Fanless DSO?

[djacobow]

I've got a Rigol DS2072 (modded to 2202, of course). The fan makes me crazy. I've seen some folks replace fans with quieter ones, but if a lot of the noise is from the airflow itself, does it make much difference?

Does anybody make a completely silent/fanless DSO these days?

I find myself firing up my CRO just to have a quiet workspace.

[WVL_KsZeN]

Ye olde Tektronix DSOs are fanless (those 2.5k sample mem things). Probably one of the few positive things about them :-)

Oh and the R&S HMO1002..

[PChi]

The Rohde and Schwarz / Hameg R&S®HMO1002 brochure states that it's fanless.

[Howardlong]

Don't know if this model is still current: http://www.eevblog.com/2013/06/25/eevblog-487-tekway-dst1102b-oscilloscope-review/

Plus most "handheld" DSOs.

Not sure if all CROs are fanless, the 2465B and 2467B I have use fans. The HP 1980B I have is definitely not fanless!

[PA4TIM]

I used to have a Rigol and the fan drove me crazy. Although that was not the only thing on that piece of shit that irritated me. Now I have a Hameg HMO-3522. It has a fan but I must concentrate on it to hear it. Besides that my Tek 7704 and 7603 do not have fans.
On the other hand, a Rigol has no real fan,  I have a Tek 547, that has a FAN. I bet that If you put it on a scope-car without brakes it leaves you lab on its own ...

Hnmm, another $%^$# Windows 10 edge problem, I can not use the emotiocons.

[SaabFAN]

How about USB-Scopes? Combined with a Laptop, they offer good performance, a lot of memory and quietness.
Some units also offer 8 to 16 Channel Logic-Analyzers. 

About moddings the unit: Airflow CAN be a factor in the noise, but the vast majority generally comes from the Fan itself.
Idk what type of fan is installed, but I suspect some 8000 or even 10000RPM 60mm or 40mm fan for about 1€.
Im absolutely sure there are fans on the marker that can deliver similar airflow with a lot less RPM and a lot less noise because of a smaller motor, better design of the fan-blades, a more efficient chassis.
I managed to get my PC both quieter and cooler at the same time by buying better engineered fans. They cost about double to triple what the cheap, noisy ones cost though. But in your case still cheaper than buying a new scope^^

[djacobow]

They cost about double to triple what the cheap, noisy ones cost though. But in your case still cheaper than buying a new scope^^

Yes, as you suggest, it makes a lot of sense for me to try this before getting a new unit. Otherwise, I'm happy with the scope.

[tautech]

They cost about double to triple what the cheap, noisy ones cost though. But in your case still cheaper than buying a new scope^^

Yes, as you suggest, it makes a lot of sense for me to try this before getting a new unit. Otherwise, I'm happy with the scope.

I'm fairly sure there are threads that mention fan replacement on the 2000 series Rigols.
A forum search should find them. 

[mathsquid]

I have an OWON SDS6062, and if it has a fan, it is silent.

[dom0]

Not sure if all CROs are fanless, the 2465B and 2467B I have use fans. The HP 1980B I have is definitely not fanless!

I think almost every CRO with a three-figure bandwidth has a fan. Many are rather quiet, especially the Tek ones with shaded-pole motors are quiet after decades. (That really surprised me on my 7623 - "It's already turned on!?!")

[Lunasix]

I bought a second hand Tek MSO2024 but I kept my quiet Tek TDS2014 on my desk, MSO is too noisy when it is just to verify simple signals... I was hesitating, but I finally changed the original fan (San Cooler 9A0912H4081, could be 51cfm, 33dbA) with a Noctua NF-B9 (read something good about this model on other post) and the airflow is probably a bit lower (38cfm) but the noise is much lower (18dbA), the scope is now usable even in a quiet room, whithout making me crazy.
What a pitty to have noise problems on such equipments 

[Fungus]

I've seen some folks replace fans with quieter ones, but if a lot of the noise is from the airflow itself, does it make much difference?

You've just basically admitted it will make some difference.

(and it's probably more than you'd imagine).

[djacobow]

Did I ever say it would not make a difference?

So, I the Noctua NF-A6x25 arrived today and I installed it in my DS2072 immediately. I don't have any means to quantify the improvement. It is quieter, and the character of the sound is changed. Now it sounds like air moving only mostly, without the higher frequency components from the older fan.

Only time will tell if I'm happy, of course. :-)

I've seen some folks replace fans with quieter ones, but if a lot of the noise is from the airflow itself, does it make much difference?

You've just basically admitted it will make some difference.

(and it's probably more than you'd imagine).

[amirm]

My Agilent has a fan but it is dead quiet.  My Rigol signal generator on the other hand, makes obnoxious noise.  So if their scope is the same, you will definitely be much happier with the Agilent/Keysight.