Hobby oscilloscopes - What additional features do you want ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: theoldwizard1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 02:23:52 am
content: I guess I can not do a poll (or maybe I just don't know how) but, what additional features would you like to see in a "hobby" oscilloscope similar to a Rigol DS1054Z ?Personally, I would pay another $150(maybe more)to get the first 3.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 03:21:47 am
content: Under $1K there's zilch available !What DSO experience have you had that makes youthinkyou need more/or any of the above ?

author: theoldwizard1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 03:58:16 am
content: Quote from: tautech on February 13, 2018, 03:21:47 amI know that ! But competition improves the breed and there seems to be a lot of competition in the under $500 range. Maybe someone will figure out how to put 2 ADCs on board or a 10 bit ADC.Quote from: tautech on February 13, 2018, 03:21:47 amRetired EE. It has been over 10 years since I have "twisted any knobs" on a 'scope and everything I used back then was typically over $5,000, many over $10,000.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 04:14:52 am
content: Quote from: theoldwizard1 on February 13, 2018, 03:58:16 amBeen done in the new SDS1004X-E series.The four channel scope is available in 100 and 200 MHz models and incorporates two 1 GSa/s ADCs and two 14 Mpts memory modules.http://www.siglent.com/ENs/pdxx.aspx?id=1909&T=2&tid=1Thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sds1204x-e-released-for-domestic-markets-in-china/Detailed review:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sds1104x-e-in-depth-review/Daves teardown:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-1044-siglent's-$499-sds1104x-e-4ch-oscilloscope-teardown/Quote from: theoldwizard1 on February 13, 2018, 03:58:16 amThere's plenty of choice when you jump over $1k but not so much that can satisfy all the things in your poll and often that's much more than a hobbyist wants to spend.DSO's even with 1Gsa/s don't miss much especially if you know how to get the best out of them.

author: theoldwizard1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 05:00:17 am
content: Quote from: tautechWow ! I missed all of that !! Glad to see there IS competition to Rigol !Quote from: tautechThat was my point exactly !Quote from: tautechIt is difficult to capture non re-occurring events unless you have a good trigger point.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 05:41:55 am
content: Quote from: theoldwizard1 on February 13, 2018, 05:00:17 amPlus some additional tools.A little demo of some features that help:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sds1204x-e-released-for-domestic-markets-in-china/msg1370717/#msg1370717The glitch was visible but not so that you could capture it with basic settings.......It's all about knowing how to and using the tools available.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 07:30:30 am
content: So far very happy with my Micsig 1004. Battery consumption is heaps for an average days un powered work. Software is solid and easy to navigate and the spec ticked all the boxes I needed for a decent price.There is a very rabid Rigol fanboys out there who are blinded to alternates but Siglent and the Migsig were a close choice for me. The more recent new comers chasing the heels of the lower end market can only be a good thing for the users.*** Avoid Hantek they suck ba.......

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 02:28:57 pm
content: I do not view any of those things as useful as the following:1. An FFT which does not discard the phase results.2. Optional differentiation before the FFT to perform impulse network analysis. This goes with 1.3. Averaging *after* the FFT instead of before which just screws everything up.4. An FFT output which is corrected for equivalent noise bandwidth.5. If the DSO has an AWG output, then support for network analysis. HP has a DSO now which does this but very poorly.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 04:26:03 pm
content: And... if we add every additional feature that anybody could possibly want then we end up with something nobody can afford.Quote from: David Hess on February 13, 2018, 02:28:57 pmGet yourself a dedicated signal analyzer instead of a "jack-of-all-trades" oscilloscope.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 04:35:47 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on February 13, 2018, 04:26:03 pmSignal/network analyzers are not oscilloscopes. These are all capabilities which DSO hardware already supports and in some cases like FFTs, it just requires *not* deliberately throwing something out or using a different calibration factor.

author: rf-loop
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 06:36:54 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on February 13, 2018, 02:28:57 pmPerhaps you mean this Keysight 1000X?Also this Siglent is not at all perfect but perhaps "bit over" this KeysightHere BodePlot. Dut is 1M Xtal.Of course here we can see 8bit ADC limits and so on... but still this is something in very cheap scope.Images:a. 1M span 5kHzb. Around same with data table(Also it can see that of course it can not detect phase out from signal when level is very close noise level.)c. Last image, span 500Hz just for demonstration. Xtal "peak"..

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 07:33:15 pm
content: Quote from: rf-loop on February 13, 2018, 06:36:54 pmI did not know Siglent had added swept bode plot capability.Unfortunately while swept analysis works, I would rather have the FFT version I mentioned because it operates in real time and works for noise analysis. It also does not require an AWG or other signal from the DSO. The low dynamic range is just something one has to live with but it is accepted for many applications where a vector network analyser cannot be used.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 07:56:31 pm
content: of the proposed options, battery operation is the only one i would care about.We already have plenty..Samplerate is plenty (see the new siglent)Bandwidth is plenty (ditto)an ui that doesn't lag like crazy (ditto)other additions FOR HOBBY i have in mind would be- A way to write your own decoders and possibly trigger from them, if the manufacturer won't do it because money and market segmentation let the user do it! but then again, to set up the whole thing to accept user scripts would also cost and put the scope in another segment..- Plot the measurements! Math with measurements!Other things i'd like would put the "hobby scope" in a completely different segment..but anyway, what is an "hobby scope"? you may build your own motor inverters for hobby because you have the knowledge and build your own electric kart, but it's still a hobby as it's not your source of income.cheap scope is a better term...

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2018, 08:05:51 pm
content: Quote from: theoldwizard1 on February 13, 2018, 02:23:52 amYou forgot the most important one: no bugs (and faster fixes if there are bugs).