Owon SDS7102 - good for a newbie to develop some hw for DCC digital model railro - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rubberdog
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 30, 2011, 04:36:46 pm
content: Hello community,now I'm a new member of this very interesting forum. As I read some posts I have the impression that a lot of proofs is writing here - and this is exactly what I need nowThe reason is that I want to buy a DSO for developing some hardware/electronics with PIC microprocessor for model railroads. My old scope (Telequipment D67A) is out of date and not useful to scan a DCC protocol. For all readers who are not familiar with DCC I found a very interesting site for explanation:http://usuaris.tinet.cat/fmco/home_en.htmThis shows you my problem: I want to analyze data packages.My dealer in Austria has now a special offer: the OWON SDS7102 with 10% discount for next days.Do you think this tool will make me happyand will fulfill my needs as described before?It's a hard decision for me because its a lot of money for an already retired personIt would be great to read your opinion.Btw I saw this excellent review from MARMAD about the scope but I'm not sure that the 7102 achieves my needs.Thanks a lot for your postings and have a great New YearRudi from Vienna

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2011, 05:11:28 pm
content: You maybe want a logic analyzer, not a DSO.

author: Chet T16
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2011, 05:14:12 pm
content: Would a logic analyser not be better suited for this?Edit: Too slow!

author: rubberdog
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 31, 2011, 09:58:31 am
content: @BoredAtWork@Chet T16Yes, of course, you are right! These signals can be of course viewed by an logic analizer. But I need a reasonably good scope for analog parts of my development and my budget is smallTherefore the scope should be able to display a digital sequenze as mentioned in my first post (only 1 channel needed).Another important question for me is: Can anybody tell me if a logic analizer can connected to a signal bus of 22V? Because the data packages on the tracks have been boosted to about 22V because that is at the same time the energy for the locos.On this website the is exactly what I want:http://off-the-clock.timothy-nicole-marks.com/computers-and-electronics/dccand this is a detail from the site:(source:http://off-the-clock.timothy-nicole-marks.com/computers-and-electronics/dcc)Thank you for your commentsRudi from Vienna

author: rf-loop
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2011, 10:47:12 am
content: This my opinion is not related for oscilloscope - logic analyzer.But what about oscilloscope capture quality.In message and behind this link there are oscilloscope screen pictures.Owon SDS7102 can do all these captures lot of better! Just like day and night.I did not find what Oscilloscope have made these captures. But they are really poor.It looks like this oscilloscope suffer very badly about low samplerate.With 1 Channel use 1GSa/s starting from 500us/div and of course then up to fastest timebase.(and 500MSa/s with 1ms/div)With 2 Channel use 500MSa/s starting from 1ms/div up to fastest timebase.If just captured example 500us/div speed wit one channel use you can example stop and zoom to full details for example looking risetimes etc with full speed up to around <2ns risetimes. Becouse captured data include full 1GSa/sThis you can not do with any known scope in this price class.This is just advantage what give full speed deep capture memory.And, logic analyzer is not oscilloscope at all. It have normally 1 or 0. You can not see example how signal edge is exactly rising or falling and not if there are some overshoots etc. Exept if you have mixed signal unit where you can see both... example logic analyzer triggered oscilloscope channel.But just for these showed pictures. Owon can make all these with lot of better level.(do not go Owon cheap and old models!!)and specially not to cheapest PDS5000 S-models! Exept if uou have nothing and you can get these with <USD50They have terrible dstn display! And also they have made more like toy.PDS 6000/7000 T-models may be littlebit better.But SDS7102 and specially after improvement they are far over Rigol/Atten/Uni-Toy etc entry level models and also over hantek DSO5000B series if looking signal capturing quality.Owon have no real competitor in its price class if look signal capturing quality and it is one important thing in oscilloscope as long as oscilloscope is signal capturing equipment.(of course this opinion is related also to priceand one reason is that Owon is new they own design (not any copycat) and it give one advanced posibility to Owon. They can use in desingn and develop time more new solution! This is why signal capturing quality and memory is far over most of these entry level other Chinese oscilloscopes)(for these level of oscilloscopes there is coming something new maybe 1Q2012)