Products > Test Equipment
Best Oscilloscope under $300?
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Aldo22:

--- Quote from: mwb1100 on February 21, 2024, 08:52:18 pm ---I’m not sure I should be suggesting the following since I have never used one and there have been a number of complaints on eevblog about it, but for its price it seems like something that could be considered as a beginner scope:  the Hantek DSO2D10.  Also the review posts aren’t always 100% negative - and it seems that there’s a lot of help available on eevblog too.

You can get one on Amazon for $200 (after an 8%off coupon is applied by checking a box).  It also comes with a signal generator which would be useful in school labs.

--- End quote ---

If you want to buy a Hantek DSO2X1X, then take the cheapest DSO2C10, they are all the same in terms of hardware. I got mine for $130 and it's worth that.
There are a few flaws, but you still get a hell of a lot for the money.
Lots of features. I'd actually recommend it for learning oscilloscopes.
If you just want to learn electronics and just want the scope to work without having to deal with it too much, it might not be the best.
But the price is an unbeatable argument. You can always buy a more expensive one later, once you've got an idea of what it's all about and what you really need.
You can't even get a decent "boat anchor" for this price here.
tggzzz:

--- Quote from: baldurn on February 21, 2024, 06:09:28 pm ---
--- Quote from: tggzzz on February 21, 2024, 04:47:32 pm ---I wonder how we managed with digital signals before digitising scopes were available? Oh yes, we made the stimulus repeatable (always and still a good idea for many many reasons!) or used a analogue storage scope (horrible things :) !)

Where that isn't possible, use a scope to look at the analogue waveforms to ensure they will be correctly interpreted as digital signals (i.e. signal integrity). Then, for digital signals, flip to the digital domain with very inexpensive logic analysers or use a protocol analyser such as a bus pirate.

--- End quote ---

I am not saying that it is a problem to work with the old tech. But unless your interest lies specifically in learning how things was done in the past, I am arguing that the beginner is better of using a modern entry level DSO from a reputable vendor (and specifically the Rigol DHO800 or Siglent SDS800X HD). Those instruments are not perfect, but good enough to avoid most surprises and with a good range of features. It is something you will be able to keep for many years before possibly outgrowing the instrument.

Older A brand instruments may also be good options. The problem is that the beginner has no way to know if he is getting a good deal or not. There is a lot of overpriced and outdated stuff out there.

I am advising against going too cheap. The new stuff that is significantly cheaper than the before mentioned Rigol and Siglent is often "too cheap". If you are on a budget and need to make ends meet, I would say you need to go the used route. Yes that might even include an old CRO, because any instruments is better than no instrument.

--- End quote ---

We more or less agree, but...

I don't think a beginner should be concentrating on learning any tool. They should be concentrating on the operation of their electronic circuit. Tools change with monotonous regularity; physics lasts a lifetime :)

If budget is an issue, then old scopes are virtually free nowadays. Provided they are working, they will enable a beginner to learn a hell of a lot, and when their capabilities have been exhausted throwing it away will only "lose" $20 or so! At that point the beginner will know what they need and can ensure their next instrument (scope or otherwise) is suitable.

And for the price of a new Rigol etc, you can get an extremely capable older scope plus a logic analyser plus.... (Major exception: capturing single shot events),

BTW I'm glad nobody is suggesting digitizing scope that were low end professional scopes before, say, 2010. Those digitizing scopes are uniformly awful (capture depth, aliasing, etc).
mwb1100:

--- Quote from: Aldo22 on February 21, 2024, 09:29:07 pm ---If you want to buy a Hantek DSO2X1X, then take the cheapest DSO2C10, they are all the same in terms of hardware.

--- End quote ---
Cheapest I can find (admittedly not an extensive search) was $150.  The sig gen isn't "included" with the DSO2C10, but my understanding is that the sig gen hardware is sometimes (often?) installed and can be enabled with a bit of hacking.

You are right to point out that model and the fact that there are vendors cheaper than Amazon.
Aldo22:

--- Quote from: mwb1100 on February 21, 2024, 10:47:18 pm ---Cheapest I can find (admittedly not an extensive search) was $150. 

--- End quote ---

I bought mine in a christmas promotion.
I think $150 is still okay, but I wouldn't pay much more. There should be a reasonable difference to the price range of a Rigol or Siglent, which are of course higher quality (I assume).


--- Quote from: mwb1100 on February 21, 2024, 10:47:18 pm ---The sig gen isn't "included" with the DSO2C10, but my understanding is that the sig gen hardware is sometimes (often?) installed and can be enabled with a bit of hacking.

--- End quote ---

Yes, I think nowadays you have to be very unlucky if you get one without the AWG hardware.
I wouldn't even call it "hacking". It's very simple and safe.

The scope has so many features, it's like a book on oscilloscopes. You open a new chapter every day.  :-+
I find it suitable for beginners, not for professionals.
Muxr:

--- Quote from: MT on February 21, 2024, 08:45:06 pm ---Anyone who buys 2ch scopes today dont know what they are doing and should instead become a nurse or something.

--- End quote ---
I don't think this is as big of a handicap. Like what percentage of times do you really use more than 2 channels? Half the time I'm too lazy to setup 3+ probes on the scope, I just move the probe if I need to see another signal. And with digital scopes you can store the traces if you need to compare things. And with all the triggering options available you can get the similar result.

Like sure 4ch is nice, and everyone should probably get a 4ch scope as it doesn't cost too much to get the extra 2ch. But if budget doesn't permit, 2ch will be absolutely fine.

I dunno, maybe because I started on a 2ch scope, I learned to work around the limitation, but I certainly would be fine with a 2ch scope, if that meant I can also buy a decent multimiter or another piece of important equipment needed to start my hobby lab.
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