beginner  Siglent SDS1104X-E  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: river
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 05:15:39 am
content: hello, I'm new here and trying to buy my first oscilloscope.I see words a lot to get theSiglent SDS1104X-E.this is even if it's for hobby stuff?$479.99 with adapter wifi thing nowhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Y7YB71Nships/sold by AmazonDoes this ever go on sale for normal holidays likeBlack Friday, Prime Day? If yes I'll wait for price to go down on black friday, otherwise if no one remembers or knows about it going lower on Black Fridays or Amazon Prime days, I can just buy it now and not wait.tbh I like features of the all-in-one hantek DSO2D15, and the more reasonable price of $250. I was hoping that after all these years based on the old posters and youtube videos showing broken Hantek that all the firmware was worked out and people would have mods/advice to follow to fix the over heating?I don't need super precise measurements just enough to have fun and get things done. after you update the firmware and add a Fan or and heat sinks does it work after that for people, if you invest that couple hours prepping it, then does it stop freezing and work normally for years?All advice appreciated.thanks

author: mwb1100
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2022, 08:46:09 am
content: There is a long thread on the Hantek DSO2x1x series. Here's a link to a post with a lengthy summary, but it would probably pay to at least skim the overall thread:-https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-hantek-dso2x1x-models/msg3559217/#msg3559217I have zero experience with Hantek. I did notice more than one post from people in the above thread regretting the purchase. Hard to beat the price though.For about $50 more ($300 on Amazon) you might want to also consider the Rigol DS1202Z-E which is basically a 1054z with only 2 channels but 200MHz bandwidth. However it doesn't have the sig gen that the Hantek DSO2D15 includes if that is important to you.Another to consider is the Siglent SDS1202X-E for about 340 € shipped with no VAT or sales tax to the US from welectron.com (also using a discount code that's available elsewhere on eevblog forum). SDS1202X-E is more or less a 2 channel 200MHz bandwidth SDS1104X-E. However it also excludes the options for the logic analyzer, signal generator and wifi.I just noticed that Amazon has the SDS1202X-E with a 15% discount right now which brings the price down to $305, so even with tax it comes to less than the welectron.com deal. And it gets free one day delivery with Prime.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2022, 08:05:33 pm
content: First, settle your mind on the fact that, if you are working with microprocessors, you really want 4 channels. Then scratch any 2 channel scopes off the list. ETA: The SPI protocol is best viewed with 4 channels.Second, 100 MHz is probably adequate for hobby use but the SDS 1104X-E not only has 4 channels, it can be unlocked to reach 200 MHz and it's recognized to be a quality scope. It is very likely this is the scope I would buy if it had been available when I bought the Rigol DS1054Z.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/unlocking-siglent-sds1104x-e-step-by-step/25/I bought the Rigol DS1054Z a few years back and it is a great scope once unlocked to 100 MHz. I think the newer SDS1104X-E is a better deal. 100 MHz vs 200 MHz seems important.Remember, a 100 MHz square wave into a 100 MHz scope will only reproduce the fundamental frequency and it will look like a sine wave. The 3rd harmonic (next in line) is at 300 MHz and well beyond the pass band of the 100 MHz frontend.A 200 MHz scope will adequately reproduce a 20 MHz square wave and this is usually adequate for IO pins on most microcontrollers.

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2022, 09:04:00 pm
content: If a 4-channel is being recommended because of SPI, IIC, etc. (though I can't remember ever needing more than my current 2-channel Rigol) I recommend getting one of the cheap logic analyzers. I have used my LA, with the sigrok software, a lot...They are a bargain and a half.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2022, 10:13:07 pm
content: The <$10 logic analyzers typically have a bandwidth of 24 MHz. In many cases this is adequate but there are some cases where a scope is still required. I have one of the analyzers and it works very well as long as I'm not driving SPI very fast.ETA: You still need to be able to check signal integrity and that can not be done with a logic analyzer. I like to see the entire packet including framing with CS'.The Digilent Digital Discovery is good up to 100 MHz and 24 channels but it is quite expensive. Plus you have to buy the high speed adapter extra!4 channels seemed hard to get in an analog scope. I suppose there are some around but I have never seen more than 2 channels. Having extra channels is always a good thing.Since I have an Analog Discovery 2 and a Digital Discovery, the inexpensive logic analyzer doesn't get a lot of work.