+1 on modern DSOs, here is a pictorial example:
![](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/list-your-test-equipment-score-here!/?action=dlattach;attach=144294;image)
vs:
![](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/fs-1*adafruit-mcp4725-2*26mhz-ocxo-1*terasic-de0-nano-fpga-board-(more)/?action=dlattach;attach=143565;image)
![](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/fs-1*adafruit-mcp4725-2*26mhz-ocxo-1*terasic-de0-nano-fpga-board-(more)/?action=dlattach;attach=143551;image)
On the analog one, you have to do math to figure out things and you only get OK approximations.
Signal using the x10 magnification in the time base module, so it's 5ns per division.
A 26MHz clock has a period of ~38.46154 ns divided by 5ns that will give me ~7.7 divisions.
Probe is x10 so voltage per division is 10 times larger.
Edit: working it backwards as you would if you didn't know the source signal is.
5ns x ~7.7 divisions = ~38.5 ns
38.5ns / 1000 (us/ns) / 1000 (ms/us) / 1000 (s/ms) = 0.0000000385 seconds
Frequency is the inverse so 1/0.0000000385 = 25974025.974025974025974025974026
rounding off: 25974026 Hz or 25.974026MHz
Error: 25974 cycles per second (Hz). (On a well calibrated scope but you have to rely on your uncalibrated eyes and the lack of divisions that you wouldn't even see if they could display it on the analog scope)
Digital ones just tell you what is what. no fuzzing aroundPlus you get more data showing you where noise or ringing is at (both measurements made with the same probe and with a spring ground as close to the OCXO as posible).
Edit: Rigol is not a DS1054z, it's a DS2302 (300 MHz) but the same measurements are available I think on the DS1054z.
Analog is a Tektronix 7613 (100 MHz) and the signal is magnified with the x10 zoom function with time setting at 50ns. Also I had to calibrate the tek by adjusting pots inside the scope, had to do nothing to the Rigol.
Edit2: Don't get me wrong, I love the retro look of the Analog scopes
![Smiley :)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xsmiley.gif.pagespeed.ic.R8GFI-pF6f.png)
Edit3: Note that I had to square the signal on the analog scope to actually make the measurements, on the digital one I didn't even bother that much, it takes more preparation on the analog one to actually measure what the signal is showing you.
And this doesn't even touch the milliard other features the digital scopes bring to the table.