need help to decide. what's oscilloscope. are good for me  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: m.abdelwanis
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2023, 11:56:51 am
content: hello guysI'm hobbyist and start self learning electronics when try to work in application sometimes need to understand how it's work my friends told me that oscilloscope will help me to get more understandso i decided to buy oscilloscope I don't want to think about buying another one in the future i have 2 optionsfirst option :Digital oscilloscope EZ Digital DS-1150 from local seller with Manufacturer Specs in attachment and will cost 340$ not colorfulManufacturer Specs :second option :Siglent SDS1202X-E - 200 MHz / 2 Channel Digital Oscilloscope will buy it from aboard will cost me approx. 600$Manufacturer Specs :https://www.tequipment.net/Siglent/SDS1202X-E/Digital-Oscilloscopes/EditThird option :have another used one available in my country will cost 520$Tektronix TDS2024C - Digital Storage Oscilloscope (4 Channels, 200 MHz)Manufacturer Specs :Thanks in advance

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2023, 12:34:54 pm
content: Go get the Siglent.The other one seems to be a look alike to a 30 year old tektronix Blabla 210. Just it's 32ks per channel memory depth is crippling. I could live with a monochrome screen, but contrast also seems to be quite low and will annoy you after some time.Besides, the Siglent has a much higher resolution screen, so you won't notice the pixels, It got full ether net interface built in (viewable via a web browser and a gazillion other extra more advanced functions, such as a usable FFT function and a much higher display update rate.It's really no contest at all. because of the 30 years of difference between the designs of those two scopes.The EZ one also has only 200Msps maximum sampling rate, and can only get to it's full analog bandwith in "equivalent sampling" mode. This is really a clutch from era's gone by. It's from an era when ADC's simply were not fast enough, and having that was better then nothing.----------You're obviously a beginner if you can't spot those differences (but that's OK, we all started there some day).I think you're better off with a lower bandwith Siglent Anything abouve measuring about 20MHz will need special consideration while probing your circuit. For example the crocodile GND lead on your scope is very convenient, but it does not work properly for those frequencies. I do nearly all my measurements with the crocodile clip for the extra convenience, and combine that with turning on the 20MHz bandwidth limit to reduce the ringing artifacts caused by the long GND lead.

author: Wallace Gasiewicz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2023, 12:36:43 pm
content: I would look at the thread Oscilloscope Training Class It should give you a good idea of what you are getting in a scopehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/oscilloscope-training-class-(long)/And perhaps watch this also:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-1552-digilent-analog-discovery-3/msg4948891/#msg4948891A very interesting gadget for beginnersOf your choices listed I agree Sigilent is better,

author: gjvdheiden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2023, 01:14:53 pm
content: I don't own a digital scope yet, just an old analog one. I've put my money on a good signal generator instead. Scope is nice, but without a signal generator it was less fun to me. Though I had much fun building (limited) generators using op amps, transistors, 555 etc. w2aew on youtube is a good source.Analog scope can't decode SPI signals of course and single shot is a digital feature. Those features I miss the most.Just saying, you could also start with an analog one (cheap) to get started and get a feeling of what you would like spec wise.Siglent are sometimes hackable to more bandwidth, but then the supplied probes might not be up to the task. Might be worth digging for info. Maybe worth buying a 4 channel one.

author: tunk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2023, 05:21:34 pm
content: Given you have no experience with scopes, I suggest that you start withsomething simpler/cheaper like a Zeeweii DSO154pro for around $35.If/when you outgrow this, get something better.

author: Juup
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2023, 05:53:37 pm
content: Sorry to break in this topic. I see some experience from the Netherlands here. I live in Veldhoven. If someone is near to me i am open to invite to get trough all my collected gear so far. To give it a verdict if i am on the right road. Please contact me if you are in the area and want to spend some time digging. I have many tubes and very old things. Worth a look i think

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2023, 09:16:36 pm
content: Quote from: m.abdelwanis on July 23, 2023, 11:56:51 amWelcome to the forum.It shouldn't be that expensive when RRP is $379 and you can find them cheaper too.Your flag shows you are in Egypt and there are other distributors closer to you.Have a study here:https://int.siglent.com/map/

author: m.abdelwanis
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2023, 05:11:16 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on July 23, 2023, 09:16:36 pmUnfortunately there is no distributor in Egyptand the price includes shipping and customs import fees

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2023, 05:54:58 pm
content: If you can afford the Siglent and you expect to stick with electronics awhile, get it. The TEK would be ok for a second scope, but it is likely to need some repair before too long.

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2023, 11:56:31 am
content: Do they have Ebay in Egypt ? If you want a brandname scope, and don't mind the old CRT type, there's usually lots on Ebay, from the 1970-1990's, probably only 20-50MHz bandwidth, but usually pretty cheap, without shipping anyways.I'd get a Siglent if the price is acceptable, IDK what they should cost over there, but I'm very happy with my Siglent gear. Anything that's not old CRT from a big brand-name, is usually overpriced. I wouldn't get that that Tekronix at that price, the Siglent should have way more options, and plus is has that huge color screen.

author: delvo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2023, 12:28:42 pm
content: How much is the SDS1104X-E for you? If that one is in budget I would recommend it over the 1202X-E. The 2 extra channels are super useful. Already if you do any protocol decoding you immediately need more than 2 channels.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2023, 07:43:30 pm
content: Quote from: delvo on July 26, 2023, 12:28:42 pmCertainly 4ch X-E has a much better feature set however 2ch X-E can accomplish the common decodes when you use a Clk Timeout setting so to not need a CS input.

author: m.abdelwanis
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2023, 01:14:49 am
content: Quote from: MathWizard on July 26, 2023, 11:56:31 amyes it's available in egypt but with high cost of shipping and customsafter forum members advice i will get siglent onethanks a lot

author: m.abdelwanis
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2023, 01:18:33 am
content: Quote from: delvo on July 26, 2023, 12:28:42 pmunfortunately not have a lot options only this model 1202X-E I want SDS1104X-E too because it's hacky plus it's 4 channels.Thanks for advice

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2023, 12:10:55 pm
content: Batronix has a lot of the Siglent scopes, and they claim to ship to Egypt (although shipping is also quite expensive).https://www.batronix.com/shop/siglent/all-oscilloscope.html

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2023, 07:28:52 pm
content: I would start with a simple analig 2 ch 10 MHz analog scope.Lots of old TEK areound in USA and EU and at Ham Fleas.In EU other brands like Hameg (Germany, France) are popular.In Paris at street sales we found:Hame HM103 1 ch 10 MHz was EU5 and worked but dead blanking, still OK for 99%Hameg HM 204 2 ch 20 MHzBoth Hameg have a rudimentary component curve traces function!Bon Chance,Jon

author: Wallace Gasiewicz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 09:14:22 pm
content: For the US members of the group:I just passed up buying a Working Tek 475, 200 MHz Scope at a local Hamfest for $55.It looked to be in good shape and was displaying the calibration square wave.I already have one.

author: DavidAlfa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2023, 02:28:03 am
content: 1104x-e, hack to 1204x-e and save $400.Do you have Amazon in Egipt? It's available there for about $400.