Siglent 200MHz Scope Recommendation - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: AaronLee
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2021, 05:32:10 am
content: I was mentioning to a friend how pleased I am with my new Siglent scope, and he'd never heard of them before, but he's been looking to buy a used Tek 200MHz scope but which would have a lot less memory and functions. He asked me for a recommendation. His basic requirements are 200Mhz and 2 channels. He has no need for MSO or any options. He uses his scope for designing / troubleshooting analog/digital audio, power, and MCU/digital circuits.The Siglent SDS1202X-E and the discontinued Siglent SDS1102X are both available for the same price, and within his budget. I assume the SDS1102X can be hacked to 200MHz, or alternately the SDS1202X is only marginally more expensive.The Siglent SDS2202X-E is considerably more, but also remains within his budget.The Siglent SDS2102X Plus, hacked to 200MHz is more than he wants to spend.So my question for those familiar with these scopes is which would be preferable, the SDS1202X-E or SDS1202X? When I looked at the specs, the SDS1202X-E looks like a better scope and still a current model. The SDS1202X is heavily discounted, being it's been discontinued, but to me it doesn't seem like a good value unless it was significantly less then the SDS1202X-E. Am I correct in my analysis?For the SDS2202X-E, compared to the SDS1202X-E, it has double the memory, double the sampling rate, and I assume can be hacked to 350MHz. Are there any other advantage to the SDS2202X-E? Is the operation of both units similar? The guy is used to old (20+ years ago) Tektronix and Yogokawa scopes, but I think ultimately he just needs to learn a new interface if he's going to buy an updated modern scope.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2021, 06:14:38 am
content: If 2 channels only, the 2202X-E everyday if budget allows.Older 1kX have a lesser processor and their UI while very similar is not as advanced.SDS2202X-E have the same feature set as 4ch X-E’s which put them ahead of the 1kX and X-E models.Otherwise the lessor feature set of SDS1202X-E still puts them ahead of the older X model.

author: AaronLee
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2021, 06:34:11 am
content: Thanks, tautech. I was hoping for your reply, being you know the full product line well.My friend was thinking of buying a used Tektronix TDS2022 which would have cost even more than the Siglent SDS2202X-E. That wasn't even the TDS2022B or TDS2022C which were both above his budget. I just couldn't see him spending that much for such an old scope and perhaps needing to spend more money in the near future to service it. Sure, the old Tektronix and HP/Agilent gear was well made, but with all electronics, it eventually needs servicing. And the TDS2022 has only 2.5 kpts memory, vs. 14 Mpts or 28 Mpts for the applicable Siglent scopes. No comparison there. Of course, he's never used a scope with such memory before, so doesn't realize how useful it can be. Plus with all the functions of a modern scope, he'll likely soon wonder how he did without.I think I'll recommend the SDS2202X-E to him, based on what I found out and the information you posted.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2021, 06:48:40 am
content: My first DSO was a TDS2102B and expressly a B for its USB, a good basic scope but not anywhere in the same class as one of these modern Siglents.I’ve always liked SDS2000X-E models despite the 4ch models being more popular.

author: AaronLee
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2021, 07:30:50 am
content: A few more questions for you, tautech. On my recently purchased SDS2104X Plus, it came with the PP215 200MHz probes. I'm planning to liberate my scope to 500Mhz, though in actuality 350Mhz or a bit higher will be the most I'm likely to ever see a need for in the near future, and even then not very often. The PP215 probes are actually useable at higher then 200MHz as I've read. If I recommend my friend buy the SDS2352X-E, rather than the SDS2202X-E, he'll get the SP2035 350MHz probes with it. On the Siglent website, the SDS2354X Plus comes with SP2035A probes. So my question is, are the SP2035 mentioned for the SDS2352X-E and the SP2035A mentioned for the SDS2354X Plus the same probes, or are they different? If they're different, in which way? The SP2035 probes will work fine for the liberated SDS2014X Plus? The cost difference (for the USA market) between the SDS2202X-E and the SDS2352X-E is $220. If I recommend my friend to buy the SDS2352X-E and give him $220 (or whatever the difference in price is for him between the two models) to exchange two of my PP215 probes for his two SP2035 probes, do you think that's a good deal? I'll likely need to buy two 350 or 500 MHz probes otherwise, in order to use my scope for the times I need it in the 350 to 500 MHz range. Alternately, I can take my chances and buy two 500 MHz probes on Aliexpress for considerably less than the $220, but I'm not sure how to gauge the quality/performance difference between Aliexpress 500 MHz probes and the SP2035 probes.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2021, 08:04:56 am
content: Quote from: AaronLee on July 27, 2021, 07:30:50 amSP2035 probes are 1x/10x whereas SP2035A probes are fixed 10x autosense probes for the SDS2354X Plus.See here:https://siglentna.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2017/10/Probe_List_05282021.pdfA cheaper option for SDS2354X Plus are the 300 MHz SP2030A 10x fixed autosense probes:https://siglentna.com/product/sp2030a-auto-sense-300-mhz-oscilloscope-probes/Quote from: AaronLee on July 27, 2021, 07:30:50 amWell that could test your friendship however if he's agreeable it might work.Still, sometime later he might regret it and want his probes back !Recently I've looked for cheaper 350 MHz 10x autosense probes to offer as an accessory for these great Plus DSO's and found some nice ones at Pintek in Taiwan which I still need to properly characterize.CP-3351R ( 350MHz, Readout )http://www.pintek.com.tw/product_detail/landersound/index.php?Product_SN=26541&Company_SN=6002&Product_Site_Classify_SN=17073You might be able to find these locally as to order from Pintek they have a $500 minimum order or you pay a additional surcharge.