Rigol or Siglent scope with a budget of around $400 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: DougSpindler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2018, 02:31:12 pm
content: Trying to decide if should buy the DS-1054Z, the SDS1000X-E, or something else? I’m a computer/technology instructor who is teaching a semester long technology (STEM) class to talented high school students. Yesterday I was given a budget to purchase a scope and need to make a purchase decision in a few days.My skill digital electronics skill level is on the order of a hobbiest/tinkerer. (Just looking for a basic scope.). (Not sure if I need four channels.)The class I’m teaching the students is based on Audrino so if the scope has the ability to decode that would be a big+1. (I am teaching students about fames, packets and protocols.)I will never master all of the features of the scope I will be pucchansing is one more intuit that the other?I plan on having student use the scope with their Arduino projects to give them experience using a scope need something they can learn quickl, play around with and not destroy.Not sure if I need four channels. But if it’s four channels vs. packet decoding (UART, SPI) I would favor the decoder.Other pluses with be HDMI output so I could connect to a video projector.LAN port? Is there software which allows remote front pannel controls? WHich would prevent students from breaking the knobs?Does one have a larger display? Or make better use of the screen real estate?Would greatly appreciate your thoughts.(Sorry for the cross post, but I need to make a purchase descesion in about a day.)Thank you very much.

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2018, 02:45:08 pm
content: Faced with the digital scope decision, I put it off, sort of. I went with the Analog Discovery, a 10-15Mhz USB scope, but with a host of other tools. It is aimed at students, so it's bandwidth is limited, but the inclusion of a logic analyzer, AWG, spectrum analyzer and some others make it very attractive to certain uses. The fact that it's viewable on a large monotior or two has become a big plus for my 65 year old eyes. Dave speaks very highly of the software, a big downside of many of the lower cost USB scopes. This unit has me thinking of a PicoScope as my "real" eventual scope because of the display ability and the fact that their software is highly respected.

author: DougSpindler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2018, 02:53:20 pm
content: I had thought about USB scopes but the problem is in 5 years the software many not be supported, You forget what computer the scope software is on. Would much rather spend the extra $$ for a dedicated device. In 10 years the dedicated scope will still be working.... I hope, PC 10 year old will be at the recyclers.How much did you spend on the USB versions?

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2018, 03:11:54 pm
content: For retail price buyers the Analog Discovery is $279 and I would include the BNC adapter board for another $20 and the external power supply at $15. This is not a run of the mill low cost USB scope, but rather a electronics student toolkit. Digilent, the manufacture, is in partnership with National Instruments (LabView) and has been producing this product for a number of years. It is solidly Windows based, but to a lesser degree MAC and Linux are supported. I honestly don't think it is going anywhere, but it is also not the sort of tool that would replace a dedicated scope over the long run. What it does offer are a lot of additional tools, particularly digital, that give someone learning electronics the ability to cover a wide assortment of learning areas with one purchase.

author: DougSpindler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2018, 03:34:21 pm
content: I looked the the Analog Discovery. Student/education pricing is $15 less. In just thinking about it, I’m not so sure a USB 3scope would work in a classroom. I’ll only have one which manes I need to take it to where the student is working. Can’t use a desktop, would have to use a laptop. So now I have to lug the laptop, scope hardware, cables, and 2 power supplies . The I would need two outlets and a lot of desktop space to set it all up. Just don’t think it would work well. Remember I’m not teaching electronics per se, I’m teaching computer programming and networking using Arduinos.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 27, 2018, 04:29:13 pm
content: Please don't double post, it annoys people. This topic continues here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/with-a-budget-of-$400-rigol-or-siglet-scope/msg1411160/#msg1411160