Big Scope Comparison (need clarification) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2013, 04:26:00 am
content: Ok, I'm probably nowhere near financially able to make a purchase, but I have been doing some comparisons on scopes.The problem I'm having is some vendors give the sample rate in total and some per channel.Can someone glance over this list and see if there's something to correct? I would like the sample rate to be in total, so 1GS/s on one channel and 500MS/s for two channels.I'm working on my own "value" formula for me that basically goes Price divided by Frequency divided by MS/s and that will get me the value indicator as far as raw functionality. (The lower, the better)Then I will try to weigh that against screen size and res, and the other value added items (LAN, RS-232, VGA etc)So could you all just verify if I have my MS/s for a single probe correct?Code:BrandModelFreqChanMS/sOwonPDS5022T252100OwonSDS5032E302250OwonSDS6062602500RigolDS1052E5021000RigolDS1102E100 21000AttenADS1042C402500AttenADS1022CL+252500AttenADS1042CML4021000AttenADS1062CAL6021000AttenADS1102CAL10021000AttenADS1102CA10021000SiglentSDS1022DL2521000SiglentSDS1052DL5021000TekwayDST1062B6021000InstekGDS-1052-U502250InstekGDS-1072A-U7021000AktakomADS-2022252500AktakomADS-2031302250AktakomADS-2031V302250AktakomADS-2061M602500AktakomADS-2061MV602500Also in case you're wondering where my formula has led me:Code:BrandModelPriceValueOwonPDS5022T2790.0558 Worst ValueOwonSDS5032E2990.0199OwonSDS60623490.0058RigolDS1052E3290.0033RigolDS1102E3990.0020AttenADS1042C2870.0072AttenADS1022CL+2900.0116AttenADS1042CML4110.0051AttenADS1062CAL3480.0029AttenADS1102CAL3390.0017 Best ValueAttenADS1102CA4390.0022SiglentSDS1022DL2390.0048 Best Price but not best valueSiglentSDS1052DL2900.0029TekwayDST1062B4410.0037InstekGDS-1052-U3850.0154InstekGDS-1072A-U4180.0030AktakomADS-20222990.0120AktakomADS-20312620.0175AktakomADS-2031V2720.0181AktakomADS-2061M3450.0058AktakomADS-2061MV3580.0060If I factor in screen:The Tekway gets the best over all value, but is the most expensive.If I go under 300, the Siglent SDS1052DL gets the best value in that range.I need to re-do this though because I want to factor in sample depth also.Also a good screen is important to me so that may end up knocking out the 5.7 320x240 screen scopes. Rigol would probably be out except for the hackability factor.Also if I've left out a scope in the under $450 USD range, let me know.I found PCE and Xytron scopes but they seem to be rebadged versions of other scopes that are sold only in certain parts of the world.If you're wanting to know what I'll be using it for, strictly hobby level stuff. Microcontrollers, 555 timers, adding and subtracting capacitors, inductors, and maybe playing with sound. So I guess if that's it, really any scope would do, but I'm always up for a good value for the dollar.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2013, 05:21:22 am
content: Quote from: Stonent on June 22, 2013, 04:26:00 ami think you need to add more variables to your equation.... to be accurate.guarantee, menu jump around factor, internal clock stability, stability/accuracy when measuring a 10MHz rubidium standard, FTT performance, dual trigger, probe 10x precision,just to name a few...also there are other brands like UNI-T,.Bigger Screen without accuracy, speed or enough DSP is useless,for starters,think what´s the maximum SQR wave frequency you will be measuring, PWM from a Scanner? CNC Machine? Digital Audio? etc...multiply that by x20 & thats your scope Miniumum requirement.also more Real GSa/s the better.memory is a controversial topic, More the better, but some times less is more.for example:s/pdif at 192khz goes at >6MHz = 120MHz scope.FM Radio 110MHz, BUT FM Radio is NOT SQUARE waves, = for Sine a x2 should work, Nyquist minimum 220MHz scope, but more is better.Those 555 can go really fast.also there are other factors like Rise Time, if you really need to measure accurate Rise&Fall Times, you need a really fast Scope >500MHz has 0.7ns, 350MHz has 1ns, etc...going cheap on BW is not a good idea.if you need to detect digital glitchs, you need a fast wms/s, Agilent dsox3k has 1M, almost all others are under 100k waveforms per second, and cheap scopes are too slow....is not all about value, it´s about what works.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2013, 05:33:14 am
content: Yeah I know, I actually do have more variables but I haven't been able to give them values yet.But I will also say, yes, I know I don't know enough to even be making informed decisions outside of paper specs.I will dig in more as I start to narrow things down. Hopefully eventually add chipset into my calculations.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2013, 08:15:22 am
content: Oh thanks for reminding me of Uni-T. I found a 100Mhz scope that's currently tied now with the Atten using my unscientific score. However I can't find the screen resolution mentioned anywhere. I'm guessing it's going to be 480x234 as all the 7" scopes seem to be that resolution.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2013, 11:58:11 pm
content: So what's a go/no-go software feature I should be looking for?Probably a good chance the OWON scopes are out of the running due to Dave's recent bad review of one of their ones that was even higher end than what I'm looking for.Also I've published my read-only spreadsheet if anyone noticed a correction that needs to be made, please let me know.https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnnYGMOtVmrVdFZrT19PR1ZTOTFKSHFzZFBpT3hiTmc&usp=sharingThe areas below the main list part were just scratch areas where I've got a few scopes that didn't make the main list because of lack of details and below that is my attempt to create a value based on screen.

author: tinhead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2013, 01:29:48 pm
content: Quote from: Stonent on June 22, 2013, 04:26:00 amright, typical price is something 330EUR so $429 for Tekway DST1062B (or Voltcraft DSO-1062D).However, right now there are some Hantek DSO5062B for $329 and DSO5101B (100MHz bw) models for $334 on ebay, that is dirt cheap.There is another model, with 24kpoint memory (but latest hw) for $220, look for Hantek DSO5072P