Cheap Rigol Oscilloscope from Ebay

Done.

Using the 1KHz probe cal oscillator. As you can see, it's possible to have split screen, overlayed screen, or standalone screen. X and Y cursors possible with manual and tracking modes. Last shot is using Blackman, others were using Hamming. It's not possible to use the LONG memory mode with FFT switched on, regardless of timebase. The frequency display is the excellent hardware frequency counter at work, i.e. works regardless of timebase or vertical scale.

Dave.

**Thanks a bunch David. Looks like the bee's knees to me. I did a job in the city last week. The Rigol would have been the perfect tool for the job. I used my Tek, but the Rigol would have made it faster and easier to fault find. Easier to carry too.

--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

I haven't tried the PC software yet with it, however I really like the USB host port on the front for storing captures and setups.

And the pass/fail testing modes are going to be really handy.

Yes, pretty essential feature these days. I don't however like the rather convoluted sequence you have to go through to save the waveform. And annoyingly it defaults to Waveform mode every time you re-power, so doesn't stay set on Bitmap mode. Other scopes with a dedicated Print button are more convenient in this respect.

The isolated pass/fail BNC output is a nice feature. Someone was thinking.

Dave.

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Well, It arrived early this morning, I have played with it now for about 3 hours to get used to "driving" it and see what it can do, and I have to fully agree with the comments posted so far : Its a brilliant unit, and outstanding for the price.

The display is fantastic, the colour makes a big difference in quickly identifying what is happening and what goes where. The "Math" traces coming up in blue makes it really easy to identify for example, compared to having 3 white traces on a mono unit. (black on white background with TEK) It a vast improvement over mono screen units I have used in the past.

Note, I haven't used a colour display Oscilloscope before, so I cant compare the display quality to a TEK or HP unit.

Am now in the process of studying the PDF manual for it, there is a LOT more that it can do that isn't immediately apparent.

Build quality seems solid and quality, knobs and controls have a good "feel" when using, and a lot of thought has gone into the product.

I think the Chinese (or some Chinese companies at least) are going through the same stage that the Japanese once went through, they originally made (and were known for) cheap but poor quality products, and with time they improved their quality, learnt more as they progressed and then by the 70's they were well known for making high quality products, still at pretty good prices.

Unless you specifically need a 4 channel or higher than 50MHZ unit, or with specialised features, then I don't think you can go past this Rigol for the price - Especially with the trackable international EMS shipping included !!.

PS:

I just opened the rest of the mail that arrived today, and found Farnell Select 46. Note on page 3, their cheapest TEK with similar features and colour screen is TDS2002B at $2200 AU (60Mhz 2 channel). This might be available cheaper from sources other than Farnell, but I'm certain it's still going to be a huge difference in price over the Rigol.

I am very tempted!

Has anyone given any thought to after sales service?

With my luck, I will probably need it!!

JERD

I guess that's the chance you take. For under $700 I'm prepared to take my chances. It comes with a Chinese warranty card, but it's not obvious where to send it or if it's applicable in Australia. I have not heard any reports at all with any Rigols failing, and certainly none of the units I've had at work have failed over the years. So no news is good news right? The fan in this new Rigol, while probably not needed, would surely help with product longevity too. I suspect Agilent wouldn't have rebadged them if the manufacturing and component quality wasn't up the scratch, but all models are different.

Dave.

Rigol have had quite a few years now to refine their products. Even the earliest models were still very good quality wise, but usability has improved somewhat.

Not even close!

Yep, that's basically the cheapest you can get a colour Tek in Australia I believe. The cheaper 1000 series do not have colour screens. And for your $2200 you only get a pultry 2.5KB memory. For that same price you can get a 4 channel Rigol, or 2+16 channel mixed signal for under $1800, and that's from the Australian supplier Emona!

Dave.

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Tried it today in a "real world" problem with a logic board. Brilliant, no real problems or annoyances I have found and gets even better as I learn to "drive" it :)

Probably a good way to spend the "stimulus" money ;)

I don't get any Rudd money :-(

Dave.

Yeah, buying a Chinese CRO on ebay will really help our economy! What a shame the government couldn't think of a better way to spend the money, like all the infrastructre projects they say they can't afford. And on hospitals and schools. I guess supporting Chinese workers is far more important.

MrT.

dont know if i will get it yet even :(

I admit that it won't directly help our economy, but it helps my work become more efficient and profitable (admittedly in a very small way overall), and that probably indirectly eventually helps the economy in a small way.

If tools such as this (that are normally well out of the reach of students, hobbyists, and some small businesses) can be bought affordably it will make electronic hobbies / study / work etc more affordable, then that is a benefit for the country. Its probably of less harm to the country than buying a plasma or pissing up the money (well, maybe not, beer is locally brewed ;).

I don't think we have made CROS here since the BWD days ?

d

The schools need things other than money thrown at them, the education standards are a joke, PC crap such as lack of discipline is another major problem. Fancy modern air conditioned classrooms wont help these problems.

Pouring money into "renovating" school buildings without fixing the festering sore inside them - ie: what is being taught, how its being taught, and controlling the class, so those who want to learn, can - is as ridiculous as pouring money into an almost bankrupt B&W TV factory, to renovate the factory premises, to "lead it back to profit" rather than dealing with the fact that its making an inferior or obsolete product or service and fixing that.

As for Australian products and services, I have to fork out over $2000 for dental work in the next month. Does that make up for my "sins" ? ;)

It's now ever cheaper:

$640 auction price, $662 Buy-it-Now That *includes* tracking postage.

Insanely low price.

Dave.

And you already get a tax deduction for business related expenses.

Not likely to in the forseeable future either.

I agree, however better teachers and more higher education places for Australians, still costs money.

Probably not if the Dentist uses it on an overseas trip.:-(

MrT.

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And getting crazier! Just bought one for $US445 ($A570). Still with free shipping. Bit of a communication issue in getting him to send me an invoice on paypal but all sorted out. Now for a cheap logic analyser...

Regards Geoff

I've had one of these for a few years now:

Very useful for the money, particularly the interpreters on SPI and I2C lines.

Sorry to rain on your parade, but this one is even cheaper at US$364, which is about AU$465. Plus shipping of US$55.

dmm

7C39%

That always happens! I'm sure that if I wait a few more weeks, someone will be selling it even cheaper. Still that eBay seller mib_instruments looks to have some other interesting toys...

7C39%

What are Atten instruments like for quality? The above mentioned eBay seller has 100Mhz Atten oscilloscopes for less that the Rigol 1052E.

Regards Geoff