OWON HDS 200 Handheld Oscilloscope w/ builtin DMM/AWG

[mojoe]

I just bought the 70 MHz version. It has v3.2.0 firmware. I can adjust the pulse width and rise time in the siggen.

Edit: I just played around a bit more. Although at 1 MHz and above, it does show pulse width and rise time, only the rise time is slightly adjustable. You are still just getting a square wave, instead of a pulse. At 999 KHz and below, you can set things to actually get a pulse. I tried it all the way down to 1 Hz. Another firmware update is needed.

The one feature that seems to be missing is sweep. If Owon is listening, please add sweep in the next firmware. Also, make the firmware easy to find and download.

I didn't take mine apart, since others have done so. From the pictures, the latest circuit boards look OK, with minimal bodge fixes.

I played around with the XY mode, using the curve tracer idea presented by W2AEW. Although it works, bouncing back and forth to change frequency and voltage level is a lot of trouble. As for the display, XY mode is one area where an old analog scope is still better.

I've tested and compared the scope to my much more expensive gear, and this unit seems to be quite accurate. For the money, I'm impresed with this scope/DMM/siggen.

Next, I need to try the PC software, to see what it can do. I hope it allows you to create your own arbitrary waveforms.

Edit: The included X10 probe is very cheaply made. I have better spare probes that I will use instead.

[blurpy]

I got a firmware update, in my second attempt at contacting Owon. It took a week, with a reply after a few days asking me some questions like serial number.

They did not say which version I got or what the changes were, even though I asked about that initially. They eventually answered that they improved the speed of the auto button.

After flashing the firmware I could see that I got version 1.7.0 as well, like julius.gl. They didn't include instructions on how to fix the language, which was now Chinese. But luckily the instructions from julius.gl was helpful in fixing that.

I can verify the speed improvements of the auto button. It went from 5 seconds to 1 second, so very good improvement!
Disappointing that such a new device is already abandoned as far as firmware updates go though (for my serial number).

The firmware file I have and the one julius.gl got have different checksums, so they are not the same. I don't know if it's because of different serial number series or because we have different models. I attached a zip to this post with a readme I created and the Scope.upp with the firmware in case anyone is interested.

[rhb]

Mine works as does @mojoe's.  Thanks for figuring that out.  So it's at least somewhat usable.  Not heard from my bug report to Lilliput/Owon.

I've got lots of fancy kit (and a Tek 7904 in transit).  I'm quite impressed by the cost-value proposition these present.

Reg

[nigelwright7557]

If it really will sample fast enough to support a 70 MHz bandwidth it would be useful for sure, but the sample rate is 125 MSPS, too low to even produce good results with a 40 MHz bandwidth.  Still, it could be useful for many tasks.

At 125MPS you need about 30 samples to get a decent waveform (not just sine.)
So that's a 4MHz complex signal you can read ok.

[rhb]

The sample rate is 250 MSa/s in single channel mode and 125 MSa/s in dual channel mode as is reported on the screen.  This can be confirmed by looking at the rise time of a square wave when you turn on the 2nd channel.

In single channel mode, Nyquist is 125 MHz and the step response is excellent.  In 2 channel mode, the Nyquist is only 62.5 MHz.   So there is the potential for aliasing to be aware of.

My sole major criticism is the plastic BNCs.  Really guys!  This is intended for an auto repair shop and you've used plastic connectors?  Sheeesh...

Reg

[mojoe]

The plastic is a cover for the metal shell of the BNC. I understand why Owon did this. It's a safety feature. The included (crappy) x10 probe also has a plastic outer covering on the BNC. Same reason why the USB C connector is recessed.

If you look at how Fluke does this on their Scopemeters, they use proprietary connectors that are recessed. They require an adapter to use a BNC probe. The adapter is also covered in plastic.

On another topic, I downloaded the SCPI manual for the scope. Sorry to say, it is limited to just what you can do via the buttons. No extra functionality. However, you could implement an AWG sweep function via SCPI. I'll probably fool with this later, when I have time.

I really hope that Owon adds sweep to the firmware.

[tunk]

Here's some rebadged versions:
- multicomp MP720780, MP720782, MP720781, MP720783 (farnell, element14)
- Hanmatek HO52 (aliexpress, banggood, etc.)

[Markus2801A]

Here's some rebadged versions:
- multicomp MP720780, MP720782, MP720781, MP720783 (farnell, element14)
- Hanmatek HO52 (aliexpress, banggood, etc.)

Does anyone have infos on how the Hanmatek HO52 compare to the "original" Owon untis?
Because I'm not sure if this is really a rebranded owon version?
the Owon are much more rectangular shaped, the Hanmatek is slightly curved. So did they really changed the housing.
Most rebranded units out are only changing colors of case (see multimeters etc) :-)

[papabol_24]

Got mine today From Aliexpress...
2129xxx serial number
FW 3.2.0
Version 2.0 Main board
Kinda weird because in scan mode the signal scans from right to left

[tautech]

Kinda weird because in scan mode the signal scans from right to left

Not if you think about it.
Scan/Roll mode just works like this to fill the display with data however when you Stop the scope the data is still relative to its correct trigger position.
Some scopes have both Auto and dedicated Roll modes where in dedicated Roll nothing is displayed until the display buffer is filled.

[forceman]

Thanks for the nice forum! Lots of nice reading in here!

I just got mine from aliex... and I have received a HDS272S, FW V3.3.0, PCB: HDS200-MAIN-V2.1

[ledtester]

Another review:

Owon HDS242S Oscilloscope AWG Multimeter 3in1 Review & Teardown | Voltlog 380

https://youtu.be/91BmxmHspik

[ExaLab]

Interesting review.
Among other things, it also allowed me to identify and remove the protective film of the screen (which was practically invisible, without any imperfection that would reveal its presence ...)

[tunk]

A comparison of the Hantek 2D72 and OWON HD272S. Looks like the Owon is the winner:


Also a review and teardown:
https://youtu.be/AFxSrieoI64
https://youtu.be/lbvqnWPC6iQ

[ledtester]

Kerry just put up a new video comparing the two when using a slow timebase:

- Slow Timebase Performance Comparison: Hantek 2D72 Vs. OWON HD272S

[Flash2light]

Have you tried different settings?
Input coupling AC and record length ?

[Flash2light]

Slow signal trigger problem is problem trigger mode coupling.
HDS272S
V3.3.0 sn: 21310xx
https://youtube.com/shorts/yrrt7kktDaU?feature=share

[Sobakin76]

Slow signal trigger problem is problem trigger mode coupling.
HDS272S
V3.3.0 sn: 21310xx
https://youtube.com/shorts/yrrt7kktDaU?feature=share

Looks like it's ok, there is no trigger in roll mode.

[agaelema]

Hi, I have some doubts about this oscilloscope.

- It can measure RMS AC+DC?
- The oscilloscope do FFT?
- The oscilloscope trigger is based on HW or SW? Can detect a quick pulse?

[blurpy]

Hi, I have some doubts about this oscilloscope.

- It can measure RMS AC+DC?
- The oscilloscope do FFT?
- The oscilloscope trigger is based on HW or SW? Can detect a quick pulse?

It does not measure RMS. You can measure vpp and calculate yourself though.
It does not have FFT.

I don't know how the trigger works.

It's a very basic scope, but what it does, it does well for the price and form factor. I like it as a portable addition to my bench scope.

[Sobakin76]

Hi, I have some doubts about this oscilloscope.

- It can measure RMS AC+DC?
- The oscilloscope do FFT?
- The oscilloscope trigger is based on HW or SW? Can detect a quick pulse?

1. In scope mode it can measure mean, not RMS
2. No internal FFT of course (maybe will be added in PC software which now in unreliable)
3. The trigger looks like is HW and in old versions it can show frequency in measure mode very accurate even if waveform period is out of sampling window or window contain too much periods, in newer version (mine is V4.1.0) it has "Counter" option which shows frequency of triggering channel  in top right corner. It's just 4-digit, but it's accurate.
And it has Peak Detect acquire mode.

[blurpy]

in newer version (mine is V4.1.0) it has "Counter" option which shows frequency of triggering channel  in top right corner. It's just 4-digit, but it's accurate.

Do you have a screenshot of the new counter, for those of us who will never get that firmware?

[Sobakin76]

Do you have a screenshot of the new counter, for those of us who will never get that firmware?

[Wintel]

in newer version (mine is V4.1.0) it has "Counter" option which shows frequency of triggering channel  in top right corner. It's just 4-digit, but it's accurate.

Do you have a screenshot of the new counter, for those of us who will never get that firmware?

What is the S/N with V4.1.0 firmware? Later than 2131xxx ?

The PCB is HDS200-MAIN-V2.1 ?

[Sobakin76]

What is the S/N with V4.1.0 firmware? Later than 2131xxx ?

SN is 2130xxx

The PCB is HDS200-MAIN-V2.1 ?

Yes