EEVblog #480 - 300MHz Owon SDS Oscilloscope

Dave takes a look at the Owon SDS Series "Smart" oscilloscope.
The 300MHz model SDS9302. But apart from bandwidth and sample rate, the same as the SDS8302, SDS8202, SDS8102, SDS7102, and SDS6062.

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[TwistedLogic]

Dave, The unique autoscale function is actually a selling point of this scope. If you look into it a little more you'd see that it does real time auto-scale so you don't have to keep hitting the button. Every time you connect a signal it re-scales the signal to fit.

[gingermetallurgist]

My first scope was and still is the SDS7102 (100MHz, 1GSa/s, $450 USD).. and I really like it... I am definitely a novice in electronics, but for what I use if for, it works perfectly. The giant screen and portable nature are more beneficial to me than a fast waveform update rate.

[mbaker]

The battery operation is particularly useful when working on high voltage/tube circuits. Ground does not go to power ground so isolated like any battery operated kit. Very useful as a second scope at a good price.

[engineeringawayout]

I too have a SDS7102 and I too like it. I need a cheap scope I can take on the road to customers facilities for testing. It is very small and light. What sold me was the 10M samples. I really use them for looking at communications. One thing I do not like on mine is you have to stop the scan to zoom into your waveform or it does not show you all the detail. Once you hit stop you can see what is going on.

[TwistedLogic]

With the extra weight of the battery the button problem is less. Also you can't beat the amount of scope you get for the money.

[Kryoclasm]

I use the SDS7102 for basic electronic and ham radio adjustments. This is my first 100 MHZ scope. Seems to work, but it does have limitations.

When I move up to a better scope the 7102 will live in my automotive workshop at work for GP diagnostics. Ill be getting the battery for it then.

[ronshaw]

IT wasnt a double negative. If you read the manual, you will see that they show the coupling mode. The straight line means DC coupling on that channel. The channel below shows a small sine wave, meaning it is AC coupled.

[WooShell]

Recently bought the 100MHz version for ~350$, and I'm very satisfied with it.
The UI takes a bit time to get used to (at least for me, with only an analog Hameg experience). Mine looks slightly different around the knobs, and I can't tip it over with the buttons either, so apparently Owon have taken a few of your criticisms back to their drawing board.
Sure, the quality is not on par with an Agilent, but the price isn't, either ;-)

[mathgeek]

Dave, you did me a huge favor about a year ago when I was buying a scope and I was looking at the Owon's because they're dirt cheap, all over the web, and I was a novice^2 who didn't know any better. You, having never touched or mentioned an Owon (at least not to my knowledge) talked me into getting a Rigol 1052. Thank you for that.
I was disappointed you couldn't take it apart, but I have a feeling (and I may be wrong) that could be to Owon's benefit.

[engineeringawayout]

Oh the fan on these are SERIOUSLY cheap. Mine started making noise from the bearings going out. They sent me a new fan and some seriously crappy instructions for taking it apart and changing it out. Im just glad I got it back together and working.

[doogulass]

We have one of these Owon scopes at work. After about a year the fan went bad and now it is super noisy. Totally agree about the buttons being too stiff too.

[dasswify]

I love these kind of reviews. Dave gives an honest review and goes through most of the important stuff. You're free to ignore the stuff that doesn't pertain to you; e.g. the problem with the button weight and that it easily flips doesn't concern me att all, but some of the other stuff do.

[KitCox]

From marmad on the blog, 23 May 2013, 12:12:57PM, Reply #148.

"BTW, almost EVERYTHING you can do on a DSO affects the wfrm/s rate (and thus the Trigger out): persistence, measurements, extra channels, having a menu out, etc. because they change the variable blind time (i.e. the DSO is doing more processing)."

[Joru]

Memory bank covers a set time period, lowering memory depth decreases sample rate. As you go to sample rate under 2x signal freq you get aliasing.

[chrisvighagen]

Exactly!

Everyone knows Dave's style and if he says somethign is well made then it is WellMade(TM) and you know that customers will buy it and pay a premium.

If Dave cuts them down like a fruit ninja, then the consumers will stay away and the company will have to respond by addressing the issues and ave Dave re:review it to ascertain trust among the customers again.

Like the ChipKit 3 incident which was for everyone's benefit.

[Cybeonix]

I think Dave's point is that well made products can generally be navigated and used (save for some advanced features) by just a cursory look at the interface. Especially for someone with a background and experience in the industry.

[KitCox]

At James Cutler: I do too. The SDS7102. This review makes me nervous. The last scopes I used were Tek 454's. This is the first digital scope I have ever had my hands on and don't have a clue how to test it.

[KitCox]

That's 7102 too. Mark Madel isn't happy with that one either... (Same animal except for the bandwidth and a few other items.)

[hanne]

They actually have a touchscreen line of oscilloscopes, but only 4 channel ones

[JamesCutlervktim]

I have the 100MHz scope - as far as I can tell, it works great. A tear down on this item would be good :)