Owon Oscilloscope TAO3000A , TAO3104A 14bit 4CH -- (CLOSED) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: ptluis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2021, 05:30:56 pm
content: Today I received an offer fromOWON on a TAO3104 4-Channel Tablet Oscilloscope for €390I'm more interested in the "A" version, the 14 bit one, TAO3104AI have no offer for this model so the price will be the one on the website.https://www.owontechnology.eu/product/2763938/owon-tao3104-4ch-100mhz-tablet-digital-oscilloscopehttps://www.owontechnology.eu/product/2763991/owon-tao3104a-4ch-14bits-100mhztablet-digital-oscilloscopeI've been looking for reviews or users who are using this device, but I had no luck beyond a few short videos without much content. Is anyone on this forum using one of these scopes that could share their experience?ThanksUpdate:Received a reply to my email today, only one answer to the five I asked:1. options that shown as "optional" on the website, they reply their all standard enabled.2. firmware updates, NO ANSWER3. wifi, NO ANSWER4. other private questions, NO ANSWERSo my veredict: NO BUYthis is the wrong way of doing business, so I'm out of interest.BTW, I found that this models are also sold as "Multicomp Pro Tablet Oscilloscopes", another chinese thing rebranded.For me, REbranded Chinese devices should be !!cheap!! because they are items to use and throw away. We never know what the genuine brand is.

author: rvalente
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2021, 06:39:52 pm
content: Its a brand new model, not much has been seen yet. Can you get one for review?IMHO with those specs and price I'd just go with a Micsig STO1104C. Surely it is more expensive but seems better to meIs the converter a true 14 bit or 8/10 bit oversample (I bet oversampled, as previous owon products)Is the touch GUI any good? Micsig GUI seems to be good and well polishedOnly two knobs? The perfect recipe to drive you crazy with a bunch of sub menus and multiplexing (even with touch)For that price, If I need mobile scope I'd go with a STO1104C. If I need a bench I'd go with a SDS1104X-E or a GW Instek

author: ptluis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2021, 06:57:16 pm
content: Hi rvalenteBesides the SDS1104X-E, I need another oscilloscope this time a portable one, so I'm still searching. I'm aware of the MICSIG STO1104C, and it's still on my buy list but I didn't like the fact that they remove features from previous firmware revisions without notice when they launch a new firmware version. There are some reports about this. Do you own a MICSIG?Concerning the OWON I asked about the CAN feature because it's not clear if it is included or not, but no answer yet.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2021, 07:01:55 pm
content: Quote from: ptluis on November 09, 2021, 06:57:16 pmWhat does this mean? What did they remove?

author: ptluis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2021, 08:42:20 pm
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on November 09, 2021, 07:01:55 pmI read on a review somewhere (need to search again) that after the user updated the firmware on his unit one of the features he uses was removed. I don't know if it's true or false because I don't own this scope, but it's something that concerns me until I'm sure of what's going on.

author: ptluis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2021, 08:49:21 pm
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on November 09, 2021, 07:01:55 pmcheck here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/question-for-micsig-tablet-oscilloscope-owners/msg3792662/#msg3792662

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2021, 08:51:32 pm
content: Quote from: ptluis on November 09, 2021, 08:42:20 pmThis is exactly how false things get spread. You don't know, yet you state they remove things....You need to do research BEFORE repeating...I will tell you what was removed.A standby mode.Which might be useful to some people but is not a problem in general. Scope boots in 30-40 seconds anyway..But I agree that it is lame they simply removed it..But I don't miss it.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2021, 08:53:47 pm
content: Quote from: ptluis on November 09, 2021, 08:49:21 pmYes that is unquotable statement. He didn't provide any proof or explanation. I know what he talks about because I remember our previous discussion. But we must be careful with these things.Micsig scopes are brilliant little things.

author: ptluis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2021, 09:10:57 pm
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on November 09, 2021, 08:51:32 pmSo you just confirm that something was removed right? so it wasn't falseIf the stand by mode isn't any good for you or others could be for me or others, that's the point.but I'm RESEARCHING that's how I found that comment. All comments are on top of the table, bad or good, the point here is thatthey made changes without notice.And REPEATING is good, why should I be quiet? hide something that could be of interest to me and others? Me as a consumer want to know all the negative points about any kind of equipment.HIDDING is NOT the proper way of solving problems and I don't care if the fanboys don't like it, I simply don't care!

author: SpecialK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2021, 11:20:52 pm
content: Check out this video from two days ago:Looks like a good unit to me.

author: rvalente
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2021, 01:59:36 am
content: Quote from: ptluis on November 09, 2021, 06:57:16 pmI still to not own a micsig, nor had any chance to play or use it but, reading critical opinions here seems to be a very good choice, at least of the 1000 class of instruments (like 1054z, SDS1000X-U (single DAC design) and STO1104C and E)I'm not sure how portable do you need it to be but there is a thread here from people feeding 60V DC instead of mains on the 1054Z (like a dewalt 60V pack or 3x 20V packs or a boost converter) and they had success. Maybe an option for you

author: ptluis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2021, 05:19:41 pm
content: Quote from: rvalente on November 10, 2021, 01:59:36 amJust to clarify things to all readers, and regarding the Micsig i never wrote it was a bad equipment, nobody find one single post anyware of me saying that. What I complaint is regarding the way this manufacturer removed a feature without notice, at least one feature I consider of value, standby mode is a must in any portable equipment. Imagine if all smarphone manufacturers one day decide to remove the stand by feature...Anyway, I contacted Micsig about 8 days ago regarding the above point and other questions but no response at the moment. But the micsig is still in my shopping list until something similar come up. I need to understand the modus operandi of this manufacturer regarding firmware upgrades before buying anything from them. I'm spending about 3500€ in equipment at the end of the month, so I want to know exactly how each manufacturer do things before I add 500€++ products to my shopping list. it's my right.To rvalente, i know that trick, and I use it alot with many equipments, but since I'm going to buy new equipments, I'll include a tablet oscilloscope and other portable stuff also in my budget.SpecialK, thank you for the video linkHe made a mistake with the compensation test points but nothing serious. Its not in deep analysis but it's a starting point. The 14 bit really makes a difference, I think i'll change the topic title to the "A" version. I still didn't understand the CAN feature being optional. I sent an email to Owon about that, lets see if they reply back.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2021, 06:03:17 pm
content: Quote from: SpecialK on November 09, 2021, 11:20:52 pmYeah, it's always a sign of quality when autoset fails with the built-in test signal.The menus and controls look awful compare to a micsig, and look at how the frame rate drops near to zero when he turns on FFT.

author: rvalente
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2021, 06:32:59 pm
content: PTLUIS (Portuguese brother here, Renan Valente)Well, as expected, it is not a true 14bit scope but a really oversampled 8 bit.http://files.owon.com.cn/specifications/TAO3000_4CH_Series_Oscilloscopes_SPECIFICATIONS.pdfFor the price, resources, support, (I never liked this owon brand anyway, seems really cheap, just personal opinion, no facts)I'd got micsig

author: ptluis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2021, 06:58:32 pm
content: Quote from: rvalente on November 10, 2021, 06:32:59 pmOlá meu irmão!Nothing is decided yet, just adding models to my shopping cart, I still have time to decide. Micsig is still an option

author: ptluis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2021, 08:47:24 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on November 10, 2021, 06:03:17 pmthe youtuber inverted the connections to the built-in test signal, that's why autoset didn't work

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2021, 10:23:58 am
content: Quote from: ptluis on November 10, 2021, 08:47:24 pmIt's also paid sponsorship video so I wouldn't really trust his opinion on how awesome it is.

author: ptluis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2021, 11:37:23 am
content: Quote from: Fungus on November 11, 2021, 10:23:58 amYes just like most of the reviews on youtube and other places, but it is a way of seeing how it works and trying to notice problems or defects. That's why it's necessary to look for several reviews and opinions to reach a conclusion. For example I've seen several videos about Micsig STO1104C/E I can't find anything about the "pass/fail" function in the user manual. I've already emailed micsig and they don't respond. Do you know if this model has this function?

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2021, 07:00:31 pm
content: Quote from: ptluis on November 11, 2021, 11:37:23 amIt doesn't have it.