the Rigol top marks for build quality and feel, but is the Agilent noticeably better in any way? I do like the look of the exterior of the Agilent a little more than I like the Rigols, but this is really a minor consideration!
Thanks for your insights, Senf. I decided on and ordered the Agilent DSOX 2022A today. One deciding factor was the 'light up all the options for the price of one' that is announced for April availability. Since the memory upgrade is included that I would have bought anyway, it really made sense for me to take this route. I have never had a good signal generator before, so that is a real bonus for me. Do you know offhand how long the 'try it before you buy it' licenses are for? Even though I am sure that I will get them, it would be nice to take everything for a spin first.
Yeah, the trial-license lasts for 30 days and they are not pre-activated, so you can get to know your scope first and then activate the trial later.
On top of that, you can get an additional 30 day trial code for each individual function.
Oh, and congratulations on your new puppy
I think that for the price you paid, the 2004 with the bandwidth upgrade is a better choice due to the fact that 4 channels is much more useful than slightly higher bandwidth.
Yeah, the trial-license lasts for 30 days and they are not pre-activated, so you can get to know your scope first and then activate the trial later.
On top of that, you can get an additional 30 day trial code for each individual function.
Oh, and congratulations on your new puppy
Thanks Senf, that sounds very cool! That will also allow my credit card to cool off a bit before dropping another $500 US...I think that for the price you paid, the 2004 with the bandwidth upgrade is a better choice due to the fact that 4 channels is much more useful than slightly higher bandwidth.
Well, that is a pretty big statement to make without knowing my requirements for the scope... For me, the additional $643 for the extra two channels (nearly half again as much as the 2 channel price) is not value add. For some folks it certainly would be the way to go.
There is no search function at Rigol scopes.
A 14Mpoints memory without search capability is not much useful.
Agilent offers search for serial decoded data at DSOX2000.
Well, that is a pretty big statement to make without knowing my requirements for the scope... For me, the additional $643 for the extra two channels (nearly half again as much as the 2 channel price) is not value add.
...the trial-license lasts for 30 days and they are not pre-activated, so you can get to know your scope first and then activate the trial later.
Agilent:
+Wavegen comes in handy at times
Well, that is a pretty big statement to make without knowing my requirements for the scope... For me, the additional $643 for the extra two channels (nearly half again as much as the 2 channel price) is not value add.
You can buy a 4CH Rigol 1000Z for less than that! That would give you 6 channels, or 5 channels if you synced the triggering.
Puts it into perspective...