Looking for a sub $475 DSO but lost in what to choose, USA

[hak8orr]

I am looking for getting myself a DSO to replace my aging 2213a with a somewhat bad channel. I am totally fine with going through hacks to increase the bandwidth of the scope and fiddling around with that.

Basically what I am looking for would be:
100+ Mhz (Would really like 150+ Mhz but I see that is very difficult)
2 Channels
Ability to do persistent display which also shows intensity.
A screen which isn't very low res like 320 x 240 and tiny
FFT

So far what I looked at:
DS1054Z
Very nice display but needlessly 4 channels
50 Mhz with no current hacks available
Costs $550 (too much)

DS1102E
Small 5.6 inch screen and low resolution too
At least it's 100 Mhz and has 2 channels but has no hacks to make it better
From what I understand, this is the newer scope from Rigol?
Costs $370

DS1052E
Small 5.6 inch screen and low resolution too
50 Mhz and two channels, but there is a hack which makes this into a DS1102E as above?
Costs $329 (might as well pay $40 more and get the DS1102E)

Hantek DSO5102B
Nice 7 inch higher resolution display
100 Mhz and two channels, with a hack to double it to 200 Mhz Source
1M memory
Rather poor input response from the front end.
Costs $350

Hantek DSO5102P
Nice 7 inch higher resolution display
100 Mhz and two channels, with a hack to double it to 200 Mhz just like the DSO5102B as above. Source
24K memory
different SoC and DDR memory, newer Linux (3.x) Source
Costs $300

So I was originally going to go for the Hantek DSO5102B for $350 since I can get it to 200 Mhz, it has a nice beefy amount of memory, a nice high resolution and large display, and the cost is a full $125 less than my budget. But watching the review of it by Dave showed a good chunk of issues with it. Mainly that is is really slow, locks up more often than I would like, and the front end being concerning. I could have lived without the intensity grading during persistent display but with the other issues I had to disregard this.

Am I expecting too much for the price range? Did I disregard the Rigols unfairly? Are there any other scopes I should look at? Is there a scope that is considered to be the "best" for under $475 disregarding my requirements that I can look at?

Edit: Whoops, I am in the USA! Terribly sorry.

Edit2: Went with the DS 1054Z here: http://www.tequipment.net/Rigol/DS1054Z/Digital-Oscilloscopes/

[JoeO]

Tell us what country you are.

I just bought a DS 1054Z for $376.

[edavid]

Of course you don't say what country you are in, that would make it too easy.

Anyway, you are wrong about the DS1054Z, it can be easily hacked to 100MHz+, and it costs $400 or 300 Euro (ex-VAT, whatever).  It's the best choice for you.

[nanofrog]

Posting your country would really help.  Or better yet, go into your user profile and update it with your country so the flag is displayed under your userID.  Makes posting answers so much easier for everyone, especially with posting relevant links. 

Regarding a general purpose DSO, another vote for a DS1054Z. 
And those 4 channels are nice to have IME, just like a few extra DMM's. 

If you're in the EU, batterfly has them at reasonable prices it seems:
1054Z for 290EUR
1054Z + Hakko FX-888D (230V) Bundle for 380EUR

Nevermind ^^^^.

Also it can be hacked not only to increase BW to 100MHz, but you can enable the following software options as well:

• Advanced Triggering Option: RS232/UART,I2C,SPI,Runt,Windows,Nth Edge, Delay,Time Out
  
• Rigol MEM-DS1000Z: Option Extends deep memory to: 24Mpts (1 CH)/12Mpts (2 CH)/6Mpts (4 CH)Memory
  
• Rigol REC-DS1000Z: Real Time Waveform Record and Replay Option
  
• Rigol SA-DS1000Z: Serial Bus Analysis Option: RS232/UART,I2C,SPI Trigger and Decoding function
  
  
  
  

[hak8orr]

Sorry everyone, I didn't realize I forgot to put what country I am.

Thank you very much for all the suggestions though everyone so far!

[EEVblog]

The 1054Z cannot be beat. It is US$399 retail.

[T3sl4co1l]

Also consider something like a Tek TDS460A (if you don't mind the slow ass menus..) or HP/Agilent 54622 (not this exact model, but there should be a comparable performance unit in the series).  These older instruments are cheaper (in your price range) and offer better bandwidth for your buck, but you will miss out on features like trigger windows and serial decoding.

Tim

[rf-loop]

The 1054Z cannot be beat. It is US$399 retail.

But not in EU.

Example.
I select here well known Batronix (not perhaps most cheap)
Price 299.00 EUR VAT 0%
If we use Germany 19% VAT. Consumer price is: 355.81 EUR.  If we use USD exchange rate 1.22 (Friday 7.11.2014 Nordea Bank account exchange rate for buy USD was 1,219800)
Then consumer price can think as USD 434,-


If  use Sweden or Denmark 25% VAT: 373.75 EUR  then it can think USD 456,-

Company can buy with valid VAT registry number  using VAT %  but in this case buer company is responsible to his own country coverment about VAT handling and least in this case there need use national VAT%. If VAT can or not deduct in book keeping and company VAT calculation it can more or less deduct, as long as this equipment stay as company own property. If sell to end user (normal real person) then price include agen VAT.

If EU area  company buy from other EU country it is best to buy with VAT number and 0% VAT. THis is becouse other country VAT can not deduct easy in other EU country. (procedure is possible but need extra paper work and application for VAT return from seller country tax office.)
Byrocracy is... trademark of EU.


And finally. In this price class and if specifications and features meet user needs it is very good value equipment if look price/features. Specially least as long as Rigol marketing strategy include hackability and as long as they get free chinese goverment money for competition in markets.



China is, however, going to a very deep-going fight against corruption in its many different forms. Takes a long time before the fight to achieve all of the tentacles.
Also, to ensure fair competition, the Chinese government is about to start operations. Business needs to get the "fair play" level (inside China) before it is finally too late.

[T3sl4co1l]

The 1054Z cannot be beat. It is US$399 retail.

But not in EU.

OP is in USA...

[Fungus]

I am looking for getting myself a DSO to replace my aging 2213a with a somewhat bad channel. I am totally fine with going through hacks to increase the bandwidth of the scope and fiddling around with that.

Basically what I am looking for would be:
100+ Mhz (Would really like 150+ Mhz but I see that is very difficult)
2 Channels
Ability to do persistent display which also shows intensity.
A screen which isn't very low res like 320 x 240 and tiny
FFT

So far what I looked at:
DS1054Z
Very nice display but needlessly 4 channels
50 Mhz with no current hacks available
Costs $550 (too much)

What's "needless" about extra channels?

"no current hacks"? There's hundreds of pages on here about upgrading it to 100MHz and unlocking all the extra features.

Really the DS1054Z is the only choice if you're spending that sort of money. Nothing else is close.

[rf-loop]

I am looking for getting myself a DSO to replace my aging 2213a with a somewhat bad channel. I am totally fine with going through hacks to increase the bandwidth of the scope and fiddling around with that.

Basically what I am looking for would be:
100+ Mhz (Would really like 150+ Mhz but I see that is very difficult)
2 Channels
Ability to do persistent display which also shows intensity.
A screen which isn't very low res like 320 x 240 and tiny
FFT

So far what I looked at:
DS1054Z
Very nice display but needlessly 4 channels
50 Mhz with no current hacks available
Costs $550 (too much)

Previously you tell you live in USA.
Then you tell its price is USD 550
Then you tell it is not hackable.

Did you read anything from this forum?


Then I  just 10 minutes ago check example one US seller and with free shipping. (TEquipment)

Your order summary
            Rigol DS1054ZRigol DS1054Z$399.00
            Item description: 50 MHz Digital Osc…50 MHz Digital Oscilloscope with 4 channels plus 12 Mpt memory and connectivity and 1 GSa/sec sampling.
            Item number: RigolDS1054Z
            Item price: $399.00
            Quantity: 1
            Santronics AC-EZSantronics AC-EZ$19.95
            Item description: AC Voltage Sensor …AC Voltage Sensor - 50-1000 VAC Made in USA
            Item number: SantronicsAC-EZ
            Item price: $19.95
            Quantity: 1
            discountdiscount$-19.95
            Item number: discount
            Item price: $-19.95

    Item total $399.00
    Total $399.00 USD

(this Santronics pen is some kind of gift)

Only what I did not do was final click for accept PayPal transfer. (because I do not live in US)

If I can buy it with this price (USD 400 = ~ EUR 320) I will buy it immediately if I need this price/feature class scope and if I do not have any special need what this model do not have. 

You tell 4 channels is needless (for you) then just do not use these. You can think in your case these extra channels are also "free gift".

If look this price, opportunity to get it changed to 100MHz model and opportunity to get all options also working...  in this case - there is no choice, no competitor (yet).

[george graves]

Tell us what country you are.

I just bought a DS 1054Z for $376.

Source?  Link>

[miguelvp]

@ the last two posters before george, he did find out already about all of that and has one on order today with the tequipment discount.

@george, with the EEVBlob discount at tequipment.net it comes down to that price.
Edit: link for discount thread:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/special-price-for-eevblog-members/
You have to ask in there for the code

[EEVblog]

The 1054Z cannot be beat. It is US$399 retail.

But not in EU.

The OP is not in the EU, he's in the USA, says so in the thread title.

[JoeO]

Tell us what country you are.

I just bought a DS 1054Z for $376.

Source?  Link>

Tequipment and use the EEVBLOG discount.

[David Hess]

Think of the extra two channels on the Rigol DS1054Z as external trigger inputs that support trigger view of both at once.