Scope suggestions around the 1k€ mark

[Anachron]

Hello fellow eevbloggers,
I am an EE student in France towards the end of my bachelor degree, have been saving for quite a while now, and I think it's time to upgrade my scope from the very well known workhorse Rigol DS1052E. Please excuse me if a closely related thread exists already, a quick search around here and on google did not reveal any definitive answers concerning the scopes I have in mind. Any suggestions / personal experiences will be greatly appreciated! Down to business then, my budget is around 1000€ and so far I have looked at Rigol (obviously) and Agilent, although the latter -together with Tek and the rest of the big players- quickly becomes way more expensive than I could afford. I'll list below my candidates, so you can comment/add to the list

1. Rigol DS2072A at 845€ is quite a tantalizing option and -judging from Dave's comparison with the DS1052E- it looks like an absolutely fantastic scope with its very good analog-like intensity and segmented memory! Bandwidth could be a bit higher, but the step up to 100Mhz is 305€ on top Not sure if the 2000 series is firmware upgradable. I am thinking if I'm going to be getting a new scope it should have 4 channels, as it's gonna be an instrument I'm going to hold onto for quite a while, but on the other hand up till now I have very rarely had a true need for more than 2. This might change in the future though.

2. Rigol DS2102A at 1150€. Same thoughts as before, a tad on the expensive side for a 2ch scope, but I could go for it.

3. Rigol DS1104Z-S at 896€ is still a very nice instrument and at roughly the same price as the base 2000 series model you get the fully 'pimped up' version at 100Mhz, 4 channels in lieu of the 2 of the 2072A and the inbuilt 25Mhz siggen does not sound bad at all. Don't think you get the awesome segmented memory you get on it's bigger brother though, and that's a bummer.

4. The Agilent 2000x 100Mhz 2ch can be obtained in France for a touch over 1000€. I have used the 2000 and 3000 InfiniVision scopes quite extensively at uni and, do not get me wrong, they are super nice - but I do find its user interface and scroll knob placement a bit finicky though. I suppose I would get used to it if I also used it at home, but the idea does not make burst of excitement. And I think a new scope should

Thanks a bunch in advance, and looking forward to your suggestions and comments

[FrankenPC]

Hello!

I'm asking these very same questions.  It's a REALLY difficult decision in my opinion.  This is what I've  come up with in the last few weeks:

Rigol DS2072A is my number one choice simply because I do not currently need 4 channels.  If I need 4 channels in the future, I'll buy a 4 channel scope.  Here's the thing I've realized about buying anything at all:  Do NOT buy more than you need for the next 12 months.  Why?  Because technology appears to make massive leaps every year.  If you buy more than you need now, the exact same technology MIGHT be available for half the cost with twice the features in 12 months time.  Yes, it's a gamble...but it's a pretty sure thing at this point.  Especially when it comes to mass fabricated electronics.  When you get into the high speed, high end range of things, the game changes.  But we aren't in that range.

So, why not the DS2102A?  Because I can hack the 2072.  I'm willing to go to hell for my sins.

Why not the "-S" option?  In my experience having discrete components doing major jobs is just a better idea.  It takes more bench space, but you are left with options (see 12 month thing..). 

Agilent 2000x?  Yes.  That is a glorious scope.  And it's hackable.  But, it is just a tad too far out of my price range.  Maybe not in 12 months!

Why not the cheaper DS1104Z?  I looked carefully at the specs and all the really important DSO features TO ME are nearly double than the 2072.  For instance: 
DS2000 specs: 2GS/sec.  Vertical scale: 500uv/div.  50K waveforms/sec.  Memory depth 56M points
DS1000Z specs: 1GS.sec, Vertical scale: 1mv.div.  30K waveforms/sec.  Memory depts 24M points

Resolution and depth are important factors to me. 

What's important to you?

[echen1024]

The DS1000Z can be hacked with 500uV.

[FrankenPC]

The DS1000Z can be hacked with 500uV.

*facepalm*

Still...the deep memory and memory waveform rates are better.  Are they 200$ better?  Depends on what you need.

[Anachron]

Hello!

I'm asking these very same questions.  It's a REALLY difficult decision in my opinion.  This is what I've  come up with in the last few weeks:

Rigol DS2072A is my number one choice simply because I do not currently need 4 channels.  If I need 4 channels in the future, I'll buy a 4 channel scope.
[...]

That is an excellent point you are making, and to be honest, I am leaning towards the same scope! I definitely would like to have the deeper memory and sampling rate of the 2000 series.  Are we sure even the newest firmware version of said scope is firmware hackable? I did some reading online and it would seem so, but in any case I am willing to risk it if it means getting the BW update.

The DS1000Z can be hacked with 500uV.

*facepalm*

Still...the deep memory and memory waveform rates are better.  Are they 200$ better?  Depends on what you need.

In my opinion the step-up from the 1000 series to the 2000 is worth the pricetag difference. From the DS2072A to the DS2102A absolutely not - since we are talking about 100% the same hardware (correct my if I'm wrong) 

EDIT: FrankenPC, are you sure the Agilent 2000 can be hacked without too much hassle? (ie similar way as the Rigols) ?

[FrankenPC]

EDIT: FrankenPC, are you sure the Agilent 2000 can be hacked without too much hassle? (ie similar way as the Rigols) ?

The hacking is different than the Rigol's.  But, in a certain way, it's better  (one hack allows you to boot with a micro controller that upgrades everything for that session only...handy to not modify anything internally).  This is one of the threads: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/dsox2000-and-3000-series-licence-have-anyone-tried-to-hack-that-scope/

I only did a cursory look.  There was a note about needing firmware 2.35.  So, you MAY need to downgrade it.  I don't know.   The thing about these hacks is that EEVBLOG is filled with serious engineers (I'm not).  So, reading through the entire hacking threads may cause your nose to bleed.  That's something to consider.  The Rigol hacks appear to be much better documented. 

[nctnico]

The Siglent SDS2000 series also looks promising...

[Anachron]

The Siglent SDS2000 series also looks promising...

Personally, at this price point, I wouldn't get a Siglent scope. I don't know enough about them to be fair, but I don't think I would.

[pa3bca]

Based on your requirements and budget I’d go for the 2072(A). (says I who have one).
No problem speccing this one up to 300 MHz, plenty of info on this forum. The specs of the 2000 series are way better than the 1000 series.
Having more than 2 channels available can be useful, but you have to decide for yourself how valuable this is and how often you really need it. And then: you already have a 1052. I bought a 1052 last weekend (on a whim, they are ridiculously cheap nowadays, just over EUR 250 new). Just link the trigger out from the 2072 to the external trigger in of the 1052 and you have a 4 channel scope!

[TopLoser]

Due to a recently agreed divorce I'm about to start selling off a load of my workshop test equipment. I've got a Rigol DS2072 that was bought from Batronix about 6 months ago, it was only ever switched on to be 'upgraded' to 300MHz. original box and unopened probes and manuals.

Anybody fancy it for 650 GBP including shipping anywhere sensible. No VAT, private sale.

[Towger]

Anybody fancy it for 650 GBP including shipping anywhere sensible. No VAT, private sale.

£500, which is about €600. The same as this one went for : https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/fs-(eu)-rigol-ds2072-(like-new)/

[electronics man]

Due to a recently agreed divorce I'm about to start selling off a load of my workshop test equipment. I've got a Rigol DS2072 that was bought from Batronix about 6 months ago, it was only ever switched on to be 'upgraded' to 300MHz. original box and unopened probes and manuals.

Anybody fancy it for 650 GBP including shipping anywhere sensible. No VAT, private sale.

What else have you got?

[TopLoser]

Due to a recently agreed divorce I'm about to start selling off a load of my workshop test equipment. I've got a Rigol DS2072 that was bought from Batronix about 6 months ago, it was only ever switched on to be 'upgraded' to 300MHz. original box and unopened probes and manuals.

Anybody fancy it for 650 GBP including shipping anywhere sensible. No VAT, private sale.

What else have you got?

Lots. What do you want?

[Anachron]

Just for anyone still interested in what I decided to get, it absolutely had to be a Rigol DS2072 - hands down - will be ordering on Monday
That's also my suggestion for anyone who may be doing the same research / asking the same questions.
Hiya to all of you and thanks for your time and advice!
A.