SDS2104X experince - Share your experince so hopefully they will fix their issue

[Decee1]

Hello.
I got myself a Siglent SDS2104X a week ago and I want to share my experience with it so far.

Why did I go for the SDS2104X?
I wanted to have a instrument that had the feeling of a Keysight Infiniivision 3000x scope. Simply the interface and keyboard layout was what I wanted

Let's dig In.. What you get In the box
Calibration info, simple manual with pictures, mains plug, USB cables and their simple and their standard PP510 probes(4x of em)
And the scope itself.

Starting it takes 20 seconds which is pretty damn nice!!
The first thing that I realized Is one that bothers It.. It seems slow when switching between settings and navigating. I'm used to both a Rigol MSO1104z and Infiniivision 3000x scopes so that really annoyed me. I tried upgrading to the newest firmware but It didn't solve It. It Is not always being this slow but sometimes It just seems slow..
Then the buttons themselves.. If you press them sometimes they would bounce and actually double presses So If you wanna turn on Channel 3 It turns on and then off again.. Really Siglent? Didn't you press the buttons while developing Software for It..
Then the buttons themselves are a bit hard to press which also bothers but you can learn to live with It.
And last.. The power button.. It Is fading green when It Is powered off.. First up a waste of power second It Is so annoying as typically a fading LED indicates powering off/standby mode
But that is pretty much what I've found of really annoying things.

BUT on the other side.. I LOVE THE keypad LAYOUT
It is really optimal. You need to get used to the single trigger is not in the top of the screen but i do kinda agree with Siglents choice of placing it in the trigger area.
The interface on the scope itself is very Keysight a'like with a twist which i do really approve of. Placing the channel information on the right side which does take up some screen space but it doesn't bother me as the screen is nice and wide so it actually feels natural.

The built in 20MHz generator is a nice feature, i do have a separate 5MHz generator so what i would expect was some fanzy functions where you could combined the generator and the inputs.. Which i haven't found yet. I wouldn't mind saving a bit of money and then removing the generator unless it gave me a useful feature.

I haven't played around with many of the fanzy features as what i look for is a Infiniivision 3000x in disguise which they are so close to nailing. At least they could solve the buttons bouncing and the seemingly slow but if it interests you go look up the manual here:
https://www.siglent.eu/product/1139347/siglent-sds2104x-100mhz-four-channel-oscilloscope

So why go for a Siglent SDS2104X instead of a Rigol 1104z?
The keypad layout is in my opinion much nice, the screen is bigger, working with it is just so nice and got a much more professional feeling, the interface is surely the best upgrade as 1104Z is in my opinion awful working with.

So keep it simple
Really amazing instrument for the price, 4 channels 100MHz but just need a few firmware adjustment then they really had a great instrument in the "budget" range that would kick Keysight in the butt

[Decee1]

Another few..
The Print button is actually kind of useless. Because it prints to internal memory, that means to get access to the pictures i anyways need to get my hands on a USB pen.. It should be configurable to print directly to my USB. EVEN my old scope could do that..
https://siglentna.com/operating-tip/quickly-save-picture-siglent-sds1000-series-oscilloscope

I kinda miss a web interface as the scope is well equipped to do that so it would be nice to see that feature too!

I still find the scope really solid even my co-workers approved it as a competitor to both Rigol MSO1104z and even the infiniivision 2000 and 3000 series! I just hope they see the post I made and improve the scope so it could be improved more!

[tautech]

Another few..
The Print button is actually kind of useless. Because it prints to internal memory, that means to get access to the pictures i anyways need to get my hands on a USB pen.. It should be configurable to print directly to my USB. EVEN my old scope could do that..
https://siglentna.com/operating-tip/quickly-save-picture-siglent-sds1000-series-oscilloscope

I kinda miss a web interface as the scope is well equipped to do that so it would be nice to see that feature too!

Exactly what is the Print behavior you seek ?
Print button saves to the front USB by default where you would normally have a USB stick installed.
From within the Save menu all manner of other behavior and file types are available.

The web server is not available for the 2000X models however for PC based control EasyScopeX offers remote control capability and a SCPI command panel amongst other things.
It needs the NIVISA Runtime SW for connectivity via USB and/or LAN and this SW need be installed first so the drivers get properly assigned when EasyScopeX is installed.
It is all in the install instructions.
RTFM. 

[Martin72]

Why did I go for the SDS2104X?

Good question.
Why going to an elder model, when the 2000Xplus series are avaible now and in some points better ?
If I were you, I had saved my money until I could buy this one.
By the way, where do you get it from ? Batronix for example listed them as no longer avaible, welectron offers the sds2104x for 1140€.

[tautech]

Why did I go for the SDS2104X?

Good question.

The obvious.
Individual vertical controls.
Promo package for all 3 options of HW and licensing for $488.

Sure SDS2kX Plus models are more advanced but the lack of individual vertical controls is a show stopper for some that have yet to have experience with shared controls.

[Martin72]

This must be a subjective thing.
I´ve worked with both, never get a showstopper feeling when it was not all separated.
Apart from this, separate controls couldn´t be the reason for choosing the "worse one in general".....or yes ?

[mawyatt]

Question, does the "PRINT" function work differently on the SDS2102X Plus?

Personally I really like the way it works on the SDS2102X Plus I have, I just hit the print button and if I have a USB stick installed it finds my Siglent file and prints a nice screen capture in PNG format. I don't have to mess around with selecting a file category, then a file name, it just figures out what the next file name should be and writes the file...brillant

Ok, I'm, incompetent, stupid, lazy and so on but this just works for me

How would I change this?? Not a single thing about the way it works

Best,

[tautech]

Question, does the "PRINT" function work differently on the SDS2102X Plus?

Personally I really like the way it works on the SDS2102X Plus I have, I just hit the print button and if I have a USB stick installed it finds my Siglent file and prints a nice screen capture in PNG format. I don't have to mess around with selecting a file category, then a file name, it just figures out what the next file name should be and writes the file...brillant

Ok, I'm, incompetent, stupid, lazy and so on but this just works for me

How would I change this?? Not a single thing about the way it works

Best,

Nicely summed up Mike.
Yes, exactly this is the intended default Print behavior.
KISS principles are often the best. 

[Decee1]

Another few..
The Print button is actually kind of useless. Because it prints to internal memory, that means to get access to the pictures i anyways need to get my hands on a USB pen.. It should be configurable to print directly to my USB. EVEN my old scope could do that..
https://siglentna.com/operating-tip/quickly-save-picture-siglent-sds1000-series-oscilloscope

I kinda miss a web interface as the scope is well equipped to do that so it would be nice to see that feature too!

Print button saves to the front USB by default where you would normally have a USB stick installed.

Hello.
The way the print button work is you cannot reconfigure it so when pressing the button it will save onto it's internal memory.. Kinda Stupid IMO

[Decee1]

Why did I go for the SDS2104X?

Good question.
Why going to an elder model, when the 2000Xplus series are avaible now and in some points better ?
If I were you, I had saved my money until I could buy this one.
By the way, where do you get it from ? Batronix for example listed them as no longer avaible, welectron offers the sds2104x for 1140€.

Bought it here for €884.00€ which is MUCH cheaper than the 2000x plus is €1,199.00
https://www.siglent.eu/product/1139347/siglent-sds2104x-100mhz-four-channel-oscilloscope
I personally don't like the layout of the plus series which is the biggest turn off. It reminds me too much about the Rigol layouts.. Ew

[Decee1]

Why did I go for the SDS2104X?

Good question.

The obvious.
Individual vertical controls.
Promo package for all 3 options of HW and licensing for $488.

Sure SDS2kX Plus models are more advanced but the lack of individual vertical controls is a show stopper for some that have yet to have experience with shared controls.

I got a Rigol MSO1104z at work so im used to the shared control system and also the price is much cheaper versus the SDS2kX but it is just awful working with shared controls IMO

[Decee1]

Question, does the "PRINT" function work differently on the SDS2102X Plus?

Personally I really like the way it works on the SDS2102X Plus I have, I just hit the print button and if I have a USB stick installed it finds my Siglent file and prints a nice screen capture in PNG format. I don't have to mess around with selecting a file category, then a file name, it just figures out what the next file name should be and writes the file...brillant

Ok, I'm, incompetent, stupid, lazy and so on but this just works for me

How would I change this?? Not a single thing about the way it works

Best,

Lucky you then! It doesn't work that way on the SDS2104X (non plus) It saves it internally which is awful IMO

[tautech]

Another few..
The Print button is actually kind of useless. Because it prints to internal memory, that means to get access to the pictures i anyways need to get my hands on a USB pen.. It should be configurable to print directly to my USB. EVEN my old scope could do that..
https://siglentna.com/operating-tip/quickly-save-picture-siglent-sds1000-series-oscilloscope

I kinda miss a web interface as the scope is well equipped to do that so it would be nice to see that feature too!

Print button saves to the front USB by default where you would normally have a USB stick installed.

Hello.
The way the print button work is you cannot reconfigure it so when pressing the button it will save onto it's internal memory.. Kinda Stupid IMO

That's not it's intended purpose and not one Siglent DSO allows for that.
If you need to save a file to the internal storage drive then you must do it from the Save/Recall menu.

The Print button is a 'Save to front panel USB' shortcut.
P10 in the Quick Start guide: One- Button shortcut for Save

Internal Save is explained in the Save and Recall chapter starting P150.
https://www.siglenteu.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2017/10/SDS2000X_UserManual_UM0102X-E02B.pdf

[Decee1]

Another few..
The Print button is actually kind of useless. Because it prints to internal memory, that means to get access to the pictures i anyways need to get my hands on a USB pen.. It should be configurable to print directly to my USB. EVEN my old scope could do that..
https://siglentna.com/operating-tip/quickly-save-picture-siglent-sds1000-series-oscilloscope

I kinda miss a web interface as the scope is well equipped to do that so it would be nice to see that feature too!

Print button saves to the front USB by default where you would normally have a USB stick installed.

Hello.
The way the print button work is you cannot reconfigure it so when pressing the button it will save onto it's internal memory.. Kinda Stupid IMO

That's not it's intended purpose and not one Siglent DSO allows for that.
If you need to save a file to the internal storage drive then you must do it from the Save/Recall menu.

The Print button is a 'Save to front panel USB' shortcut.
P10 in the Quick Start guide: One- Button shortcut for Save

Internal Save is explained in the Save and Recall chapter starting P150.
https://www.siglenteu.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2017/10/SDS2000X_UserManual_UM0102X-E02B.pdf

You are totally misunderstanding...
IF I press the "Print" button WITH my USB Flash drive plugged in it ALWAYS saves to internal memory and NOT to the Flash drive.
I don't want to save to the internal memory because that doesn't make sense

[tautech]

You are totally misunderstanding...

OK, yes now I understand, sorry.

IF I press the "Print" button on the screen WITH my USB Flash drive plugged in it ALWAYS saves to internal memory and NOT to the Flash drive
I don't want to save to the internal memory because that doesn't make sense

OK, it shouldn't do that, something is wrong.
Try Default to clear all settings and if that doesn't work Secure Erase in the Save/Recall menu.

Failing these remedies there is something wrong with the compatibility of your USB stick.
It should be formatted in FAT32 and/or try another USB stick.

If you have one with an activity LED it can help to sort out where the problem is.

[Decee1]

You are totally misunderstanding...

OK, yes now I understand, sorry.

IF I press the "Print" button on the screen WITH my USB Flash drive plugged in it ALWAYS saves to internal memory and NOT to the Flash drive
I don't want to save to the internal memory because that doesn't make sense

OK, it shouldn't do that, something is wrong.
Try Default to clear all settings and if that doesn't work Secure Erase in the Save/Recall menu.

Failing these remedies there is something wrong with the compatibility of your USB stick.
It should be formatted in FAT32 and/or try another USB stick.

If you have one with an activity LED it can help to sort out where the problem is.

I'll try to reset it when I get home. But it just doesn't make sense as I was able to save to the flash drive though Save/recall yesterday. It does also detect the USB So I do think it is the way they have designed the Software...

[tautech]

I'll try to reset it when I get home. But it just doesn't make sense as I was able to save to the flash drive though Save/recall yesterday. It does also detect the USB So I do think it is the way they have designed the Software...

It shouldn't give problems unless your memory stick is faulty. Reformat it. Try another.
This is the most likely explanation for your problems.

I had SDS2304X for some years as my private DSO before upgrading to a SDS5054X so I know the older model quite well.

[Decee1]

I'll try to reset it when I get home. But it just doesn't make sense as I was able to save to the flash drive though Save/recall yesterday. It does also detect the USB So I do think it is the way they have designed the Software...

It shouldn't give problems unless your memory stick is faulty. Reformat it. Try another.
This is the most likely explanation for your problems.

I had SDS2304X for some years as my private DSO before upgrading to a SDS5054X so I know the older model quite well.

Aright! I'll give that a go and see if that fixes it.
TO be fair.. The USB I used was marked as "faulty" but it worked well when I used it but I didn't have another USB on hand as my main USB was at work.

[tautech]

Many scopes are picky on what size USB sticks they work properly with. Best advice is to use 8GB max and FAT32 formatted and even 4k cluster size.
Good luck.

[Decee1]

Many scopes are picky on what size USB sticks they work properly with. Best advice is to use 8GB max and FAT32 formatted and even 4k cluster size.
Good luck.

ARIGHT!
This one worked! Awesome to see they made it so it saves onto USB with a single press of a key!