Digital scope recommendations - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: JAubrey
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2022, 04:43:53 am
content: Greetings,Sometime after the 17th of this month I wish to buy a scope and would appreciate your recommendations. Here is my wish list:Must be 4 channelsMust have separate vertical control for each channel.>= 200 MHz Bandwidth, preferred,100MHz minimum10M Sa deep memory, preferredDoes not need to be new.< USD 600 if possible.Thanks

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2022, 05:08:27 am
content: Your requirement for separate vertical controls is kinda limiting, but I was able to find this:Hantek DSO4204C 200MHz 4CH Digital Oscilloscope and Function Generatorhttps://www.circuitspecialists.com/hantek_dso4204c_200mhz_4ch_digital_oscilloscope_with_1ch_arbitary_waveform_generator.htmlYou might also be interested in this one for $651:Hantek DSO4254C 250 MHz 4 Ch DSO with 1 Channel Arbitary/function waveform generatorhttps://www.circuitspecialists.com/hantek_dso4254c_4ch_dso.htmlNo idea how well those scopes actually work.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2022, 08:02:52 am
content: Quote from: JAubrey on February 06, 2022, 04:43:53 amInstek has the "musts":https://www.tequipment.net/Instek/GDS-1104B/Digital-Oscilloscopes/Search the forums for the tequipment discount code.

author: JAubrey
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2022, 03:05:25 pm
content: Thanks, but I think that one 100MHz, maybe the 1204 but don't think it is available in USA

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2022, 03:13:23 pm
content: Your 200MHz requirement kills it in the new market with your budget. Are you sure you really need 200MHz? Probing signals with frequency content over 100MHz gets you into the area where general purpose probes and 1M Ohm inputs are not the most ideal solution.On the used market you can find oscilloscopes well over 1GHz but these will need fixing and that is not something everyone is succesfull at. Or put differently: only buy a fixer-upper if you like getting into repair adventures.

author: JAubrey
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2022, 03:15:25 pm
content: I guess it is a bit bitchy for me to insist on separate verticals but I am older than dirt and set in my ways. Throughout most of my career at large corporations I grew accustomed to nice scopes with separate verticals. Later when I had to work with a single control I found it tedious or screwed up the one I had already tweaked.Thanks for the Hantek links. I wonder if there is a comparison somewhere. If you could not see the prices the overview would lead one to believe the cheaper scope is the better one. Definitely much more detail for this one's ad. The cheaper may fill the bill but I would like to see a comparison to be sure.I found the comparison, the 4254 is 250MHz the other 200 MHz. It also has better Rise Time at BNC; 1.4ns vs 1.8.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2022, 03:21:20 pm
content: Quote from: JAubrey on February 06, 2022, 03:05:25 pmThere's no way you're getting all three of your "preferred" options. Maybe pick two.

author: JAubrey
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2022, 03:23:25 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on February 06, 2022, 03:13:23 pmFor sure, in that region even the clip-on probe tip must come off. I probably do need to consider 100MHz scopes and just deal with attenuation at higher frequencies.So point well taken, I must make it more clear I will consider 100MHz scopes in my wish list and that 200MHz is preferred.

author: robert.rozee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2022, 03:38:26 pm
content: hi,have you considered the Siglent SDS1104X-E? it doesnothave the separate vertical controls you want, but is trivial to convert to 200MHz and comes in under budget at us$500.cheers,rob :-)

author: JAubrey
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2022, 03:53:57 pm
content: Thanks butI will not budgeonseparate controls.

author: blubillcanada
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2022, 04:04:45 pm
content: The Rigol MSO5000 series has what you require but starts at around $900 USIt can be upgraded to as high as 350 MHz

author: mawyatt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2022, 04:41:01 pm
content: Quote from: JAubrey on February 06, 2022, 03:53:57 pmThat was our position a few years back when we decided to jump onto the DSO/MSO bandwagon, having only seriously used Tektronix analog scopes before (long story why). After following the various threads on here and getting to "know" the sources preferences/skills, we decided to go with a DSO that didn't have dedicated manual controls for each channel and function.Now after some time with the new DSO the issue without dedicated channel controls is mute, especially if the DSO can use a mouse which is so convenient. We even acquired another similar DSO without dedicated controls, and now another without any manual controls (special purpose ultra-low noise USB DSO)!! Although must admit prefer the dedicated DSO rather than the USB DSO. YMMV.Best,