New Uni-T UPO3254E Oscilloscope

[EEVblog]

One of these just turned up on my doorstep without notice.
Don't know anything about it, presumably hot off the press.
Quite "busy" looking front panel.
€990 for the 250MHz job
https://eleshop.fr/uni-t-upo3254e-oscilloscope.html
$1000 for the 150MHz UPO3154E
Interesting that the base model is 150MHz instead of the usual 100MHz.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32994757798.html?storeId=1110358

[das_strobel]

I like the number pad. I guess that's why it is looking busy.

[Electro Detective]

I don't mind the busy vibe and numbered pad  but 4 ch and external trigger 'shared controls' is always a deal breaker for me 

I don't want to 'get used to it' or care about 'limitations because of price' etc I'd rather live without it

as it's enough to be thinking about the task at hand, without 'shared controls' mistakes and  and that goes with it

i.e. each channel should have it's own basic controls right above it = KISS   

[edigi]

I'm always surprised how such basic information like the number of FFT points is omitted from the spec. (or well hidden, I guess not without reason).
Like mentioned above: The rather pointless numerical keys (USB keyboard support could be much superior to it with minimal SW and some optional desk space cost only) and other fancy but equally pointless keys/knobs take space from the much more important per channel controls.
SPI decoding not being part of the base package (optional) is also deal breaker for many.

Entry level scope business is getting pretty crowded nowadays so vendors should pay attention to such (and many more) details...

Note: I don't necessarily mean a complete keyboard with all keys (that can be also beneficial e.g. when giving file names) but num. key only keypads like https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=usb+numeric+keypad.

[TERRA Operative]

Almost time to build a head to head comparison spreadsheet to compare all the scopes entering this sub $1k price bracket.

Does something like that exist?

[edigi]

Does something like that exist?

It's part of the sticky "Digital Oscilloscope Chart" but it's probably hard to keep up with the announcements and also the hacking options.

[Grandchuck]

I never used a scope with shared controls and have noticed lots of negative comments about that type of user interface.  Is that due to operator confusion and thus increased usage error?

[Fungus]

'shared controls' is always a deal breaker for me 

i.e. each channel should have it's own basic controls right above it = KISS   

The 'shared controls' goes much deeper than just having a vertical position knob above each input.

When you press a channel button on one of these the whole user interface changes to be centered around that channel (on-screen measurements, etc.) The four buttons are needed even if you have the extra knobs (either that or you have to add a whole extra layer of complexity to the menu structure).

[Fungus]

I never used a scope with shared controls and have noticed lots of negative comments about that type of user interface.  Is that due to operator confusion and thus increased usage error?

If a channel is already selected and you press the button again it turns off the channel. I guess that could be annoying.

[maginnovision]

I never used a scope with shared controls and have noticed lots of negative comments about that type of user interface.  Is that due to operator confusion and thus increased usage error?

If a channel is already selected and you press the button again it turns off the channel. I guess that could be annoying.

On the R&S you actually have to press it twice. First will bring up channel menu, second would turn it off. And yes, it's operator confusion, lasts about a day.

[Fungus]

it's operator confusion, lasts about a day.

It's easy to turn a channel back on if you accidentally turn it off. Just press the button again.

My guess is that most people learn not to do it after a couple of days of use.

[maginnovision]

Yes, it's very easy, and none of the settings change so I'd call it a non issue. Not to mention there are PLENTY of indicators(in the combined control scopes I have) that it's not easy to make a mistake. Some people just can't cope though.

[Old Printer]

Looking at the back, it has video out, but it is a VGA connector not HDMI and the USB connector on the back is a B style connector, don't see many of those anymore either. 

[nctnico]

I never used a scope with shared controls and have noticed lots of negative comments about that type of user interface.  Is that due to operator confusion and thus increased usage error?

Not really but it does take an extra button push before you can change a channel setting. Then again it is not so much of an issue with a good touch screen interface.

[thm_w]

Looking at the back, it has video out, but it is a VGA connector not HDMI and the USB connector on the back is a B style connector, don't see many of those anymore either.

USB type B is still standard on all Rigol gear, a lot of scopes, and a lot of printers. It is the most robust USB connector available. No reason to use something else.
VGA is basically obsolete, although Siglent is using it as well, so there must be some demand behind it. Maybe for classrooms.

[EEVblog]

i.e. each channel should have it's own basic controls right above it = KISS   

It's hard to make a compact 4 CH scope with individual controls.

[EEVblog]

I never used a scope with shared controls and have noticed lots of negative comments about that type of user interface.  Is that due to operator confusion and thus increased usage error?

Yes, changing the wrong channel vertical is inevitable with shared controls.
But worth it for a compact scope format.

[EEVblog]

VGA is basically obsolete, although Siglent is using it as well, so there must be some demand behind it. Maybe for classrooms.

I think VGA is there because the processor chipset often includes it for free, so no major BOM price increase.

[bitseeker]

Interesting. Looks rather Rigol-like, but with more sensible labeling and fonts.

[bitseeker]

VGA is basically obsolete, although Siglent is using it as well, so there must be some demand behind it. Maybe for classrooms.

I think VGA is there because the processor chipset often includes it for free, so no major BOM price increase.

I concur. Inexpensive addition to the feature list.

[cv007]

>It's hard to make a compact 4 CH scope with individual controls.

They have room above/below the display. I'll take keyboard keys labeled large enough to read and will take the key press feedback that comes along with it, and throw in a backlight, too. Now you have freed up 24 buttons, and can now throw some real knobs in the main area. While they are at it, they can make the knobs large enough for an adult to use and label them in font size > 6, and in some contrasting colors.

There.




(I can't run a photo editor well enough to add the knobs- just imagine the knobs are from an old tek scope or from an airliner cockpit)

[tautech]

VGA is basically obsolete, although Siglent is using it as well, so there must be some demand behind it. Maybe for classrooms.

Projectors ?
Yeah I dunno why it's still in use either as a better solution is an inbuilt webserver where the display can be ported to any LAN connected display, PC or laptop.

[TK]

Optional serial decoding???  Seriously???

[Electro Detective]

i.e. each channel should have it's own basic controls right above it = KISS   

It's hard to make a compact 4 CH scope with individual controls.

Just the input basics > channel selection, input gain/attenuation, Position etc

and whatever else can be squeezed in for battlers on food and gear rationing   

This assures faster setups (IMVHO), no brainer tweaks, less mistakes, bumps, accidental shared control swipes, and crossed fingers etc


There's always going to be menu work with any decent DSO,
but at least have four simple dedicated channel control strips on a 4 ch DSO

and separate controls and socket for external triggering (another 'shared' -sacrifice a channel- dislike   )

It can be done, I have a 4 ch Siglent kicking around that has this, and the only reason i didn't go the Rigol,
both were same-ish dollars IIRC

[Fungus]

USB type B is still standard on all Rigol gear, a lot of scopes, and a lot of printers. It is the most robust USB connector available.

It actually isn't:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_hardware#Durability

I'm sure we all have a loose USB-B connector somewhere, eg. on an Arduino.