Products > Test Equipment
Should I buy a Rigol MSO5000?
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EEVblog:

--- Quote from: Fungus on April 05, 2019, 07:37:46 am ---Rigol has just spent three years developing their own ASIC for the front end and switching to Xilinx-based hardware (I assume this meant starting from zero, firmware-wise). They might just be getting warmed up.  :popcorn:

--- End quote ---

An ASIC that has no boxcar averaging (high resolution mode)  :palm:
petemate:
Hi guys, thanks for all your replies. Its very.. interesting to read all the different opnions on Rigol and their products. Anyway, the answer is that obviously I would like Keysight/Tek/R&S/Lecroy scope, but I simply can't justify it. If you compare specs, matches to the MSO5000 is in the range of 3-10 times as expensive and are simply out of the question. I get access to those instruments at work anyway, so if the need rises, I can technically borrow one. But I would like my own for the day-to-day stuff that I do at home.


--- Quote from: EEVblog on April 05, 2019, 08:25:13 am ---
--- Quote from: Fungus on April 05, 2019, 07:37:46 am ---Rigol has just spent three years developing their own ASIC for the front end and switching to Xilinx-based hardware (I assume this meant starting from zero, firmware-wise). They might just be getting warmed up.  :popcorn:

--- End quote ---

An ASIC that has no boxcar averaging (high resolution mode)  :palm:

--- End quote ---

Are you sure about this? I seem to recall from one of your videos that you complained about this, but this video says that it does have a hi-res mode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_dXvpEV18g&feature=youtu.be&t=55 - nothing is mentioned in the manual, though.

Fungus:

--- Quote from: petemate on April 05, 2019, 11:22:03 am ---Hi guys, thanks for all your replies. Its very.. interesting to read all the different opnions on Rigol and their products. Anyway, the answer is that obviously I would like Keysight/Tek/R&S/Lecroy scope, but I simply can't justify it. If you compare specs, matches to the MSO5000 is in the range of 3-10 times as expensive and are simply out of the question. I get access to those instruments at work anyway, so if the need rises, I can technically borrow one. But I would like my own for the day-to-day stuff that I do at home.


--- Quote from: EEVblog on April 05, 2019, 08:25:13 am ---
--- Quote from: Fungus on April 05, 2019, 07:37:46 am ---Rigol has just spent three years developing their own ASIC for the front end and switching to Xilinx-based hardware (I assume this meant starting from zero, firmware-wise). They might just be getting warmed up.  :popcorn:

--- End quote ---

An ASIC that has no boxcar averaging (high resolution mode)  :palm:

--- End quote ---

Are you sure about this? I seem to recall from one of your videos that you complained about this, but this video says that it does have a hi-res mode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_dXvpEV18g&feature=youtu.be&t=55 - nothing is mentioned in the manual, though.

--- End quote ---

I thought they added it in the last firmware update.

Or, at least, it appeared as a selection in the menu but it didn't work properly.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/new-rigol-scope/msg2233962/#msg2233962

nctnico:

--- Quote from: petemate on April 05, 2019, 11:22:03 am ---Hi guys, thanks for all your replies. Its very.. interesting to read all the different opnions on Rigol and their products. Anyway, the answer is that obviously I would like Keysight/Tek/R&S/Lecroy scope, but I simply can't justify it. If you compare specs, matches to the MSO5000 is in the range of 3-10 times as expensive and are simply out of the question. I get access to those instruments at work anyway, so if the need rises, I can technically borrow one. But I would like my own for the day-to-day stuff that I do at home.

--- End quote ---
I get the feeling but sometimes you just have to be realistic. If it seems to be too good to be true then it usually is too good to be true. Creating a good product requires a lot of engineering effort and that simply takes money. We all would like a BMW 7 series for the price of a Ford Focus.

You can also check the second hand market. After my Siglent mishap I just ponied up the cash and bought a used Agilent MSO7104. Not cheap but at least it worked as it should. Nowadays there are many other choices to consider which offer similar functionality. If you like a big touch screen then the new MicSig STO1000 series could be an option (knobs and touch screen). It has an 800x600 screen so it has more screen real-estate compared to other scopes with a 800x480 screen and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

If you are still unsure just buy an MSO5000 and try it for yourself. Just be sure to buy it from a shop which isn't fuzzy about returns or even better: get a fully optioned one on loan for a couple of weeks.
luma:

--- Quote from: nctnico on April 05, 2019, 12:29:47 pm ---You can also check the second hand market. After my Siglent mishap I just ponied up the cash and bought a used Agilent MSO7104. Not cheap but at least it worked as it should.

--- End quote ---

The MSO7104 is currently selling used for nearly 10x the purchase price of the scope the OP is asking about.  Look, we all get it - you don't like low-end scopes.  Not everyone is going to spend the price of a decent used car on a bench tool.  Is there some point where you take a moment to consider if your post is actually adding something beneficial to the conversation?

Anyway, to the OP - the Rigol MSO5000 series is a solid upgrade.  The firmware hack is pretty well entrenched, the encryption keys burned into the device have been extracted, so it's hard to imagine a situation where Rigol could effectively lock us out at this point, meaning it's safe to presume the hacks are here to stay.  If you don't need the extra features right yet, maybe hang out with your 1054Z until things shake out.  The current state of the firmware is just fine, I've encountered no glaring bugs in my own use of the device (limited mostly to low-speed probing of home-built microcontroller projects), and the extra features over the 1054 have warranted the price of purchase for me.
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