Oscilloscope Feature Wars - Agilent Options

[EEVblog]

Here is the press release:
http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2014/11feb-em14028.html

[ben_r_]

Ha, come April 1st I am seriously going to try and get someone over there to credit me back the money I spend on upgrades for this scope already and let me pay the difference for this all inclusive upgrade!

[ralphrmartin]

The manufacturers don't give two hoots about the price of 2nd hand gear.

Wrong, for 2 reasons (just as for cars):

1) Higher  retained value means you are more likely to buy one of their products if you think you may need to upgrade in the future.

2) Higher retained value gives the impression of more desirable / higher quality gear, making purchasers more likely to buy your product.

[mjkuwp]

The manufacturers don't give two hoots about the price of 2nd hand gear.

..
Wrong, for 2 reasons (just as for cars):
..

well maybe, but on the other hand I have seen from the inside that the financial people are sometimes heavily motivated by the sales targets they have been given.  This could be monthly or even quarterly.  in the long run it can be said they care but in the short run - and especially when facing a tough situation I don't see them looking beyond the quarter.

This odd thing about having a promotion through March 31 and a different one that is announced yet not available until April 1.  Are they trying to spread revenue into two different fiscal quarters?

I am considering taking advantage of this deal, whatever the reasoning they have.  It would be my first digital oscilloscope.  I am also considering Hameg, though it will be tough to do this in the US.  I would consider Rigol if they had a mixed signal option on their 2000 series.

[EEVblog]

This odd thing about having a promotion through March 31 and a different one that is announced yet not available until April 1.  Are they trying to spread revenue into two different fiscal quarters?

Perhaps, but it's pretty obvious that their real goal is to make you reconsider buying the new Tektronix MDO3000 which offers a spectrum analyser for the same price as Agilent's 3000X scope.

[echen1024]

This odd thing about having a promotion through March 31 and a different one that is announced yet not available until April 1.  Are they trying to spread revenue into two different fiscal quarters?

Perhaps, but it's pretty obvious that their real goal is to make you reconsider buying the new Tektronix MDO3000 which offers a spectrum analyser for the same price as Agilent's 3000X scope.

Also, when is our review coming?

[EEVblog]

Also, when is our review coming?

Don't know. Teardown is rendering now, all 1 hour 15min of it.

[mjkuwp]

This odd thing about having a promotion through March 31 and a different one that is announced yet not available until April 1.  Are they trying to spread revenue into two different fiscal quarters?

Perhaps, but it's pretty obvious that their real goal is to make you reconsider buying the new Tektronix MDO3000 which offers a spectrum analyser for the same price as Agilent's 3000X scope.

oh! but I am looking at the 2000 series, in the region of 3000 USD . And the 3000 series seems to price out to around 10,000 USD when the options are added in.  I thought they were responding to excess inventory coming from competition from Rigol.... but then I am new in this field and sort of making a WAG so .... maybe others can make better guesses than me.

[EEVblog]

oh! but I am looking at the 2000 series, in the region of 3000 USD . And the 3000 series seems to price out to around 10,000 USD when the options are added in.  I thought they were responding to excess inventory coming from competition from Rigol....

If you look at the price comparisons between the MDO3000 and the DSOX3000 models they are almost the same price.
Rigol is part of it, for sure, but Tek have always been Agilent's biggest rival (and vice-versa) and still are. But Tek haven't been able to compete for the last 3 years since Agilent bout out the X series. Now Tek are back in the game and it's almost certainly causing Agilent to soil their pants, hence the new offer.

[Neganur]

I hate how you now have to ask for a quote to see the price, their website used to have all the models listed with prices shown.

EDIT: called and got a quote for the DSOX3014A (4-Ch, 100 MHz, no options), 3100 EUR before VAT (it's 24% here so some 3850 EUR total). I think I'll look for a Rigol instead.

[Frost]

if you contact the R&S office directly you can get a discount between 5 ... -15%

This month you get a discount of 15% at any HMO3000 model.
http://blog.hameg.com/

What I not like at the Hameg scopes, but that's only my personal view,
There is only one rotary controller for the y-axis, so you have to switch
the channel with a button.

[nowlan]

I'd like to see Dave do a review of a Hameg scope. Perhaps we should ask them to send him one. On paper they look really good, with cheap options, but it takes someone like Dave to really give them a good once-over and find all the little issues and niggles.

The guys from Watt Circuit did a review on youtube. Althought im not sure how objective they are (exposure to brands).

[Frost]

Waveforms per second?

4800wfm/s
The RTM2000 Series -> 12500wfm/s
The RTE Series -> >1000000wfm/s

[mjkuwp]

...
The protocol decoders are both HW and SW based - it is up to customer to choose, purchase a 8-bit/16-bit POD HO-3508 with HOO11 or go for a SW based HOO10 solution.
...

how do you know it works this way (wishing to learn and discuss)?  What I see in their datasheet is that generally both HOO11 and HOO10 are listed as "hardware accelerated decode".  The difference seems to be:

HOO10 allows you to use both the digital logic channels AND the analog channels as sources for decode {you could decode two busses}

HOO11 allows only to decode using the analog channel as the source for decode.

so HOO10 option on the Hameg scopes looks to be a lot better because you can decode on the digital channels and use analog channels to monitor power supplies or analog sensor signals.

hopefully this hasn't taken the discussion too far off base.  I am comparing Agilent, Rigol and Hameg right now (2000 series levels).   

[Hydrawerk]

Hameg digital scopes are quite compact, but the user interface is IMHO rather confusing. At my university, there are Teks, Agilents, a few LeCroys, even some UNI-T and Owons but no Hameg. On the other hand, I have at home an analogue Hameg 504-2 made in 2007. It is OK.

[dr.diesel]

I am comparing Agilent, Rigol and Hameg right now (2000 series levels).

I would be very interested in reading your comparison, please do post when you're ready.

[mjkuwp]

I am comparing Agilent, Rigol and Hameg right now (2000 series levels).

I would be very interested in reading your comparison, please do post when you're ready.

oh. sorry.  I am comparing them in consideration/hopes of purchasing one of them.  As such, I will only be able to really learn about the  one I purchase.  Compared to that my only other references are the Tek scopes at work and my analog Tek at home.

So far the main difference is that Rigol does not have 4 channel yet nor the mixed signal but I assume and hope it is coming.

Hameg
has low noise front end
does not have uber-high waveform per second rates.
small screen, but built in DVI output - yeah!
only 3 analog channels when you hook up the digital
vendor and manufacturer Support?  tbd.

Agilent
Really attractive pricing right now
large screen
individual vertical controls
CAN decoding will be part of the April 1 offer (pretty sure) and this is attractive as I might peek at the signals in my TDI
good support from the vendor and manufacturer (based on my experience with the DMM)

I think in the USA Agilent is the way to go if you want mixed signal and more than 2 analog channels as I do.  But of course each person is unique.

[Frost]

So far the main difference is that Rigol does not have 4 channel yet nor the mixed signal but I assume and hope it is coming.

Yes, with the new MSO1000Z Series from Rigol

Look at the link below and click on the picture.
The text is German but the picture is multi language
http://heise.de/-2126545

According to the text, the release will be in summer
and the price 200 Euro above the equivalent DSO version.

[Mark_O]

Yes, with the new MSO1000Z Series from Rigol

Yes, looks nice...



...though the screen is starting to get a bit crowded. 

[echen1024]

Damn. I already bought my DS1074Z.

[dr.diesel]

Damn. I already bought my DS1074Z.

Good things come in pairs!

[echen1024]

Damn. I already bought my DS1074Z.

Good things come in pairs!

7 analog channels. Huh. That's getting me interedted.

[Rigby]

What are you doing that needs 7 ANALOG channels?

[mwilson]

Damn. I already bought my DS1074Z.

Good things come in pairs!

7 analog channels. Huh. That's getting me interedted.

That's a 4-channel, 70MHz scope.

Seven analog channels would be pretty wild, though.

[echen1024]

What are you doing that needs 7 ANALOG channels?

Nothing at all. But if my DS1074Z does get an analog friend, maybe I will have 7 analog channels. Looking around for a broken 2465 under $125.