Recommendations for inexpensive DSO

[Charlie E.]

I know that this topic comes up regularly, but now that it looks like
SWMBO is going to let us invest in a small oscilloscope. So, what is
everyone's present recommendation? I know that Joerg likes the
Instek, and that the Rigol has recently come up. Which models? And,
where (besides Ebay) is a good place to find them at a good price!

Thanks,
Charlie

 

[Joerg]

I know that this topic comes up regularly, but now that it looks like
SWMBO is going to let us invest in a small oscilloscope. So, what is
everyone's present recommendation? I know that Joerg likes the
Instek, and that the Rigol has recently come up. Which models? And,
where (besides Ebay) is a good place to find them at a good price!

My Instek GDS-2204 is almost $2k, probably a bit much. One of my clients
bought the GDS-1022 which back then (last year) was on sale at
Wattsupply for $419.

I had bought mine via Newark but it came from Farnell-UK. With a genuine
big Bri'ish power plug

 

[Joerg]

My Instek GDS-2204 is almost $2k, probably a bit much. One of my clients
bought the GDS-1022 which back then (last year) was on sale at
Wattsupply for $419.

I had bought mine via Newark but it came from Farnell-UK. With a genuine
big Bri'ish power plug

Just took a look, the 40MHz 2-ch (GDS-1042) is on sale now:

http://wattsupply.com/s.nl;jsession...aheLe3mQb40?it=A&id=1954&sc=28&category=17880

A 100MHz bandwidth DSO would be more practical though if you can find a
good deal on one. Depends on what you want to do with it.

 

[David L. Jones]

I know that this topic comes up regularly, but now that it looks like
SWMBO is going to let us invest in a small oscilloscope. So, what is
everyone's present recommendation? I know that Joerg likes the
Instek, and that the Rigol has recently come up. Which models? And,
where (besides Ebay) is a good place to find them at a good price!

Thanks,
Charlie

The Rigol DS1052E is still the best value on the market IMO.
It's only $385 here:
http://www.dealexcel.com/rigol-ds-1...channel-digital-oscilloscope-sku363_p363.html
See my old review and teardown:

and
http://www.eevblog.com/2009/10/12/eevblog-37-rigol-ds1052e-oscilloscope-teardown/

It can be upgraded to the 100MHz model with just a serial cable:
http://www.eevblog.com/2010/03/31/e...l-ds1052e-oscilloscope-into-a-100mhz-ds1102e/
and
http://www.eevblog.com/2010/04/18/eevblog-77-rigol-ds1052e-ds1102e-oscilloscope-hack-update/

Dave.

 

[David L. Jones]

Just took a look, the 40MHz 2-ch (GDS-1042) is on sale now:

http://wattsupply.com/s.nl;jsession...aheLe3mQb40?it=A&id=1954&sc=28&category=17880

The Rigol is over $100 cheaper, has 1GS/s and 1Mpoint of memory vs 250MS/s
and 4Kpoint, and can be upgraded to 100MHz for nix.
Not much of a bang-per-buck contest really.

Dave.

 

[David L. Jones]

Hi Dave,

Have you actually dealt with dealexcel.com? They seem to be fairly
anonymous.

No, but several trusted viewers on my eevblog forum have bought the Rigol
scope from them without any troubles, they used the EMS postage option. And
someone from DealExel is also posting on my forum and answering questions.
http://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=467.0
So they certainly sound like the real deal.
The price is hard to argue with, and that apparntly includes wordwide
shipping.

Dave.

 

[Robert Roland]

The Rigol DS1052E is still the best value on the market IMO.
It's only $385 here:
http://www.dealexcel.com/rigol-ds-1...channel-digital-oscilloscope-sku363_p363.html

Does anybody have any experience with DealExcel? I have read they are
crooks.

DealExtreme, however, are decent folks, and advertise the same scope
for roughly the same price including worldwide shipping.

 

[JosephKK]

I know that this topic comes up regularly, but now that it looks like
SWMBO is going to let us invest in a small oscilloscope. So, what is
everyone's present recommendation? I know that Joerg likes the
Instek, and that the Rigol has recently come up. Which models? And,
where (besides Ebay) is a good place to find them at a good price!

Thanks,
Charlie

I saw some interesting prices recently for Owon:

http://www.saelig.com/category/MFR00062.htm

 

[David L. Jones]

Hi Dave,

Have you actually dealt with dealexcel.com? They seem to be fairly
anonymous.

Not personally, no.
But several trusted members of my eevblog forum have bought the scope from
them without hassles:
http://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=467.0
There is also someone from Dealexcel on the forum answering questions.

DealExtreme also have it back in stock for almost the same price:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.30573
Plenty of people have bought the scope from them.

Dave.

 

[Nial Stewart]

Yup, I ordered mine from deal extreme. When it was a bit late in

arriving they were helpful in getting the tracking from the Hong Kong
post. (Replied to emails in about 24 hours.)

Me too, it took nearly a month to arrive from when they said it had been
shipped. The tracking number they originally supplied didn't work
but they replied with a revised number (in less than 24 hours) with
a new tracking number that showed it was in Edinburgh and out for delivery!

I bought mine on a whim with money that was sitting in my paypal account
and can't believe the value for money, the best £270 I've spent in a long
time. It feels like a quality product.


Nial.

 

[Hammy]

I know that this topic comes up regularly, but now that it looks like
SWMBO is going to let us invest in a small oscilloscope. So, what is
everyone's present recommendation? I know that Joerg likes the
Instek, and that the Rigol has recently come up. Which models? And,
where (besides Ebay) is a good place to find them at a good price!

Thanks,
CharliE

I bought an Instek GDS2102 about four years ago and its a decent scope
nice features at the time it was the best value for my dollar .

I think now though Rigol has the best bang for your buck and that's
what I would buy now.


If I was looking for one again here is what I would buy under a grand!
..

Rigol DS1202CA $901.52

200MHz 1Gs PER CHANNEL

http://www.tequipment.net/RigolDS1202CA.html

 

[Charlie E.]

I know that this topic comes up regularly, but now that it looks like
SWMBO is going to let us invest in a small oscilloscope. So, what is
everyone's present recommendation? I know that Joerg likes the
Instek, and that the Rigol has recently come up. Which models? And,
where (besides Ebay) is a good place to find them at a good price!

Thanks,
Charlie

Just as a follow up, I have ordered one of the Rigols from China. Now,
it is just a wating game to see when they ship it... ;-)

I have to thank everyone for their support, especially Joel who even
offered to loan me a scope. I finally decided I should have my own
tools, instead of getting loaners.

I also had a nice offer from a local instrument company for a 100MHz
Tektronix, but it was still $200 more than the Rigol. It was also
physically larger, and I don't have much bench space...


Charlie