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Buying a scope for measuring RF waveforms

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Mike99:
Dear experts

I'm a radio amateur and my main use for a scope is to measure AF and RF waveforms up to 50MHz. I rarely need to examine logic waveforms.

I currently have a venerable Tektronix 2340A which does the job but is big, heavy and noisy and I'd like to replace it with something new.

I'm only a couple of miles from a major UK supplier of test equipment, including Siglent, Rigol and Micsig scopes, and the Siglent SDS 1202X-E is looking attractive. I only need 2 channels and don't want to spend more than £400.

Not being a scope expert I'd like to hear your opinions on whether this will suit my requirements.

Thanks!

Mike

tszaboo:
What's the reason you would want an oscilloscope for such a job, instead of a spectrum analyzer? That's usually not the right job for that task, even if it has FFT, the signal levels for a scope is much higher, the dynamic range is much lower, you don't have 50 Ohm termination on the low frequency scopes, the input capacitance is high and so on. I would guess even an SDR would be better, or a low cost spectrum analyzer.

tggzzz:

--- Quote from: Mike99 on November 01, 2023, 10:37:14 am ---I'm a radio amateur and my main use for a scope is to measure AF and RF waveforms up to 50MHz. I rarely need to examine logic waveforms.

--- End quote ---

Measure what, exactly?

* frequency? A frequency counter will give more accurate results faster
* amplitude? Scopes are only 2% vertical linearity, at best. To that add the effects of the scope's frequency response, the probing technique (especially resonance), scope VSWR (probably 1:1.3, i.e. >2dB) Better to use a power meter or spectrum analyser
* power? See amplitude, especially for low powers
* harmonics? Not a chance with a scope due to non-linearity and/or ADC resolution. A spectrum analyser is much more appropriate.
* modulation? What type, e.g. amplitude, phase, frequency? FM/PM better with a modulation domain analyser which showing frequency vs time. Or an SDRSummary: a scope is a time-domain instrument. RF measurements are usually frequency domain and lower power. Choose the right tool for the job.

Personally, if I had a working scope that does the job, I would spend my money on something that gave me new and different and interesting capabilities.

Mike99:
I already have an SDR with spectrum analyser software, frequency counter, modulation meter, RF millivoltmeter and a power meter. I'm interested in every day general measurements of peak-to-peak amplitude, noisy waveforms, 2-tone tests of SSB transmitter linearity etc. Nothing fancy.

Mike

nctnico:
AFAIK the SDS1202 gives you the most bandwidth for your money.

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