4 Channel 100MHZ DSO Recommendation

[Zebryk]

Hi,

I would like a recommendation for a new DSO for an old dog like me.
The 1st scope I bought in 1984 is a Tek 2213A which still serves me well.
My main scope now is a Tek TDS 2024B which is a 200MHz (4) Channel unit which works great.
My (3) big compliants with it are:

1) I want to run it from a Windows App or a Web Server.
   (Because I have trouble viewing the tiny screen.)

2) I need to easily export measurements as CSV files AND as high resolution images.
   (The USB Export is limited to a 640x480 image.

3) It has a very small memory depth.
   (Basically whatever is on-screen.)

I would very much like to scroll through a long capture and to Zoom into an area of interest.
This is important as one does not know where the area of interest is until one can inspect the entire capture.

Budget: $1,000

FYI: The Picoscope 3406D looks really nice but it is $2500!
   (This is a "headless" design.)

FYI: Some Siglent scope have built-in Webservers which seem very interesting.
   (I am not sure if one can control the instrument or just view the display.)

Again, important to me is to be able to run it from a high-resolution 1980x1080 monitor.

Peace,

Jay Zebryk

[tautech]

I feel you pain after once owning a TDS2012B with its now tiny 5" display.

The $ 499 SDS1104X-E is certainly a good fit for your needs and maybe because of its better display contrast and larger size easier for you to see.
Porting it's display to a PC display via its webserver is little problem and certainly you can control it remotely with a mouse.
Jason in Ohio did a video on this a few years back:
https://siglentna.com/video/x-e-4-channel-web-browser-update-this-thing-is-fast/

Short and sweet from yours truly:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/W30AqcDQL18

Looking up the Siglent 4ch ladder the somewhat dearer SDS2104X Plus also provides a webserver however we must go up further steps (read $) to find an instrument that can just plug into a monitor. 

[DaneLaw]

I dont know how the web-server clients or PC apps run on the bigger brand variants, but I would guess it comes with an aspect of lag and again comes down to your wireless gear, the noise of your surroundings, etc - the few examples I have seen, certainly left a lot to be desired.
I would reckon a cabled interface like fx HDMI would be preferred if its intended as a daily driver / use-case scenario

When I run Micsig STO1104C (4ch, 100mhz, 1Gbps, 28meg, 95.000 wfps) in its app to either an Android, iOS or a Windows PC.. I get this amount of lag, but that is on an old router with wifi in another room.. was like 0.3sec..https://i.imgur.com/9K0mJxu.mp4

but it's easier to just plug it in with the HDMI socket' to either my old 55" 4K OLED TV or an external monitor, as I can supply the power for the screen with the scopes 5v port, but that is more intended for mobility purpose..
I don't get touch interface control on the external screen even though it has a touch cap-digitizer, as it is over HDMI and not TypeC - but I tend to use a wireless mouse that makes it easy to manage on a big screen (like below) and away from the scope and you can swipe up and down etc for a certain menu's to pop up, like the case with the scopes touch-screen..the whole interface on this oscilloscope is intended for easy use with a mouse, or fingers, so running it on another big screen with fx a wireless mouse.. many things are optimized for ease of OS comfort.. though you also have all the bells and whistle, like a standard bench-scope with clickable rotary knobs on the scope itself.

HDMI LG OLED TV 4K 55"

HDMI to an external 5mm 15.6" 1080p antiglare touch-monitor with power supplied by the scope USB socket' but its limited how bright I can run that ext. portable screen before that poor USB2.0 5v socket don't choke"

but I recall the output is 4:3 and not natively 16:9 and obviously, these Micsig-scope are also intended for mobility, and quite far from what you're seeking if a dedicated olds style bench scope and a modern rev. of your TEK, but the support for screen or third-party iOS/Android, Windows-control is decent for a scope in its like sub 500 price range.

Controlling a scope by PC client/web server' as the main interface. - the lag & refresh rate needs to be up to the task, too not become a pain for daily use - though not sure how that stacks up in 2022 on the bigger brand models, as many reviews. don't look that much into these aspects and Im not even sure if some brands on the lower entry model. will classify it as an extra purchasable feature.

[bdunham7]

The Siglent SDS1104X-E is what you are looking for under $1000.  The webserver works pretty well if you have the right firmware and while I can't promise you zero lag, it does work well enough not to be annoying and you can control the scope.  One limitation is that the screen output is 800 x 480 so the saved files and web output are at this resolution.  Your web browser can blow it up as much as you like and it really looks fine, but just know that you won't get actual high resolution video from it.  The oscilloscope screen itself is good, although not huge.  I have a Tek of the same era as yours (TPS2024) and the Siglent screen is much better.

However, if you can stretch your budget to $1400, the Siglent 2104X+ has a huge 10" screen, and although the resolution at 1024 x 600 is still not 'high resolution', it is a LOT easier to see than any older models.

Here are saved screenshots from each so you can compare and see how they'd look blown up on your monitor.

[Martin72]

Hi,

Budget: $1,000

As everybody may know here i´m totally convinced about siglent stuff.
But when you can got up to 1000 bucks (and really no more), I would throw the rigol mso5000 into the arena..
It´s benefits are:
- Relatively big 9" screen
- 4 mathchannels at the same time
- 8GSa/s max.
- Memory up to 200Mpts
- 2-Ch inbuilt awg
- hdmi display output

Can be hacked completely for having the 200mpts memory and 350Mhz bandwith.

Cons:

- Noisy frontend
- After every firmware update you must hack it again ( my knowledge from 2019 - Did it change..? )

But on the other side, I´ve looked on the batronix website, there are reduced in the price plus free options - So a 100Mhz version costs under 1000€ (excl.VAT)

When you can go over 1000bucks, a siglent sds2000X+ is a "must".
It doesn´t got a display output but a webserver which equals the missing port imho.

Up to 1000bucks, rigol mso 5000 - Beyond, not far away, siglent sds2000X+.