[sdiy] My next oscilloscope...

Fri Oct 7 17:35:49 CEST 2016

OK, then...

It's SDS1102X

Position x,y and trigger, as well as multifuncion at the top - you have 
to turn quite a bit to make a change. It's a whole lot better in current 
firmware, but still you can't feel connection of knob movement with what 
you see on LCD.
It's also velocity sensitive, but in a very bad way. For example the 
cursor barely moves, and suddenly it jumps by several divisions.

Serial decode is a joke. It slows everything down, and is good maybe for 
single byte transmissions. With lots of traffic in the screen, it shows 
bus line trace and markings of decoded data in totally different places 
timewise.

It's possible to show decoded byte list only up to 7 items and it's not 
possible to scroll the list while in Stop mode. So forget about decoding 
one-shot burst. It scrols only when new trigger comes. Ridiculous.
At first try it took me literally 5 minutes to adjust custom baud rate 
to 31250. Again - the weird knobs. First it changes slowly by 1, so I 
have to turn and turn, I see it changing by few bps, and then suddenly 
it jumps by 10s of thousands. Again backwards and history repeats itself.

Trigger level is indicated on the screen only in DC trigger mode. AC, or 
HF-reject or LF-reject is not shown as arrow nor line, just numeric 
value in Volts.

Sometimes triggering must be set about a division away from what you 
would expect it to trigger, and sometimes it triggers exactly at point 
selected

Triggering on pulse width or slope is a little jumpy.

And most anoying thing discovered last time i used it - for slow 
timebase it updates the view on 2nd trigger. Maybe for fast timebase 
too, but that can't be noticed. So for example I check envelope 
generator set to 10s, then change it to 3s and fire envelope again. 
Scope shows it has triggered, but after that long time when picture is 
updated, I see again that 10s envelope. I have to fire it again to see 
new trace.
And unlike in other scopes, the waveform does not build-up piece by 
piece on the screen in real time, you have to wait entire cycle 
(timebase x14) to see the waveform appearing. It shows immediate changes 
only in roll mode, but that's useless for repetitive measurements.

Intensity grading display works for rather fast timebases, nothing fancy 
at audio frequencies. To my eyes the waveform capture rate is way slower 
than possible at given timebase.

When changing acquire mode to average or eres, it reduces memory depth 
to 14kpt, and does not go back to whatever it was before when you switch 
back to normal acquire mode.

Last panel settings are not saved after power cycle. You have to go to 
save menu, and actually save the settings, so they pop up on next power up.

Measurements are pain to set. Obviously this is due to jumpy knob, and 
you select only up to 4 parameters only with that knob. And selection is 
not saved, you have to save it manually to recall selected measurements 
with "measure" button. And it slows down everything in very noticeable 
and anoying way. Not to mention tiny leters. Readable, but could be bigger.

Sometimes, especially at the beginning, it went into strange state and 
it took 2-3 seconds after any button press or knob turn to make an 
action. But I don't think it has happened after upgrade to latest firmware.

I never used Rigol scope, so can't compare. It does sometimes better 
than my 20-year old Tek TDS210, and sometimes it's worse. But it has 
long memory (14Mpts), nice color screen, and a few usable features that 
my old scope does not have.

Roman

W dniu 10/7/2016 o 4:24 PM, Geoff pisze:
> Roman,
>
> I am considering a Siglent, please tell what you didn't like.
>
> Geoff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Synth-diy [mailto:synth-diy-bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl] On Behalf Of
> Roman Sowa
> Sent: Friday, October 07, 2016 7:28 AM
> To: synth-diy
> Subject: Re: [sdiy] My next oscilloscope...
>
> I don't know about you, but for me most of the time 1 channel is needed,
> sometimes 2.
> When I really need 4 channels, then my Hantek USB scope is on the run.
> It's very useful when you can stretch scope window to full monitor
> width. And it works pretty good. Of course it has all quirks of USB
> scope so I use only when needed, preferring real-world 2-channel scope.
>
> So maybe it's good idea to have good 2-channel scope made in the era
> when people knew how to make them, and in addition 4-ch crappy one just
> for those moments when you need more channels?
>
> BTW, recently I also bought Siglent scope because it was cheap, had lots
> of direct access controls on the panel, hi-res screen and intensity
> color grading and I was suffering GAS. But I'm not happy with it. If
> anyone wants to hear my thoughts on this, I'm here...
>
> Roman
>
> W dniu 2016-10-06 o 21:36, Justin Owen pisze:
>> Hello all,
>>
>> My Owon PDS 5022S 25MHz is on the way out - screen is slowly dying and I'd
> like to replace it with something better anyway so it's 'scope
> recommendation time again!
>>
>> What I'd like:
>>
>> - 3-4x Channels - increasingly needing to view 2x Inputs & 1x Output or
> Input, CV, Output, etc
>> - Storage for checking low frequency stuff
>> - Much better screen resolution - so not every single waveform looks
> slightly pixelated - especially when I zoom in
>> - Better measurement resolution - e.g. the multimeter function, which I
> use all the time, is limited to 0.08V increments
>> - Good price - I'm a lone operator on a tight budget - not a tech startup
> with a millionaire investor
>>
>> Working in analogue/cv/audio domain - but am doing some stuff that is
> requiring a higher level of accuracy/clarity than the Owon was giving me.
>>
>> So firstly - recommendations for something that might be suitable and
> secondly since I'm after 3x channels - might I be better off spending my
> money on a budget 2x CH and a decent 1x CH?
>>
>> Any advice - much appreciated.
>>
>> Ta,
>>
>> / J
>>
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