Student/Hobbyist planning to buy a Owon SDS7102... advice needed - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: luisr
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2012, 03:12:48 am
content: Hi I'm planning to buy a DSO for use at home (Hobbyist) and at university(electronic engineering student). After reading/viewing some reviews I decided to buy the SDS7102 because I really like the 8" screen and the fact that apparently they use better ADC than their Rigol counterpart.Now, AFAIK the sampling rate on the SDS7102 will be cut in Half when using both channels but I'm not sure when this would represent a problem (in terms of waveform accuracy) when using the SDS7102 for my lab practices... if so, then should I buy a SDS8102 (wich have same bandwith but double sampling rate) or even a SDS8202 (wich have double bandwith and double sampling rate)?as I side note: I only got $800 to buy the DSO and I really wish to upgrade my DMM to a Fluke 87v or Agilent counterpart, so buying the SDS8102 or SDS8202 will leave me stuck with my UNI-T UT60B for quite long timeThanks in advance and sorry for bad english

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 05, 2012, 02:37:18 pm
content: I would get the cheaper scope: a good scope and a good DMM are better than a better scope and a crap DMM.There have been some posts on this forum about the SDS8102. There were some serious limitations if I remember correctly.

author: osarus
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 05, 2012, 03:21:36 pm
content: Only you can answer if 100mhz is enough and the sampling frequency will show the details in waveforms you require for your workMore is always better, but not if you wont use it.I'd go with the upgraded DMM also, will you be using it more then the scope?

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2012, 05:55:10 pm
content: +1 for the better meter.Your english is fine btw.-sj

author: luisr
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2012, 02:54:32 pm
content: Thanks to all of you for anwsering... there's no doubt than I need to buy a good DMM because I will be using it more than the scope...Quote from: osarus on February 05, 2012, 03:21:36 pmWell, you got a point: I don't know exactly what I will be working with through the course of my career, so it's better I start asking. I will talk to the electronics department chief of my university and asking for advise about my DSO purchasingThanks again

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2012, 09:37:02 pm
content: You will likely be provided with all sorts of expensive and powerful equipment at your place of work when you are employed, so you don't need to plan for that as a personal purchase now. After you have been working for a few years you will also be able to afford something much more expensive than you can afford today. When buying as a student look to your immediate needs and don't aim too high. I bought all sorts of expensive things when I was young and while they were appealing at the time they became obsolete and no longer useful today.When buying things now you are buying to learn, not buying for your future professional life. Consider the educational value of what you buy, and sometimes that may mean fewer features are better. It can help you to learn more about the theory of operation and where the limitations of any given design might be.

author: luisr
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2012, 02:53:14 pm
content: IanB: I did exactly the oppositiveI was going to buy an Agilent U1272A but I ended buying a Fluke 287 at Amazon for about $415 (including shipping)... the U122A was at arround $380... I just couldn't miss that 30% discount offer.Is an overkill I know... but hey, is a Fluke DMM! it should last me a very long time, shouldn't it?Thanks to al

author: olsenn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2012, 03:14:15 pm
content: QuoteI own the Fluke 87-V and I can say that, in general, Flukes are built to last a long time and withstand high levels of abuse. That being said, much of the added size, weight, cost, and loss of battery life in the 287/289 is due to provisions made to support data logging... I think a Rigol DM3058/DM3068 benchtop multimeter is far better than the Fluke in that regards and not much more expensive... but if you lready purchased the Fluke 287 I wouldn't worry, it will serve you well for many years to come

author: TerminalJack505
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2012, 03:41:15 pm
content: Quote from: olsenn on February 27, 2012, 03:14:15 pmDo you have the Rigol DM3058 or DM3068? I wondering if the data logging software is any good. I couldn't get a whole lot of information on the meter from Rigol's website. You have to register just to download their datasheets, specifications and whatnot. WTF?I was thinking about getting one of the Flukes on Amazon at $408. The cheapest that I could find a Rigol DM3058 for is $695. Do you know of somewhere to get them cheaper?

author: luisr
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2012, 07:28:17 pm
content: Well a Rigol 30x8 will definitely be an overkill... I did my homework before buying the 287, so I was aware of the weight and battery life, thanks to Dave (eevblog) and a guy called MJLORTONI just discover that DIGIKEY has the 287 at $493.95 (Don't know if that includes shipping) so at the end I just saved 90 bucks, but they don't will last long in my amazon acount... that FX-888 at $85 looks pretty well.Anyway I think it will be very handy to have such meter in my tollbox

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2012, 07:38:33 pm
content: Quote from: TerminalJack505 on February 27, 2012, 03:41:15 pmThe earlier Rigol DM3061 turned out to be an incredible piece of shit.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/product-reviews-photos-and-discussion/rigol-dm3061-6-12-digit-multimeter/msg62859/#msg62859QuoteWell, Rigol is a religion. You are supposed to believe, not to know.

author: TerminalJack505
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2012, 08:11:58 pm
content: Thanks for the link B@W. That's probably going to be a deal breaker for me. I saw the pics that olsenn posted of his DM3058 and it doesn't seem nearly as bad but I don't want to take any chances.