Dream scope for digital work - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: strumf99
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 23, 2014, 08:30:08 pm
content: Hi All,I am new to this forum. I love EEVblog and Dave's enthusiasm. I see the community here is live and well, which is also exciting.The question for all of you is what would be your dream well-rounded scope, primarily to be used for digital work? I am looking at NEW items only.I was looking at the 2ch, 100Mhz, MDO3000 from TEK, with the 16 bit digital add-on and the USB, UART, and SPI, debug options ~$6KI am looking to use this scope primarily for digital use, but I would like an otherwise versatile instrument for my bench in the years to come.Any suggestions? Alternatives? Thank you all!

author: strumf99
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 23, 2014, 08:59:50 pm
content: Well, I am managing a university lab, and I am looking into equipment that is needed for digital design work. I looked at the TEK logic analyzer options, but those are too pricey. So my reasoning was to get a good all around scope with digital capability.Should I just forget the digital add-on to any scope, buy a good analog scope and then buy a USB PC-based logic analyzer module?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2014, 12:45:00 am
content: I'd get a 4 channel scope with digital channels.

author: Carrington
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2014, 01:39:47 am
content: A BW of 100 MHz to use it with digital signals (I suppose than not much more than 20MHz)!Could you be a little more specific on the requirements?

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 24, 2014, 01:41:01 am
content: You didn't say anything about the spectrum analyzer in the MDO3000. If you don't need it, you should also take a look at the Agilent 3000X and 4000X series, which is in the same price range.Agilent is offering, for one more week only, a free upgrade to the next highest BW model:http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/editorial.jspx?cc=US&lc=eng&ckey=2384797&nid=-33573.0.08&id=2384797And then starting April 1, you can buy a license bundle for every decode and feature license for the price of one license:http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/editorial.jspx?cc=US&lc=eng&ckey=2428917&nid=-33573.0&id=2428917It's probably to compete against Tek's MDO3000 announcement, but it's a pretty good (and unprecedented) deal.

author: cyr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2014, 06:40:11 am
content: Also, "digital work" is far to vague to give any definitive advice. Are you doing high speed logic and need to check signal integrity? Or are you using arduinos and debugging low speed serial comms?

author: nowlan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2014, 07:01:41 am
content: I would expect a university would have manufacturers throwing themselves at you.I would suggest a saleae logic for serial bus comms.My local college are doing the opposite and fitting out Hantek oscilloscopes, but its basic electronics, not university level.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2014, 07:29:29 am
content: The Siglent SDS2102 with Decode option is around US$1200 plus the soon to be released 8 ch MSO option, as yet price unknown. But despite the unknown price for MSO I think you will buy at least 2 units for the price quoted in the OP.