Products > Test Equipment
DSOX1204G 200Mhz vs Used MSO3014A (Calibrated in 2018)
bdunham7:
--- Quote from: kcbrown on October 28, 2021, 10:21:16 am ---I mean, this is an issue you'd have even on the SDS2000X series. Once you make the timebase long enough you can't maintain the native sample rate. The additional memory helps, of course, but doesn't eliminate the issue.
--- End quote ---
You never eliminate the issue, but making it 200X better goes a long way! Even the $500 SDS1104X-E can do up to a one million X zoom, something the Keysight models here won't despite their 'MegaZOOM' trademark.
--- Quote ---If only it had a UI as responsive as the Keysight. :)
--- End quote ---
Perhaps, but I don't understand making significant sacrifices in actual capability for that 'luxury feel' UX, especially for someone spending their own money. My older Tek DSO has a UI that is several orders of magnitude less obtuse than the Siglent, but if I had to choose between them there would be no contest--I'll live with some amusing quirks to get the additional capability. I'm not dismissing the issue--setting up FFT on the Siglent is like a scope comedy skit next to the Tek. The Keysight (and Tek) models may have other advantages, but I don't know them well enough to comment.
bdunham7:
--- Quote from: erwets on October 28, 2021, 06:31:17 am ---Realistically it’s a hobby scope, so the use cases are incredibly varied. I’ve been avoiding answering the question because there isn’t really a single use case. Here is a glance at my current and recently finished projects:
1. Design and build of a series of microphones for studio recording. I’d like a dso that preforms very well as a “crt emulator.”
2. Fixing a number of issues with some small MCU-driven autonomous vehicles (with hard realtime requirements) containing some buggy critical RFIC components. This also includes some protocol debugging, although here I care about the underlying signal since it seems some thresholds are not being met. For any LA issues, I would just use my Saleae.
3. Design and build of some measurement devices intended for use on the bottom of hulls of container ships.
I want something that’s fun and enjoyable to use, and which allows me to focus on my problem domain, not the scope.
A suggestion was made for the RTB2004, and if I could find a deal for the R2K-COM4 bundle (which is the whole bundle afaik), I would consider it. But ~$4.5k after tax is just too much.
The MSO3014A is appealing because I could ostensibly grow into it, should some project come up that demands its higher feature set. But if I’m being honest, I doubt I’ll ever really pay for the upgrade.
The DSO1204G is basically the minimum scope that suits my various hobby needs while also “feeing nice” in my opinion.
--- End quote ---
That's quite a few indications that you like the way the Keysights operate and that it is important to you. :)
As for your use cases, the only one that I think there might be an issue are the microphones, where sensitivity and noise floor may be important. Quite honestly, for probably 90% of the times I need a scope, just about any scope will do, so getting something easy to use that you like, if you're willing to fork out the cash for that, seems reasonable. If I were buying a general purpose scope with someone else's money, it would be a Tek TBS2204B for $3K+.
One thing that occurs to me is that for your $2800, you could buy the base Keysight DSOX1204G and the Siglent SDS2104X-Plus w/ logic probe. Then you'd have a 'nice' base scope for most of your general purpose applications and a 500MHz 200Mpt large-screen scope for special applications. This would give you an extended period of time to try things out--I find that it takes me months to really get used to a complex instrument and determine whether I like it or not. If you hate it, sell it and upgrade the Keysight.
2N3055:
--- Quote from: bdunham7 on October 28, 2021, 03:59:35 pm ---One thing that occurs to me is that for your $2800, you could buy the base Keysight DSOX1204G and the Siglent SDS2104X-Plus w/ logic probe. Then you'd have a 'nice' base scope for most of your general purpose applications and a 500MHz 200Mpt large-screen scope for special applications. This would give you an extended period of time to try things out--I find that it takes me months to really get used to a complex instrument and determine whether I like it or not. If you hate it, sell it and upgrade the Keysight.
--- End quote ---
That is good thinking...
DSOX1204G will have all "Keysight-ness" for analog CRT emulation.
If you need advanced functions (some not even on 3000A) you have a SDS-2000X+..
erwets:
--- Quote from: bdunham7 on October 28, 2021, 03:59:35 pm ---One thing that occurs to me is that for your $2800, you could buy the base Keysight DSOX1204G and the Siglent SDS2104X-Plus w/ logic probe.
...
If you hate it, sell it and upgrade the Keysight.
--- End quote ---
Not a bad idea! However, I'm not sure that the resale value of the 2104X will hold up. Any chance you have some experience in this area and/or can comment on used 2104X prices? Otherwise, I'm just going to semi-trust ebay :)
bdunham7:
--- Quote from: erwets on October 28, 2021, 07:40:38 pm ---Not a bad idea! However, I'm not sure that the resale value of the 2104X will hold up. Any chance you have some experience in this area and/or can comment on used 2104X prices? Otherwise, I'm just going to semi-trust ebay :)
--- End quote ---
Even old Rigol DS1054Zs are selling for 80% of new price. People love to save a buck! I think there's almost no chance that the scope would take a big hit in resale value in 6 months, although after eBay takes its cut, you won't get every penny back. But given the rate of inflation, the logic probe promo that expires Dec 31 and the scarcity of this model on eBay, you'll probably do surprisingly well if you do decide to flip it. Just wait til the new year, set your price as BIN and be patient. I would even avoid using the upgrade key that comes with the logic probe promo unless you don't have any choice--as in it comes preinstalled. Just hack it instead. That way you can sell the logic probe and key as a separate item if you want.
However, I predict that once you get used to the noise floor and find the occasional uses for color temp grading and all that memory, you won't give it up so easily.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version