EEVBlog #792 - Lecroy Wavejet Touch 354 Oscilloscope Review - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2015, 11:27:26 am
content: Dave unboxes and takes a first look at the 500MHz Teledyne Lecroy Wavejet Touch 543 / Iwatsu 5600 series oscilloscope.And various comparisons with the Keysight 3000X, Tektronix MDO3000, GW Instek, and Rigol 4000

author: kbhasi
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 11, 2015, 02:27:16 pm
content: What's with this Dave imposter posting dog things?Anyways, one thing that I learned is that Dave doesn't seem to like all-black test equipment, while I do. I understand that they're trying to be different though by customising an existing model to be all black. I wonder if Dave's next phone is going to have a black front and white back though...

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2015, 03:55:54 pm
content: Quote from: McCarthy on September 11, 2015, 01:54:11 pmNope it's mojo chang

author: dentaku
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2015, 05:58:48 pm
content: The whole front panel looks like a really cheap black sticker that's actually kind of grey.I wonder what's under it?

author: Lukas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2015, 06:23:07 pm
content: I'm wondering what's the point in storing 2048 acquisitions if the only way to view them is to scroll through all of them? Who's going to do that?Does the touchscreen support dragging waveforms around (vertical/horizontal offset)? If no, what's the point of having a touchscreen instead of softkeys?

author: jancumps
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2015, 06:53:51 pm
content: One advantage of touch screen is that they could make the scope smaller.I see good use for a touch screen on a scope, both for the menus and for scrolling and zooming in traces.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2015, 08:20:04 pm
content: $5k? Really? I am not impressed.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2015, 09:33:10 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on September 11, 2015, 08:20:04 pmIf you need 4 channels at 500MHz then it's very cheap (compared to the others...)

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2015, 09:40:39 pm
content: Thanks Dave, yes incredible boot speed.It does look a little unfinished doesn't it, but as you say price is good for a big brand.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2015, 09:56:47 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on September 11, 2015, 08:20:04 pmNeither am I... This review gave me the feeling the touchscreen is a gimmick, the oscilloscope has an under-powered processor and it does not shine on features. However, given I do not have one on my hands, I can only speculate...

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2015, 09:59:31 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on September 11, 2015, 09:56:47 pmIt's better than having menu buttons down the side.

author: lincoln
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2015, 10:00:27 pm
content: I don't know, I like the black. Better than bromine brown.It seems like they kept the annoying "features" of the LeCroy scopes, Trigger level indicator, (or lack there of) and wired menuing but ditched the statistics and mesurment functions.So if you had 4~6k to spend on a 4 channel scope what would you pick?

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2015, 11:58:19 pm
content: Great balanced review as always. Its a shame they didnt send through the logic/mixed signal parts to play with too so you could show them off, if it does serial decoding from the analog channels in the PC that would be rather nice especially since they support other brands of scope with the logic studio package!

author: GlowingGhoul
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 03:40:54 am
content: You'll be reminded this is the cheapest unit on the market every single moment you're using it.

author: Wuerstchenhund
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 06:40:19 am
content: Quote from: lincoln on September 11, 2015, 10:00:27 pmLeCroy WaveSurfer 3000:I'd say its a better and more balanced scope than the Keysight DSOX3k(T) and Tek MSO3000 (it's main competitors) unless you really need one of the options that are only available for the DSOX3k(T) or you need a built-in spectrum analyzer with shoddy specs. Plus the WaveSurfer is still cheaper than Keysight's and Tek's offerings, even more so for the higher bandwidth models.A real shame that Dave couldn't get one of these to review instead of the WaveJet, which essentially is an almost 10 year old design.

author: Wuerstchenhund
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 06:52:19 am
content: Quote from: lincoln on September 11, 2015, 10:00:27 pmNot sure what you're talking about, as LeCroy scopes have had trigger level indicators since the beginning of dawn. Plus this scope is not a LeCroy design, its an Iwatsu rebadge (i.e. it's designed and manufactured by Iwatsu), and its menu structure has very little in common with LeCroy designed scopes.

author: Karel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 07:14:27 am
content: Quote from: Wuerstchenhund on September 12, 2015, 06:52:19 amOnce LeCroy put their name on it, it's their design. At least they are backing it. If you don't agree with how a product is designed,then don't put your name on it. So, if this product is below expectations, there's only LeCroy to blame.

author: ckm
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 07:51:26 am
content: Quote from: lincoln on September 11, 2015, 10:00:27 pmLeCroy currently has a refurbished WaveRunner w/warranty on eBay for $6k - 1Ghz, 20GS/s, very large screen that works in both portrait and landscape mode.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Teledyne-LeCroy-WaveRunner-610Zi-1GHz-Oscilloscope-64Mpt-and-20GS-Upgrade-/321858987844?hash=item4af04a6744That would be my pick. No affiliation, but I've owned a couple of LeCroys - they are typically hugely undervalued in the second hand market and the genuine LeCroy built/designed ones are very, very fast - way faster than any similar vintage Tek or Agilent/HP/thescopecompanywithnoname. A little different to drive than more mainstream scopes, but I like them. I think this particular version is built on a Windows platform (so are some of the Agilents) so don't expect a super fast boot time.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 08:40:34 am
content: Quote from: Wuerstchenhund on September 12, 2015, 06:40:19 amThey just sent it too me out of the blue. I didn't even know what scope it was until I got it.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 08:42:08 am
content: Quote from: ckm on September 12, 2015, 07:51:26 amYep, if I was spending $6K of my own money I'd go for a factory refurbished scope. All the major manufacturers are selling them now at good prices.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 10:55:11 am
content: Quote from: Fungus on September 11, 2015, 09:59:31 pmUhm... Not in my opinion, given the lost screen real state to accomodate the "fingersize-appropriate" button icons, the lack of multi-touch for zoom/selection and the lack of a rolling menu (such as any of the modern smartphones) to remove the "next page" button once and for all.Quote from: Wuerstchenhund on September 12, 2015, 06:40:19 amI wonder if LeCroy is afraid of Dave's thumb seal of approval/disapproval...But the fact this is a 10 year old design helps put the scope into perspective...

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 01:09:23 pm
content: Touchscreens are great for small portable devices that have no room for buttons, and OK for certain other applications.But why would I want to smear the big, beautiful screen of a new $6000+ oscilloscope that really is not required to be "as small as possible", instead of using proper tactile buttons?Maybe it's just me that dislikes smeared screens...

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 01:14:53 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on September 12, 2015, 10:55:11 amThe problem isn't the touch screen then, the problem is that when the menu's hidden the waveform display doesn't fill up the empty space.FWIW: It might have made more sense to not hide the menu. At least then the problem wouldn't be so glaringly obvious.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 02:08:05 pm
content: I had the predecessor, theWavejet 354(without Touch) and the screen layout really has not changed much at all. It seems this scope is the same as before, just with added touch.The lagging of button response when the FFT was on was also present in my 354.Interestingly, the one I had, came with a light and pleasant outside color.But, the main reason why I do not have this scope anymore was the unbearable noise from the fan.Since Dave did not mentioned this in his review -or I missed it - may be this is a true improvement to the older version.

author: Wuerstchenhund
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 04:33:07 pm
content: Quote from: SilverSolder on September 12, 2015, 01:09:23 pmAlmost all high-end scopes these days come with touch screen, and that is for a reason, which is that touch allows users to work with the many and often very complex functions on these scopes without requiring a mouse/keyboard connected (which usually would be a pain on the bench) or a front panel with 600+ buttons. When combined with a good UI which has been designed for touch control like MAUI touch allows for easy manipulation of relevant parameters without having to wade through endless menu layers.Of course, on the other side when combined with a simple button UI like the one on the WaveJet 300T then touch operation becomes mostly a gimmick.QuoteOr maybe not all touch screens are glossy mirrors on which fingerprints stick like on the gluey side of transparent tape? Most touch screens on industrial and T&M gear are matte, and unless you're using them while eating a greasy McWhopper or immediately after doing an oil change on your car there won't be many fingerprints left on the screen. It's mostly only consumer electronics that comes with glossy touch screens, apparently because consumers believe the shinier the better.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 07:59:14 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on September 12, 2015, 01:14:53 pmIt isifthe UI was changed to accommodate larger buttons for the touchscreen feature. According to Highvoltage's post that does not seem to be the case, though.Regardless, that does not invalidate my opinion nor the other two issues I pointed out.All in all it is just a matter of opinion: you said you prefer touch instead of buttons, while I prefer buttons if touch is immersed on such simple UI and is missing features I consider important - thus, it feels like a gimmick to me.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 08:27:40 pm
content: Seems to me that they installed the wrong color LED to indicate channel 1 - it has got to be possible to install a yellow LED in place of a green one.btw, I love black test gear, this scope really seems unfinished though.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 08:33:13 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on September 12, 2015, 02:08:05 pmYou did, he said it was similar to the GW, just a little noisier and the loudest of the 4. IIRC the Tek was the best.

author: lincoln
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 09:27:08 pm
content: Quote from: Wuerstchenhund on September 12, 2015, 06:52:19 amHello,Thank you for the replies, I was digging through their e-bay shop just before this thread.What i men it the trigger level line, At home i have a 9345? (forget exactly which one) It struck me that it has the same "<-T" pointer but no line as well. Tough I take bask what I wrote about ditching the measurement stuff. I just didn't see it the first time through the video.Link

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 11:53:53 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on September 12, 2015, 02:08:05 pmIn what year did LeCroy switch to black case anyway?

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 12:19:34 am
content: Quote from: Wuerstchenhund on September 12, 2015, 04:33:07 pmFairy nuff. Personally, what I want from a scope is a high quality analog front end, high quality ADC conversion, a good screen and physical buttons - and an output port for exporting data to a PC so I can use a nice big 28 inch or better monitor, mouse, and keyboard for deeper analysis when needed. There are dozens of applications and graphics packages for PCs that blow away pretty much any scope, irrespective of price. Even Excel can be a surprisingly good tool.QuoteI have been doing photography for too long, I guess... a fingerprint on a beautiful picture is just... wrong!

author: Wuerstchenhund
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 05:40:59 am
content: Quote from: Hydrawerk on September 14, 2015, 11:53:53 pmIt started around 2008 with the introduction of the WaveSurfer (M)Xs-B and the WavePro 7zi.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2015, 05:22:06 pm
content: Wavejet Touch 354 has a very bad DPO performance for the price. It is worse than Rigol, Siglent, or even that obsolete Tektronix DPO2000B from year 2008.Agilent 54622D was also better at DPO.https://youtu.be/aVNfFewFn_Y?t=14m38s

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2015, 09:28:49 pm
content: The replay function is too simple. There is only manual scroll.