Siglent SDG1020 is it a bad buy ?. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 11:38:02 pm
content: Read this review and it made me think twice or so about getting it next friday. Might stick to a Rigol or such if it is naff.http://www.tester.co.uk/siglent-sdg1020-arbitrary-function-generator-frequency-20-2ch-display-3-4inches

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 11:44:10 pm
content: That review is two years old and many thing have been fixed. Do yourself a favor and search and read the dedicated thread here on these models. I have the SDG1025 and am happy with it.

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 11:47:52 pm
content: i did read some of the threads which is why I went to look for it on that site, but to be honest i find they tend to counter each other leaving me in no mans land unable to make a choice. I suppose I was hoping someone who owned one would kind of twist my arm a little to get one

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 11:50:14 pm
content: The other thread says it all. In a nutshell, there is still jitter when using square wave, but if you use pulse wave and set for 50% there is not jitter. The log sweep is not very smooth if you use huge sweep ranges and fast sweep speeds. Other than that I see no problems.

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 11:51:46 pm
content: ok. thanks

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 12:05:07 am
content: My friend has a Siglent SDG1025, and is very happy with it.In my opinion the Siglent SDG1025 is a much better deal than the Rigol DG1022.One thing, which I don't like at all about the Rigol DG1000 series is that the two channels have different properties (vertical resolution, max. amplitude, DC offset, AW length).Obviously they have done this for cost reduction, but why would people want to have 2 channels with different properties? It should be symmetric properties!With the Siglent SDG1000 series both channels have the same properties. That's how it should be!Moreover it has a color screen, and the interface looks really nice.Note that you could consider to pay more and go for the Rigol DG1032Z series.But it costs much more, and it's probably not worth to pay that much extra, unless you really would need the bigger memory depth.Moreover the display seems bigger than is really needed on the Rigol DG1032Z series, and they use gradients all over the place to give it a special touch, but it's over the top in this case.The color screen on the Silent SDG1000 series is more modest, and looks much more professional.The current deficiencies in the Siglent SDG1000 series can probably be tackled/improved with a future FW upgrade. The Rigol DG1000 series will have its flaws too! No one is perfectNote that Siglent has launched a new SDG2000X series, which could be worth to look at, depending on your application area and needs.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 12:40:04 am
content: Quote from: pascal_sweden on August 07, 2015, 12:05:07 amNo it doesn't. The maximum amplitude for both channels is different. Unfortunately because I already ran into that limitation.

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 01:27:57 am
content: Okey. I missed the amplitude apparently, but at least all other properties are identical.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 01:32:32 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on August 07, 2015, 12:40:04 amCorrect.The amplitude defferences between channels is clearly specified in the Datasheet under Output Specifications.

author: alterbaron
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 01:53:07 am
content: I've had the SDG1025 for a bit over 6 months now, and it has been excellent.Sweep generation used to be very buggy, but a firmware update fixed it.The supplied PC software is pretty useless (if you can even get it to work!).However, the thing can communicate through NI-VISA, so you can write code to control it without too much hassle.I much prefer the form factor of this generator to the oscilloscope-sized Rigol offerings. It's stackable, so it doesn't need to eat up much bench space.Output power is pretty good for channel 1 (23.9dBm to 10MHz, then 17.9dBm to 25MHz). Channel 2 is more limited, but acceptable for my uses (13.5dBm to 25MHz).A big advantage of this product vs. some competitors is that the square wave goes all the way to 25MHz. For example, the competing ATTEN offering can only generate a square wave to 1MHz.

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 01:59:00 am
content: I thought that the square wave was limited to 6MHz?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 02:17:34 am
content: Quote from: pascal_sweden on August 07, 2015, 01:59:00 amRTFM

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 02:23:41 am
content: DNHMAH - Did Not Have Manual At HandWell, the Pulse is only going to 5 MHz at least.How come there is such a big difference between the max. frequency on Pulse wave versus Square wave?Is it related to the duty cycle?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 02:38:20 am
content: Quote from: pascal_sweden on August 07, 2015, 02:23:41 amAFAIK yes.IIRC when setting the AWG in Pulse mode there is a limit to the Pulse waveform duty cycle that is not described in the User manual I have here.Latest manual copy may describe the max duty cycle.If nobody confirms this I'll get my SDG1010 out and see what it is.

author: pauln
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 02:52:53 am
content: I have had my 1020 for a couple of years now - I am happy with it. As mentioned by previous posts, the firmware has been updated to fix issues that have been identified. Only criticism and my opinion is the firmware updates haven taken too long.

author: Wuerstchenhund
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 07:32:50 am
content: Quote from: pascal_sweden on August 07, 2015, 12:05:07 amI disagree completely. If you think the Siglent looks more "professional" then I guess you haven't seen (and used) much non-hobbyist ("professional") gear, because in comparison the Siglent UI looks like that of a toy.I had a Siglent SDG1020, and later replaced it with a Rigol DG1062z (the 60MHz variant of the DG1032z, my review of that thing ishere) mostly because of Siglent's incapability to provide an AWG with a LAN port. The SDG1020 is a mostly decent AWG for its price, but the Rigol's UI is*a lot*better than the illogical and ugly UI of the Siglent. Both AWGs require multiple button presses due to their relatively small screen and button areas, but of both manufacturers only Rigol has managed to put together a much more logical structure, and a screen layout that presents all relevant information in a clear way, even for both channels at the same time.Also, only on the Rigol the user can actually change the screen layout, on the Siglent you're stuck with the layout and the ugly coloring scheme (although you could change the latter by flashing the LeCroy WaveStation firmware).The DG1000z also is a better AWG, even though it comes with its own share of problems (and the included Windows software is still shit, as on the Siglent), but I guess that's something one has to live with in the low-cost class (which is why my next AWG will either come from Agilent/Keysight or Tektronix).

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 09:19:49 am
content: Big and fancy displays are not everything!Note that Dave discovered in one of his videos that the Rigol DG4000 series seems to incorrectly implement duty cycle.Most likely the same is present in the DG1000Z series.Couldn't find the video, but it was in one of his scope reviews if I recall correctly.

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 09:39:18 am
content: Quote from: pascal_sweden on August 07, 2015, 09:19:49 amI maybe talking out of the crack of my jeans but I agree with this, none of my older sig gens have a display but world perfectly well up to a certain bandwith, if I want to see the waveform then I have 2 oscilloscopes I can hook up to them, but technology moves on as does what they manufacturers say we desire, so I dont expect to find one without it, I suppose there are those who will say we can not live without displays and anyone who says otherwise is a dinosaur.

author: Wuerstchenhund
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 06:52:02 pm
content: Quote from: Deathwish on August 07, 2015, 09:39:18 amI'm sorry but I fear you are...Quote...because we're not talking about simple signal generators like this one where basically one dials with a coarse scale plus a few knobs are enough to get the right signal out of it:We're talking about modern Arbitrary Waveform Generators which can reproduce dozens of very complex signals and which come with a wide range of configuration parameters, even in the low-end class like the Siglents and Rigols.Good luck configuring a modern AWG without a display (or a PC connected to it).

author: Wuerstchenhund
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 06:58:05 pm
content: Quote from: pascal_sweden on August 07, 2015, 09:19:49 amWell, it's a Rigol, what do you expect? Rigol (and even more so Siglent) have a long track record of firmware problems, of which many only get fixed months after the product was thrown on the market (and other bugs won't get fixed at all).That's why this stuff only costs Rigol/Siglent prices. If you expect the Keysight/Tektronix/R&S quality then you have to pay Keysight/Tektronix/R&S prices.QuoteNo, it isn't.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 10:09:51 pm
content: Quote from: Wuerstchenhund on August 07, 2015, 06:58:05 pmAs this thread is about the Siglent SDG1020 AWG, I'll point out there are no outstanding FW bugs/issues with currently available Siglent AWG's AFAIK.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 11:24:01 pm
content: AFAIK, the two issues I mentioned are still there. Fast log sweep with wide range being rather coarse, and jitterin square wave mode.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 11:41:29 pm
content: Anyone with a SDG1020 able to post an image of 20MHz square wave?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 11:53:20 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on August 07, 2015, 11:41:29 pmQuite likely one in this thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/show-us-your-square-wave/

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 12:49:57 am
content: The original question was if the SDG1020 is a bad buy. The direct and no BS answer is NO. Is it a perfect AWG? Again NO. Did I regret buying mine? You guessed it, NO! Sometimes people get into analysis paralysis and don't buy anything. I would recommend the SDG1000 series as reasonable purchases with not too many faults.

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 03:52:55 am
content: Quote from: Lightages on August 08, 2015, 12:49:57 amYou know me so well. Anyway, I will be getting one as soon as I am able to, just for gods sake do NOT tell that Tautech fella, he will gloat and sit there with a smile for a month.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 11:42:49 am
content: Quote from: Deathwish on August 08, 2015, 03:52:55 amNot to dissapoint you......I know you will happy with it Gary.