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Using (and living with) Siglent SDS1000X-E Series Oscilloscopes

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skempf:
Is there a summary checklist of all the (non trivial) items you should check or test when unboxing a new scope? (I just got a hold of an 1104x-e).

tautech:

--- Quote from: skempf on July 13, 2021, 12:12:35 pm ---Is there a summary checklist of all the (non trivial) items you should check or test when unboxing a new scope? (I just got a hold of an 1104x-e).

--- End quote ---
Not really.
In the process of compensating the probes check each probes 1x/10x switch for clean and correct attenuation of the probe compensation output.....very occasionally there have been dud probes in the past....of late, rare.
Set all probes and channel attenuation to 10x.
You may find the button beeps sound annoying so disable it in Utility>Sound.
Do all that ^ then reboot.

Then enjoy.  :)

SimonM:

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--- End code ---

--- Quote from: StillTrying on July 09, 2021, 02:48:17 pm ---Has your replacement SDS1104X-E arrived yet. :)

--- End quote ---

Yes - the UK dealer replaced the scope with a new one from their current stock
The new scope has the same (current) firmware, was manufactured (calibrated) earlier this year, and has a serial number that indicates it is from the same batch (the dealer had 38 in stock).

No noticeable skew between channels
(ADC 1 = channel 1 & 2) and (ADC 2 = channel 3 & 4) have no noticeable skew that I could detect.

I'm using:

* SDG1032X Function Generator with one output at 30MHz square wave (50-ohm output) on channel 1 (channel 2 is OFF)
* T Splitter and two (near identical) 1m BNC cables
* 50Ω Impedance Adapter on each of the two scope inputsI have let the scope warm-up, calibrated with "Self Cal" whilst all probes and BNC cables are unconnected, and then restarted the scope.

I'm using the fastest square wave source I have and the fastest rise time available. With the impedance adapters, the signal is very clean.

My tests - confirm all is OK
On all the channels (triggered + 2nd): 1 + 2, 1 + 3, 1 + 4, 2 + 1, 2 + 3, 2 + 4, 3 + 1, 3 + 2, 3 + 4, etc.

I can observe the traces being in phase and the measured skew averages 20ps across all combinations.

I have added the extra channels, hidden them, and repeated all the combinations I could think of without any issues. I'm manually triggering and getting readings of 10ps, 20ps, or 30ps using the measured skew channel A and channel B. The Siglent dealer had previously set up the scope and triggered it with a 60MHz sine wave with the triggering and measurement of skew for channels 1 & 3 still active when I received it. Initially, the scope showed two power cycles.

Conclusion
I don't have access to the same level of test equipment as my Siglent dealer. I'm getting a good result using the fastest rise time available using my own function generator. Any variations measured by the scope are more than likely an indication of small differences between the BNC cables, which are acting as a filter on the output signal from the FG.

I'm pleased with the outcome and delighted with my Siglent scope and also my function generator.

Simon

Orange:

--- Quote from: SimonM on July 14, 2021, 10:20:21 am ---
--- Quote from: StillTrying on July 09, 2021, 02:48:17 pm ---Has your replacement SDS1104X-E arrived yet. :)

--- End quote ---

Yes - the UK dealer replaced the scope with a new one from their current stock
The new scope has the same (current) firmware, was manufactured (calibrated) earlier this year, and has a serial number that indicates it is from the same batch (the dealer had 38 in stock).

No noticeable skew between channels
(ADC 1 = channel 1 & 2) and (ADC 2 = channel 3 & 4) have no noticeable skew that I could detect.

I'm using:

* SDG1032X Function Generator with one output at 30MHz square wave (50-ohm output) on channel 1 (channel 2 is OFF)
* T Splitter and two (near identical) 1m BNC cables
* 50Ω Impedance Adapter on each of the two scope inputsI have let the scope warm-up, calibrated with "Self Cal" whilst all probes and BNC cables are unconnected, and then restarted the scope.

I'm using the fastest square wave source I have and the fastest rise time available. With the impedance adapters, the signal is very clean.

My tests - confirm all is OK
On all the channels (triggered + 2nd): 1 + 2, 1 + 3, 1 + 4, 2 + 1, 2 + 3, 2 + 4, 3 + 1, 3 + 2, 3 + 4, etc.

I can observe the traces being in phase and the measured skew averages 20ps across all combinations.

I have added the extra channels, hidden them, and repeated all the combinations I could think of without any issues. I'm manually triggering and getting readings of 10ps, 20ps, or 30ps using the measured skew channel A and channel B. The Siglent dealer had previously set up the scope and triggered it with a 60MHz sine wave with the triggering and measurement of skew for channels 1 & 3 still active when I received it. Initially, the scope showed two power cycles.

Conclusion
I don't have access to the same level of test equipment as my Siglent dealer. I'm getting a good result using the fastest rise time available using my own function generator. Any variations measured by the scope are more than likely an indication of small differences between the BNC cables, which are acting as a filter on the output signal from the FG.

I'm pleased with the outcome and delighted with My Siglent scope and also my function generator.

Simon

--- End quote ---

So you got it sorted, good to hear.

After all I was right that the scope was the problem.

From rf-loop:
Also I have seen many og SDS1000X-E scopes, 2 and 4 channels. I have never ever seen 10 or 30ns time skew between any channel. Also I ask how it can be FW problem if there 1000 scope without this problem and 1 scope with this problems. Just wake up and  start  thinking...
;)

SimonM:

--- Quote from: rf-loop on July 01, 2021, 07:24:18 am ---I do not remember/know with most new FW if there is still a total deep reset.
During the whole power-up boot time, toggling very fast Math button.

--- End quote ---

Yes, I had previously followed the instructions for the Oscilloscope Hardware Reset that are on the EU Siglent website. I also had an email from Siglent in Germany to confirm that a Hardware Reset "sorted" the problem until powering off (it didn't make any difference to the ~29ns skew, except delaying the startup and afterward, suggest a "Self Cal").


--- Quote from: rf-loop on July 01, 2021, 07:24:18 am ---There is a very poor simple and dirty method. "Wilderness and desert method. Just for bulletproof verify the problem is or is not."

ETA After saw your video:
You can Connect your BNC T to channel 2 and trigger to CH2. Connect just one of your coaxial from SDG to this T other side. Then take just a very short copper wire and connect it from BNC T other side center as short as possible to the CH3 input center.

Now you have only one coax from SDG and very small, and roughly known, the signal travel time difference between CH 2 and Ch3 input.

With this, because you do not have better things (special time matched cables and good splitter etc) available, you can infinitely prove if there is an error between channels (when they are different ADC).

--- End quote ---

I appreciate the thought. As you say, we don't all have (so far) all the right test gear. On the new SDS1104X-E scope, I used one BNC cable, with a T splitter and two short lengths of copper hook-up wire. I'm putting the FG output (1 MHz square wave) into channels 1 & 3 and using channel 2 as a ground (see the picture).



The result of using it is also shown and the error is ~-5ps.



The scope traces are intertwined/overlain which is also a good sign.  :-+

Simon



PS one "useful" feature of the scope: after it has triggered, many of the measurements can be determined afterward e.g. I realized that the skew was not measured from the triggered channel (easily corrected) and I added some other useful info e.g. the Pk=Pk voltage and the rise time of the square wave. In the second scope picture, it's the exact same waveform with only the measurements updated.

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