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OWON SDS1102 low end 100Mhz oscilloscope

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The Soulman:
Any more user experiences on these series of scopes?

Going by the youtube video it looks like an actual (simple but) usable tool.
Spanning the price gap between used crt/bottom end usb scopes and the more popular rigols/siglents, it could be worth considering?

Bob Sava:
I think Owon EDS202E is much better deal that is ~$250 on Amazon and seems to be a rebranded SDS7102.  EDS has 1M storage per channel.

jebem:
I bought one of these OWON SDS1102 2-channel scopes.

1. Small intro.
Having worked in electronics since the 70's on several different fields from radioisotopes labs to telecommunications, I had my fair share of professional equipment from brands like Tektronix, HP,  RACAL, FLUKE, and so on, and it is easy to lose perspective of things when you are spoiled with 1GHz real time oscilloscopes in the 70's, some with storage memory.


2. Is this OWON SDS1102 a low cost scope, as advertised in their own website?
Yes, absolutely.
OWON is honest in what they are advertising.


3. Is it garbage?
Not at all.
For the asking price (I paid 190 EUR delivered from Spain on AliExpress) I can not ask better specifications and above all, real performance above what people may think.
It is an honest product, very useful when you need a dual trace scope with memory to do some basic repairs or adjustments on consumer electronics or even on professional equipment, why not.
The integrated counter and meters are spot on, I have checked it against my calibrated 520MHz vintage Fluke  1920A.


4. Is it badly designed and built?
Not at all.

If you are into electronics and have experience and knowledge on design and build equipment, you will recognize that this design is on pair with any other brand design on the same price  range.

Do not get fouled by the apparent simplicity when you remove the back cover and look to the three main assemblies.
This is a modern design, well laid out, properly shielded where required. It has nothing to do with lesser integrated designs that use bigger components and huge metal cans that give you a feeling of robustness, surely, but that has nothing to do with real performance of that product.

This is a complex design, miniaturized with SMD components on BOTH sides of the POCBs, and made as simple as possible without compromising the specs and performance.
In fact, it is impressive built considering the price point.


5. Are there compromises in design and implementation?
Sure, there are.
But you will find them in any other oscilloscope, irrespective of price range. You will want more. That is the human nature.

On this design, the analog vertical amplifiers and ADC could have 1mV/div instead of that 5mV/div with limited bandwidth, and the trigger could be more efficient to handle RF audio modulated signals.

On this implementation, the switching power supply could have been enclosed in a metal can. But again, why people, like myself, tell this? Did we actually took measurements on using shielded power supplies in this model? That is assumptions we made, without any proof.

Talking about power supply on this model, some reviews mention on how simple the power supply is, like a more complex design would be better. Again, that is an assumption without any proof.
The implemented power supply achieves the required specs with safe margin, and it is not as simple as people may think. The PCB has components on BOTH sides.
Additionally this SDS1102 model uses LOCAL Regulated power supplies close to the respective loads (look closer to the main PCB).

Do I like to see a huge electrolytic cap mounted over the main PCB in piggyback style, like they had second thoughts about the implementation?
No, I do not. But looking into other OWON models and PCB revisions, I understand that that decision is deliberated, probably to save precious PCB space and maintain the manufacturing costs in check.

The plastic injection used for the case components looks good to me, but it could be better. On my unit, the handle is warped a little on one side. Small thing, but enough to show where they cut costs.


6. Wrap up
That is all, folks.
This is my honest finding so far.
Others will have other opinions about this scope after they have used it for a while, I respect that.





Fungus:

--- Quote from: The Soulman on March 15, 2018, 09:14:30 pm ---Going by the youtube video it looks like an actual (simple but) usable tool.

--- End quote ---

Sure, it'll work.

Around here though we can compare many different scopes and rate then in terms of bang per buck and possibility that you'll need more features in the future (those Owons aren't big in the "features" department).

The conclusion has long been that the Rigol DS1054Z is the real starting point. That's where the bang per buck makes sense. If you spend less you'll either get something really bad quality (bugridden), not much bang, or both.  ie. When you learn more about 'scopes there's a good chance you'll regret not spending $100 more.

Owons are known for locking up, frequent reboots and not much bang. If you can put up with that then go ahead and buy one. You 'll be fine if you only use it once per week for simple jobs. For constant daily use though, it's worth aiming a bit higher.


--- Quote from: jebem on October 15, 2020, 11:28:25 am ---5. Are there compromises in design and implementation?
On this design, the analog vertical amplifiers and ADC could have 1mV/div instead of that 5mV/div with limited bandwidth, and the trigger could be more efficient to handle RF audio modulated signals.

On this implementation, the switching power supply could have been enclosed in a metal can.  it is not as simple as people may think. The PCB has components on BOTH sides.

Do I like to see a huge electrolytic cap mounted over the main PCB in piggyback style, like they had second thoughts about the implementation?
No, I do not. But looking into other OWON models and PCB revisions, I understand that that decision is deliberated, probably to save precious PCB space and maintain the manufacturing costs in check.

The plastic injection used for the case components looks good to me, but it could be better. On my unit, the handle is warped a little on one side. Small thing, but enough to show where they cut costs.

--- End quote ---

There you go...

jebem:
Well, what I see in the forums against OWON is basically prejudice without presenting real proof of those statements.
That said, I am not telling that some of those claims against OWON are false.

What I see so far is people removing the back cover and making remarks about the "simplicity" of what they think they see, and mocking about funny names on the electrolytic capacitors, and this is not correct at all. Maybe that is fine if you are a comedian.
If you want to make these allegations, you need to use scientific approach, not this way of dismissing a product without any proof.

There are no perfect products, all of them, irrespective of price, due to its embedded software complexity, are prone to lock at some point.
There are no brands immune to lock ups.
There is no such thing as only one brand/model is the best for this job. These days are long gone, when Tektronix ruled the world.

That said, no one claims that this basic OWON model are the best thing in the universe. There are better equipment if you are willing to pay more.
If 200 EUR is your limit to spend, then this OWON SDS1102 should be in your shortlist, not only on the specs, but on proved performance (keep reading).

Maybe in the USA, OWON is not well regarded, but here in Western and Eastern Europe, OWON, and in particular this SDS1102 model is being sold since 2017 with great success under its original name OWON, and under another German brand name called Pollin Electronic GmbH.

For those that are aware of a extremely popular (at least in whole Europe) electronics magazine called ELEKTOR, oriented to DIY projects and long time seller of tested low cost lab equipment to their readers/hobbyists/customers,  I have to say that they support and sell this OWON SDS1102 on their sales channel.
ELEKTOR is a respectable brand in EUROPE, very well known to support reliable products to their customers.

And here is my OWON SDS1102 left running since yesterday, 12 hours and counting, so far with no funny behaviors or lockups.

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