EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: jstarr on October 18, 2013, 03:18:32 am
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I am a ham radio and electronics hobbyist and love to tinker. I restore old boatanchor radios and like to play with PICS/Arduino's etc. As I approach retirement I want to expand my testbench and I have an opportunity to buy a very nice like new shape HP8924C (functionally same as 8920A) or go for the new Rigol DSA815+TG. I know the specs on the HP exceed the Rigol but I am uncertain what to do. Any advice greatly appreciated.
tia
john
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I bought the 815 because it's a nice small package and fits well on my lab bench. It also has the capability to save screenshots, which is nice when doing web reviews or documentation.
As a Ham operator myself the 815 specs have been more than adequate for testing filters etc.
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I happen to have both instruments.
The DSA815-TG is great for portability and general size where you don't need the capabilities of a service monitor. If you want to work with filters, tune duplexers, check feed lines and antennas, the Rigol is adequate and has some advantages (such as the ability to display multiple traces, easily download screen-shots, etc). I prefer it to the 8924C for these applications although I would hesitate to connect it directly to an antenna in a high RF environment.
The 8924C is a full communications service monitor. If you are working on radios, you will probably find it a better choice, unless you already to have the various pieces of test equipment that it incorporates. Assuming that you get one with the 60 or 100 watt RF input, you can directly connect a transmitter/transceiver to the 8924C without destroying the instrument if you accidentally key the radio. It is definitely a bench instrument and too heavy to move around.
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Having used both also, I would agree fully with lacommtech's analysis.