4ch. Scope Opinions & Suggestions what to buy around 1k€

[egonotto]

Hello,

good decision. Have fun with your new mate.

Best regards
egonotto

[AaronLee]

Good News everybody!

I ordered the siglent from batronix today!
it has already been shipped and should arrive within a few days 

as im on holiday til thursday it will have to wait for me till im home. ill share my first impressions with you.

thanks again to you all!

Congratulations. Hope you enjoy it.

[tv84]

Another satisfied customer... 

"Next!!!"

[2N3055]

Another satisfied customer... 

"Next!!!"

LOL!!

[pcprogrammer]

Another satisfied customer... 

"Next!!!"

Well there he is https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/recommendation-on-scope-is-there-a-recent-list-on-gear/

[2N3055]

Another satisfied customer... 

"Next!!!"

Well there he is https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/recommendation-on-scope-is-there-a-recent-list-on-gear/

Already being served...

[richmit]

I will use the oscilloscope for preparing my lessons for my students, so taking screenshots and measurements for my slides and Videos how to setup the Scope etc.

The SDS2000X+ others have suggested has a built in VNC server.  This allows you to connect to the scope with something like RealVNC viewer, and see a live view of the scope display on your computer.  I bring this up because using a VNC viewer full screen is a super easy way to make movies of the scope for your students -- useful for demonstrating dynamic signals, XY-mode, etc...

I don't know what other scopes offer VNC -- I only have experience with the SDS2000X+ series. 

-mitch

PS: Fun fact: the web interface on the SDS2000X+ actually makes use of the VNC server data inside the web interface. 

[KungFuJosh]

The SDS2000X+ others have suggested has a built in VNC server.  This allows you to connect to the scope with something like RealVNC viewer, and see a live view of the scope display on your computer.  I bring this up because using a VNC viewer full screen is a super easy way to make movies of the scope for your students -- useful for demonstrating dynamic signals, XY-mode, etc...

I don't know what other scopes offer VNC -- I only have experience with the SDS2000X+ series. 

-mitch

PS: Fun fact: the web interface on the SDS2000X+ actually makes use of the VNC server data inside the web interface.

That's cool! I've got to try that out. I usually use the windows gamebar BS to capture videos (like the one I posted previously).

Does VNC capture at the full-screen viewer resolution, or is it saving the source resolution?

Thanks,
Josh

[richmit]

The SDS2000X+ others have suggested has a built in VNC server.  This allows you to connect to the scope with something like RealVNC viewer, and see a live view of the scope display on your computer.  I bring this up because using a VNC viewer full screen is a super easy way to make movies of the scope for your students -- useful for demonstrating dynamic signals, XY-mode, etc...

That's cool! I've got to try that out. I usually use the windows gamebar BS to capture videos (like the one I posted previously).

Does VNC capture at the full-screen viewer resolution, or is it saving the source resolution?

FIX: Sorry.  That should be 600 not 640 -- I had VGA on the brain.

By default the VNC window is the size of the source -- so it will be 1024x640 for the SDS.   VNC will scale the window content if you resize, but for making a move I keep it the native size of the source.

I just happen to be working on something that makes a interesting XY display, so I can give you an example.   In the screenshot below you can see in the upper left the VNC window -- I have a QHD display so it's pretty small.  I use VLC to make screen movies because it works on Windows & Linux.  The VLC windows are in the center of the screen.  To the right is a capture of the VNC window, and to the left is the dialog box configuring that capture.   You access this dialog from the "Media" menu and selecting "Open Capture Device".  Then you select "Desktop" in "Capture Mode" at the top.  In this case I have added advanced options at the bottom to tell VLC the rectangle I want to capture.  In this case I positioned the VNC window on the upper left, and told VLC to capture a rectangle 1024x640 pixels in size starting at the left edge of the screen and 36 pixels down (I don't want the windows border in my movie).  You should set the FPS (frames per second) to a value that matches the application).

You can do all the VLC stuff from the command line which is pretty cool.

-mitch

PS: I have never attached an image to a post.  Hopefully I did it correctly!

[mawyatt]

Looks like a Chua Diode voltage and current XY plot spiraling around the Lorentz Attractors.

Best,

[KungFuJosh]

By default the VNC window is the size of the source -- so it will be 1024x640 for the SDS.   VNC will scale the window content if you resize, but for making a move I keep it the native size of the source.

I just happen to be working on something that makes a interesting XY display, so I can give you an example.   In the screenshot below you can see in the upper left the VNC window -- I have a QHD display so it's pretty small.  I use VLC to make screen movies because it works on Windows & Linux.  The VLC windows are in the center of the screen.  To the right is a capture of the VNC window, and to the left is the dialog box configuring that capture.   You access this dialog from the "Media" menu and selecting "Open Capture Device".  Then you select "Desktop" in "Capture Mode" at the top.  In this case I have added advanced options at the bottom to tell VLC the rectangle I want to capture.  In this case I positioned the VNC window on the upper left, and told VLC to capture a rectangle 1024x640 pixels in size starting at the left edge of the screen and 36 pixels down (I don't want the windows border in my movie).  You should set the FPS (frames per second) to a value that matches the application).

You can do all the VLC stuff from the command line which is pretty cool.

-mitch

PS: I have never attached an image to a post.  Hopefully I did it correctly!

Ah, that sounds cool for situations where the full-screen capture isn't as simple. It's definitely more steps than hitting "windows key and G" in Win10 and hitting the record button to capture stuff like this at full HD: https://youtu.be/5rHdDBE1T6M

On Mac it's "Shift, Command, and 5" but I haven't tried it there yet. My Mac is in a different room than my workbench, so it's pretty rare I use it for that sort of thing...other than because I can.

Thanks,
Josh

[richmit]

Looks like a Chua Diode voltage and current XY plot spiraling around the Lorentz Attractors.

Best,

It is a Lorenz attractor. 

My bench is a mess right now, but I included a pic anyhow.  The top board solves the Lorenz system system -- circuit from "The Art of Electronics".  The X, Y, & Z values are shifted & scaled -- the three boards with knobs in front.  Then the results are rotated around two axes by an analog matrix multiplication --  the second and third boards from the top.  The cosine & sine values come from a DAC on board 4 -- the DAC output is scaled and shifted to be 15V p-p centered on zero.  The DAC & angle display are driven by that MSP430 board in the background under all the wires.

-mitch

[tautech]

An old thread that might be of interest Mitch:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/t20347/

[tautech]

I will use the oscilloscope for preparing my lessons for my students, so taking screenshots and measurements for my slides and Videos how to setup the Scope etc.

The SDS2000X+ others have suggested has a built in VNC server.  This allows you to connect to the scope with something like RealVNC viewer, and see a live view of the scope display on your computer.  I bring this up because using a VNC viewer full screen is a super easy way to make movies of the scope for your students -- useful for demonstrating dynamic signals, XY-mode, etc...

I don't know what other scopes offer VNC -- I only have experience with the SDS2000X+ series. 

-mitch

PS: Fun fact: the web interface on the SDS2000X+ actually makes use of the VNC server data inside the web interface.

This is coming soon:
Support network storage

[mawyatt]

An old thread that might be of interest Mitch:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/t20347/

Neat stuff!!! Another from LTspice. This technique was used in ~1990 as an analog encryptor, the Lorenz attractors were the keys.
https://groups.io/g/LTspice/topic/73978670#120229
https://groups.io/g/LTspice/album?id=246489

Best

[mawyatt]

Looks like a Chua Diode voltage and current XY plot spiraling around the Lorentz Attractors.

Best,

It is a Lorenz attractor. 

My bench is a mess right now, but I included a pic anyhow.  The top board solves the Lorenz system system -- circuit from "The Art of Electronics".  The X, Y, & Z values are shifted & scaled -- the three boards with knobs in front.  Then the results are rotated around two axes by an analog matrix multiplication --  the second and third boards from the top.  The cosine & sine values come from a DAC on board 4 -- the DAC output is scaled and shifted to be 15V p-p centered on zero.  The DAC & angle display are driven by that MSP430 board in the background under all the wires.

-mitch

Is that circuit from Michael Kennedy? My Art and Zverev Filter books have been displaced, likely on one of my former colleagues desk now

No worries about the messy workbench, that shows you are doing something, rather than trying to look neat and tidy

Here's the circuit used in the LTspice simulations.

Best,

[richmit]

Looks like a Chua Diode voltage and current XY plot spiraling around the Lorentz Attractors.

Best,

It is a Lorenz attractor. 

My bench is a mess right now, but I included a pic anyhow.  The top board solves the Lorenz system system -- circuit from "The Art of Electronics".  The X, Y, & Z values are shifted & scaled -- the three boards with knobs in front.  Then the results are rotated around two axes by an analog matrix multiplication --  the second and third boards from the top.  The cosine & sine values come from a DAC on board 4 -- the DAC output is scaled and shifted to be 15V p-p centered on zero.  The DAC & angle display are driven by that MSP430 board in the background under all the wires.

-mitch

Is that circuit from Michael Kennedy? My Art and Zverev Filter books have been displaced, likely on one of my former colleagues desk now

No worries about the messy workbench, that shows you are doing something, rather than trying to look neat and tidy

Here's the circuit used in the LTspice simulations.

Best,

I have been reading "A Concise Guide to Chaotic Electronic Circuits" by Buscarino, Fortuna, Frasca, & Sciuto. 

I simulated that very circuit a few weeks ago -- well super close anyhow.  The simulation made a beautiful picture, but then I tried to build it and failed completely.  I just didn't have an inductor in the bin that would do the job.  So I ended up using a couple op-amps to fake the inductor.

[wizard69]

Congratulations on your new scope!

I was going to suggest going with Tek and be forever happy!   Yes a bit more money but worth it for professional use.   As for funding, maybe a grant or a go fund me page.

[mawyatt]

Looks like a Chua Diode voltage and current XY plot spiraling around the Lorentz Attractors.

Best,

It is a Lorenz attractor. 

My bench is a mess right now, but I included a pic anyhow.  The top board solves the Lorenz system system -- circuit from "The Art of Electronics".  The X, Y, & Z values are shifted & scaled -- the three boards with knobs in front.  Then the results are rotated around two axes by an analog matrix multiplication --  the second and third boards from the top.  The cosine & sine values come from a DAC on board 4 -- the DAC output is scaled and shifted to be 15V p-p centered on zero.  The DAC & angle display are driven by that MSP430 board in the background under all the wires.

-mitch

Is that circuit from Michael Kennedy? My Art and Zverev Filter books have been displaced, likely on one of my former colleagues desk now

No worries about the messy workbench, that shows you are doing something, rather than trying to look neat and tidy

Here's the circuit used in the LTspice simulations.

Best,

I have been reading "A Concise Guide to Chaotic Electronic Circuits" by Buscarino, Fortuna, Frasca, & Sciuto. 

I simulated that very circuit a few weeks ago -- well super close anyhow.  The simulation made a beautiful picture, but then I tried to build it and failed completely.  I just didn't have an inductor in the bin that would do the job.  So I ended up using a couple op-amps to fake the inductor.

If you read one of the links over on LTspice I mentioned how we used a Gyrator to emulate an inductor back in ~1990, worked beautifully. Wish I could have received funding back then, but no luck. A few years later MIT posted a paper on an Analog Encryptor based on this concept and our original work was forever lost

Ran into an unintended chaotic circuit once, a colleague was having trouble with a switch-mode power supply producing an output random type ripple. Took a look at the scope waveform and knew right away what this represented.

BTW the Chua Diode is from the same Dr Chua that proposed the memresistor back in ~1970......brilliant researcher indeed!!

I better be quite now, since I've diverted the thread away from the new Siglent scope

Best,

[Markus2801A]

Back to the Siglent SDS2000X Plus Topic :-)
As I promised I will give u my first impressions/feedback when im back from holiday.

Yesterday my Siglent SDS2104X Plus arrived (as we did, returning from holiday) :-)

I was able to unpack and do some first hands on with it :-)
Looks very promising and great!
Build quality feels very good, buttons operate pricesly, GUI and Operation: I think as with verey device you have to get yourself familiar with the operation but it is IMHO very logically and I think I will get much more familar over time when using it :-)

Almos everything is permanently activated right out of the box :-)
Thanks to special offer from Batronix. The only licenses which are only for 30 "times" activated are "MSO, SENT & MANCH" which I dont need since there are some protocoll decoding featers I dont use.

I did "liberate" the scope following this via SCPI command MCBD <generated key from script> command, entered in Siglents WebIf - great! Yes, I dont need it but I wanted it :-) I also know the provided 200MHz probes where identified by USER maxspb69 to have 350MHz of real bandwidth :-). THANKS!

By the way, the supplied 200MHz probes actually have a bandwidth of about 350MHz and a real 1nS rise time! Despite the unprepossessing look and marking "200 MHz".
A rare case when the manufacturer's declared characteristics are worse than real! 

As stated in the original thread you have to go from 100MHz > 200MHz > 350MHz to finally 500MHz (in the options menu it will display first time: 4BW02, than after applying the keys 4BW03, than 4BW05 and after last 500MHz kay the 4BW05 entry is gone!)

...
So I copied the python code from https://repl.it/@wxq849034624/PrettyAbleGuiltware-1#main.py
and pasted it into https://www.programiz.com/python-programming/online-compiler/ (so I could edit the scopeID without having to register on the repl.it site)
...

So for now, I have to spend more time with this great device!
I will attach some Images, as you can see the Scope now shows its a SDS2504X Plus
Thanks to all for your opinions, and for sure it will not be the last Scope I will buy :-)
So I will return with this topic in ... years :-)

[tautech]

Nice. 
Usage hints.
Menus come set to 3s autohide which is far too quick as a first experience and in Display you can make an autohide setting best suited to your use case although autohide OFF is fine too as if you touch or mouse click any vacant zone on the display menus will hide on command.
When a menu is up showing a blue line on the right edge signifies the menu can be scrolled down to access further items which you can of course do with touch but it's much quicker with a mouse.

Come back for more help/tips if you need them.

[mawyatt]

Markus,

The more time you spend with these SDS2000X + scopes the more you appreciate the superb instruments they are, that was my take away since this was the 1st MSO or DSO I have purchased for myself. Also had not used a DSO or MSO much at all when working, since my value was deemed outside the lab, but after retiring wanted more "hands on" so got a couple old Tek 2465 analog scopes to fix and use. Earlier last year pulled the trigger on a SDS2000X + based all the discussions here, figuring I needed something to record waveforms better than a iPhone image of the Tek 2465 display. I had never heard of Siglent, but went ahead with the purchase after spending time here to decipher the sources of all the comments, the fan folks, BSers, haters, and so on. Once you get a hand on the comment source, then things become much easier to navigate thru, and the path much clearer.

This is by far the most useful and feature rich instrument I had ever used, my poor old Tek 2465s don't even get powered on anymore!! The more use, the more impressed

Try a wireless mouse, works seamlessly with the GUI, the 10 bit mode, the FFT, the Bode plot and so on. The front end design is spot on, with low noise, good bandwidth & linearity, and good accuracy, which sets the "tone" for the rest of the instrument.

You navigated the path and made a good decision IMO 

BTW you probably can tell I'm a Siglent fan, yes, but only because I have hands on experience and don't bash other equipment that I've never used or owned. Also will point to issues with Siglent, like the failed PP215 scope probe, or the issues with the SPD 3303X-E

Edit: Should mention we now have 2 of these scopes, 1st was a 2 channel (the 4 channel was unavailable). I got a 1st hand introduction to the innards of the 2 channel due to an unfortunate (long story) accident, and got another pleasant surprise. This instrument not only performed like something that should cost 2~3X, but the build quality looks like something that should cost 2~3X

Best,