Hantek DSO5202P vs. Tektronix TDS 360 vs. Rigol DS1054Z

[David1234]

I'm having trouble finding enough information to compare the common 200Mhz, 1GSa/s oscilloscopes out there. The comparison chart on the forum seems to almost exclusively list new scopes. I do mostly FPGA work, reverse engineering, and other hobbyist work. I work a lot with board cameras, steppers, servos, PWM signals, I2C, and serial data. I'm trying to figure out which scope has the most features per dollar. In other words, I'm trying to optimize minimal price & highest functionality. I don't care how old or how new the scope is, or what brand it is. I only care about the features/functionality it has. "What can it do that the others can't?"

The Rigol DS1054Z is highly recommended on this forum, but I haven't seen a detailed breakdown of why. I've watched a few videos about it. The positives and negatives as far as I know are:
+ ?? reported to be the best in its price range for unknown reasons
+ 4 channel
- price
- only 100MHz

Tektronix TDS 350/360 pros and cons:
+ common, so parts and troubleshooting should be cheaper/easier and well-documented
+ analog
+ 200MHz, 1GSa/s
+ price
- old?
- signal storage size
What's the list of differences between the TDS 350 and TDS 360? I haven't been able to find anything online to answer that. They seem to have the same specs but the 360 has a floppy drive on the front...

Hantek DSO5202P pros and cons:
+ 200MHz, 1GSa/s
+ price
+ much newer than the TDS 360 but for a similar price
- off-brand??

This is all I know so far. If you have any additional insight it would be much appreciated!

[Fungus]

+ ?? reported to be the best in its price range for unknown reasons

"Unknown"??

4 channels, 100MHz, 24Mb memory, serial decoders, fancy triggers, tons of features for $400.

- price

You need to pay about $1200 to get something better.

Hantek DSO5202P pros and cons:
+ 200MHz, 1GSa/s
+ price
+ much newer than the TDS 360 but for a similar price
- off-brand??

- very small memory
- limited feature set
- no serial decoders (you mention "I2C, and serial data")

About the only thing going for it is the bandwidth.

[David1234]

"Unknown"??


- no serial decoders (you mention "I2C, and serial data")

I've read through quite a few threads on the Rigol DS1054Z. They just mention that it is better and has more features but don't ever seem to mention specifically why, and specifically what features it has that other scopes in the same price range are lacking. Just now I learned that the Rigol DS1054Z may have i2c and serial decoders.

[Fungus]

I've read through quite a few threads on the Rigol DS1054Z. They just mention that it is better and has more features but don't ever seem to mention specifically why, and specifically what features it has that other scopes in the same price range are lacking.

I guess it's a lot of typing and nobody here is paid to do that.

Your best bet is to download the manuals for each 'scope and go through them side by side.

Just now I learned that the Rigol DS1054Z may have i2c and serial decoders.

Keep investigating... you'll find a lot more :-)

(compared to the Owon)

[rstofer]

I've read through quite a few threads on the Rigol DS1054Z. They just mention that it is better and has more features but don't ever seem to mention specifically why, and specifically what features it has that other scopes in the same price range are lacking. Just now I learned that the Rigol DS1054Z may have i2c and serial decoders.

How can it be 'just now'?  The decoding is a huge feature and is the very specific reason I bought my 1054 and it is discussed all over this forum.  The fact that I could 'hack' the 50 MHz version ($400) and get 100 MHz plus 24Mpts samples plus 4 channels is all I really needed to know but the measurements feature is very extensive.

http://beyondmeasure.rigoltech.com/acton/attachment/1579/f-0504/1/-/-/-/-/MSO1000Z_Datasheet.pdf/

The datasheet compares the features of the entire family so you need to blow past the MSO stuff.  The hacked DS1054Z is identical in function to the DS1104Z

Sample memory is a big discriminant, 4 channels is a really big deal, measurements are handy but decoding is important to me. 

And I don't want to spend a lot of money on a hobby scope!

[David1234]

http://beyondmeasure.rigoltech.com/acton/attachment/1579/f-0504/1/-/-/-/-/MSO1000Z_Datasheet.pdf/

The datasheet compares the features of the entire family so you need to blow past the MSO stuff.  The hacked DS1054Z is identical in function to the DS1104Z

Sample memory is a big discriminant, 4 channels is a really big deal, measurements are handy but decoding is important to me. 

And I don't want to spend a lot of money on a hobby scope!

1. The 16-channel logic analysis is only available on the MSO series? In other words, the DS series can do logic analysis, but only using the 4 channels it already has, correct?

2. How do you get the eevblog discount and student discount on Tequipment.com just using the online checkout process? Do you have to call them or is there a set of checkout options for it that I'm not seeing?

[tautech]

I'm having trouble finding enough information to compare the common 200Mhz, 1GSa/s oscilloscopes out there.......
 
 If you have any additional insight it would be much appreciated!

SDS1202X or the MSO version with AWG (X+) meets your criteria.
http://www.siglentamerica.com/pdxx.aspx?id=4688&T=2&tid=1
There's a promo on these at the moment so no need to hack anything to get the Decode option.