Instek GDS-1054B vs Rigol DS1054Z

[michaeliv]

Hi,

I'm looking to get a beginner oscilloscope and was going to get the Rigol when I noticed the Instek.
Comparing the specs, it would seem that they are very similar, but the Instek has more memory (10M/ch), almost 2x update rate (50k vs 30k), has individual controls for each channel and is slightly cheaper (by $15).
On the downside, the Instek appears significantly larger than the Rigol ( video comparing FFT on the 2 made by Instek - youtube.com/watch?v=88hHSBqsvJM ).
Does anyone have any advice ? Do you know if the Instek is hackable to enable more bandwidth and other functions ?

Rigol: http://www.tequipment.net/Rigol/DS1054Z/Digital-Oscilloscopes/
Instek: http://www.tequipment.net/Instek/GDS-1054B/Digital-Oscilloscopes/

Thanks!

[akimmet]

In stock form, the Instek looks to be the winner over the Rigol in specs. When upgraded the DS1054z has some nicer triggering and decoding options.
As far as I know, the GDS-1054B doesn't have any upgrades to buy or hack. So no serial decoding for fancy triggering options at all.
If you are willing to live with only two channels and no Ethernet, Instek has a 100MHz model GDS-1102B at almost the same price.

The only major gripe about the new Instek scope is the lack of a trigger output. That would be a deal killer to a lot of people.

[edavid]

Does anyone know the 4 channel sampling rate for the GDS-1054B?

P.S. The EEVblog discount works, but there's no free shipping.

[dadler]

They only offer free shipping for items they stock and ship themselves. For drop-shipped items, no free shipping.

Some brands they also don't offer free shipping on it seems.

[tautech]

But like Rigols it has only 300V rated channel inputs. 

[Howardlong]

Separate vertical channel controls is nice on the Instek. The display, although physically the same size as the Rigol, looks a bit lost in the larger enclosure of the Instek. (I find the Rigol display a little too small, but can live with it as the small form factor's great for field work).

An interesting contender, but it needs serial triggering and decoding for today's Arduino crowd.

[JohnPen]

re- Sampling rate.  The specs and manual on the Instek only refer to up to a maximum sampling rate of 1Gsa/s which could mean it reduces like the Rigol for additional channels.  However it could also mean that for slower timebase settings it reduces it's sample rate.  It seems a little suspicious that they do not specify more detail in the marketing or manual.  Perhaps someone who owns one can clarify.

John

[commie]

Hi,
On the downside, the Instek appears significantly larger than the Rigol

I would look upon that as a bonus, as many here already know, I bought the GDS2202E 2 weeks ago and I love it to bits. Incidently, my previous(other) scope is a Rigol DS1104Z, whereby the multiplex front amplifier buttons are a real pain to use and sometimes can be a source of confusion when working on projects.Also, how much would a Rigol DS1054z, hacked to death, fetch on Ebay, assuming you were to sell it 4 years down wind?

If I were you, ditch 4 channels and go for 2 and so the GDS1102B looks good.