Rigol DHO 4000 series 800 MHz high resolution oscilloscope  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: fracton
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 12:06:07 pm
content: Has anyone here used the Rigol DHO 4000 series oscilloscopes, particularly the 800MHz model no. DHO4804? With DHO/MHO 5000 series out, there seems to be price drop on the 4000 series, and seems to be great deal for about $4k.Features:Ultra-low noise floor: 18 µVrmsHigh resolution of 12 bits (upto 16 bits in high res)Up to 4 GSa/s real-time sample rateHigh sensitivity: 100 µV vertical scaleVertical sensitivity range: 100 µV/div to 10 V/div,Math modesOptional battery packPS: I am looking to upgrade my test equipment with a new oscilloscope. I've been using the lecroy's 500MHz scope (wavesurfer 3054z) for the last 7 years until it suddenly decided to give up on me.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 07:43:04 pm
content: Quote from: fracton on August 19, 2025, 12:06:07 pmFYI, made for LeCroy with a long running relationship with Siglent.How has it failed ?

author: rpro
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 07:54:20 pm
content: As much as I like my DHO800 and MS5000, I find Rigol’s approach to software grossly negligent.On the DHO models with Bode capability, the numerical results are correct, but the plots are broken (it looks like a log vs. linear conversion issue before interpolation for plotting— likely a two-line code fix). Yet after months, even years, this remains unfixed.Similarly, their FFT flat top window implementation is wrong and it lacks basic features such as averaging and peak hold. These issues and features their spectrum analyzer team could fix/add in a matter of hours or, at most, a few man-days. Still, nothing has been done, despite repeated posts in this forum, that you would think someone at Rigol follows.Their hardware is strong for the price and shows real potential, but their software I am sorry to say is nowhere near competitive at this point — not even close.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 08:39:25 pm
content: Hi,QuoteIf that's your price limit, I would definitely recommend the SDS3000X HD.Anyone coming from “LeCroy” scopes will quickly find their way around it; the UIs are quite similar, which is not really surprising considering the long-standing collaboration between LeCroy and Siglent.At work, our “smallest” LeCroy is a WS3024Z, which is significantly faster than the model without Z, but it's no match for a Siglent SDS2000X HD or even a 3000X HD.I tested the Rigol DHO4000 and the newer MHO5000, and you can find my reviews in the forum.Overall, neither of them are serious competition for the SDS3000X HD.I would therefore strongly recommend the 3000X HD as a “worthy successor” to the WS3054Z.QuoteIf it still does not start up, check the internal backup battery.

author: iMo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 09:00:51 pm
content: Quote from: rpro on August 19, 2025, 07:54:20 pmAnd not only that - there is a severe bug when switching between FFT window and waveform view - see the latest posts in Rigol DHO800 bugs thread.. So a high time to escalate..

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 10:06:47 pm
content: Martin, Imo,you guys are not getting it. Rigol heard the complaints. They decided to act.They dropped prices.

author: iMo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2025, 05:55:27 am
content: So at the end of the day they will sell not functioning scopes for $19.99..PS: no problem with that provided they will put the stuff on the github..Quote from: 2N3055 on August 19, 2025, 10:06:47 pm