Happening Rigol and/or Siglent Budget Lab Equipment Update & Lab Photo Update: 06/26/2021
Thank you for reading my blog posts great traffic on this post since Feb 2020.
Lab Photo 02/09/2021
Hello everyone it is Feb 09 2021 looking like we will be leaving 1st quarter in the black this year.
Thinking this year it is time for a lab upgrade? Maybe become more productive and gain some much needed bench space?
(Will Be Changing Bench Configuration This Year the Steel Arrived Last Month Thanks East Side Steel For the Good Deal.)
Old Video Of the Work Bench.
Would be nice to get One Manufacture for all the equipment but that will be hard to to keep in budget and get the specs I seek!
Right Now Leaning Towards Siglent For Features and Price Amazon seems to have the best deals but would have to go one at a time with a keepa notification when amazon does their sales and price drops, I did reach out directly to Rigol Today 02/09 I will reach out directly to Siglent Wednesday.
Right Now Prices Just Went Back Up On A Couple Candidates.
Amazon Seems to Have the Best price On Siglent About Every 3-5 Weeks they make a huge cut. The lowest I seen so far for new is around or on prime day’s.
What Will I plan on upgrading/replacing?
Old Trusty Analog BK Scope 1235A to Either a Siglent: SDS1104X-E / SDS2202X-E or Rigol DS1104Z
Upgrade One or Both TekPower Digital Load’s to Either: Siglent SDL1020X-E or Rigol DL3021 I Would like a 300Watt SDL1030X-E but that a bit out of Budget.
(7/22/21) Both the Tekpower TP3710A DC Loads are Forsale. TekPower TP3710A #1, Tekpower TP3710A #2
Dr Meter Power Supply I Will Go to Separate Units Maybe a Dual: Siglent SPD1305X and/or Rigol DP711 / DP712 or Keysight E36232A
(Heavily leaning Toward The Rigol on the Power Supplies or At least 1 DP712 for the 50V or Keysight E36232A)
Adding a Real Arbitrary Waveform Generator Siglent SDG2042X (Need to Research Rigols Offerings) After Seeing the Rigol Reviews that the AM Carrier is unstable and the AM carrier level drop when you add AM modulation is what turned me off.
See:
Siglent SDG2042X Has Corrected and Solved this Issue. Form Their Firmware Update in 2019
I may be Keeping the Tektronix 2710 Spectrum Analyzer as there is no need to upgrade it does it job intended and not used that often. Yes, would be nice to have a fancy modern one but cannot justify the cost for being used so little. Hard to take clear photo of the CRT camera wants to focus on keypad or CFT not both. 10.240mhz signal from SDG2042X
I Contacted Siglent to see about getting everything in a single order and at lease matching Amazon Prices that was a No Go. The Siglent equipment on amazon seems to be the best bang for the buck on budget equipment. Rigol was a little bit better on a package discount then Siglent direct. But buying on amazon when on sale over time is worth the savings going with siglent.
06/17/2021
Siglent SDM3065X Has Arrived. I Will be building a better workspace.
I already have the steel just need to get motivation and time! In the mean time will get it to fit in the work space I already have.
06/22/2021 It Was Prime Day June 21st.. SDG2042X, SDS1104X-E, & SDL1030X-E Ordered.
Sadly, The Siglent SDM3065X DMM had to go back to Siglent for Repair. Upon Testing the DMM was Drifting and V measurement was off reading 5mV to 15mV high. Siglent was quick to issue an RMA. Shipped on 7/12/21 UPS said Siglent received it on the 19th of July, I sent them an e-mail no reply, I had to call them on the 21st of July to get the confirmation of receipt and a game plan repair or replace. Siglent said said about 10 days as they are backed up? Lets hope the SDM3065X DMM will not spend more time in shipping and the cal lab then in use.I did get a Chance to Test the Frequency Counter Function on the SDG2042X Arbitrary Waveform Generator on a Recent CB Radio Repair. So far the SDG2042X has been stable.
Aug 20th 2021 Update Tektronix 2710 Spectrum Analyzer Decided it Did not Want to be Around all the new equipment so I may be Upgrading to the SSA3021X Plus sooner than I was thinking.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn1T2J7QKK4
Plans Changed and Got a Rigol DSA815 Spectrum Analyzer I Would Still Like to get the SSA3021X Plus Maybe In 2022.
Last Updated on October 20, 2021 by Steven Rhine