New Siglent SDS5000X Oscilloscope hack - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: gorillamotors
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2019, 06:06:03 pm
content: Is there anyone out there trying to hack the new Siglent SDS5000X Oscilloscopes? Nice looking scope. Quite pricey but maybe worth it to someone.Jim

author: tv84
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2019, 06:16:59 pm
content: Nobody has one...

author: markus_jlrb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2019, 07:56:33 am
content: Sorry tv84,you have to wait until summer ;-)Whish you a good time till then.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2019, 08:10:17 am
content: not many hobbyist maybeQuote from: gorillamotors on February 28, 2019, 06:06:03 pmveryworth it.if you have the budget for the base model, there's not much else to compare it against. The RTB2000, that's it

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2019, 12:56:12 pm
content: While I'm also very interested in the SDS5000X, there are some things to keep in mind:- the "basic" decoders (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, LIN etc.) are already included, so no need for hacking unless you need more exotic ones like FlexRay or CAN FD.- the AWG needs additional hardware (and is pretty limited), so even if the SW license was "free", the upgrade wouldn't be very attractive- only the 500MHz version can be upgraded to 1GHz- Obviously due to a shifted comma, Batronix sells the 1GHz update currently for 320€ instead of >3k€ (dunno if somebody actually tried to buy it or if this would succeed)Which doesn't mean that I wouldn't totally appreciate some kind of hack for it. It's just that even if all the available options were free for the 500MHz model, it's still a 5k9€ investment to begin with.And that's a bit too much at least for me to justify for hobby use. Plus there are some things like 200MHz bandwidth limitation for lower voltage ranges etc.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2019, 01:56:22 pm
content: AFAIK 350 and 500MHz use the same acquisition board, 1GHz use a different one so you need to change the acquisition board in any case.But i may be remembering wrong (I may ask to gianmarco @batterfly, i'm seeing him tomorrow)So the base model at 2.9K € is pretty interesting (to me)Anyway, things that can be hacked:-bandwidth (if you really want to, because one must not forget that with great bandwidth, great probees and probing techniques are needed)-non-standard decoders-the MSO license-the AWG license (remember that you can control other siglent AWGs if you don't want to buy the external box)All in all the instrument is already packed with features which for my use are working. One shouldn't put "hackability" at the top of the list, working features should come first IMHO (shameless nod to other manufacturers)

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2019, 02:44:08 pm
content: Quote from: JPortici on March 04, 2019, 01:56:22 pmWas discussed before: according the manual, the 350MHz model can be upgraded to 500MHz and the 500MHz model to 1GHz but the 350MHz model can't be upgraded to 1GHz.There's the explicit note "SDS5034X/SDS5032X cannot be upgraded to SDS5104X/SDS5102X".As weird as it may seem, I guess this means that the 500MHz and 1GHz boards are actually identical and the 350MHz board is different.So the question remains whether a 350MHz model upgraded to 500MHz is really identical to a "real" 500MHz model regarding frontend.And yes: I totally want that bandwidth

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2019, 10:32:54 am
content: Quote from: JPortici on March 04, 2019, 01:56:22 pmYes but only for the Bode plot feature. (soon to be implemented and enhanced from what the X-E models offer)The SAG1021 external AWG provides the signal source for Bode plots and general AWG usage but the other standalone Siglent AWG's can only interface with the Bode plot UI controlled by the SDS5000X series andnotfor general AWG usage.