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O'Scope Purchase

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Quagmire

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I'm thinking of buying the below Rigol oscilloscope and would like some input pro or con. Uses will be for various electronics repair which I've accumulated over time and require waveform analysis, etc. The price seems about right at $279.00.

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Rigol makes a bunch of very similar models, what exact model are you thinking of?

I have a low-end Siglent, which is basically the main competition to Rigol, and I’m pretty happy with it, but I do kind of regret getting a two channel one instead of four channel, which it looks like you’re considering.
 
For similar money you might consider getting a vintage HP logic analyzer for capturing digital waveforms. The 1660cs that I have also has a 250 MHz oscilloscope built it.
 
Rigol is a great bang for the buck - see over at the eevblog for more info than you would ever need to research it! https://www.eevblog.com/

Do you know how many channels you need? How much bandwidth? Sample rate? These are the big factors in determining which model and what price.
 
Eudimorphodon said:
Rigol makes a bunch of very similar models, what exact model are you thinking of?

I have a low-end Siglent, which is basically the main competition to Rigol, and I’m pretty happy with it, but I do kind of regret getting a two channel one instead of four channel, which it looks like you’re considering.
Click to expand...
Rigol DS1102Z-E
I think the 4 channel would be an overkill for just P/S and simple waveform troubleshooting. Won't be dealing with any timing circuits Pulse in/out, levels etc.
 
Quagmire said:
Rigol DS1102Z-E
I think the 4 channel would be an overkill for just P/S and simple waveform troubleshooting. Won't be dealing with any timing circuits Pulse in/out, levels etc.
Click to expand...

That looks really similar to my Siglent 1202X other than bandwidth (100mhz vs 200mhz), for simple tasks it should do just fine. The only reason I find myself wishing for more channels is I've been working on projects where signal X is the result of the convergence of events with signals Y and Z at it would be nice if I could get full traces on all of them, but generally I can compensate by using the external trigger on one of the variables and moving the probes accordingly.
 
Eudimorphodon said:
That looks really similar to my Siglent 1202X other than bandwidth (100mhz vs 200mhz), for simple tasks it should do just fine. The only reason I find myself wishing for more channels is I've been working on projects where signal X is the result of the convergence of events with signals Y and Z at it would be nice if I could get full traces on all of them, but generally I can compensate by using the external trigger on one of the variables and moving the probes accordingly.
Click to expand...
So I think I'll go with it, all the reviews seem positive.
 
I bought a DSO a few years ago. It was a "coin toss" between Siglent and Rigol.
I bought a Siglent 2 channel 200 MHz scope. I went with 2 channels ( a bit cheaper).
Any time I would need more than 2 channels would mostly be logic signals. I have a logic analyzer for that.

Everything I have seen says you can't go wrong with a Rigol scope.
 
jlang said:
Any time I would need more than 2 channels would mostly be logic signals. I have a logic analyzer for that.
Click to expand...

I have one of those dinky 8-channel USB ones (Saleae Logic) myself, it's just a bit slow for video work so I haven't used it much for a while.
 
If you only need / want 2 channels, I'd take a good comparison look at the newer Rigol DHO802 or Siglent SDS802X HD models for not too much more in price.

The Rigol DS1102Z-E is probably a bit dated in comparison.

And probably worth the time to do a quick search for comments on those models here (as long as you don't get sucked too far down rabbit holes there).

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/
 
jlang said:
I bought a DSO a few years ago. It was a "coin toss" between Siglent and Rigol.
I bought a Siglent 2 channel 200 MHz scope. I went with 2 channels ( a bit cheaper).
Any time I would need more than 2 channels would mostly be logic signals. I have a logic analyzer for that.

Everything I have seen says you can't go wrong with a Rigol scope.
Click to expand...
Is this the model that you bought?

SDS1202X-E Oscilloscope​

 
Quagmire said:
I think the 4 channel would be an overkill for just P/S and simple waveform troubleshooting. Won't be dealing with any timing circuits Pulse in/out, levels etc.
Click to expand...
What about an analog oscilloscope?

This guy used an analog scope with a small degree of success.

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MicroCoreLabs said:
What about an analog oscilloscope?
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Yeah, they're cheap and there's a Tektronix 35 MHz on the local Craigs List for $35. But, it doesn't come with a Jock strap :). I need something lightweight, but if I were just to use it on the bench I go with something like that. Gotta ask, whadda fix'n?
 
I'm going to add that analog scopes lacks storage/persistence and you need a repeating signal to be able to see it. You don't need that with a DSO - just set up the triggering and capture the signal. You can even exapand it and pan around it. I like analog scopes, but for a first/only scope, I would skip them and go right to the DSO.
 
I have two Tektronix analog scopes lying around and sure, they’re fine for plenty of tasks. They are in fact vastly superior to digital scopes if you’re playing with niche applications like using one as a vector display. But these new scopes are far more practical for day to day use if you don’t have a dedicated bench. And yes, the memory function is a friggin’ lifesaver for some kinds of troubleshooting and signal analysis.

Edit: Counterpoint: They do have *very* satisfyingly clicky knobs for divs/sec and whatnot, if you're just in it for the tactical feels an old 'scope is the way to go. Just don't get one like my older Tektronix that keeps losing one of its two channels and refuses to stay repaired.
 
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MicroCoreLabs said:
This guy used an analog scope with a small degree of success.
Click to expand...

I believe the currently fashionable response to that is to mumble “OK Boomer” before scrolling past a few more cringeworthy posts about how when I was a kid I drank from the hose and survived going down the metal slide in my shorts so old thing always better.
 
Quagmire said:
Is this the model that you bought?

SDS1202X-E Oscilloscope​

Click to expand...
Yes that's what I bought. I also have an analog scope Tek 453a. And the DSlogic 16 channel logic analyzer. And a 6.5 digit bench multimeter.
And a couple of frequency counters... Not much that I can't measure.
 
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