New toy(?) scope Fnirsi DPOX180H, claimed 180MHz/500MSps (May 2023)

[Rooster Cogburn]

Thanks so much for the detailed answers! Interesting that you say the HDS272 'works better'. It looks pretty good, which is why I put it on my list of alternatives to the FNIRSI. I have to say I'd prefer a pure scope without DMM/AWG as I'm already with the ones I got and wouldn't want the UI/unit cluttered with stuff I don't need, but I'm curious why you like it better.

[Aldo22]

I have an Owon HDS272S (which works better than the DPOX).

In what sense does it work better?
In theory, the DPOX should be better.

[Rooster Cogburn]

I have an Owon HDS272S (which works better than the DPOX).

In what sense does it work better?
In theory, the DPOX should be better.

Yeah, that's why I'm asking all this stuff, I can read the specs and feature lists myself, but with these less expensive Chinese devices it all comes down to which features actually work and which specs are actually reached.

[RAPo]

The Owon works better because:
probes are easily locked in,
has shielded BNC connectors,
the channel settings are 2 button presses instead of 5 on the DPOX
You can change the acquisition depth
Cursor implementation is as I like it
Auto is much quicker and a peak-detect/sample acquisition mode
X-Y mode is very fast
It is a 3 in 1, scope,AWG, multimeter.

So better in the sense of handling, not in the sense of functionality/bandwidth.

[Rooster Cogburn]

probes are easily locked in,
has shielded BNC connectors,
the channel settings are 2 button presses instead of 5 on the DPOX
You can change the acquisition depth
Cursor implementation is as I like it
Auto is much quicker and a peak-detect/sample acquisition mode
X-Y mode is very fast
It is a 3 in 1, scope,AWG, multimeter.

The cursors, channel settings and the fast Auto seem like a real plus for me. I watched some videos and those do seem decent.

I never had a FNIRSI device, how much can we expect from them in terms of firmware? Do they support their products for a while and do some notable changes? Might be worth for me to hold out for a couple of months if there's a realistic expectation that the DPOX180H will improve.

[RAPo]

FNIRSI is a company that is stepping up the maturity ladder, better marketing, better products, more customer service in respect to previous years.customer support is really quick and a whole lot (at least 3 ) of engineers are looking into problems. There is already a firmware update out. They are growing, but don't expect the same level as Owon, Rigol.

There is a race going on for cheap scopes, FNIRSI has set a bar, but others will follow.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Sounds great, please everybody keep sending bug reports and feature requests then

[ru_tash]

For those that own the DPOX180H and used it for a while, a few Qs:

(I don't care about the build-in funcgen)

- What issues/errors did you encounter? In this thread a cursor issue was helpfully described and some mention of crashes. Any more of that?

while I was studying device it stopped responding several times, power off/on restored to normal work.

[Rooster Cogburn]

while I was studying device it stopped responding several times, power off/on restored to normal work.

Yes, I've seen your posts! Difficult to say if you got a bum unit or if there's a firmware issue, I guess :/

[Aldo22]

So better in the sense of handling, not in the sense of functionality/bandwidth.

The Zeeweii DSO2512G works without being a pain in the ass and is still the cheapest two-channel oscilloscope available.
It is enough for many hobby users, if you do not need more than say 40MHz on both channels.
Above that, it is simply: Who pays more gets more, unless he is ripped off ;-)

I think it is no mistake to have a DSO2512G.
Even if you later find that you want more, it is so cheap that you will not regret the purchase.
As with cheap DMMs you will find a use for it later if you want to "spare" the expensive device.

[RAPo]

I've got a reply from FNIRSI.
Problem is acknowledged, will be solved in the next firmware:

Hi, dear friend, We are very grateful for your understanding and support!
This problem will be fixed in the new firmware; the new firmware is still under development;
You can follow our official website;
http://www.fnirsi.cn/support
If there is a new plan; we will post it above;
have good day!
by Fnirsi
Sincerely,[Rose]

[Andy620]

A new firmware V30 has appeared on the fnirsi website:


2023/07/24          V30
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fix the problem:
1: Signal generator frequency problem
2: Some devices cannot be turned on after firmware upgrade
3: After pausing, only a single frame waveform is displayed, which is convenient for analyzing the protocol

[RAPo]

Indeed and item 1,3 confirmed working now.

[dietert1]

Somewhere above i wrote my doubts about the safety of handheld scopes.
Now i found this image in a OWON ad. They provide isolated BNC sockets, in case somebody is using the handheld on high potential. With a metal BNC this would pose a risk for the user, unless all BNC connectors are covered by protective caps or plugs with insulation.
How about the ground clips? I don't know.

Regards, Dieter

[RAPo]

yep as stated in my replay#154. What do you mean by groundclips? The ground part of the probe?

[Evi]

@RAPo
hello,
as you got in contact with Fnirsi support, could you suggest them the following:

1. Is it possible to automatically save current settings on power off?
2. Internal generator has significant DC offset. Do you plan remove it?
3. In current FW (3.0) it not possible to see FW version.  Maybe show it on startup screen?

[Rooster Cogburn]

Somewhere above i wrote my doubts about the safety of handheld scopes.
Now i found this image in a OWON ad. They provide isolated BNC sockets, in case somebody is using the handheld on high potential. With a metal BNC this would pose a risk for the user, unless all BNC connectors are covered by protective caps or plugs with insulation.
How about the ground clips? I don't know.

Regards, Dieter

I saw this aspect mentioned in several reviews for the OWON, and I'd be wary of using this scope with a hot ground. I'd assume both channels still share a ground. Is the USB connection on a separate ground? Is there an exposed ground point somewhere else, like next to the 1Khz calibration signal or something? And like you said, what about say a ground clip on the probe on another channel. It just doesn't seem like a safe / good idea to use the scope this way.

@RAPo
hello,
as you got in contact with Fnirsi support, could you suggest them the following:

1. Is it possible to automatically save current settings on power off?
2. Internal generator has significant DC offset. Do you plan remove it?
3. In current FW (3.0) it not possible to see FW version.  Maybe show it on startup screen?

Do they have a public support email address or contact form?

[NoMoreMagicSmoke]

Somewhere above i wrote my doubts about the safety of handheld scopes.
Now i found this image in a OWON ad. They provide isolated BNC sockets, in case somebody is using the handheld on high potential. With a metal BNC this would pose a risk for the user, unless all BNC connectors are covered by protective caps or plugs with insulation.
How about the ground clips? I don't know.

Regards, Dieter

I saw this aspect mentioned in several reviews for the OWON, and I'd be wary of using this scope with a hot ground. I'd assume both channels still share a ground. Is the USB connection on a separate ground? Is there an exposed ground point somewhere else, like next to the 1Khz calibration signal or something? And like you said, what about say a ground clip on the probe on another channel. It just doesn't seem like a safe / good idea to use the scope this way.

Do they have a public support email address or contact form?

All of the grounds are linked internally on the OWON, including the probe calibration ground. Even though it is trivial to float the scope. It's still a better idea to use a differential probe.

[Aldo22]

I didn't quite understand this "shielded" advantage of the Fnirsi.
If the probes BNC are metallic, that doesn't help much, does it?

With the Zeeweii and the PP250 probes, I no longer have anything metallic around.
The signal generator connections are also recessed on the DSO2512G.

Or did I get this wrong?

[dietert1]

The idea seems to be that the handheld scope has the same safety regime as a multimeter - with no metal parts to touch. Except with multiple interfaces that's a bit difficult. Of course if somebody is aware of the danger, they will protect themselves, like the red plastic cover in the last image. Many probe ground clips can be attached without touching the metal. Anyway one has to keep an eye on dangling ground clips..

Regards, Dieter

[RAPo]

will pass it on.

[RAPo]

The ground from the shielded BNC's are connected to the ground of the USB-c
The ground from the shielded BNC's are connected to the ground of the 1kHz reference.
It is a well known fact that if you want a scope floating *don't connect itto USB from a computer*.

I saw this aspect mentioned in several reviews for the OWON, and I'd be wary of using this scope with a hot ground. I'd assume both channels still share a ground. Is the USB connection on a separate ground? Is there an exposed ground point somewhere else, like next to the 1Khz calibration signal or something? And like you said, what about say a ground clip on the probe on another channel. It just doesn't seem like a safe / good idea to use the scope this way.

The BNC's ground are connected to each other.
If you don't connect the usb-c to a computer you're scope is floating (you have no reference to earth ground).
That can be done but with care. Search for: "how not to blow up your oscilloscope".

Do they have a public support email address or contact form?

I correspond with them using the FNIRSI store at alieexpress.

[Evi]

A discussion about BNC's ground is pointless in this context.

Fluke scopemeters have galvanically isolated channels Grounds and their BNC have plastic bodies.

The question of price.

[ru_tash]

I upgraded to V30.
I found some bug with Param measure menu still exist,
When you restore to Factory settings it shows: 2 items for channel1 (V-pp and F) and shows 1 items for channel2 (F).
If to uncheck these items and Save current configuration, although after restart those unchecked items not appeared but their footprint still exist (display: 2 items for ch1 and 1 items for ch2).

[RAPo]

yes thats already reported.