Reasons to prefer a DS1074B over a DS1074Z  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 02:05:12 pm
content: Hello, I see the DS1074B listed for $945 and the newer DS1074Z for $549.http://www.rigolna.com/products/digital-oscilloscopes/ds1000b/ds1074b/http://www.rigolna.com/products/digital-oscilloscopes/ds1000Z/ds1074z/I compared the specs, see some difference in sampling rate and memory, number of the knobs and size of the screen.What's the real reason to (still) prefer the DS1074B?I can't find an online compare, and while I can work with a scope, don't own both devices and don't know all aspects and tricks.

author: icpart
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 04:01:41 pm
content: The main difference is that new Rigol 1000B series have double sampling rate vs Z series. New is 2 GSa/s sample rate. Also in 1000B series you have 1 GSa/s per channel vs 250 MSa/S in 1000Z series which is four time more sample rate per channel. So the price difference is expected between these series.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 04:29:23 pm
content: That's what I read in the specs too.Are there difference in how the software, memory, trigger, filtering behaves, in favor of the B-series?

author: kwass
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 04:40:01 pm
content: I sold my 1074B and bought a 1054Z a year ago. While the 1074B has slightly more responsive controls and is easier to use -- because of the separate controls for each channel -- the 1054Z (upgraded) beats it for just about everything else. The main reason I changed DSO's was because of memory depth and waveform update rate. 8/16KB memory and a few hundred waveforms/second is crippling on a DSO. The substantially higher samples/second on the 1074B is not much help because the frequency response is the limiting factor.Quote from: Galenbo on September 12, 2015, 04:29:23 pmFrom what I recall the filtering is better on the B, but trigger, memory and software options (although there are more bugs that are gradually getting addressed) are much, much better on the Z.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 05:12:17 pm
content: Quote from: icpart on September 12, 2015, 04:01:41 pmIn 4 channel mode, I think the 1000B is 1GSPS and the 1000Z is 250MSPS. However, I wouldn't buy a DS1000B - it's obsolete and overpriced. In that price range I'd be looking for a used Keysight DSOX2004A or something like that.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2015, 06:42:00 pm
content: Adding more...I'd prefer the individual vertical channel knobs on the B, compared to multiplexed on the Z.But the screen resolution, sorry, it's like Duplo on the B. That on its own is enough for me, although the 7" Z's 800x480 is a little cramped, but way, way better than the 5.7" 320x240 of the B.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 09:06:40 am
content: Quote from: Howardlong on September 12, 2015, 06:42:00 pmthanks for the info. Like (I think) most users I use a scope mostly for the first channel only.I don't own the Z, are the multiplexed knobs easy to use for allways-the-same channel?Are there other options that are hidden/multiplexed/menu'd away, more then on the B model?

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 09:21:47 am
content: Quote from: Galenbo on September 14, 2015, 09:06:40 amYes. The knobs work for whatever channel is selected (press the channel button).If you only use one channel then you don't have to do anything special, just use them.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 10:54:04 am
content: Ok, Thanks.If I understand right:The DS1000B is a mixture of:- the sampling rate of the DS2000- the 4-channels of the DS4000- the soft and screen of the DS1000EThe DS1000Z is a mixture of:- the sampling rate of the DS1000E- the 4-channels of the DS4000- the soft and screen of the DS2000Witch makes it a sampling rate vs bling comparison?

author: Ivan7enych
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 11:19:12 am
content: Here I've found a good review of 1000B and comparison with 1000Z (in russian only, but there are many informative pictures)IMHO1000B - has no intensity grading, much less informative screen (320x240 vs 800x480), much less waveform/s rate, it's firmware is based on a very old DS1000E, so I see many reasons to prefer 1000Z.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 11:29:51 am
content: Quote from: Ivan7enych on September 14, 2015, 11:19:12 amYep. In terms of usefulness, new screen+new software+lots more memory trumps a bit more bandwidth IMHO.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 08:40:18 am
content: Quote from: Ivan7enych on September 14, 2015, 11:19:12 amThanks but hmmm...Quote from: Ivan7enych on September 14, 2015, 11:19:12 amI saw Dave talking about that in a review, I think it was about the DS2000 series.Can you provide an example of where this is needed?I think I'm not on that level. I use a scope for looking at the result of what an RC filter does with (waveform generated) spikes, look at the signal to see why my usb-serial decoder gives nothing,look at the result of the gain an optocoupler gives, look at the error of a power supply when under intermittent load,... I think this is very basic stuff.

author: Ivan7enych
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 01:41:01 pm
content: Quote from: Galenbo on September 15, 2015, 08:40:18 amDS1000Z does have it as well.One example -In audio circuits (amplifiers) it can show you both audio signal and high frequency parasitic oscillations. Old style of digital oscilloscope (with small amount of sample points) can possibly alias that high frequency oscillations and show it as a false low frequency signal.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 01:50:52 pm
content: Quote from: Galenbo on September 15, 2015, 08:40:18 amSo why would you pay nearly twice as much for a DS1074B?

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2015, 10:10:34 am
content: I found this in another tread:Quote from: TMM on September 18, 2015, 06:00:30 am

author: kwass
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2015, 11:27:29 am
content: Quote from: Galenbo on September 18, 2015, 10:10:34 amI forgot about that. The DS1074B has alternate triggering too, but I almost never used that and haven't missed it since selling that and getting a DS1054Z. Also the 1074B has a full screen X-Y display (I don't understand why they don't offer that option on the 1054Z). Still, for me, the major memory advantage alone makes getting a 1054Z a win over a 1074B.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2015, 11:36:58 am
content: I guess it depends how often you use X-Y mode: I have to say that other than for interesting academic exercises, I've never needed to use it myself: YMMV of course!

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2015, 09:16:31 am
content: Quote from: Fungus on September 15, 2015, 01:50:52 pmYou are right. But it's the price difference (B>Z) that makes (made) me think the B has important features/specs I will miss in the Z. You guys do a great job in comparing/explaining your expieriences. It's not easy to interpretethe importance of each specfor sombody like me that has used less than 10 different scopes in life.Quote from: Howardlong on September 18, 2015, 11:36:58 amNeither me. Wasn't it an exercise that had to do with signal synchronisation?Brings me to another thing I never used: Ext Trig. I know the theory behind it, but if I'm right, you can use whatever channel to do this, ending up with a 3ch+ext.trig?

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2015, 09:59:14 am
content: Quote from: Galenbo on September 19, 2015, 09:16:31 amCorrect.External trigger isn't as important in a 4 channel scope as it is in a 2 channel scope.