Which entry level scope - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: London Lad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2013, 11:05:23 am
content: Hi folks,OK so I've been messing with electronics in one way or another for 40 years but I'm no super tec engineer :-).I have quite a nice lab setup and I'm looking to buy an entry level, general purpose scope.I've had loads of different scopes over the years but nothing modern or even digital.What I don't want to do is buy a £200 scope and then find I'm wanting to change it for a £400 one in a couple of weeks, so where is the sensible entry point with today's scopes? Cost is notthatimportant but then again I don't want to spent money on features that I'll never use / master.I'm in the UK and would prefer to buy new BTWThanks in anticipation.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2013, 11:38:53 am
content: What would the main sort of thing you're likely to use it for?You won't get anything new for £200 - something like the Rigol DS1052E is about £270 for a 50MHz 1GS/s 'scope.For general purpose use I'd think 100MHz would be minimum so that's around £350 unless you fancy trying to hack the cheaper one.

author: London Lad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2013, 11:56:21 am
content: I just picked the £200 as an example in that I don't want to buy a rock bottom scope when one for a couple of hundred more would be much more capable.A quick scan of ebay for example shows a new Siglent SDS1102CNL 7'' 100M 1GSa/s delivered for £200

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2013, 12:07:21 pm
content: QuoteOK, missed that - stuff's getting cheaper all the time.It looks fine as a basic 'scope, think there are some reviews on the forum - main thing would be 32kpts is slightly on the low side and it's really only 500MSa/s per channel.I have a 100MHz analogue 'scope on the bench which is used for general stuff - I'd like 200MHz but 100 is fine 99% of the time.The only way to be really sure is to test drive a few 'scopes for a month or two but that's a luxury few have.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2013, 03:31:34 pm
content: For 360GBP though, you can purchase a 4 channel Rigol DS1074Z which has all the features you could ever use. Watch my reviews herehttp://youtu.be/HJP89HgbsfA

author: London Lad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2013, 04:37:02 pm
content: That looks very interesting at the price.

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 23, 2013, 09:15:20 pm
content: Quote from: echen1024 on December 23, 2013, 03:31:34 pmWhere can you get it at that price?

author: Nuno_pt
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2013, 10:51:25 pm
content: See here in Rigol UK -http://www.rigol-uk.co.uk/mobile/Category.aspx?id=19211074z - £381 and 1074z-s £533

author: London Lad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2013, 11:03:38 pm
content: Plus the government's 20% )-:

author: liquibyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2013, 11:15:21 pm
content: Sometimes I think most people here have more money than sense. $300+ is a non-trivial amount IMHO. I'll probably end up with an analog scope under 50 mhz off of Ebay because that amount just isn't an option for me. That, and every time something gets discussed here, the prices there go through the roof.

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 12:35:09 am
content: Exactly, did think it was a bit cheap.Plus it's 70mhz, no sign of any hacks either as it's based on different architectureQuote from: London Lad on December 23, 2013, 11:03:38 pm

author: London Lad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 09:14:24 am
content: Thanks for your suggestions so far, still interested in other options and opinions.

author: VanitarNordic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 01:14:00 pm
content: maybe OWON could handle your requests.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 03:32:35 pm
content: Quote from: TheBay on December 24, 2013, 12:35:09 amThere is a 100Mhz hack. And if you want, paypal me the US550 required to buy form Tequipment, and I will ship it to you marked as a "gift". That brings it probably to around US600 or 360GBP.

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 04:05:45 pm
content: That's interesting , have you got a link to the hack mate?Not sure whether "Gift" works though?Quote from: echen1024 on December 24, 2013, 03:32:35 pm

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 04:06:58 pm
content: Go tohttp://riglol.3owl.com, and use option DSEA for 100MHz.Quote from: TheBay on December 24, 2013, 04:05:45 pm

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 05:12:07 pm
content: Quote from: echen1024 on December 24, 2013, 03:32:35 pmForget about marking items from the US as gift. Declaring half the value may work but if you are unlucky it gets stuck in customs for a long time.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 07:16:47 pm
content: That does seem like a problem... will putting a happy birthday card in work?

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 07:37:08 pm
content: It's not fair what we have to pay in the UK we get ripped right off. I want that scope knowing it can go to 100MhzGift is no good, I'm wondering about invoice for replacement item? As if it was sent off under warranty lolGifts sent from outside the EUIf you're sending or receiving a gift from outside the EU:Excise Duty is payable on any alcohol or tobacco productsCustoms Duty is payable if the value of the gift exceeds £135, but will be waived if the amount of duty is £9 or underimport VAT is payable if the value of the gift exceeds £36

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2013, 08:02:33 pm
content: Why don't all forum members pool our money, and we go buy a nuclear sub to deliver bootlegged test equipment?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2013, 12:30:30 am
content: Quote from: TheBay on December 24, 2013, 07:37:08 pmBuy it in a non EU country like Switserland or (IIRC) Norway and get a tax refund at the border.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2013, 04:51:11 am
content: Quote from: echen1024 on December 24, 2013, 08:02:33 pmWhy buy when it is cheaper to rent one........

author: Rayonger
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 25, 2013, 09:08:31 am
content: Quote from: liquibyte on December 23, 2013, 11:15:21 pmRight, number one, the hobbyist market seems to attract a premium, number two I used to hang out in stock market forums, those guys were notorious for "ramping" shares they wanted to dump, its not any different in these areas ie: want to move something? give it a big build up. Online merchants are not flat out processing orders in this world economy, they are lurking in forums, feeling out market sentiment....just my two cents...happy shopping ^_^

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 25, 2013, 12:57:36 pm
content: That's interesting, I fly to Switzerland to visit my uncle in France. Who works for SGS Thomson, he might know a way around this. Not sure what the EU price is though. I also have an aunty in Kansas USA.Quote from: nctnico on December 25, 2013, 12:30:30 am

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2013, 02:29:20 pm
content: You need to get a tax return form from the shop and send it to a tax refund company. You won't get all the tax back though. Then again the VAT in Switserland is only 8% or so.

author: imjosh
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2013, 11:04:16 pm
content: QuoteBut don't you get free healthcare?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2013, 11:30:38 pm
content: There ain't no such thing as a freelunchbandage.

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 26, 2013, 12:04:37 am
content: Not free at all, we pay tax on wages 20-40%, then national insurance contributions (health care, pay for unemployed, pension etc) And then 20% VAT tax, and not to mention the Tax of fuel, cigarettes and alcohol!Quote from: imjosh on December 25, 2013, 11:04:16 pm

author: London Lad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2013, 05:02:38 pm
content: Still looking for suggestions for a scope, not just tax matters :-)

author: liquibyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2013, 05:46:54 pm
content: Actually, one of the questions that I always had is what would be the minimum bandwidth that would be useful for a beginner to start with if they haven't ever used a scope before? I know I'm going to get "the highest you can afford" which is hardly useful not knowing anything about them. The lower bandwidth scopes must be used for something because they still make them. What are they used for? I've got my eye on the low end Rigol at 100mhz but $400 would probably take me a few years to save up (not kidding). The fact that every Ebay seller out there seems to think that what they have is gold and adding antique to something increases its value makes me not want to even try there. Why would I want a 100mhz scope that's not even guaranteed to work for $200 to $400 when I can get one that is guaranteed at $400?

author: electronics man
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2013, 08:26:50 pm
content: From batronix the ds1074z is £445 shipped great value