New scope?  Protek 8204 200MHz 4ch 2GSa $1K; AWG, MSO, decode software options - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: TimInCanada
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 04:44:05 pm
content: Came acrossthis on Ebay:Looks promising, especially if the options can be hacked.But, it appears to be something of a mystery scope. The manufacturer's website, if I've got this right, isgsi-protek.com, and the specs and picture they have are very different:Maybe Dave can have a look in his dumpster to see if one has fallen in yet...

author: rf-loop
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 05:07:14 pm
content: Quote from: TimInCanada on March 27, 2018, 04:44:05 pmThis upper image Protek 8204 isOLD Siglent SDS2000series scope or copy (Not SDS2000X series)

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 05:11:51 pm
content: Yeah, that is what I was going to say: it was either a pre-production unit or a rebadge.I searched around and foundthis datasheetthat confirms the second photograph.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 10:13:13 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on March 27, 2018, 05:11:51 pmRebadged SDS2000 and running early V1 firmware as the memory depth is listed as only 28 Mpts not 70 as was made available with V2 firmware.The later SDS2000X models had a few HW changes, namely the front panel layout for better ergonomics, new smaller MSO probe set and more memory to allow for a standard 140 Mpts across all 2000X models.

author: Performa01
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 07:53:13 am
content: Quote from: tautech on March 27, 2018, 10:13:13 pmWould be fun to find out whether this Protek rebadge of the trusty old SDS2000 could be updated with the original Siglent firmware...

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 08:00:36 am
content: Quote from: Performa01 on March 28, 2018, 07:53:13 amOf course it can, with the right .cfg file.You should have it.HintNov 15sds2k_V100R02B01D01P27_fvA1511171117M151117 plus cfg file.

author: Performa01
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 08:32:21 am
content: Quote from: tautech on March 28, 2018, 08:00:36 am... which should open the upgrade path to the latest SDS2k FW and turn this scope into something really nice and useful - whereas the old V1 FW certainly isn't something to write home about.Yes, I have the firmware version required to make the switch, but no Protek scope to play with. I still have the original SDS2304 though, only finally put away in a cabinet about half a year ago, as with all the testing of the more recent units I didn't turn it on anymore anyway

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 08:43:47 am
content: Quote from: Performa01 on March 28, 2018, 08:32:21 amI sold my 2304 a year or two back soon after a 2304X arrived.The early dealer versions didn't have MSO capability and as I needed a fully representative demo unit my thenbestDSO had to go to be replaced with another.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 09:25:17 am
content: That old version (?) of the Protek 8204 is listed at $2600 here:https://cc-globaltech.com/product/gsi-protek-8204-digital-mixed-oscilloscope-bandwidth-200-mhz/Is it worth that much? Probably not. So far, no bidder for the one on ebay either; but that may of course still change.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 09:35:32 am
content: Quote from: ebastler on March 28, 2018, 09:25:17 amHad to look back to 2014 pricing:SDS2204 2Gsa/s 70 Mpts (V2 FW) 200 MHz, zero options $ 1998EditLatest pricing on revised replacement model SDS2204X $ 1532 with 140 Mpts memory !And there's a promo running for the options.

author: Performa01
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 10:46:08 am
content: Quote from: ebastler on March 28, 2018, 09:25:17 amhttps://www.batronix.com/versand/oszilloskope/Siglent-SDS2204X.htmlThat's the deal in the EU - for the current X model, which has a number of improvements over its predecessor that would be equivalent to the Protek.And a pretty sweet deal for the Options bundle on top of that.And the moral of the story is - never get carried away by some offering without further investigations. Having it discussed here was certainly a good idea and might prevent someone from paying way too much for an outdated rebadged instrument.