Thinking about replacing my RTB2004 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Joel_l
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2025, 04:52:54 pm
content: I really like my RTB, the 10" display and higher resolution than most others.Two things I would like that the RTB misses is color grading ( I think Siglent calls is temperature ), and a qualified trigger. Of the two, the qualified trigger is most useful to me. I use it on my Tek scopes at work quite often.I have looked at the Siglent offerings and they lack in other areas ( the RTB display is nice ), though they are a lot of bang for the buck. I notice even their low end HD scopes support a qualified trigger.I want to stay sub 3000 USD for another scope. In my causal looking so far, I am not seeing anything. Main other musts are 300+MHz, 4 channel, various serial protocol decoders. So mostly an RTB 2004 with all options, add a qualified trigger.Any thoughts?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2025, 08:00:00 pm
content: Come dip your toes in the water with a cheap but very capable 70 MHz 2ch SD802X HD to get a better idea of the feature set and the GUI that's also used in the higher level models.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2025, 09:32:03 pm
content: Quote from: Joel_l on February 20, 2025, 04:52:54 pmThese line of R&S scopes are king of the hill where it comes to decoding. Nothing else comes close in ease of use & workflow. A better option is to buy another scope which supplements the feature set.

author: Hydron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2025, 11:57:34 am
content: Well the decoding is great until you want 2 bi-directional UARTs at least! (This was one of the disappointments when it was first released, hasn't really been an issue in my use but others may find it a significant limitation).As for "temperature" - have you tried the setting in the vertical menu? Has a few different grading options. There's also an inverse persistance option somewhere in a different menu.The RTB screen was the #1 reason I went for it in the first place way back when they first came out. I gotta say it's pretty disappointing that it's STILL the best display option (that I know of) out there for a low-midrange scope.

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2025, 04:25:12 pm
content: Quote from: Hydron on February 21, 2025, 11:57:34 amHello,the Micsig MHO3 with a 14 inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1200 may be an alternative.Best regardsegonotto

author: Pinkus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2025, 04:48:28 pm
content: Quote from: Hydron on February 21, 2025, 11:57:34 amExactly. Just at this moment I am debugging a project where I need to see decoded I2C and SPI (Miso+Mosi) signals on the screen (and I also need to see 2 analog channels). Impossible with the crippled (thank you R&S marketing!) RTB2004. I am glad I sold my RTB2004 a long time ago.

author: Joel_l
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2025, 03:12:44 am
content: I don't see any setting in the vertical menu for this. Sadly, I find the RTB is pretty bad in this respect. Even my old SDS1204 was better.Quote from: Hydron on February 21, 2025, 11:57:34 am

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 22, 2025, 07:45:33 am
content: Quote from: Joel_l on February 22, 2025, 03:12:44 amI am not in front of mine right now, but see the bottom of page 42 of the user manual.https://www.batronix.com/pdf/Rohde-Schwarz/RTB2000/RTB_UserManual_en.pdfUnder Vertical settings for Waveform Color you can choose Temperature, Rainbow, Fire, or Default (monochrome).

author: Joel_l
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2025, 02:39:57 pm
content: OK, thanks, I found it. It sort of works, not as nice as other scopes I have used, but yes, it is there.Still want a qualified trigger though.Thanks

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2025, 03:40:48 pm
content: Maybe a Siglent 2kHD …..back when it had the super pricing ….good triggers, big screen, okish resolution ?

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2025, 03:45:35 pm
content: Quote from: egonotto on February 21, 2025, 04:25:12 pmMHO3 looks attractive. Any notable limitations or downside?

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2025, 04:13:40 pm
content: Hello,the analytical capabilities are low. Only one math channel. Only one FFT with 360k.No function generator, no digital channels, but a good input filter.But you can transfer the data very quickly to a PC.There is a thread about the Micsig MHO3:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-micsig-scope-with-knobs-(again)/msg5381135/#msg5381135in which I have written a lot.Reply #107 summarizes my experience with it.The price at Batronix is a bit too high.Best regardsegonotto

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2025, 06:54:31 pm
content: Quote from: egonotto on February 22, 2025, 04:13:40 pmThx.Different horses for different courses but I think it might be possible to with the MHO3 if those are the differences.Might not need the digital channels if the 4 analog channels can do SPI and the other protocols.Don’t need a built in generator. One math ch could suffice as could one FFT, maybe. Not sure about 360k.In return for that the larger screen size and better resolution would be nice to have especially with 12 bit “HD.”Would be curious to hear more about the tradeoffs…

author: skander36
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2025, 07:33:02 pm
content: Quote from: Joel_l on February 22, 2025, 02:39:57 pmThe color grading function of this scope is on of the best in his class. It has 4 modes: Rainbow, Temperature, Fire for rare events and Normal color channel. Maybe you used it too rarely.If you are willing to spend 2-3 K the best option you can get is Siglent SDS2K HD as already has been said.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2025, 07:44:22 pm
content: Quote from: skander36 on February 24, 2025, 07:33:02 pmAnd don't forget reverse intensity. Far better to find rare events visually compared to having a high waveform update rate.