First Oscilloscope - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: szymonm2
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 07:28:18 pm
content: Im thinking of purchasing my first oscilloscope. Im looking at the "DSO5102P". Is it a good buy for £200? If you have other suggestions let me knowThanks

author: danadak
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 08:41:27 pm
content: Dave has done a number of reviews, also others, on youtube.com, takea look at the reviews and make up a decision matrix to aid your decision.Like any instrument choices are made as to need, requirement, cost.If possible make sure it has FFT, quite useful in the scheme of things.Also there are a number of low end scopes, like Rigol, that sell at a specificfrequency capability, but can be hacked into a much higher speed. Like their50 Mhz can be hacked into 100 Mhz. Note this does not go without risk, thereare several threads of the DS1054 in the forum discussing this topic.Regards, Dana.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 09:18:36 pm
content: Quote from: szymonm2 on May 14, 2016, 07:28:18 pmIs it new or used?They're a goodbasicDSO but hamstrung (lacking) any substantial memory depth (Mpts) in much the same way as the Siglent CNL series and because of this I no longer hold stock of CNL's preferring the CML series with 1 Mpt memory as my basic unit.http://www.siglenteu.com/pdxx.aspx?id=27&T=2&tid=1When you capture a waveform that you might want to examine in greater detail is when lack of memory depth becomes apparent.A nice little graphic by member rf-loop in the SDS1000X thread shows the relationship of captured waveforms and memory depth (in dot mode) and I link it here:

author: alsetalokin4017
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 09:35:12 pm
content: Quote from: danadak on May 14, 2016, 08:41:27 pmOddly enough, none of the bugs and infecilities I have found or reported on seem to have anything to do with unlocking bandwidth or the other features of the DS0154z. As far as I can tell the bugs are there in "virgin" as well as "hacked' scopes and unlocking the bandwidth doesn't seem to have any adverse effects.Of course if you should somehow brick the scope and have to return it for warranty service before you've restored the original "unhacked" state, you may have some difficulty...So in spite of what other people may think about me and my bug reporting, I still can recommend the Rigol DS1054z as a good value for the money.

author: ali6x944
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 11:51:43 am
content: Quote from: alsetalokin4017 on May 14, 2016, 09:35:12 pmIs true I own one of these bad boys and I never had a problem using it it works like a charm it also have a kinda will documented help menu so u know which button is which

author: szymonm2
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 04:47:51 pm
content: Quote from: ali6x944 on May 15, 2016, 11:51:43 amSo you're telling me to invest in a better oscilloscope?

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 05:10:53 pm
content: Not necessarily! The Hantek has dual channels with an external trigger. The Rigol DS1054Z has 4 channels with no external trigger - use one of the channels. There is a huge advantage in increasing numbers of channels. I bought my Rigol SPECIFICALLY for the extra 2 channels.The Hantek is currently for sale at Amazon (in US) for $268 so it's a heck of a lot cheaper than the Rigol. I haven't looked at the reviews for the Hantek and I am more than willing to skip over the negative threads around here bashing the Rigol. I just don't see myself hanging by my knees and pushing buttons with my nose to see if I can force a failure. The Rigol works fine.There is a well documented procedure for getting 100 MHz out of the DS1054Z but the base unit is just 50 MHz and the Hantek is 70 MHz. So far, I haven't hacked my Rigol but I probably will at some point. I don't need the extended bandwidth but I would like to keep the serial bus decoders. It's not an imperative, I have gotten along without them up to this point so I won't really miss them. OTOH, I can see where they could be very handy.I would look at Dave's reviews (if he has one) and then consider whether the extra two channels will be worth the difference. If you plan to look at the SPI bus, it will be a real help.This pair of videos might be useful:https://youtu.be/JTG6jWL0ZqAhttps://youtu.be/Ev121xAt_k4