Best oscilloscope for ~1500€ - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: VascoFerraz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 03:13:12 pm
content: Hi,I have to to buy an oscilloscope and I need some of your biasedopinion to make my decision.The price range is around 1500€ and, if possible, I need the following:- Bench oscilloscope- Quality brand like Tektronix, Rohde & Schwarz, Keysight, Rigol...- 2 analog channels.- Bandwidth of 100MHz- 8 or 16 digital channels- Digital protocol decoding I2C, SPI, CAN, LIN...- I don't need spectrum analysis.If not possible, I have to forget about the digital protocol decoding :|Thank you so much.

author: VascoFerraz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 04:18:08 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on February 11, 2020, 03:42:28 pmHi,Thanks for your reply.In fact, I already had this suggestion from Keysight Portugal.Looks a very interesting oscilloscope but I believe it misses the software for the protocol decoding and the analog/digital leadsBut it is a 200MHz 4 channel oscilloscope with 8 digital inputs.

author: oewean
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 04:59:50 pm
content: Have you checked out Siglent SDS2000X plus? A really nice scope, at a great price.PS! I work for the Norwegian distributor of Siglent, so a little biased :-)

author: VascoFerraz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 05:04:00 pm
content: Quote from: oewean on February 11, 2020, 04:59:50 pmIt is a very interesting scope.I really need to review it a little bit deeper.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 05:53:47 pm
content: Keysight DSOX1204G.

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 05:54:52 pm
content: A crappy, used $200 Rigol for now and patience to wait for some a good second hand instrument?Then wait until something like a good 7k/8k Rigol or some high end Tek appears on used market for cheap.Buying DSO is like buying computers, you get the same specs cheaper and cheaper the longer you wait.

author: alextwin007
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 07:16:04 pm
content: It's a fair lower then your price, but I was able to get a used Agilent DSO-X 2014A for 800 in nearly new condition. The idea of getting a cheap scope and then waiting for a good deal may be worth it. It even came with the DSOX2APPBNDL meaning I got the serial decode. The only software I didn't get was the MSO option (So I am limited to my 4 channels) and the bandwidth upgrade.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 08:00:21 pm
content: Quote from: VascoFerraz on February 11, 2020, 05:04:00 pmYou said 2ch and there is the extremely well priced SDS2202X-E with all the features you need starting at just $619 plus the 16ch LA option.Certainly not as nice as SDS2000X Plus with touch and 10" display however if you're on budget these compete well against KS 1000 series.Just another one for you to swat up on.........

author: KC0PPH
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 08:07:42 pm
content: Rigol MSO5000 fits the bill.Buy the 5072 and apply a Firmware "Fix" unlock everything. For the digital channels just purchase the probes and your good to go.Its a new product and has some issues but there are long threads documenting the issues with the scope so you can make an informed decision if it will suit your needs.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 08:41:32 pm
content: I'd skip anything from Rigol due to bugs. Siglent SDS2000X+ fits the price bracket without logic probes. GW Instek MSO-2104E costs less than 1500 euro (ex. VAT from Distrelec) and includes logic probes and decoding. It can also be upgraded to 200MHz and spectrum analysis mode with a key generator. Do yourself a favour and get a 4 channel oscilloscope if you are going to do development work.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 09:11:48 pm
content: Quote from: oewean on February 11, 2020, 04:59:50 pmCan confirm this, got one...The 4-ch Version (100Mhz) costs with VAT 1400 and it´s worth every cent.Only con thing :LA must be buyed optional, even when it´s hacked you need to buy the logicprobes and then it will be over 1500.Rigol 5000 series I wouldn´t recommend at the moment, because:Quote from: nctnicoThe bugs aren´t so big you couldn´t work with the scope( got one for over a year), but their firmware-update reactions are very poor ( last update 6 month ago).

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2020, 09:12:31 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on February 11, 2020, 08:41:32 pmCertainly the SPL2016 logic probe is far better than anything ribbon cable based and we first saw these for SDS2000X then Siglent wisely chose to also use them for SDS5000X and now SDS2000X Plus models.They split into two 8 channel pods via long and subtle flat cables.https://www.siglenteu.com/accessory/spl2016/

author: jake111
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2020, 06:37:02 am
content: Do you need the protocol decode for triggering?If not, or if you could use a scope in conjunction with a very nice logic analyzer that also gives you the analog waveform, have you looked at the Saleae logic analyzers? I have one and the software is just amazing and the analog + digital together is invaluable.I gave up on protocol analysis on a scope except for triggering and even this is of limited use when either the logic analyzer has good analog capability, or can output a trigger signal for the scope.

author: VascoFerraz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 12, 2020, 04:51:32 pm
content: Thank you so much for all the feedback.Unfortunately an used oscilloscope is not an option because this is going to be bought by the company where I work.The Siglent SDS2000X plus looks very interesting.

author: VascoFerraz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 14, 2020, 09:55:44 am
content: Quote from: oewean on February 11, 2020, 04:59:50 pmHi,The SDS2000X Plus Super Phosphor has already embedded the licenses for the following protocol decoding: I2C, SPI, UART, CAN and LIN?I just need to buy the digital probes, correct?Thank you so much.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2020, 10:08:16 am
content: Quote from: VascoFerraz on February 14, 2020, 09:55:44 amYep all free and included the price. Trigger suites for each too.QuoteAnd the MSO licensing.So SPL-2016 (probes) and SDS2000XP-16LA (licensing).For a full roundup of the options and indicative pricing in USD see here:https://siglentna.com/digital-oscilloscopes/sds2000xp/#accessories

author: VascoFerraz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 14, 2020, 11:11:01 am
content: ^ Thanks