EEVblog #1218 - 1GHz Oscilloscope Spec Shootout - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 06, 2019, 03:35:35 am
content: Spreadsheet spec and feature comparison of eight 1GHz bandwidth oscilloscopesAlso a look at 2nd hand scopes.Siglent SDS5000Rigol DS7000 (500MHz)Rohde and Schwarz RTM3000Keysight 3000XKeysight 4000XTektronix Series 3 MDOTektronix Series 4 MSOLecroy Wavesurfer 3000

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2019, 04:42:00 am
content: SDS5000X will have Bode plot added in coming firmware and PA added too as an option AFAIK.Performa01 has made comment about this in a thread.The Arb option is a 14 bit SAG1021 module as you've mentioned.Oh, and as these run dual 5GSa/s ADC's, each has 250M of support for a total of 500M.

author: chickenHeadKnob
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2019, 08:50:44 am
content: to put in an external 1080p hdmi out is maybe $20 or less worth of parts. inexcusable these days

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 06, 2019, 09:13:12 am
content: Quote from: tautech on June 06, 2019, 04:42:00 amYes, confirmed, I heard from them, being added around Q3

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 06, 2019, 09:15:07 am
content: Quote from: chickenHeadKnob on June 06, 2019, 08:50:44 amOne problem may be the data mapping system.Keysight for example have a fixed 800x600 in the ASIC, and map samples to the screen all inside the ASIC.So you'd have to have 1080p built into the mapping system from the get-go with a fast data path

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2019, 10:56:05 am
content: From what I saw while testing it a bit, on R&S 3000 series, 10 bit is nice but not showstopper.. R&S has really nice low noise front end, that contributes more than 10 bit itself. Also it has lots of memory, but no search on basic serial protocols (I2C, SPI, UART), and for what little it has search for, search is only on current buffer, there is no search trough segments/historic buffers). So you have 50000 segments, and you have to go manually through them. Crazy. On Keysight 3000T you have 1000 segements max, but it can search and decode transparently trough it.. So R&S memory is great but useless because there are no tools to use it. On Keysight it works, memory is small but there are tools to use it to the max. Result: Keysight gives you 100% usability from 4Mpoints and 1000 segments, R&S gives you 0% of 400MPoints. Which is zero. Fail. A shame really, i wanted to buy it, but in the end, looks good on paper, but kept stumbling upon "really, it can't do that?" moments..R&S3000 is great. 10Bit, good front end. But Keysight 3000T still holds its ground. There are many things R&S 3000 still can't do. Went and bought MSOX3000T. 6 months later, still would do the same.Funny enough, Siglent 5000X starts to look better rounded scope than R&S for general use. They added search on analog events on segments on first FW update. There is more to come. Soon it will be more feature complete that R&S3000...Interesting times.

author: fanOfeeDIY
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 06, 2019, 03:16:02 pm
content: I am totally behind updating the Oscilloscope chart athttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/digital-oscilloscope-comparison-chartI really appreciate if anybody would add comments on the google sheet for the new Tek, Siglent, R&S models at the bellow link.Any partial comments is fine, it is very beneficial.https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rtPqMAkNw2bSkqocuc7zcYkl57fsdPVlxzyqcJmbKIc/edit#gid=197124678

author: branadic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2019, 05:58:57 pm
content: Hi Dave,I'm missing Teledyne LeCroy HDO4104A(-MS), HDO6104A(-MS) and HDO8108A with 12bit ADC in your comparison.-branadic-

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2019, 06:14:38 pm
content: What's not really covered is trigger capabilities (e.g. complex/qualified triggers), (automatic) measurement possibilities (gating, measurement over the whole sample buffer vs. screen buffer etc.) and search/analysis features. These things are much more important than a peak detect or the waveform update rate in many applications.Besides, it almost sounds in the video as if the Tek Series 4 would be the 1st scope to offer 12bit ADCs. This is not the case of course. E.g. there's the LeCroy HDO4000 line for quite some years which probably in the same price range as the Series 4, probably even cheaper.Last but not least, even if a bit older, the WaveSurfer 510 seems to be missing. It's in the same price range as the Tek Series 3 or Keysight 4000X but offers 10GS/s and is a "real" LeCroy, not result of a Siglent cooperation as the WS3000(Z).Anyway, personally I have high hopes for the Siglent SDS5000X. It's just s shame that the 350MHz model can't be updated to 1GHz and the 500MHz is a bit outside my limit. Still, it's the only scope in the contest with somewhat reasonable base prices and that comes with the basic decoders for free (without time limited discounts). I.e. it seems to be a bit unfair to to this comparison now, shortly after the R&S discount has started. Just a few weeks ago the bare naked 1GHz RTM3K would have been in the upper price range of this comparison with quite pricey options and not even the segmented memory for free (which is included even in the WS3000Z).

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2019, 09:04:30 pm
content: Quote from: branadic on June 06, 2019, 05:58:57 pm$18,000, $20 ish?, and $32,000.The first one maybe, but the second two are too expensive for the comparison.Quote from: 0xdeadbeef on June 06, 2019, 06:14:38 pmHe did put zone trigger. But thats the kind of thing you'd need 20 more lines for on the sheet. Most of them have the basics.SDS5000X: Edge, Slope, Pulse, Window, Runt, Interval, Dropout, Pattern, Qualified and Video (HDTV supported), zone (2 zones).MSO7000: Edge, Pulse, Slope, Video, Pattern, Duration, Timeout, Runt, Window, Delay, Setup/Hold, Nth Edge, serial protocol trigger, zone (2 zones).RTM3000: Edge, width, video, pattern, runt, rise time, fall time, serial bus, line, timeout.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2019, 09:46:08 pm
content: DSOX/MSOX3000TTrigger:Edge Trigger, Edge then Edge Trigger, Pulse Width Trigger, Pattern Trigger, OR Trigger, Rise/Fall Time Trigger, Near Field Communication (NFC) Trigger, Nth Edge Burst Trigger, Runt Trigger, Setup and Hold Trigger, Video Trigger, Zone Qualified PostTrigger (2 inclusion/exclusion zones)Serial Trigger /decode:I2C, SPI (2/3/4 wire), RS232/422/485/UART, CAN, CAN-dbc, CAN-FD (CAN-FD ISO), LIN, LIN symbolic, SENT, CXPI, FlexRay, MIL-STD 1553, ARINC 429, USB PD, I2S, User-definable Manchester, User-definable NRZ

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2019, 12:25:42 am
content: I think there is an error in the overview: the RTM3000 definitely has color grading and you can set it to multiple modes as well (including reverse brightness).

author: Performa01
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2019, 10:53:28 am
content: Seems like some members here think that the price/performance ratio of the SDS5000X makes it an interesting option, so I thought I’d add my comments and try to clarify a few things:Like any other Siglent X-series DSO, the SDS5000X does have color grade display mode of course.The new Bode Plot II up to 120MHz with 3 channels, selective detector and >110dB dynamic has been introduced in the entry level SDS1004X-E for now and a further refined version (likely to at least 500MHz) will of course be ported into the SDS5000X.Despite the fact that every vendor offers a PA (Power Analysis) option (Siglent has it too for SDS2000X), I still believe that not many willreallymiss/buy/use one. Nevertheless, we’ll get it for the SDS5000X at some point. Quality and feature set of these PA options vary quite a bit, and I think it’s a good thing that Siglent take their time and are willing to provide a good and comprehensive solution.Comparison of Sample rate and memory depth between different brands can be misleading. The SDS5004X provides 2x5GSa/s and 2x250Mpts as a standard, so for example there is absolutely no difference to 4 channel Rigol DS7000 (with memory option) except when you stick to single channel use.With regard to the triggers, Siglent might add some more in the future (like nthedge, setup&hold), but much more importantly all triggers already support the “holdoff by event” feature. With this, you can’t only trigger on the nthedge, but also nthslope (risetime, falltime), nthpulse, nthwindow … and so on.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 08, 2019, 04:23:20 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on June 06, 2019, 09:04:30 pmCorrect. Another 20 lines, and then you can have variation in capability within some of those as well.It gets insane very quickly.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 08, 2019, 04:26:07 am
content: Quote from: 0xdeadbeef on June 06, 2019, 06:14:38 pmIt doesn't matter when you do the comparison, it's always going to be "unfair" to someone.

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2019, 09:08:45 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on June 08, 2019, 04:26:07 amTrue, but at this very point,onlythe 1GHz model of the RTM3K is drastically discounted. Actually, while many of us dream of a >= 1GHz scope, very few hobbyists will be willing to invest >= 10k-20k USD/€. So a 500MHz shootout would have been probably more interesting for the target audience and also a logical step when including the MSO7000. And when comparing the 500MHz models right now, even the base model RTM3k-54 (without MSO option) costs more than twice as much as an SDS5054X.Besides, the current Rigol discount for the DS7000/MSO7000 doesn't only include all options, but also a frequency upgrade for the 250MHz and 300MHz models.https://www.rigol.eu/promos/So buying a MSO7054 ($11299) instead of an MSO7034 ($8299) would make as much sense as buying the RTM3K base model right now.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2019, 07:20:26 pm
content: But how long will it take Rigol to fix the bugs? In my experience it is better to buy an instrument which works for real rather than one which looks nice on paper.

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2019, 07:36:22 pm
content: I woudn't argue with that. IMHO, the DS7000/MSO7000 is still too expensive even considering free options and bandwidth discount. I only said the free bandwidth upgrade should be mentioned.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2019, 08:26:22 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on June 08, 2019, 07:20:26 pmThere's an update scheduled this month.

author: Karel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2019, 05:55:58 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on June 09, 2019, 08:26:22 amThe DS6000 series is still waiting for bugfixes and, yes, those bugs were reported (and confirmed) when it was still their "flagship"....But they didn't care. Probably because they didn't sell a lot of them.

author: Dubbie
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 05:28:55 am
content: Dave mentioned something in the video about zone triggers. When I bought my scope I didn’t think I would get much use from them. Turns out I use them all the time. One thing they are great for is a really fast way to set up a trigger hold off. Just draw an exclude box to the left of your trigger point. The are tons of dumb tricks like that which can be done the “proper” way with other triggers, but when you’re in the flow you can do a ton with on-the-fly zone triggers. Anyone else use them like this?

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 03:12:01 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on June 06, 2019, 09:15:07 amLimiting an ASIC to an ancient 800x600 seems to be a big overlook in future planning? If I were designing it, I would probably pick 1080p or 2.5K as the limit since LCDs with those resolutions are very common. Maybe even 4K to really be futureproof - ASICs are expensive to design but (relatively) cheap to manufacture.

author: Dubbie
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 07:31:49 pm
content: That ASIC’s specs were probably set almost 15 years ago. 800x600 probably seemed extravagant at the time.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 07:53:42 pm
content: Quote from: Dubbie on June 12, 2019, 05:28:55 amThats a good idea.With the hold-off you are just dialing in a number which is not immediately obvious where it will occur, at least on my scope. They could make hold-off a bit more intuitive by showing a vertical line/arrow when setting it or allowing you to drag it around with your finger.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 03:07:33 am
content: Quote from: Dubbie on June 12, 2019, 07:31:49 pm1024x768 was a common resolution for laptops back then, with 1280x1024 being common on desktops and higher end laptops. Anything less was practically unheard of except on portable devices.

author: Dubbie
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 03:40:41 am
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on June 13, 2019, 03:07:33 amLike a scope for example?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 08:27:36 am
content: Quote from: Dubbie on June 12, 2019, 05:28:55 amGuilty!It's almost the equivalent of the lazy man's AutoSet button

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 08:32:01 am
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on June 12, 2019, 03:12:01 pmThe Megazoon IV ASIC was released in Feb 2011https://www.embedded.com/electronics-news/4213152/Agilent-uses-new-ASIC-in-MSO-market-attackI think I once calculated that the Megazoom chips had been released every 6 years before that (so we are well overdue now BTW).That puts the original development starting probably around 2005-2006So 800x600 would have been plenty for that time period.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 08:38:28 am
content: Quote from: 0xdeadbeef on June 08, 2019, 09:08:45 amIt's true so therefore you don't get any buts!If I did it tomorrow there'll be another but, and another after that and another after that.QuoteWho said it was aimed at hobbyists?QuoteSo 500MHz is hobbyist price friendly but 1GHz is not?Sorry, not buying it.Why 500Mhz? Why not 350MHz so we can include the popular R&S RTB2000?The shootout options will always be endless, my video is what it is.QuoteSure, like I said in the videos, there are always differences in pricing and deals and countries etc.Alwaysre-do your own local price evaluation!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 08:42:08 am
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on June 13, 2019, 03:07:33 amBut nobody was doing that on a small screen which is what all bench scopes were using back then. Only very recently, almost 15 years later have we started getting large screen bench scopes like the Tek 3&4 Series. And even then they are essentially creating a different market segment to the smaller screen bench scopes.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2019, 06:17:03 am
content: The Keysight DSO/MSO7000 series, some Lecroys and Tektronix TDS5000/TDS7000 all have 10" (-ish) screens.

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2019, 03:37:09 pm
content: The Agilent 7000 series had a 12.1" XGA (1024x768) screen around 2009.LeCroy had 12.1" WXGA (1280 x 800) screens in their medium range models (6Zi) back in 2011. They had 10" screens with lower resolutions way before that. E.g. Wavepro 950 had a 10.4" LCD but only with VGA (640x480) resolution.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 01:43:29 am
content: Quote from: 0xdeadbeef on June 14, 2019, 03:37:09 pmYes, but I was really referring to lower end scopes.

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 09:27:10 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on June 15, 2019, 01:43:29 amTo be fair, lower end (digital) scopes 15 years ago didn't even have LCD screens. E.g. the infamous Agilent 54600 series from around 2004 still had a 7" tube.

author: jfedison741
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2021, 10:28:56 pm
content: Has anyone else noticed the higher Keysight oscilloscope pricing recently? Maybe it's just my region but Keysight scope prices appear to be about 45% higher these days compared to June 2019 when Dave posted his excellent 1GHz scope comparison.It looked hopeful that at least a 500MHz scope (new) from a first tier manufacturer could be had for under US$10k but I was not expecting a 45% price increase two years later for the same hardware. Anyone have a clue what's going on with the pricing? Or maybe it's just a simple matter of supply and demand?

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2021, 05:34:53 am
content: Quote from: jfedison741 on May 11, 2021, 10:28:56 pmThe price of just about everything has gone up due to COVID.

author: jfedison741
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2021, 07:04:42 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on May 12, 2021, 05:34:53 amPossibly. In that case, it would be great if we see a return to "normal" pricing once the pandemic ends.

author: jfedison741
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2021, 07:20:59 pm
content: To be fair, pricing for Tektronix Series 3 didn't change at all the last two years (except at 1GHz). But 500MHz still costs above US$10k. Not surprising now how pricing (Keysight 3000X, Tektronix 3 Series) are now almost perfectly aligned. I guess we have Tektronix to "thank".

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2021, 07:49:57 pm
content: Quote from: jfedison741 on May 12, 2021, 07:20:59 pmYeah, but Tek has profit margins to spare on all their stuff.

author: utogaria
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 13, 2021, 08:30:54 pm
content: Quote from: jfedison741 on May 12, 2021, 07:20:59 pmAccording to the latest Tekronix campaign, you can get the MDO34 350MHz (upgraded to 500MHz for free) for 4770 euros.