Products > Test Equipment

Are 'premium' scope brands still justified?

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MarkL:

--- Quote from: KungFuJosh on April 13, 2024, 09:23:27 pm ---
--- Quote from: AndyC_772 on April 13, 2024, 09:02:53 pm ---I don't think I've ever - and I mean *ever*, in 10+ years of daily professional use - come across a bug in my MSO-X3104A. Whatever and wherever they may be, they're minor and obscure enough not to be an issue at all. That's a phenomenal achievement.

--- End quote ---

You can review their bug fix lists for each firmware release in their log: https://www.keysight.com/us/en/assets/9924-01108/release-notes/Keysight-2000A-3000A-X-Series-Oscilloscope-Release-Notes-02-66.pdf?success=true

Some of those bugs would be critical for some users. But they fixed them, as expected of any quality brand. A slightly more critical hardware bug: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/msox3104a-fails-to-boot/

--- End quote ---
I've submitted at least a half dozen bugs on my MSO-X3104A over the last 12 years I've been using it.  They've all been fixed at this point, but only two of them showed up in the Release Notes and one of them (not listed) took almost 3 years.  My point being, don't read too much about quality into the small list of fixed bugs in the Release Notes.

joeqsmith:

--- Quote from: Martin72 on April 15, 2024, 10:07:23 pm ---...
If I remember correctly, joeqsmith has a WavePro, albeit an older one, at the start.
From my own experience, I know that anything less than a 2000X HD wouldn't make sense.
Actually nothing under an SDS6000*.
And if, like me, he appreciates the multi-grid function of a Lecroy, then not even that.
...

--- End quote ---

Had an old WavePro 7300 at the house to upgrade to XP a few years ago.  Nice scope.  A bit overkill for my general purpose use.

Indeed,  I do like the multi-display.   For that matter, I like the way these old scope drive in general.   

KungFuJosh:

--- Quote from: MarkL on April 15, 2024, 11:37:42 pm ---I've submitted at least a half dozen bugs on my MSO-X3104A over the last 12 years I've been using it.  They've all been fixed at this point, but only two of them showed up in the Release Notes and one of them (not listed) took almost 3 years.  My point being, don't read too much about quality into the small list of fixed bugs in the Release Notes.

--- End quote ---

My post wasn't specifically about quality, but a track record of making bug fixes, even when some people think their scope might be bug free. Also that they do fix bugs, which not all brands are good about.

joeqsmith:

--- Quote from: joeqsmith on April 15, 2024, 10:02:18 pm ---I do have the WaveMaster which is rated for 5G 20Gs.  Also my first DSO which is 4G BW but RIS only.   I wouldn't mind having a newer scope that ups the BW with 40Gs but even in the used market, I doubt I would swing it. 

--- End quote ---

Thinking of high speed, I should have mentioned that SJL provided me with one of their 4-channel pocket oscilloscopes which they spec for 6G.   Tr measures close to 35ps.  Like my first DSO, it is also a sampling design (requires a repetitive signal).  SJL continues to develop the software/firmware/hardware and the scope has greatly improved since I first received it.   There are other oddities due to the architecture which further limit it's use, but if you are looking for a low cost solution to look at say 2-state digital signals,  it may be a good fit.   It's a well made product.     

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/pocket-sized-6-ghz-1-tss-et-scope/

Performa01:
From the Siglent catalog, I would recommend the SDS3000X HD – even though I don’t have one myself, but @2N3055 can comment on it. Reasons are that it is a midrange instrument with all the goodies that one might expect, and it is 12 bits and provides fast gigabit ethernet on top of that. Furthermore, since you want 500 MHz bandwidth, this instrument can easily deliver it on all four channels at the same time.

My current darling MSO is the SDS2504X HD, partly because it is almost inaudible, yet it can handle 500 MHz (570 actually) only in half channel mode, i.e. only 2 channels on different ADCs active. It also lacks some midrange features like an active probe interface. That’s why I’d recommend the SDS3000X HD.

The SDS6000A is great in principle, but also a bit older and it was a co-development with LeCroy. All this shows also in the 100 Mbps Ethernet interface and the fact that even though it has four 12-bit ADCs, it can only be sold as 8-bit version outside of China. And there is also no way hacking it, because ADC calibration is only for 8 bits.

Evaluating an 800X HD series at first might be an option indeed. Sure, it is a different class, but most seasoned engineers tend to conclude that this little thing might compare well in certain areas against the scope they have used so far and it’s only missing the obvious midrange goodies, like bigger screen with higher resolution, active probe interface, higher bandwidth and sample rate. Those who aren’t familiar with LeCroy, might even discover new analytical capabilities, even though (especially) the 800 series lacks quite a bit in this regard when compared to the 2000 or higher series.

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