But I simply try to fit whole signal to screen first (vertically), and then go from there to what is the best way.
Based on my experience, this is one of the first things someone should learn about using an oscilloscope. No point in having a 12 bit ADC if you're not even using half the bits
Sure all this theory talk about how I don't know how to use an oscilloscope because pointing out a flaw...
Ok, to give you an example where you would intentionally overload the frontend:
Ultrasonic ranging sensors, single trasducer. The TX pulse is in the tens of volt range, the RX part is several orders of magnitude less. I opened a recent project of mine, and the difference was x100. And you want to place the trigger on the transmit, see any ringing after the last pulse, and see the received signal. Even with the 12 bit ADC you wouldn't have any reasonable resolution on the RX if you put everything on the screen. I'm sure there are other applications where this is regularly done.
Well, you missed the point that I said you are right, overload recovery distortion IS there. It is because of split path front end architecture. All modern scopes have it in some form.
You seem to misunderstood my example where I managed to achieve decent resolution from 20x magnification from already small signal.
Software magnification of 100x is entirely usable.
Nobody said you don't know how to use scopes you have.
We are pointing out that that new capabilities introduce new methods with much enhanced results.
I don't know of ANY modern digital scope that will have no overdrive recovery distortions if you go 100x or 1000X over range..??
If you know one please let me know. I will buy one immediately..
Once you asked about comparison of this (very inexpensive, cheapest of new Siglent 12bit scopes gamut) to very expensive Keysight MSOX3000T "classic".
Since I also have MSOX3104T we can do exactly that.
Example:
4MHz damped oscillation.
15V P-P, 8V top peak.
1ms repetition.
10MHz superimposed 20mV P-P signal on top.
MSOX3104T 2V/div for full screen and 200mV/div "magnified" with front end amplification. Pay attention that DC level after the pulse is wrong. That is from recovery distortion.
Then same signal at 10mV/div. It is completely destroyed. That was 200x overdrive.
As comparison little Siglent:
SD800xHD same signal, 2V/div for full screen and 200mV/div "magnified" with front end amplification.
SDS800xHD at 200mV/div with additional 20x zoom factor,
That is effective 200x magnification.... effective 10mV/div.
If you want to save screen space and not use zoom, you can use math channel: F1 magnified to 10mv/div and F2 ERES 10mV/div demonstrated.
10 Mhz signal is clearly visible. With cursors and little eyeballing we estimate 11mV P-P (it should be 10mV). Not bad for 200x magnified portion. If signal is repetitive we can also use averaging.
And that is a 700€+VAT scope (list price) compared to US$ 22,587+VAT list price for Keysight MSOX3104T fully loaded (right from Keysight today). I know nobody pays full price but if you get for half the price, that is still 11000€ +VAT...
SDS2000xHD has much larger input offset range while still being fraction of the price of said Keysight.
SDS3000xHD also has much larger input offset, and is also fraction of the price of Keysight while being a true powerhouse in comparison.
Hope this answers some of your questions...
Best,