Possible new DSO for Siglent to consider - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: mawyatt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 04:44:25 pm
content: After watching all the various discussions on DSOs and finding out about the Owen DSOs like the XDS3202A that utilize the Analog Devices HMCAD1520 8/12/14 bit Multi-Mode ADC, this has one wondering if Siglent has considered implementing this ADC? Dave's review of the Owen didn't exactly instill confidence in the Owen DSO, and showed some of the more typical type PCBs and construction you expect from low-level suppliers and not the quality you see from Siglent, Rigol and other higher end DSO OEMs.With Siglent's excellent low noise wide-band DSO front end and quality features like the FFT, Bode plot, and so on it seems a SDS2004X Plus with a HMCAD1520 ADC would be a killer mid-range DSOConsider the nice FFT implementation in the SDS2004X Plus which originates with an 8 bit ADC (HMCAD1511), a pretty darn good ADC, but still 8 fundamental bits with good ENOB, now replace this ADC with the HMCAD1520 with 8/12/14 bitsThe 1520 boasts a ENOB of 11 bits in the 12 bit mode and 11.8 bits in the 14 bit mode, with SNR of 70 and 74dBFS respectively. Coupled with Siglent's front end should yield a DSO that could also yield a quality FFT baseband analyzer. Of course this assumes the front end is capable of supporting this level of ADC performance, but seems all the "hooks" are in place to have this happenBTW the 8/12/14 bit HMCAD1520 is pin compatible with the 8 bit HMCAD1511From Analog Devices data sheet:pin compatible partsHMCAD1520 is pin compatible and can be config- ured to operate as HMCAD1511 and HMCAD1510, with functionality and performance as described in HMCAD1511 and HMCAD1510 datasheets.Drop in replacement, hopefully Siglent is listeningBest,Best,

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 06:26:09 pm
content: At sometime in the future we may get to see the SDS6000 Pro.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sds6000-pro-10-and-12-bit-dso-coming/

author: mawyatt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 06:59:53 pm
content: I was thinking something like SDS2000X Ultra @ $1899. After studying the HMCAD1520 a little this might require only the ADC swap from the hardware standpoint since the 1511 and 1520 are directly drop in compatible according to the data sheet.Of course the firmware would need changing, but unlikely a complete overall, and if the same memory was utilized then the depth would be shallower due to the extra bits. Anyway it seems like no show stoppersIFSiglent wants to do this.Wonder if Owen just replaces the ADC and updates the firmware in their DSO that use the HMCAD1520, also how well the front end behaves noise and linearity wise trying to support this higher resolution ADC? Would be a shame if the DSO performance is dictated not by the upgraded ADC but the limiting front end.If someone has one of these Owen XDS3202A and could run some tests like the 2 tone IMD, input referred noise, BW, ENOB and ERB this would give an idea since the data sheet gives the ADC details, and from Analog Devices the data sheet is likely accurate and not over estimated.Anyway, fun thoughts for Siglent to considerBest,Best,

author: TurboTom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 08:52:28 pm
content: But the SDS2004 / x / plus is based on two MXT2001 ADCs -- these are completely different animals than the HMCAD1510/11/20.The platform that would permit a swap would be the SDS1004X/Plus/U. And I don't know if that would be a good choice from a marketing point of view, if the entry level platform provides the highest resolution ADC of the whole product range.

author: mawyatt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2020, 03:12:38 am
content: Staying with the SDS2004X Plus would require a new main PCB redesign due to the different ADC then, likely not going to happen since the development cost would be high.Does the SDS1004X Plus utilize the same front end as the 2000 series? If this model has a good front end, maybe a hardware/firmware hack is possible!Best,

author: ci11
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2021, 11:02:00 am
content: Quote from: mawyatt on December 19, 2020, 04:44:25 pmThe HMCAD1520 got into the Analog Device catalog through acquisition when Hittite Microwave was acquired by Analog back in 2014. As good an ENOB performance as it may be, the questions for a scope implementation may be how many customers will its find its 14-bit 105Msps sampling rate sufficient, and how long will Analog keep it in production when one of its own nearly identical in performance quad 14-bit ADC, the AD9694 sells for more than 6x the money.