Siglent SDS800X HD Review & Demonstration Thread

[awakephd]

There are more severe issues, and nobody really cares. Not even Siglent. So dont waste your time. 

Interesting.  My own experience suggests that, if truly no one cares about something that I find very problematic, it generally means that I am the only one who has the problem. Of course, YMMV.

[eTobey]

There are more severe issues, and nobody really cares. Not even Siglent. So dont waste your time. 

Interesting.  My own experience suggests that, if truly no one cares about something that I find very problematic, it generally means that I am the only one who has the problem. Of course, YMMV.

Indeed, i am a poor guy, that could only afford a Siglent SDS800X HD. But at the same time, i am in a fortunate position, that i can turn of a bunch of problems, with a simple button press.

Just yesterday, i used my DSO quad, to decode USART, and to view more than 64 bytes at once. I simply did not "turn on" those "problems" (the Siglent).  (The Siglent only shows like 7 bytes, and scrolling is a pain in the A. - The mouse scrollwheel has no function, and moving the scrollbar does not move the list at the same time.  ) BTW: those bytes on the DSO Quad are shown in ASCII and Hex at the same time. 

[crysti]

Is there any chance of frequency calibration? My Siglent SDS814X HD shows 10.00014 MHz GPSDO reference frequency of 10MHz, that is 14ppm. I know it is within specifications, but I would like more accuracy.
Another issue might be the input capacitance. I have measurement bridges with a precision of up to 0.001 pF, and I measured 19 pF on each input, with the Rigol DHO804 competitor, I measured 15pF. Impedance for 200MHz 15 pF > 53.05Ω  19pF > 42.58Ω.
  I would like to know what input capacitance others have observed.

[EvgenyG]

Is there any chance of frequency calibration? My Siglent SDS814X HD shows 10.00014 MHz GPSDO reference frequency of 10MHz, that is 14ppm. I know it is within specifications, but I would like more accuracy

Unless there is updated information, the answer is no it is not adjustable. I'd love to do the same.

[nanopico]

Is there any chance of frequency calibration? My Siglent SDS814X HD shows 10.00014 MHz GPSDO reference frequency of 10MHz, that is 14ppm. I know it is within specifications, but I would like more accuracy

Even if you could somehow do this calibration, which is only possible by changing the oscillator, the internal reference is not very accurate,
aging processes will lead to frequency changes.
The best method is to lock the oscilloscope to an external reference, a GPSDO for example.
Most equipment can use an external 10 MHz reference (seems to be standard these days), so it is a good idea to invest in something like that (e.g. Leo Bodnar GPSDO).

[crysti]

Is there any chance of frequency calibration? My Siglent SDS814X HD shows 10.00014 MHz GPSDO reference frequency of 10MHz, that is 14ppm. I know it is within specifications, but I would like more accuracy

Unless there is updated information, the answer is no it is not adjustable. I'd love to do the same.

I’ve now discovered why they’re all at + a few ppm: over time, the frequency decreases toward the nominal value due to aging.  In the first few years the drift is larger; thereafter the rate of change slows down (logarithmic trend).

[Martin72]

Hi,

I know it is within specifications, but I would like more accuracy

The question that arises for me is, what for?
All channels of the scope are “connected” to the same time base, so you will not initially experience any benefit from higher accuracy when displaying the respective signals.
I would rather perform frequency measurements/adjustments using a measuring device designed for this purpose (frequency counter).
Ultimately, it should not be forgotten that although this is a very capable scope, it is still limited in terms of price.

[crysti]

I’ve created a small Excel tool to help you calculate the actual frequency, provided you are able to measure the real frequency deviation. I reduced the read frequency by -2 ppm by coating the oscillators on the motherboard with DUE-CI V-66 Isolating Lacquer Spray.
Siglent only allows adjustment of the internal timebase offset on its top-end models (e.g., the 6000 or 8000 HD series), a feature that is very simply implemented via the PLL. In any case, the cost savings on the SDS800X are not significant, since the simple oscillator used costs €1, whereas a 0.3 ppm VCTCXO costs €8.
Likewise, on the lower-end models they have removed the physical fan-speed control, even though it remains available in the service menu.