Linux compatibility - Another newbie looking for an oscilloscope

[rstofer]

In terms of a logic analyzer, the Digilent Digital Discovery is pretty nice.  It has 8 channels with 800MS/s OR 16 channels with 400 MS/s OR 32 channels with 200 MS/s.  It does protocol decoding (using Waveforms software) and has a ton of features:

https://store.digilentinc.com/digital-discovery-portable-usb-logic-analyzer-and-digital-pattern-generator/

See the Features tab...

At $250 fully loaded, it's pretty expensive compared to an $8 clone.  But it's a LOT cheaper than adding the MSO hardware/firmware to an SDS1104X-E ($438) and AWG hardware/firmware ($268) and still not getting a proper Bode' Plot.

Accessory prices from here:

https://siglentna.com/digital-oscilloscopes/sds1000x-e-series-super-phosphor-oscilloscopes/

More often than not, I use the Analog Discovery 2 rather than my DS1054Z.  First because it's USB and plugs into my computer with 27" screen but mostly because it just does a lot more in a very small footprint.  Yes, it is bandwidth limited but, so far, it hasn't been a problem.

Here's something cool:  I have the Waveforms software running on the same Raspberry Pi that I am using to write the code and drive the project.  I can probe the header signals on the same device that compiles the code and displays the waveforms.  Somehow that appeals to me.

[tatel]

'analysis paralysis

You are absolutely right. Very descriptive and accurate statement  No more asking for people's time. And no more wandering for clues. As said before, I do value time (mine and others'), and to read 80-page threads, while very illustrative, has been also very very time-consuming. Perhaps I'll take some days to see if my guts agree with my brain, but a decision has to be made soon.

If you want all the high end features, like the MSO thing, you're going to need to spend money.

Again right, but please note I did decide to throw money at it going for the SDS1104X-E

A lot more money than just a simple entry level scope like the DS1054Z or SDS1104X-E.

I disagree here. Should SDS1104X-E and SLA1016 work as advertised, no need for me to ask anything more.

It's an Arduino. 100MHz is plenty.

The MHz race is exponential. The step from 50Mhz to 100Mhz is twice as big as the step from 100Mhz to 200Mhz.

Short version: 200Mhz seems a lot more valuable on paper than it is in real life.

I'll take that. Gracias, paisano

If you work on microcontroller and/or FPGA/CPLD projects, having an MSO is almost is must. Being able to show more than 4 signals on a screen is really handy.

I'll take that, too. Even Dave agrees with this, even if he does think that, generally speaking, MSO isn't worth the money (yes I did checked that video)

In terms of a logic analyzer, the Digilent Digital Discovery is pretty nice

Thank you very much for this pointer. This gadget looks really impressive and I can easily see me buying it in the future, should the Saleae clone be not good enough. Farnell has it for €220,50. However, (and I could be wrong) the point here is having synchronous analog and digital signals.

I already looked at Analog Discovery 2, but it's €364 (Farnell), quite the same money than the DS1074Z+, specs are worse, and it has just two analog channels. Again, I could be wrong, but I want four analog channels.

Well I guess I'm going to need a JTAG adapter. The Rigol DS1074Z+ looks as the easiest and cheapest way. And it could be good enough to be a one-off buy, hopefully. If not, I guess I could sell it after getting some knowledge. And better to make a mistake by buying it than to another scope in the >€1000 range.

Thank you all very much.

[rstofer]

I already looked at Analog Discovery 2, but it's €364 (Farnell), quite the same money than the DS1074Z+, specs are worse, and it has just two analog channels. Again, I could be wrong, but I want four analog channels.

I was happier with the pre-Covid price of $279.  But universities and students are buying these up like crazy so why not raise the price?  National Instruments is probably behind this as they make competing equipment and bought Digilent

Well I guess I'm going to need a JTAG adapter. The Rigol DS1074Z+ looks as the easiest and cheapest way. And it could be good enough to be a one-off buy, hopefully. If not, I guess I could sell it after getting some knowledge. And better to make a mistake by buying it than to another scope in the >€1000 range.

Thank you all very much.

Search around to make certain the DS1074Z can be unlocked.  The DS1054 definitely can and it's cheaper.  There are threads all over this forum.

In my view, 4 channels is a requirement.  That's why I bought the scope.  I already had a 350 MHz Tek 485.  Then I found out what a real DSO could do and my Tek is sitting under my bench.  I don't know that I will ever use it again.

[tatel]

I was happier with the pre-Covid price of $279.  But universities and students are buying these up like crazy so why not raise the price?

DigiKey has no remaining stock. It looks as selling better than alcohol in Pamplona any July 7th.

Search around to make certain the DS1074Z can be unlocked.  The DS1054 definitely can and it's cheaper.  There are threads all over this forum.

Yes it does seem it can be unlocked. I have seen a video of it. Case must be open and a memory dump made from the JTAG header. Then licenses can be rigged up. I think it can be done with a raspberri and a software called openocd. We'll see.

Best wishes

[rstofer]

Search around to make certain the DS1074Z can be unlocked.  The DS1054 definitely can and it's cheaper.  There are threads all over this forum.

Yes it does seem it can be unlocked. I have seen a video of it. Case must be open and a memory dump made from the JTAG header. Then licenses can be rigged up. I think it can be done with a raspberri and a software called openocd. We'll see.

Best wishes

Why go to the 1074 in the first place?  The 1054 can be unlocked by pushing buttons on the front panel.  You aren't going to get beyond 100MHz regardless of which unit you pick.

https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Hack-Upgrade-a-Rigol-DS1054Z-Digital-Oscill/

[tatel]

DS1074Z+ has MSO option that seems to work fine, or at least quite a lot better than SDS1104X-E's one.

[tatel]

Well... finally I'm getting GW Instek GDS-1054B

Reading Rigol DS1074Z + user manual, I learned that connecting the logic analyzer means to lose 1-2 analog channels. Don't like that.

It could be worth mentioning that at first moment I ordered MSO-2104EA; tme.eu has his last one quite heavily discounted. They are asking for somewhat less than the naked Siglent SDS2104X Plus, and logic probes are included in that price. But they are soooo bureaucratic that any online order >€1000 isn't accepted; one has to speak with some guy. WTF

So, for about five minutes, I was tempted to buy the Siglent instead. What a machine it is! I like it a lot. I wouldn't mind that memory management thing at all.

However, I didn't have read the user manual yet at that moment. And, while reading it, finally my brain prevailed over my guts so I decided it's quite probably overkill for me and, should I make the wrong decision, better get it wrong on the cheap side. Also, this leaves a good amount of money to spend in other toys.

So I got in contact with eleshop.eu, let they know that tme.eu has GDS-1054B for €350+VAT, then they immediately lowered what they were asking for, to tme.eu's price. Then I ordered from them. Those guys are good dealers; what a difference with the bored, apathetic bureaucrat at tme.eu. Yes I called tme.eu just to hear what they could have to say.

eleshop.eu conditions are very good about returning, guarantee, etc, so the only disadvantage dealing with them could be time. We'll see how this goes but so far I'm very happy with them.

So analysis paralysis has been terminated.

Thank you all very much for your help