Repost for opinions - Hantek DSO5202B worth $240? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 06:12:54 am
content: Reposting from test equipment as it had one reply with 120 views and then that one vanished.Hey all, it's been a few years since my analog scope was ruined by the winter because I was forced to put it in the garage (I had barely even gotten to mess around with it let alone learn to use it properly) and I've been looking for one every since but this popped up for $240, a Hantek Digital Storage Oscilloscope - 200MHz, 2 Channels, 1M Memory. According to the seller it was only used a few times, These seem to go for $400+ new. Checking to get the exact model number and see if he has the leads and other accessories.I might be able to get the price down to $200 since it's a 30 minute drive or so one way to pick it up, then I could have him hook it up to prove that it still works. He also has a signal/function generator but that's not really something I need and I couldn't afford it anyways (I'd already be putting off getting a new fender for my car since rust is starting, but this seems like a good opportunity)Should I go for it? Are these scopes any good? Any common issues with then that may be why he is selling it for that cheap? Any hacks to unlock higher frequency or more memory perhaps? 200mhz seems pretty good for hobby level stuff I think, not sure how 1mb memory is.Also wondering if there is any real good way to test that it is indeed working properly without a signal generatorEdit: He says he paid $700 for it and is firm at $240 which isn't a massive amount more though I may see if he would deliver it then as my car isn't all that fuel efficient lol. Model number DSO5202B, two 10x/1x leads and everything else it came with.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I would be using the scope for very basic things at first, checking the clealiness of some DV power supplies, would be fun to maybe look at serial data/decode it if that's something this can do? Found dave's review of the tekway and it seems decently competent, dave didn't reccomend it but that was the 100mhz at full price, this would be much cheaper. I'm thinking I should grab it, it would have way more capability that I could use but something like this as a learner scope for $240 is a pretty good option is it not?Also there was that big multi part how to use an oscilloscope series that was put out a year or so ago, does anyone have a link to that post?

author: nixfu
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 06:41:39 am
content: Hmm. Tough call.Once you get to $250, it starts to get the point where you might as well get the $375(with eevblog discount from tequipment) Rigol DS1054Z (modded to 100mhz, and 24MB memory, and my favorite feature the graduated persistence analog-like display) instead which is a fantastic deal in comparison.That extra $125 will buy you quite a bit, and you will also then have the same scope that probably will be the most popular and most common among hobbyists, which will make it easier to learn with lots of examples out there in the hobby community.The Rigol will also probably hold its resale value for some time. The $240 Hantek might be more throw away cost you can never get back if you decide you want to move to something else in the future.You might want to watch Dave's take on the Rigol from a few videos ago:Summary:

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 06:47:10 am
content: Quote from: nixfu on February 18, 2015, 06:41:39 amWell 100mhz less but 24mb memory? holy crap, and it has graduated persistence? hrmmm. Problem is there is also shipping to factor into the price I'll see how much that would be. This one seems to have a really fast capture speed though in one of the videos I saw, where would I really notice the limitation of 100mhz vs 200?

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 06:49:40 am
content: Oh damn it's that rigol, four channels too. I've seen that used in a few videos and drooled over it a bit. Will it come with all the cables needed? It popped up some sort of memory thing and a cable kit when I added to cart, so it almost seems like it might not?

author: nixfu
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 06:51:42 am
content: Yep, you might want to think it over carefully.Honestly, there is NOTHING AT ALL that even compares on the market to the price/power you get with the new Rigol DS1054Z. NOTHING....it makes it hard to even buy and old used scope, because at that price it just kinda blows away the low end of the used market too.Edit:yes comes with cables, watch daves video, he does a rundown of what is in the box too.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 06:54:13 am
content: Yeah that extra $125 would be doable too given a bit of time, the problem is with checkout they said free shipping with orders over $99 but as I thought that changed once I was in the cart, lowest rate is $75, uhg. Another time being in Canada gets me shafted on this sort of thing. That takes the price up to $450 at least. There's also the damn currency conversion too.$365 usd is $465 CAD, and with shipping it ends up being $558 before taxes and probably import fees, that just too much :/

author: nixfu
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 06:56:37 am
content: Quote from: XOIIO on February 18, 2015, 06:54:13 amYou might find a better deal with a more local supplier. Someone on the forum might be able to suggest a better supplier. Tequipment is the supplier of choice for us yanks, but for other countries there are better choices.Maybe browse this topic for people mentioning other global suppliers, start on the last page of that thread and work your way to older:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-rigol-ds1054z-oscilloscope/Here are a couple mentioned in the EU:http://www.batronix.com/shop/oscilloscopes/Rigol-DS1054Z.htmlhttp://www.meilhaus.de/en/rigol+ds1054z.htmhttp://www.batterfly.com/shop/rigol-ds1054z

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 07:04:13 am
content: Yeah there is one store here that could get it in likely but idk at what cost. If they did a student discount that would help, but I kinda doubt it since I'm not studying to be an EE or anything like that.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 12:00:59 pm
content: What something is worth is highly subjective - I wouldn't pay more than $100 for the off-brand scopes for example.If I were you, I would think about where you would use that scope and what options you have in those cases and how much those options would cost you. Go from there.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 02:51:56 pm
content: Yeah I think I'll go the save and get the rigol later or maybe see if the auction place is getting any old analog ones I could get for cheap in the meantime.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 03:54:34 pm
content: What in the hell? This guys been in the buisness 30 years apparently and has never heard of rigol.They deal with bnk and circuit test as importers, he said hitachi also makes scopes but seriously he's never heard of rigol. I didn't bother to ask if he's heard of Agilent.Anyways not really a market for scopes here, but damn. They wouldn't be able to do a discount based on that fact I'm sure.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 04:12:13 pm
content: Seems Rae is the best bet since they are canada based, $30 shipping but the scope is $518 with the damn currency conversion, so I'll have to wait until the exchange rate is better.