Facebook
Google
GitHub
Linkedin
USB Oscilloscope recommendation
- Thread starter rpschultz
- Start date
Yet good tools help you grow.
On a daily basis we help with product selection to meet customer needs plus those might be needed in the future....dealing with this stuff all the time has us have an intimate knowledge of each model's capability.
SDS1000X-E would be my selection everyday over the earlier SDS1000CML/DNL models.
Should a CML/DNL model meet your needs and budget be sure to get one of the later CML+/DNL+ models.
If selecting a new low cost DSO for personal needs, SDS802X HD @$340 cannot currently be surpassed as providing best bang for buck.
I am starting to appreciate the value of the Siglent 1200 and also the 800 series with respect to the cheaper $150 options… they are only $100 or $200 more respectively. The 802 for $340 seems like a great deal, and I think I could benefit from its feature set. I just need to save my Pennie’s and recalibrate my budget.
It comes with 1 passive probe per channel. Will that be sufficient for my needs?
As opposed to what?
Two passive probes per channel?
Just as any other new scope.
2x PP470 1x/10x 70 MHz probe
Maybe not, certainly for advanced use additional specialised probes can be required.
Current probes < can be a big ticket item
Differential probes < same but not so costly for the lower BW types/models
HV probes < not expensive for 100x varieties but 1000x for well beyond mains voltages get $$ but cheaper than above.
As an engineer you know too well there are always accessories required for some jobs.
Typically digital transfer uses one of the common protocols, UART/RS232, SPI, I2C etc.
Some are single wire, 2 wire or 4 and the common protocols can easily be sniffed with a multichannel scope without the need to go to a 16 or whatever channel logic analyzer.
This is why 4ch DSO's have become common and popular and our sales reflect this.
Maybe 20x 4ch scopes for every 2ch unit sold.
However better 2ch DSO's have some tricks/features to handle 3 wire protocols but to cover them all a 4ch scope is required
The better modern DSO's handle decoding the common protocols and the higher value units might offer another 6 protocols but normally as $ options.
An example using just 4 of the 16ch available of the $ digital probe assembly with SDS800X HD is here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/sds800x-hd-review-demonstration-thread/msg5343827/#msg5343827
Another using just the probes:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/sds800x-hd-review-demonstration-thread/msg5335604/#msg5335604
@tautech thanks for the info and links. I’ve been reading through a lot of that today, digital anything and DSOs are a whole new world for me, will take some time to assimilate.
The SDS800 is fairly new, but you content it is by far the best at its price point. And the 804 for another $100 over the 802 would give me more digital flexibility should I need it, not to mention just more channels at the same time. Thanks
The SDS800 is fairly new, but you content it is by far the best at its price point. And the 804 for another $100 over the 802 would give me more digital flexibility should I need it, not to mention just more channels at the same time. Thanks
Yes in just a few years, my how scopes have advanced and some might even call their feature set extreme, however one should never overlook that a scope is a scope is a scope, they all have s/div and V/div adjustments and trigger level settings, but due to the way a DSO samples signals, trigger capability is now your most powerful tool and allows capture of infrequent events that won't even show on a CRO.
With some previous scope use, mastering a DSO does not take long but you need a while longer to become competent with their complete tool set.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I bought a Siglent SDS804x HD today, using the eevblog discount. I had no intention of spending $400, but after a lot of research and consideration felt that it is a better value than the cheaper $150-250 scopes. Even 4ch vs 2ch, @sarahMCML and the eevblog guy convinced me how useful 4ch can be. I'm a novice, I'll never use it to it's full potential, but I do hope to learn and grow and become somewhat proficient with it. I'm really hoping it can help me further my understanding of electronics and circuit design... more so than I can now with my CRO. I've got 2 projects right now that I need to utilize a DSO to help me make them better: a guitar tuner and a pretty sophisticated acoustic guitar preamp/EQ.
Anyway, thanks again. I'll pop back in a week or so after I get my first successful trace.
Anyway, thanks again. I'll pop back in a week or so after I get my first successful trace.
You will love it.
When recieved, check the firmware installed is the latest and if not update with this:
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip/firmware/Oscilloscope/SDS800X_HD_V1.1.3.8_EN.zip
Instructions are in the Zip package.
Enjoy.
You may find this initial setup guide useful:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sds800x-hd-12-bit-dsos-coming/msg5577481/#msg5577481
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sds800x-hd-12-bit-dsos-coming/msg5577481/#msg5577481
Hi,
Owon makes scopes one is less than $150. It's advertised at something like 40MHz but it's really just around 20 or 25MHz.
It's stand alone which means no grounding problems, two channel, USB charging, uses Li-ion batteries that you can replace if needed, has 5 digit multimeter built in. It has very limited math functions, no FFT, etc.
Comes with two probes, charger, soft case.
It is certainly not top of the line, but it works I've used it for many tests already. The best part is it is stand alone, no plug in, no forced USB connection. I HATED my USB scope with a passion, I actually threw the dang thing out one day and it still worked.
I also have an old CRT scope but don't really use it anymore. I was going to donate it to a local college but they have problems accepting donations now for some reason.
Owon makes scopes one is less than $150. It's advertised at something like 40MHz but it's really just around 20 or 25MHz.
It's stand alone which means no grounding problems, two channel, USB charging, uses Li-ion batteries that you can replace if needed, has 5 digit multimeter built in. It has very limited math functions, no FFT, etc.
Comes with two probes, charger, soft case.
It is certainly not top of the line, but it works I've used it for many tests already. The best part is it is stand alone, no plug in, no forced USB connection. I HATED my USB scope with a passion, I actually threw the dang thing out one day and it still worked.
I also have an old CRT scope but don't really use it anymore. I was going to donate it to a local college but they have problems accepting donations now for some reason.
Since you already (probably) have probes and certainly have a computer, you might look at the Espotek Labrador ( espotek.com )"lab on a chip." Two channel scope, function generator, logic analyzer, VOM, Spectrum analyzer and lots of fun. Not a "serious contender" to my 200 mHz "big rig," but for ~ $30, it might do what you want. If not, within hardware limits, take advantage of its open source and "roll you own." Chris, the founder and manager ( info@espotek.com ) gives prompt and expedient help.
OK. Updated the firmware, although curious the instructions weren't in 1.1.3.8. I had to go back to 1.1.3.6 to find the instructions. Also hooked up a mouse.
How do I connect it to my wifi? Do I need an ethernet cable?
