Oscilloscope choice? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: garymck
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2017, 03:25:34 pm
content: Hi,I'm new to electronics and new to this forum (only made a couple of posts). Am taking the hobby up as a retirement interest to keep the brain cells working. I can't find another answer to my query using the search function, so apologies if this has been asked before.As part of my new setup I am going to purchase an oscilloscope. The choice is between 2 Rigol models:DS1054ZandDS1074Z with SA-DS1000ZThe price difference is about a $100.Is the function generator in the second unit worth a hundred dollars more? Would it be better to buy a low end signal generator? ie FY3224S and use it as a separate unit?The DS1054Z is apparently still hackable, but is the DS1074Z with SA-DS1000Z hackable? I'd rather have a hacked 54Z than an unhacked 74Z with an inbuilt function generatorCheersGary

author: daveyk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2017, 04:04:20 pm
content: Quote from: garymck on April 27, 2017, 03:25:34 pmI'm biased to the TDS3000 series. I've been working with the TDS3032 and now TDS3054 since the early 2000s.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

author: Keysight DanielBogdanoff
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 27, 2017, 05:07:41 pm
content: It really depends on what you're trying to do. If you're just getting started, the built-in function generator will probably be good enough for a while. You could also look into second-hand generators, but having it built-in can be pretty convenient.

author: Relaxe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2017, 05:53:09 pm
content: I think it's worth it, as you do not possess one already.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2017, 05:54:39 pm
content: Personally I don't like gimmicks like built in function generators or other combined instruments. IMO you are almost always better off buying separate instruments, especially when you can get decent function generators for less than $100.Choice of scope depends a lot on what you're trying to do. I'm a Tektronix fan myself but those Rigols really do give you a lot of bang for the buck.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2017, 06:08:33 pm
content: Quote from: garymck on April 27, 2017, 03:25:34 pmNo.(except withgreatdifficulty)

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2017, 06:23:16 pm
content: If the built in function generator supports operations like network analysis then I would want it but practically no DSOs support that (1) and the built in function generators always or almost always have limited capability compared to a stand alone function generator.(1) And the extremely rare DSOs which do support this support it very poorly.

author: garymck
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2017, 10:08:09 pm
content: Thank you to those who have replied.I will go with the 54z. On thinking about it, I would rather have a separate instrument and not have to navigate awkward menus. The non hackability of the 74z with function generator is a deal breaker as well.....cheersGary