cheap (~$500) digital oscilloscope/LA/MSO advice - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: bigdawg
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 02:14:52 pm
content: Hi guys, I am a chemist by profession although I have a very strong interest in electronics for many years. I started with arduino uno many years ago although nowadays I mainly use STM32F4 discovery (ARM M4 cortex) and the new STM32F7 discovery (ARM cortex M7) boards. In my current project, I am trying to read a CCD (http://www.spectronicdevices.com/pdf/TCD1304AP.pdf) and observe the output ()I need to see if my board is generating the signals like in datasheet, and see the output. Since, this project requires use of both digital and analog signals, I am not sure what should I buy to troubleshoot the project. My dad has an old analog oscilloscope in his basement but I am not even sure it works right now and he lives pretty far from me so I might as well go ahead and buy something.I am looking to spend about $500 total to buy a cheap oscilloscope+LA and I have seen that most people here recommend rigol. However, my bigger question is that will a oscilloscope by itself work for this project, or is it better to buy a good logic analyzer too or should I save up and buy a mixed signal oscilloscope which I understand is a logic analyzer and oscilloscope built into one. Please correct me if I am wrong, and advice me on the right course of action so that I dont end up wasting too much money on this "hobby"

author: alsetalokin4017
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 04:36:32 pm
content: Wow.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Agilent-54622D-MSO-Mixed-Signal-Oscilloscope-Package-Price-Drop/121742495872?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D33278%26meid%3Dc7c35ff03b4e46109fb7144aa2906d15%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D110896652757&rt=nc

author: bigdawg
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 06:03:56 pm
content: So is going with an 10-15 yr old MSO better than buying a Rigol DS1102E and a separate LA?

author: JackP
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2015, 08:58:32 pm
content: I'd go with the DS1054z over the 1000e series. Dependent on your morals, you could get a £100 Saleae LA, or a £10 rip-off with he same functionality. Of course, if you are looking to only use those protocols supported on the LA, then you could probably get away with just using the serial decoding on the Rigol. Nevertheless, a standalone unit has benefits like more channels and easy data transfer, but each to their own. I would seriously consider that 54622D though, watch Dave's review.If you can go to £800 (or ~£1400 for 4 channels) you can upgrade to a new DSO-X 2000A series from Agilent, enable the MSO (connector is standard) and other options and have a 200MHz scope with hardware decoding, waveform generator, training signals...Just get the DS1054z (or even a cheap chinese scope) if you just want to check the output. However, give it some thought if you love the hobby, in which case spending money is never 'wasted'. Plus the amount and type of digital signals will dictate what option you could really use.

author: bigdawg
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2015, 12:33:43 pm
content: Quote from: JackP on August 31, 2015, 08:58:32 pmis there any particular reason for not going with the e series? or is it just the number of channels.QuoteJackP thanks for a detailed reply. I have taken your advice and gone ahead and bought a saleae clone. If its any good, than I'll buy the real thing since I would definately want to support a company whose products I am using. Not to mention the associated support with the official product.My workbench space is pretty limited, and hence ideally I would much rather have something ligher and smaller than the bulky 54622D.I have narrowed down my choice to1) Rigol DS1102E 100mhz, 2 channels; $3992) Rigol DS1074Z 70 MHz, 4 channels; $4993) Rigol DS1054Z 50MHz, 4 channels, $399both are right in my budget. I am wondering, that would you go with a scope with higher channels but lower speed? would a difference between 50, 70 and 100Mhz even matter? I do not want to hack into it to get upgrades since I am afraid I'll screw something up and than I'll have to troubleshoot a troubleshooting device; so without those upgrades, are any of these rigol still the way to go?

author: JackP
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2015, 02:15:24 pm
content: Definitely get the DS1054z. You get 4 channels, and the scope is hackable to get the higher bandwidth and the various options. The z series is a more modern scope, with a bigger screen, deeper memory, the extra channels etc. The 1102e is a rip-off for that price, most go for about £100-£200. I would wholeheartedly recommend the z series. I just saw that you didn't want to hack it, but I wouldn't be scared - thousands have done it. Besides, 50MHz is a decent bandwidth to start, and there is no need to hack it right away. Even if you didn't hack it, I would still go for the DS1054z.

author: bigdawg
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2015, 03:33:30 pm
content: Quote from: JackP on September 01, 2015, 02:15:24 pmThanks a lot Jack. I have gone ahead and ordered a DS1054z.

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2015, 06:41:15 pm
content: Quote from: JackP on September 01, 2015, 02:15:24 pmDon't forget it also has the intensity graded display of the waveforms, which the 1000e series lacks.Sent from my LG-ls990 using Tapatalk

author: BFX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2015, 07:06:21 pm
content: Quote from: alsetalokin4017 on August 31, 2015, 04:36:32 pmBe careful, this scopes have third party power supply which is difficult to repair.And it's primary source of problems as usually.

author: JackP
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2015, 09:37:02 pm
content: No problem, enjoy your new scope!