Siglent scope, doesn't work like my Tek scope, am I missing something? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: jnz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2020, 08:50:57 pm
content: Have a SDS2104X+ and an OLD TDS2002.The TDS2002 was a good first scope but this modern Siglent murders it in every possible way. Except on annoyance!On the Tek, when I trigger and capture a signal, I can "zoom" by turning the Horizontal Scale and it uses the center of the scope as the "reference" point. So if I scroll over to a rising edge that's 4ms away from my trigger, and adjust horizontal scroll, I "zoom in" at that rising edge.On the Siglent, when I trigger and adjust horizontal, it uses the trigger as the reference. So the effect is the part I want to see closer is now offscreen. If I scroll to 4ms, and dial, it moves me to 2ms and now whatever I was interested in has "shifted" over.So what I've had to do is look at the timebase offset I've scrolled to, adjust the scale, and then manually type that offset back in to get back to what I want to look at.I'm clearly doing something wrong, but I don't really understand what. Any advice?EDIT: I should note I suppose this is what the ZOOM button is for, but it does the same thing, as I dial in or out it shifts my signal off screen based on the trigger point. I can usually scroll back to it using the zoom guide on the top, this is just a lot of scroll around.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 23, 2020, 01:37:13 am
content: This comes down to the "User Interface" - that is, how the controls of each unit are designed to function. Two different companies doing things two different ways is not uncommon.Certainly, there can be reasons why certain things are done in a particular way that relate to some aspects of the circuitry used to perform various functions - and sometimes it's a matter of things being done because it seemed like a good idea at the time.

author: 0culus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2020, 02:02:29 am
content: Are you sure your TDS2002 isn't already set up to put the trigger point in the center and your new Siglent isn't? This is possible on every DSO I've ever touched.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2020, 03:39:08 am
content: Quote from: jnz on September 22, 2020, 08:50:57 pmTry setting the Reference position in the Utility menu as if you are using a trigger position that is NOT 0s zooming on a capture will send your trigger position off the display.With this feature you can set the horizontal trigger position where you most like it and it remains there regardless of any timebase setting.A couple of screenshots, note the timebase on the 2nd one after setting the Ref position to 1 graticule from the left edge of the display.

author: jnz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2020, 05:58:59 pm
content: Close Tautech,It turns out what I was looking for was HORIZONTAL REF in that same utility menu.So on my pic, if I want to zoom in / change time base while looking at that little spike. I just need to center it in the screen at the 50% point and change time base and it'll keep it in frame. Align the thing I want to look at with the unfilled blue arrow. How this isn't standard I have no idea, seems to much nicer than always aligning off the trigger point!Thanks everyone!EDIT: Hey, how did you grab a screenshot to USB without the SAVE/RECALL menu showing?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2020, 07:49:49 pm
content: Quote from: jnz on September 23, 2020, 05:58:59 pmPressing the Horizontal Pos control auto zeros it back to 0s and this 'press to zero' feature is common to many of the controls except Multi function and Trigger level where a press sets it to 50% level.Play around with them some and it will all become pretty obvious why it's setup this way.Press the blue Print button to take screenshots straight to USB.