I am considering purchasing the ADP5470. If I don’t buy that then I’m going to buy the parts and pieces in stand-alone form. My main question is which way would you go? I love my analog discovery 2 and the ability to make bode plots and do digital analysis has been great (especially being able to coordinate measurements between the AWG and scope). i saw EEV blogs video on it (used to be NI virtual bench), and the main problems were the software, which waveforms fixes. The main hesitations I have are:
Will I regret buying this because the scope is only 8 bit?
Would I be much happier with a modern scope that has built in bode plots?
Is there anything else I should consider (I am okay taking the software support risk)
@kvk That would be great if I could buy everything stand alone for half the price, but I must not be good at finding deals because most 350MHZ that can automate bode plots are still pretty spendy. The MSO5000 is a decent looking option at only $2000. Would you recommend that instead?
Looking into it futher it looks like I would have to pay a lot for software and unlocking codes after I bought the MSO5354. So really I am having a hard time finding a half cost option in standalone boxes. Do you have suggestions as to where to look?
This is my feeling as well. The AD1/2/3 is super cool because it’s crazy portable and covers a lot of use cases. Even that unit I think is a bit overpriced, but the software and catch-all-ness of it makes it great for grab and go. You can fit an entire (mediocre) test bench in your bag.
if I was building an integrated test stand that demanded the specs of the AD Pro and where the software and compactness was a big benefit, maybe. But if it’s already pretty rare I need a scope/gen/psu/LA all in the same small slice of space and time, it’s far more rare I need it to be 10x the bandwidth and price. And it’s hardly grab and go, to boot.
Yes this would not be my grab and go scope, it would be my benchtop setup. So far it seems like the cheapest way to get all the instruments on the bench at the same capabilities. A 350MHZ scope, a 5.5 digit multi meter, a logic analyzer, bode plot/network analysis machine, a function generator and a programmable power supply. While shopping around for similar specs in standalone units, it looks like I would be paying more (maybe $4000 to $5000).
250MHz Scope: DHO924S $764 (has a bode plot function and an arb waveform gen, I didn’t spend enough time to see if it has a network analyzer function)
5.5 Digit DMM: Siglent SDM3055 $574
Power Supply: Siglent SPD3303X $631 (don’t get the -E model. I thought the 10mA res. would be enough, but it’s honestly crippling the usage of the PSU)
Logic Analyzer: Saleae Logic 8 $500 (I have 2, and am considering buying an upgrade or their new MSO)
bode plot/network analysis machine: AD3 $379 (I own one as well as an AD2) OR Option for DHO924S OR NanoVNA, etc (These don’t live on my bench as daily use equipment, but I own them)
Function Generator: SDG1062X $620 (even cheaper if you get the 20MHz version to match the ADP5470’s spec, or just use the one in the DHO to save some cash)
Total: $3468
I’d also echo the concerns about combined units. There’s often trade-offs when it comes to these.
The power supply especially seems underwhelming. 6V@3A is useful, but only 1A for the ±25V rail is meh. A place companies will boost top-line spec’s while not making it useful: Is the power supply floating or always tied to ground?
The logic analyzer is 1GS/s which is great, but can it continuously read? I’m regularly using my Saleae in a mode that it’s just streaming a couple channels for 10 minutes or longer. With USB 2.0 Hi-speed connection at 480Mbit/s, the answer seems pretty obviously no (I’d be pleasantly surprised to hear otherwise). That limitation would be a dealbreaker for me. Also, is that 1GS total? Or simultaneous? Or somewhere in between?
The DMM only has a 10mA range as it’s lower range. That’s manageable, but I’d definitely expect a decade or two lower from a 5.5digit DMM. The Siglent I listed has a 200uA range.
Generally speaking, I’m in the camp of preferring dedicated bench equipment that’s standalone and then the computer connection or software control being a bonus perk, rather that having the analog front end and requiring a computer to operate. There are some exceptions to that rule, like the Saleae and Joulescope.
Unfortunately, the logic analyzer requires their logic probe accessory, which is a $400 item. (I’m definitely not happy about that hidden cost from Rigol ) I thought I remember it having some sort of authentication to require the probe. People have reverse engineered it on the EEVblog forum, but from what I’ve been researching, it’s just not worth going through the effort for me.
I personally would recommend against this. The 10mA/10mV resolution was a major limitation for me, and I pretty much immediately upgraded to the 1mA/1mV resolution PSU.
This is a nice find!! One of the biggest niceties of the DHO9xx series is how shallow it is and that it can mount using a standard VESA mount. It’s great to see that a DMM is available with the VESA mount as well. If I need another DMM, I might get this series. I just hope they’ll make a power supply in this package soon!
I’m not sure it’s TRULY in the spirit of this comparison, but I got my 6.5d DMM for $300: HP 34401a on EBay. And I currently see a newer (Agilent) copy in better condition for $400.
It’s not my go-to with smaller more convenient hand-held meters, but in the spirit of “stuff that’s better and cheaper than the ADP”…
Yeah, it’s bad. I bought the DP832 for my own lab, and used the EEVBlog hack to get 1mV resolution. My scope and function generators are hacked the same way, saved thousands of dollars.
The DP832 has it’s own issues, spewing out a lot of CM noise, but you can’t get i all for 400 EUR
The above was to compare to the 5470 specs, and this power supply is much better than the one in the Analog Discovery
It’s not terribly good specs, but good for most tasks. I had coworkers at earlier employment that insisted in 6.5 digit DMM, but they never actually did any measurements that could not be done on a 4.5 digit.
Ah, understood! That’s a pretty good deal overall. Also, that product page does a MUCH better job of selling the benefits of the DHO series than the Rigol page.
I’ve heard someone suggest that the hackability is Rigol’s version of student pricing. Big companies won’t risk the legal liability of the hack, and Rigol doesn’t need to offer&enforce a secondary tier of pricing.
Buying used, like you and Alex have done has also served me well. The Keithley 2302 is my go-to power supply. I still need to keep an eye out for a 34401A.
I am only one person in my firm, so hacking is fine, for big firms it’s a no-no.
Look out for the Siglent (maybe Rigol) DMMs. The 6.5 digit one is not far from the specs of the 34401A, and it’s new an shiny, with ethernet and USB for the same price new as an old 34401A
Just overall look and feel. I’m not able to verify the accuracy of a 6-1/2 digit meter, but I will say that it and my Rigol 5-1/2 digit don’t always agree. And NONE of them has a continuity beeper loud enough for my old ears
You would think this would be something that’s easily fixable. Not only for old ears, but generally hearing impaired/loud environments/not disturbing cubicle neighbors/etc. Having an option like blinking the display backlight or a GPIO to drive a remote LED or having an ultra loud option would be great.
) I thought I remember it having some sort of authentication to require the probe. People have reverse engineered it on the EEVblog forum, but from what I’ve been researching, it’s just not worth going through the effort for me.
