SDS800X HD - Change REF Wave Color ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: TomKatt
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2025, 07:33:37 pm
content: I just used the Reference Waveform feature for the first time lol - I'm so used to my old analog scope that I keep forgetting all these handy options are availableAnywho - the manual is a bit thin on some of this, but I'm guessing that the color of the Ref signal is determined by the channel from which it is derived? I'm using channel 1, which is yellow by default and when I load the Ref wave that I saved from an earlier acquisition from Channel 1 it is the same yellow color. This makes it a little difficult to visually distinguish between C1 and REF 1.I went back and thought that perhaps I could save the REF wave as REF B, C or D but it looks like I can only select what Channel I want as the source, so no color options there.I guess I could switch my capture to a different channel so the live signal is a different color compared to the Reference wave, but my C1 was already set up the way I needed it so it was quicker to just move the probe. Though thinking about this as I'm typing, I guess there's some provision to copy Channel 1 setup to another channel quickly. EDIT - though that won't help if all my triggering is configured for C1.As for the original question - have I missed some ability to change channel or reference wave colors on the fly?Thanks!

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2025, 08:20:16 pm
content: In the entry level SDS800X HD we don't have any options to change trace colors like we can in the more upmarket models.IIRC a Ref trace is a light yellow for any channel so if you need a better distinction I'd suggest the workaround of using another channel for your primary work where a Ref trace for it will be more distinct/different.

author: TomKatt
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2025, 09:26:17 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on March 15, 2025, 08:20:16 pmThanks for the advice. I know it’s unlikely that Siglent offers the ability to change channel colors because the button LEDs are likely fixed color, but it would be incredibly easy to offer custom Reference waveform colors. Though given the impressive feature set at entry level prices on the SDS800 series, they do need some restrictions to motivate consumers to consider the higher end models lol.

author: EvgenyG
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 01:37:18 am
content: Tripling bandwidth - sure no worriesChange trace colour - big no no, buy a more expensive model

author: TomKatt
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 02:41:29 am
content: Quote from: EvgenyG on March 16, 2025, 01:37:18 amDon't forget doubling the sample memory to 100 Mpts/chOr 50% faster waveform capture rateThat's actually more useful than the increased BW in many situations.But no soup for you when it comes to color

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 08:15:06 pm
content: Quote from: TomKatt on March 15, 2025, 09:26:17 pmAlthough I can change trace colors in my SDS6204A, in this post from the 3rd screenshot on, you can see how the use of different default trace colors show the Ref trace with better clarity.Anther trick is to use different H position settings for each trace if you don't require a perfect comparison.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/probe-into-probes-whats-up/msg4678768/#msg4678768

author: TomKatt
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 09:33:57 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on March 16, 2025, 08:15:06 pmThanks for the tip! In my case, I was comparing the timing of two signals, so I had them overlapped. I first moved one vertically, and eventually moved to a different input channel to change colors. Color options would be nice to have, but it's not the end of the world. There are other features such as data logging I wish Siglent would bring to this series - I found it quite useful in my old SDS1104X-E.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 09:46:12 pm
content: Quote from: TomKatt on March 16, 2025, 09:33:57 pmThere are other ways to skin that cat.Have the waveforms arranged vertically so to use a cursor to check and measure timing correlation.Yeah Logging is now only on those older models and the SHS800/1000X range.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 10:04:46 pm
content: Quote from: TomKatt on March 15, 2025, 07:33:37 pmREF A may still be almost the same color, but REF B, C, D have different colors – even if the channel was always the same.Enclosed is a screenshot of my former SDS804X HD, with different REF traces, whose source was always channel 1.

author: TomKatt
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 10:34:13 pm
content: Quote from: Martin72 on March 16, 2025, 10:04:46 pmThanks! I'm going to have to play around with this some more - I swear that I tried to save a reference wave from Channel 1 to one of the other Ref slots, but it didn't seem to do anything. Very likely user error - I'm going to revisit this.