A good digital oscilloscope?
in [Design]
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From: John Larkin on 6 Dec 2009 16:03 On Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:45:24 +0000, info_at_cabling-design_dot_com(a)foo.com (DA) wrote: >Hi all, > >I think I'm going to try and treat myself to an oscilloscope this >Christmas. I've managed to go without one for the last 15 years or so and, >frankly, did not have a burning need or even much space for it. I do some >digital design (PIC based mostly) - LED, motor controls and such and >every once in a while I wish I has something to look at the signal with. > >So, I've looked around and saw this name come up often: Rigol DS1102E >100MHz Digital Storage Oscilloscope. There is also a 50MHz version which >is what I think I need. There has not been any need for me to look at >100MHz signals in a long time. I am not at all proficient with >oscilloscopes and have never used a digital one. Last one I used had a >round green screen :) which hints at how long ago that was... So flat(er) >learning curve would be important for me. > >Are there people here using this brand? Are they any good for use in >digital designs and, most importantly for me at this point, easy to learn? > >I guess, Rigol may not be the only ones making digital oscilloscopes these >days. What other brands/models should I also look at? > >Thanks for your suggestions! > > Go for 100 MHz. That's the minimum for dealing with digital logic these days. John
From: Joerg on 6 Dec 2009 16:20 DA wrote: > Hi all, > > I think I'm going to try and treat myself to an oscilloscope this > Christmas. I've managed to go without one for the last 15 years or so and, > frankly, did not have a burning need or even much space for it. I do some > digital design (PIC based mostly) - LED, motor controls and such and > every once in a while I wish I has something to look at the signal with. > > So, I've looked around and saw this name come up often: Rigol DS1102E > 100MHz Digital Storage Oscilloscope. There is also a 50MHz version which > is what I think I need. There has not been any need for me to look at > 100MHz signals in a long time. I am not at all proficient with > oscilloscopes and have never used a digital one. Last one I used had a > round green screen :) which hints at how long ago that was... So flat(er) > learning curve would be important for me. > > Are there people here using this brand? Are they any good for use in > digital designs and, most importantly for me at this point, easy to learn? > > I guess, Rigol may not be the only ones making digital oscilloscopes these > days. What other brands/models should I also look at? > > Thanks for your suggestions! > Instek is another brand. Got the GDS-2204, love it. Bought a lower end one for a client, they like it as well. Mostly because they don't nickel and dime you for the PC-support SW, it's a free download. As John wrote, go for higher bandwidth. I'd rather have a high bandwidth and only two channels rather than mediocre BW and four channels. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. Use another domain or send PM.
From: Jim Yanik on 6 Dec 2009 17:05 krw <krw(a)att.bizzzzzzzzzzz> wrote in news:fl4oh5dfpeil5o5hb2qq14s6m7t1d3r57u(a)4ax.com: > On Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:45:24 +0000, > info_at_cabling-design_dot_com(a)foo.com (DA) wrote: > >>Hi all, >> >>I think I'm going to try and treat myself to an oscilloscope this >>Christmas. I've managed to go without one for the last 15 years or so >>and, frankly, did not have a burning need or even much space for it. I >>do some digital design (PIC based mostly) - LED, motor controls and >>such and every once in a while I wish I has something to look at the >>signal with. >> >>So, I've looked around and saw this name come up often: Rigol DS1102E >>100MHz Digital Storage Oscilloscope. There is also a 50MHz version >>which is what I think I need. There has not been any need for me to >>look at 100MHz signals in a long time. I am not at all proficient with >>oscilloscopes and have never used a digital one. Last one I used had a >>round green screen :) which hints at how long ago that was... So >>flat(er) learning curve would be important for me. > > If you need to look at digital signals above 10-20MHz, you really > should buy a scope with more than a 100MHz bandwidth. I didn't think > I would waste my time with a (new) scope with less than a 300MHz > bandwidth. We have two Tek's at work and I try like hell to not use > the 100MHz model. > > Half of the scope is the probe. Make sure you don't chince here. > > As far as operation, a scope is a scope unless it's Windoze based. > Features may be easier on one than another but the essential controls > are all pretty much the same. > >>Are there people here using this brand? Are they any good for use in >>digital designs and, most importantly for me at this point, easy to >>learn? > > Nope, I do Tek's. Right about now, Ebay is your friend. > >>I guess, Rigol may not be the only ones making digital oscilloscopes >>these days. What other brands/models should I also look at? >> >>Thanks for your suggestions! Just an FYI on Tektronix; they are planning to move production from Beaverton,Oregon to China. More US jobs lost. Also,Danaher,owner of Fluke,now owns TEK. On their website is the notice about moving production. -- Jim Yanik jyanik at localnet dot com
From: George Herold on 6 Dec 2009 18:40 Hmm, we bought a cheap owon, (Shipped off to live in Europe for trade shows.) I wasn't impressed. The Rigol sounds better, But I've never used one.... Xmas is here and I did get a bonus this year??? George H. Nico Coesel wrote: > info_at_cabling-design_dot_com(a)foo.com (DA) wrote: > > >Hi all, > > > >I think I'm going to try and treat myself to an oscilloscope this > >Christmas. I've managed to go without one for the last 15 years or so and, > >frankly, did not have a burning need or even much space for it. I do some > >digital design (PIC based mostly) - LED, motor controls and such and > >every once in a while I wish I has something to look at the signal with. > > > >Are there people here using this brand? Are they any good for use in > >digital designs and, most importantly for me at this point, easy to learn? > > > >I guess, Rigol may not be the only ones making digital oscilloscopes these > >days. What other brands/models should I also look at? > > Also look at Owon (low end Tektronix) > > -- > Failure does not prove something is impossible, failure simply > indicates you are not using the right tools... > "If it doesn't fit, use a bigger hammer!" > --------------------------------------------------------------
From: George Herold on 6 Dec 2009 18:48
Jim Yanik wrote: > krw <krw(a)att.bizzzzzzzzzzz> wrote in > news:fl4oh5dfpeil5o5hb2qq14s6m7t1d3r57u(a)4ax.com: > > > On Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:45:24 +0000, > > info_at_cabling-design_dot_com(a)foo.com (DA) wrote: > > > >>Hi all, > >> > >>I think I'm going to try and treat myself to an oscilloscope this > >>Christmas. I've managed to go without one for the last 15 years or so > >>and, frankly, did not have a burning need or even much space for it. I > >>do some digital design (PIC based mostly) - LED, motor controls and > >>such and every once in a while I wish I has something to look at the > >>signal with. > >> > >>So, I've looked around and saw this name come up often: Rigol DS1102E > >>100MHz Digital Storage Oscilloscope. There is also a 50MHz version > >>which is what I think I need. There has not been any need for me to > >>look at 100MHz signals in a long time. I am not at all proficient with > >>oscilloscopes and have never used a digital one. Last one I used had a > >>round green screen :) which hints at how long ago that was... So > >>flat(er) learning curve would be important for me. > > > > If you need to look at digital signals above 10-20MHz, you really > > should buy a scope with more than a 100MHz bandwidth. I didn't think > > I would waste my time with a (new) scope with less than a 300MHz > > bandwidth. We have two Tek's at work and I try like hell to not use > > the 100MHz model. > > > > Half of the scope is the probe. Make sure you don't chince here. > > > > As far as operation, a scope is a scope unless it's Windoze based. > > Features may be easier on one than another but the essential controls > > are all pretty much the same. > > > >>Are there people here using this brand? Are they any good for use in > >>digital designs and, most importantly for me at this point, easy to > >>learn? > > > > Nope, I do Tek's. Right about now, Ebay is your friend. > > > >>I guess, Rigol may not be the only ones making digital oscilloscopes > >>these days. What other brands/models should I also look at? > >> > >>Thanks for your suggestions! > > Just an FYI on Tektronix; > they are planning to move production from Beaverton,Oregon to China. > > More US jobs lost. > > > Also,Danaher,owner of Fluke,now owns TEK. > On their website is the notice about moving production. > > -- > Jim Yanik > jyanik > at > localnet > dot com Speaking of TEK, I hate the interface on their new low-end 'scopes. You turn the voltage or time base knob and the first click does nothing! It's like you have to wake the 'scope up first and then it will pay attention. George H. |