Mixed Signal Scope  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Pack34
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 01:47:58 am
content: I'm looking at burning my holiday bonus on a new scope. I'm thinking of the Owon MSO8202T since it seems like a solid mixed signal scope but I'm a bit concerned of the apparrent lack of features in the logic analyzer which is what I'm really after in the thing.Has anyone here used this model specifically? Or could recommend another one? In a similar thread here the Agilent MSO6012A was highly suggested but it's just out of my price range. The base Rigol ones look okay but I'm willing to throw a bit more money at it to get a better one.Owon MSO8202TManualhttp://www.owon.com.hk/probook/MSO7102TD,8102T,8202T_USER_MANUAL.pdfProduct Pagehttp://www.owon.com.hk/products_info.asp?ParentID=57&SortID=80&ProID=173#sthash.JNeuFnL9.dpbsThoughts or suggestions?

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 03:40:45 am
content: Firstly, where are you located? Second, what is your budget.Looking at the 1k you might drop on the Owon MSO, that money might be better spent getting a second hand Agilent 16702 series LA, or a Tek TLA704/714 series logic analyzer, both of which come with large amounts of features. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, I would suggest simply getting a 4 channel scope, such as a Rigol DS1074Z, for $585, and then a separate, USB logic Analyzer such as the cheap Saleae logic clones ($10), A genuine, 8 channel Saleae ($150), or a nice Intronix Logicport ($389). These would probably all be money better spent than the owon.

author: Mark_O
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 07:05:01 am
content: Quote from: Pack34 on December 24, 2013, 01:47:58 amWell, I have some thoughts.1) anything from Agilent is going to be better than anything from Owon.2) if the MSO6012A has what you need and want, then save up a bit more, until it is in your price range.3) if you can't wait (or take out a loan), then consider a used one.4) if color is not critical for your purposes, then an older Agilent 54622D may serve your needs. It's a similar configuration, with similar capabilities, but just can't sample as fast. I've seen them on eBay often for less than that Owon you mentioned.5) if the Owon is lacking in LA features, and that's what you're primarily interested in, then scratch it.Last, and definitely not least, the MSO8202Tis not an MSO.Yeah, I know how it's labeled and marketed. But an MSO is amixedsignal oscilloscope (by definition), and the Owon can't mix the signals. It's an either/or device. Runs as an LA, OR a DSO, but not both at once. If a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde device will suit your needs, then OK. But as soon as I saw that, I stopped looking.

author: Pack34
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 12:00:37 pm
content: Quote from: Mark_O on December 24, 2013, 07:05:01 amLooking into the Owon more, I don't think it'll do what I want. The killer features that I'm looking for are to have a nice big screen and to be able to probe and decode a serial bus such as SPI, I2C, etc. The Owon is able to trigger on a SPI bus and that's it. However, the Rigol DS2000 series looks like it can do what I need it to without breaking the bank too much.It would be preferable to have the LA merged into the scope but that is only offered on their 4 channel model which is well outside of my price range (I'm looking at mid to low $1,000 USD).The older scope I'm currently using at work is a 100 MHz 1Gs/s Tektronics scope and I'd like to be sure that I'm either at the same spec or better. Color isn't critical but I'd really like to have it if I'm shelling out over a grand for a scope. Also, the software option for the MSO6012A to decode the serial bus is over $1500

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 03:24:52 pm
content: For Rigol and Agilent's, certain "performance enhancements" can be made by reading through certain threads.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 03:30:28 pm
content: Quote from: Pack34 on December 24, 2013, 12:00:37 pmThe Rigol DS2000 is only a 2 channels scope. That means that you are only able to see half of the SPI bus and that you will not be able to see CS. You might as well just get a Rigol DS1074Z, which is a 4 channel scope at $585 in the US, and then purchase a separate, USB LA such as the Intronix Logicport for $389 or a used Agilent or Tek.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 05:06:11 pm
content: I'm not sure a dedicated logic analyser is a good choice nowadays. A real mixed signal oscilloscope with deep memory covers 99.5% of the cases where you want to look at digital signals.

author: Pack34
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 06:34:44 pm
content: Are the new Agilent fully firmware upgradeable? It'll be easier to make the case with my wife if I can just spend <1500 on their 2000 scope and slowly upgrade it.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 06:49:45 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 24, 2013, 05:06:11 pmIf you need a large amount of channels and future upgradeability, a mainframe type LA still makes very good sense.Quote from: Pack34 on December 24, 2013, 06:34:44 pmYes. And, certain performance upgrades can be had by following a "certain thread" pertaining to the Agilent 2000X and 3000X.

author: marmad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 07:37:33 pm
content: Quote from: echen1024 on December 24, 2013, 06:49:45 pmNot to mention state-mode sampling, in-depth analysis, or a number of other things which mixed signal oscilloscopes (by there very nature, a compromise) can't do.

author: Pack34
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 09:22:03 pm
content: At this point in time I don't think I've needed to measure more than eight channels at once. I also have access to a 16 channel USB logic analyzer as a backup.I've decided on the Agilent 2000 series scopes with the mixed signal option.

author: Svuppe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 11:40:56 pm
content: Quote from: Pack34 on December 24, 2013, 09:22:03 pmIn that case be aware that any form of serial triggering is available on the analog inputs only. I've heard of somone getting quite mad finding out about this, after he bought the serial decoding option.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2013, 12:28:55 am
content: Quote from: marmad on December 24, 2013, 07:37:33 pmThe whole world is serial nowadays. You can't measure much on PCI express, USB and SATA. Analysing slower busses like SPI and I2C is what the newer MSOs are good at because they have decoding which the old logic analysers don't have.

author: marmad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2013, 12:41:31 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 25, 2013, 12:28:55 amYour whole world perhaps - but that doesn't make it everybody else's. I do plenty of work on older equipment with parallel buses. And I would hate to be stuck with just an MSO. But everyone has their own individual needs.

author: Pack34
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2013, 01:00:02 am
content: Quote from: Svuppe on December 24, 2013, 11:40:56 pmI saw that. It seems backward that its on the analog probes and not the LA.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2013, 04:13:27 pm
content: For some reasons, the "mixed" signal scopes made by Owon have never been much popular. Also, they are rather dated. Like 2010, or so.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2013, 05:02:17 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 25, 2013, 12:28:55 amThe ancient Tektronix TLA 700 runs windows, and someone has written a decode package for it. The 16702B does decodes as well.