Agilent 2000x Series vs Tek TDS2000 series - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: yanir
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2011, 04:04:49 pm
content: Hi all, I am looking to buy my first personal scope, and I thought I'd get the Agilent DSOX2012A, its a 2 channel 100mhz scope. I'm sure most of you are familiar with it, as it was reviewed in the eevblog. It seems great. But upon closer inspection I noticed that the 100mhz model can only go down to 5ns per division (my work tds1002b scope can do that). Whereas the similarly priced TDS2012C (100mhz 2 channels) can go down to 2ns per division. The agilent's main advantage (other then huge screen) is the 50,000 wave forms per second refresh rate, which is great. But which is more valuable? Seeing the anomaly or zooming in more? As they are both 100mhz I would have expected the agilent to bet in the 2 -2.5 ns per division range.Thanks for the input-Yanir

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2011, 04:19:56 pm
content: High update rate and deep memory is way more useful than an extra step on the timebase.AFAICS from teh Tek site the tek doesn't even have an intensity-graded display ( I think Tek call this DPO), in which case it's totally Game Over for the Tek.

author: yanir
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2011, 05:43:49 pm
content: Thanks, thats what I was hoping to hear.

author: ejeffrey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2011, 07:02:22 pm
content: The TDS2000 and the agilent 2000-X are not even playing the same ballgame. As dave put it, tektronix really got caught with their pants down.

author: Richard W.
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2011, 08:21:28 pm
content: You can't compare the Agilent with the Tek. The only thing they have in common: both are DSOsI've bought a TDS2000C.Till now i haven't found any bug, it has a real power switch; it is smaller; there is no annoying fan; it's easy to use.I give it a "thumbs up".

author: Frant
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2011, 09:55:01 pm
content: I like the quality, look and feel of Tektronix equipment. However, TDS2000C is a small and simple oscilloscope with limited capabilities, intended for training, education, repair, and maintenance. No DPO, no 50 Ohm input setting, no probe recognition, no battery operation, really small LCD. It's just a good basic digital oscilloscope. If a decent basic scope is good enough for you, you can find much more affordable Chinese products than the TDS2000C. However, I'd always consider Tektronix for higher performance equipment.

author: chscholz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2011, 10:04:50 pm
content: Just a word of caution here: the quoted update rates are usually best-case scenarios.I don't have experience with these specific scopes you mention but I have seen update rates dropping off a cliff as soon as you switch on any math trace, measurement or simply use different sample rate/number of points other than the optimal setting.ChrisQuote from: mikeselectricstuff on June 27, 2011, 04:19:56 pm

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2011, 10:48:01 pm
content: Quote from: chscholz on June 27, 2011, 10:04:50 pmAFAIUI The agilent goes full-speed all of the time as it's all done in hardware, and when timebase setting is slow, it still runs the ADC at full speed which allows short peaks to be seen in peak-detect mode. They also do protocol decoding in hardware, unlike the Teks, as they often point out in their advertising...

author: Ronnie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2011, 01:15:51 am
content: Quote from: Frant on June 27, 2011, 09:55:01 pmThat's why I bought a TDS 2012B due to reliability. I'll be using it for audio work and hopefully its 2,500 point memory will not be an issue.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 28, 2011, 01:47:18 am
content: I have both scopes here.There is simply no contest.The only reason I can think of why you would buy the Tektronix over the Agilent is if you simply wanted a Tektronix (and/or hated Agilent for some reason).Technically, they are chalk and cheese. The 2.5KB memory on the Tek is so ancient it's almost laughable.But of course, its work, and works well as a basic digital scope, but it's just not competitive in features, performance, or bang-per-buck.I'm not even bothering to review the Tek I have here as it is simply not competitive in today's market IMO. (but I'll do a teardown just for fun)Only the Tek DSO series get even close to competing with Agilent, the TDS series doesn't stand a chance.Dave.

author: armandas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2011, 08:39:08 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on June 27, 2011, 10:48:01 pmYou can see the comparison of update rates in the attached app note. Both Tek and LeCroy are compared to Agilent sopes.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 28, 2011, 12:22:17 pm
content: Nice comparison table!The amazing thing about the Agilent X series is that you don't pay a premium for that killer update rate.And that big screen really is amazingly better than the antiquated Tek display.The other advantages of the Agilent are of course possible future expandability.Dave.

author: yanir
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2011, 01:39:19 pm
content: Looks like Agilent has it. I just wish that they had the serial decoding feature available for the 2000 series (it's only available on the 3000). you still get the logic analyzer upgrade which I plan on getting, but without serial decoding it's still a mind numbing bit counting job.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2011, 12:35:09 pm
content: Quote from: yanir on June 28, 2011, 01:39:19 pmYeah, that's a bummer.But the button is there, all they have to do is switch it on.Which Agilent have said they might do if they start to get serious competition. But as yet, no one is close.Dave.

author: rowifi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2013, 11:12:10 am
content: Apparantly serial decode for 2000X series is due any time soon!

author: enz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2013, 03:05:47 pm
content: At least in germany the serial decode options for the 2000X series are already available (and cheaper than the same options for the 3000X series).For example atwww.datatec.de

author: Nermash
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2013, 03:48:45 pm
content: And 1 Mpts memory expansion option! See ya tek dpo2000 series

author: Baliszoft
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2013, 03:54:55 pm
content: I got both agilent 2k and tek tds. I do like both, but "they are not playing in the same league". If i were to buy only one of these, i would definitely go for the agilent.