New Rigol 16-bit function generators DG800/900 series

[Wolfgang]

Help ! Darth Vader tried to land on my lab desk ! 

Well, its an entry level thing. The 16bits look nice, but when you see the distortion specs they are 10dB worse than the DG1000Z series.
Output level and square wave data (risetime, max. frequency) is not spectacular, either.

I dont think I really need one of those ...

[xrunner]

How can I set my coffee cup on top of that? 

Have Rigol design a coffe cup ?   

I can see it coming - pure marketing genius from Rigol! They're leaning!

[Andrew]

If it uses "Natural Heat Dissipation Without Fan" then what does the internal fan do?

Page 11 of both datasheets "Cooling Method: Fan cooled"?

[asmi]

I like the way it looks! Definitely 10000 times better than typical boring white boxes that other vendors are pumping out...

[Wolfgang]

If you like the design, I have some more suggestions for you:

- LED lighting like a gaming PC or car stereo that flickers in the rythm of output modulation
- breathing noises if the unit suffers from higher temperatures
- avaliability in all major neon colors
- a "special" edition in gold for the higher bandwidth models
- animated GUI with all kinds of beeps, grunts and sounds following your touchscreen inputs
- a "home entertainment" model with just 30dB harmonic suppression, but extra space invaders effects for a very attractive price.

 

[asmi]

If you like the design, I have some more suggestions for you:
<skipped>

See ya guys are so boring, you can't even come up with good ideas! I love that Rigol doesn't listen to old farts who can't design any TME that doesn't look like a shoebox from $10 shoes off Walmart.

[snarkysparky]

But the Siglent SDG1032X has 16k point sample length.

rigol DG800 says 8 Meg points.   

Have to go with Rigol based on that.

[simone.pignatti]

DG800 and DG900 are entry level models not to compete with SDG2000X or 33522B.

They all have SiFi II/True Arb/TrueForm that is supposed to improve waveform fidelity and reduce jitter.
It would be interesting to compare their approaches to waveform interpolation and just the cleanliness of a sine wave on a spectrum analyzer. 

DG800 datasheet says 200 ps jitter or 5 ps jitter depending on the filter for arbitrary waveform. SDG2000X datasheet says 150 ps jitter, no additional filter. 33522B says 40 ps to 5 ps, depending on filter.

take a look at tis video, the unit is tested by oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer

[Kleinstein]

The case looks really odd. The form might help with cooling, but a would still prefer the classic square full metal box. At the usually low power passive cooling might still work in that form factor with sufficient vents.

For the noise I would prefer to have fan less cooling under normal conditions and a fan that sets in in a high temperature environment (e.g. hot rack, or high ambient).

The specs look not that bad.

For the square wave I wonder if they could offer a special square wave channel to provide just a square (maybe PWM) signal, up to higher frequencies. No need for ARB.

[bitseeker]

"seven bit 240MHz function generator".. I think they mean seven digit...

Yes. This seems to be a growing trend in China. For some reason, they've adopted the word "bit" to mean "digit." I'm seeing it on more and more marketing materials and, when I asked one manufacturer about it, they said that "bit" is what "everyone" calls it.

[xrunner]

Yes. This seems to be a growing trend in China. For some reason, they've adopted the word "bit" to mean "digit." I'm seeing it on more and more marketing materials and, when I asked one manufacturer about it, they said that "bit" is what "everyone" calls it.

Well when we look at your forum name - of course you would notice this. 

[bitseeker]

Yes. If I didn't notice, you'd be a bit disappointed.

[timgiles]

Any news if Dave is getting hold of either for a tear down?

[blackdog]

They must be kidding!!!!

WTF..., a real nice high performance puls, SiFi II Technology!


Dubble loaded output? two 50 Ohm cables on one output whoehhahaha
Who makes these videos, someone who has just left school? a video blogger...

Kind regards,
Bram

[Wolfgang]

... I've seen it too. This, in a risetime range of a few nanoseconds, it simply silly.

A 50 Ohms power splitter or divider is absolutely neccessary for signal fidelity and freedom from cable reflections.

If you ask me, their scope and analyzer inputs are not perfect 50Ohms, either.

All the SiFi inside the instrument does not help against incompetent people sitting in front of it. 

[Berni]

What i want to know is how good the signals look when you ask it to reproduce a weird frequency square wave such as 10.16456 MHz.

Does it make it jitter all over the place like most cheap arb signal generators?

[simone.pignatti]

What i want to know is how good the signals look when you ask it to reproduce a weird frequency square wave such as 10.16456 MHz.

Does it make it jitter all over the place like most cheap arb signal generators?

We get the units begin of next week then I will do some test using both RIGOL MSO/DS7000 and R&S RTM3000 and post the results.

[pilotchup]

I don't understand the DG900 series. It appears to be pretty much inferior across the board when compared to Siglent SDG2000x series, a piece of gear that has been in the market for years? Both in price and specs. Especially when you consider the 2000x ability to be "unlocked" to the high end model.
I literally JUST bought a SDG2000x (almost went for the 6000x..) days ago, and after seeing this new Rigol device today.. I am really pretty confident in my decision to stay with Siglent.
I'm surprised Rigol isn't trying to be more competitive with a new product like this, either in specs or price, in respect to their MAIN competition, Siglent.

The look of the product does not bother me at all, I appreciate their attempt at styling because it at least makes sense - it was mostly made to allow a zero fan set up. They just tried to make it a bit more spiffy looking after they got the functional style set for having no fan and being stacked with other gear. At least they didn't make it as atrocious as their new 7000 series scope buttons/style.

The one thing I do not like, after watching that video above, is how the UI seems to work. Seems very bulky and annoying to actually use compared to other vendors. I appreciate Siglent's method of allowing usage using buttons or touch on their gens.

I don't know, seems like this one is a big let down for a company like Rigol. It's pretty crazy to say that, since thinking about the past this is an AMAZING amount of specs for the price.. but when you have Siglent out there now doing really well, it's hard to accept this as "good job Rigol". Oh well, I'm excited for a review & teardown nonetheless. Cheers!

[Berni]

We get the units begin of next week then I will do some test using both RIGOL MSO/DS7000 and R&S RTM3000 and post the results.

Awesome, looking forward to it.

Hopefully one of the test gear vendors also gets to loan one to Dave (Don't think Rigol wants to work directly with him).

[simone.pignatti]

We get the units begin of next week then I will do some test using both RIGOL MSO/DS7000 and R&S RTM3000 and post the results.

Awesome, looking forward to it.

Hopefully one of the test gear vendors also gets to loan one to Dave (Don't think Rigol wants to work directly with him).

don't kill me if I do mistake on the video 

[timgiles]

We get the units begin of next week then I will do some test using both RIGOL MSO/DS7000 and R&S RTM3000 and post the results.

Awesome, looking forward to it.

Hopefully one of the test gear vendors also gets to loan one to Dave (Don't think Rigol wants to work directly with him).

Why dont Rigol want to play ball with Dave?

[rf-loop]

What i want to know is how good the signals look when you ask it to reproduce a weird frequency square wave such as 10.16456 MHz.

Does it make it jitter all over the place like most cheap arb signal generators?

For reference Cheap Siglent SDG1032X
Square.
Cycle to Cycle jitter. Freq 10.16456MHz
(note, oscilloscope SDS1104X-Emod and SDG both run independently with they own internal reference and this sum jitters and drifts also included and oscilloscope itself trigger jitter)

Perhaps we later see how this Rigol performs.

[bd139]

Oh sexy. I'm going to grab a DG832 when they actually become available here.

35MHz dual channel for less than my DG1022Z cost. Can't moan at that. Also solves the one thing that pisses me off about the DG1022Z; the noise!

Edit: Looks like arse but to quote my father "who looks at the mantelpiece while you're poking the fire"

[Bassman59]

Oh sexy. I'm going to grab a DG832 when they actually become available here.

DG822 is in stock here in the colonies ... I am trying to justify the purchase.

[bd139]

You’re closer to the source than we are here