New Scope Demoboard from Batronix

[Martin72]

Hi,
Today I had discovered by chance an apparently brand new demo board from Batronix:
https://www.batronix.com/versand/demoboards/Batronix-MSO-Demoboard.html

It is so new that there is no english description for it yet.
I read through it and decided to order it because it has a few more features than my STB-3 board from Siglent.
It comes with a very detailed training manual on more than 50 pages, which is not known from other demo boards...
Bodeplot, FFT, trigger types, decoder signals up to Manchester, pass/fail mask test, signal generator with error, RF test section, etc.
Currently available at an introductory price for 20% less.
You can argue about the sense or nonsense of a demoboard, but I like such things...
When I get it, I will play around with it and post further here.

[mwb1100]

I had seen it mentioned on some google search result a while back, but couldn't find a mention on Batronix itself.  I figured it was vaporware, but apparently was wrong.

You can argue about the sense or nonsense of a demoboard, but I like such things...

Me too, it would let me experiment and learn about signals that I have no current work-related (or hobby related) need or equipment.

But 200 EUR shipped to USA (including the intro discount) is a bit much.  I imagine low volume and cost of good docs (the examples in the images appear to be pretty good) must account for a fair bit of the price.  Though a price that is too high doesn't always stop me in some irrational moments.

[pascal_sweden]

The English link to the product seems not to be active.

If I search for "Batronix MSO-Demoboard" on the main page:
https://www.batronix.com/shop/index.html

I get a result, but it can not be clicked.

So for now, I will go with the German website 

[Martin72]

Therefore I plan to "introduce" it here, when I have the time for it.

But 200 EUR shipped to USA (including the intro discount) is a bit much.

My STB-3 was more expensive, the rigol board (yes, they got one) too.
OK, after the intro discount, the price is nearly the same like the others - don´t know what makes demoboards so "expensive".
If it wasn't for intro-discount, I probably wouldn't have bought it as soon as I saw it.
In addition, I still had some credit on my PayPal account, which made the thing then even easier, because usually I have not even remembered that there is something.
The rigol board, rare to see:

https://www.batronix.com/shop/demoboards/Rigol-DS6000-Demoboard.html

[tautech]

STB3
https://siglentna.com/product/stb-3-oscilloscope-demo-training-board/

[pdenisowski]

You can argue about the sense or nonsense of a demoboard, but I like such things...

Yes, demo boards can be very helpful.  We have several versions but we don't sell them.

[pdenisowski]

But 200 EUR shipped to USA (including the intro discount) is a bit much.  I imagine low volume and cost of good docs (the examples in the images appear to be pretty good) must account for a fair bit of the price.

OK, after the intro discount, the price is nearly the same like the others - don´t know what makes demoboards so "expensive".

Can't comment on why they cost what they do, but as someone who is constantly creating "demo" signals for presentations, videos, etc. a demo board can save an awful lot of time and money.

Try creating half a dozen different serial data signals, some runt and glitch signals, etc. without using a demo board and let me know how much time / money you spent doing that  

Oh, and many of them can also be used to practice / demo EMC troubleshooting (e.g. with a near-field probe).

For the content I make, I don't usually use demo boards, since I often need more flexibility than a demo board will provide.  But as a training tool, demo boards are - in my opinion - well worth the money.  [And again, I don't think we sell our demo boards ... not sure if we should look into that ....]

[pdenisowski]

Was looking at the manual and noticed all of the screenshots were made with R&S oscilloscopes, most of them from the new MXO4: nice 

https://www.batronix.com/files/Batronix/MSO-Demoboard/Batronix-MSO-Demoboard-web.pdf

[Martin72]

Batronix wrote me today, I would be one of the first orderers and they would send me a printed manual as soon as it is ready, I think that is nice.
I had written back, a manual and website in English would be almost more important.
Answer back, they are already on it, still takes some time...

[egonotto]

Hello,

With the help of deepl, not german speakers can still work well with the manual.

Best regards
egonotto

[egonotto]

Hello,

They used an RTA4004 three times:
Mask tests on page 26
Frequency response analysis on page 32
XY representation on page 33

Best regards
egonotto

[tv84]

We have several versions but we don't sell them.

Bad boy!  Martin72 surely would buy one for his collection.   

most of them from the new MXO4: nice 

Martin, I think this is a sign... 

I would be one of the first orderers

"one of the first" as in "only one"?   

Just kidding and showing my envy.

[Martin72]

"one of the first" as in "only one"?

Possible, my friend...
I can´t imagine that it will be sold million times, but le´s see how it performs.

Martin, I think this is a sign...

........

[switchabl]

Keysight has some nice training signal generators: https://www.keysight.com/us/en/assets/7018-02756/data-sheets/5990-6690.pdf

They even come with a basic oscilloscope built-in. You should get one for your collection. 

[Martin72]

Too expensive...
And with the batronix board, my "collection" will grow up to two.
That´s enough.
No kidding, I'm actually thinking about using the board for educational purposes if it's any good.

[pdenisowski]

We have several versions but we don't sell them.

Bad boy!  Martin72 surely would buy one for his collection.   

And with the batronix board, my "collection" will grow up to two.
That´s enough.

Once you start collecting R&S demo boards, there's no stopping

[pdenisowski]

"one of the first" as in "only one"?

Possible, my friend...

Oh, I'm pretty sure someone else has already ordered one .....

[tv84]

Oh, I'm pretty sure someone else has already ordered one .....

Martin is infectious... 

^{Get your revenge by facilitating him a nice MXO4 discount... shhh....}

[2N3055]

Oh, I'm pretty sure someone else has already ordered one .....

Martin is infectious... 

^{Get your revenge by facilitating him a nice MXO4 discount... shhh....}

[Martin72]

Board has arrived...
It comes with an USB-cable and it´s tiny...very tiny comparing to my STB-3 board.

Martin

[LoneWolf6912]

Definitely not cheap. But looks pretty promising.

[Martin72]

Hi,

Yes but it seems this is the price you have to pay for, the boards from rigol and siglent aren´t cheaper.
Meanwhile I´ve downloaded the manual and read the first chapters.
For example starting with chapter 2.4, triggersystem.
Edge, pulsewidth, dropout/timeout, window, slope, runt....each is explained and how to use the board for it.
Then it continues with the roll mode, average acquisition, peak acquisition, cursor, measurements, X-Y mode, FFT, reference signal, mask test, persistence, math function, etc..
It is always explained what it is and how to display it with the help of the board.
I will work through this bit by bit and present it here - actually a video would be better suited for this.
I have not yet done anything, but it is already apparent that there is no "better" or "worse" compared to my STB-3 from Siglent, at the signal level.
That complements each other, partly.
But where the Batronix board clearly "wins" is the documentation.
Without any doubt.
To be continued.

[tautech]

But where the Batronix board clearly "wins" is the documentation.

Yes, they don't make scopes so need hold your hand for whatever scope you connect to it !

STB-3 instructions OTOH provide screenshots each showing scope settings to replicate results. Sometimes the best teacher is doing it yourself and learning how to properly drive your scope.......but no one set of documentation can possibly cover all brands or even user ability.

[Martin72]

My dear Rob, I really don't mean any harm, and I always think your efforts are great  , but in the end there are no excuses for sloppy documentation.
And deep down you know that, I don't think it should be the job of siglent supporters to make light of their sloppiness.
What do you think would happen to us if our customers got such a document and we answered them, hey that's the only way you can learn.
That's just not a customer-friendly way to do things, especially when the product is quite expensive, as in this case.
Even Rigol does it better, which is a bit embarrassing:
https://www.batronix.com/pdf/Rigol/UserGuide/DS6000DemoBoard_UserGuide_EN.pdf

[Andre77]

Hi!

I am of course very pleased to see that our demo board is already being discussed here on EEVblog a few days after its release.

Some answers to the questions that came up above:
- We already had the demoboard at embedded world fair in Nuremberg to create test signals for the oscilloscopes. So it has already been "visible" in some reports and videos in March.
- The English version of the documentation and the website is in progress and will be available in 1-2 weeks.
- As soon as the documentation is final, we will include it in printed form. The handling in group trainings is simply better with a printed documentation than with a pdf. However, the pdfs will still be available in addition.
- All customers who have already received a demo board without printed documentation will receive the printed version as soon as it is available.
- @Martin72: You were really fast, but not the first or only orderer. But you get the bronze medal as third orderer! ;-)

Best regards
Andre