Looking for DS1104Z-S impressions/opinions - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: idpromnut
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 27, 2013, 06:06:59 pm
content: Hi, I've been looking for reviews and thoughts on Rigol's new DS1104Z-S oscilloscope. I have read various threads on the forum here about it, but nothing that seems "complete" enough. My dilemma is this: I feel from what I have read and seen on Dave's videos that the DS2072 would meet my needs (with perhaps the purchase of a logic analyzer for SPI and other serial decode projects) and someone here has measured the 2072's performance and said it can handle signals up to ~100MHz in it's stock configuration.So the reason I am looking at the DS1104Z-S at all is two fold: extra inputs + extra signal generators. I don't know ho much more useful it is to have +2 'scope channels versus a logic probe, and I already have a HP 8116A function/pulse generator that can go up to 50MHz, but I can imagine scenarios where I would want to have 2 signal generators. If the extra generators are not important, are the +2 channels worth going for the DS1104Z anyways over the DS2072?My feeling right now is that having the 4 channels would be useful, but that the DS2072 is a better instrument (both in features and usability) and a better purchase.Note that my background is a software guy learning electronics, I have the Tek 2225 (Thanks for the suggestion Dave!) and I have a bit of extra cash from a bonus that I want to get me a nice gift for "Christmas" this yearSo if there is a better DSO suggestion in the same price range I'd be open to suggestions.Thanks!

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2013, 09:33:13 pm
content: IMHO a scope with more channels is always better. One of the few things I don't like about the DS1000Z series is that the sampling rate gets lower with more channels enabled. This could lead to aliasing artefacts unless it goes into some kind of equivalent time sampling mode.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2013, 05:19:17 am
content: Quote from: idpromnut on December 27, 2013, 06:06:59 pmI realize owners always/often prefer whatever they purchased. And I'm sure I'm in that camp. Plus, I'm a rookie with oscilloscopes and test equipment in general. Having said that I tried both the 1104Z and the 2072 side by side. Both are very good scopes and excellent values and I could make a case for either, but having had the opportunity to try both I think a big deciding factor is how much you will want/need/enjoy the 4 channels on the DS1000Z series vs. the big nav knob and it's associated features and functions on the DS2000 series. If you want to easily navigate through lengthy waveforms the 2072 deserves a close look. There are some other differences (some in favor of one or the other of the two series), but to me those were the biggest considerations. Either way, as much as I've enjoyed having a Tek analog scope these two Rigol DSOs have been even "cooler" to operate. YMMV

author: electronics man
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2013, 09:57:14 pm
content: Due to the 4 inputs of the ds1000z men's the scope could be used as a simple logic analyser. And another big consideration is the price the lowest ds2000 is £300 more than the z so the z is by far the best value for money 4 channels for £450 vs 2 channels + a few fancy extrasfor £733 so if you want to pay more for less channels and a few fancy extra things then go ahead or significantly less for a massive 4 channels. And even though the sample rate does drop whith the number of channels open the sample rate is still very high if you are serious about electronics and realy want the best then it might matter but if you area beginner who is not going to make serious measurements then it shouldn't matter too much

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2013, 02:24:14 am
content: Quote from: electronics man on December 29, 2013, 09:57:14 pmEven though I happen to value the Nav functionality (and some of the other features) of the DS2000 I agree with your assessment. The extra 2 channels help the DS1000 better begin to approximate a logic analyzer (as well as work on 4 analog signals vs. only 2 signals) so if you are on a budget the DS1074Z is the best way to skinny down the cost to the maximum extent.With respect to options, the Serial Decoding Option on the DS1000 is slightly less expensive than on the D2000 and the same is true for the Advanced Trigger Option. The options begin to work in favor of the DS2000 if you want to add the Waveform Record and Play Option to the DS1000 - this comes standard and with better functionality on the the DS2000. The Memory option for the DS1000 is less expensive than the DS2000 but it also provides less memory.So, net, net: if you are only planning to buy the base model and live with the base configuration the DS1074Z is clearly the low cost leader. If you have other needs or plans the DS2000 is also a mighty fine oscilloscope. (In the US the DS2072 is about $240 more than the DS1074Z; that might be enough to get someone an entry level Power Supply and an entry level DMM, or a better Power Supply, or a better DMM.)Without a doubt, if the budget is super precious, and it often is, a DS1074Z (or a DS1074Z + the SA-DS1000Z serial decoding and trigger option) would be an excellent entry level scope.

author: xuio
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2013, 07:30:26 am
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on December 30, 2013, 02:24:14 amOr usehttp://riglol.3owl.com

author: Rory
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2014, 10:09:48 pm
content: I bought a DS1104Z-S for work, got it today, and just set it up alongside my DS2072 and DG4062. A couple of major differences in basic operation between them, though none of them are dealbreaking on the DS1104Z. The Z scope does not have an external trigger input, you have to use one of the 4 channels to trigger. So this means in my application I only have 3 available channels since the 4th channel is tied up with the trigger. No option for external trigger input on rear panel.Measurement features differ between them. Maybe a bug on the DS1104Z but to set up measurements on each of the four channels, for example Vp-p, I tried clearing all measurements, then selected channel 1, selected p-p from left keys menu, selected channel 2, selected p-p again, channel 3, selected p-p etc. You would think that the selected measurements would appear in order (1,2,3,4) but they are not in order left to right, but also have a greyed measurement function from an earlier setting that was deleted shows up between them. This doesn't work as the ds2072 does.On DS2000 series, the menus disappear/retract on the left and right. On DS1104Z the menus don't disappear so you have less usable display area.I haven't tried the waveform gen functions yet, but there are no external analog modulation inputs like with the DG4000 series. Also there is no external frequency reference input as there is on the DG4000.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2014, 11:25:13 pm
content: Quote from: Rory on March 24, 2014, 10:09:48 pmSame as on my DSOX2002A, and on GDS-2000A. I think that even the generator in Tek MDO3000 is limited.

author: ad0hg
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 25, 2014, 02:13:14 am
content: I have one of these scopes. Just arrived about 3 weeks ago now. Rock solid price for value on this one. Great features everything that I need. I could not believe how fast it arrived when I was given a 4 to 8 week delivery on a new Tek.CheersSteve

author: Dave Turner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2014, 12:52:47 am
content: After much dithering I bought the 1074Z-S last November and don't believe I could have obtained better for the price.Whilst I would love to be able to afford a mixed domain Tektronix it isn't going to happen in the near future if ever.Even for the relatively simple experiments that I'm conducting I often find myself using at least 3 channels. So with the absence of any other scope, (I don't enough space for an analogue too and anyway my old dual beam died 35 years ago), I'm happy with the 1074Z-S including it's limitations.

author: jadew
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2014, 01:55:43 am
content: Hey, I have a 1104Z for a few months now and I have to say if I was to pick between the 2000 series and the 1104Z, I'd go for the 1104Z again. I even considered the 4000 series for a while and I'm glad I didn't go that route because I don't think I need that kind of sample rate atm.That being said, the 250Msps when using 3/4 channels seems to be enough to display all the signals accurately - I did not notice any degrading when analyzing signals at the lowest time base and enabling all the other channels.I also have to say that 4 channels add a lot more value to it than you might think.About the external trigger... I never used the external trigger on my 1052E, because I always needed to see the signal I'm triggering on, however I may start using it now that I have this scope, since it has a trigger out and I can use the trigger out from the 1104Z to trigger the 1052E, giving me 6 channels (if I ever need them).