I bought it for ultra-cheap because one of the knobs was broken. After replacing it (some soldering involved) and also by this occasion replacing the fan with a silent fan, and "upgrading" it to a DS1104Z through software hack, I could not be more happy with this oscilloscope. It's a great tool, Dave showed it very well.
You did a marvellous job reviewing every single aspect of this oscilloscope. All the way from teardown, performance testing, feature testing, to reverse-engineering the analog stuff and investigating a firmware jitter issue that was resolved by the manufacturer. You have not only gone to town on this, you've gone above and beyond to show every single aspect of this oscilloscope. This is possibly one of your most extensive (series of) product reviews.
just purchased one. as one who is used to old analog scopes. i LIKE Digital. yes its not as "alive" as the old analogs, but response time is good and the multi colors are a blessing. not to mention all the little info windows. and of course the size of the thing means it wont hog up my entire bench. still getting used to how it behaves and all. One thing i know is that all this functionality back 20 some odd years ago would have been $20,000 in a lecroy or something similar.
Just bought one of these last week. I searched the web for weeks trying to find a better scope for the price. While it may exist, it's hard to ignore the enormous community support for this tool. Doing analog audio stuff almost exclusively so this is far and away more scope than I need. But I am tired of getting fussy old analog scopes that take up half my bench and need almost as much attention as the stuff I'm supposed to be working on! Besides, Dave said buy it so I did.
Just happened to be in Melbourne droped in to emona and picked one up. Fantastic people there even showed me around the scope. I brought this scope because of your review cheers mate :)
Same here, just ordered it off Amazon after watching through Dave's review. Did some searching and it seems to still be either the best, or close to the best at it's price point (after adding in the 100mhz hack at least). Had enough of my silly little DSO scope, after using that thing for the past couple months it put me off going with a cheaper option, going for quality instead. Happy probing!!
@Aaron Young as one who bought a scope 5.5 years ago, same way you did, by way of being referred by dave's video's i bought a RIGOL DS2072A (stock standard) 70MHz Bandwidth, 2 channel, 2GSa/s i can tell you this 1. YOU WILL NOT FUCKING REGRET IT 2. Not to brag (ok, ... hehe to brag a little hehe) Your scope over mine... Your scope is inferior in every way except that it has 4 channels, but you have no Ext Trigger 3. Now i have never had a use for 4 Channels in 5 years, if you do, that's great 4. YOU DIDN'T NEED TO BUY ALL THE FEATURES, You could have upgraded the scope free of charge, that's what i did I went from 70MHz - 300MHz i went all the way up to 56 Mpts Memory Depth - all the features unlocked after the trial period i paid approx $1,100 at the time , and apparently with all the upgrades, it would have cost $1800 approx. Now, if you already got all the options, that's fine, HEY MATE, JUST ENJOY YOUR SCOPE hehe............AND YOU WILL i would just keep an eye on using all the mem depth over all 4 channels and the entire bandwidth over all the channels at once as well as , you might want to check out HIGH RES mode like this .... ACQUIRE / ACQUISITION / Default is NORMAL. Select HIGH RES You're Welcome hehe enjoy it as for warranty, fuck the warranty sticker, Open the scope and check it out if your warranty label breaks, MINE IS STILL INTACT HEHE, i can send it to you hehe but in truth, a sharp razor will take it off very easily without voiding the warranty, Just dont' spill a coffee in their while it's open. BE COOL MATE, YOU'LL LOVE IT... TRUST ME
@@aaronazz at no extra cost What ??? you're trying to tell me that Rigol JUST GAVE YOU ALL THE OPTIONS, hehe ok, i have 2 questions 1. How much did you pay 2. Why would they unlock all the options for free it doesn't make sense, if they unlocked it at NO EXTRA COST it means you paid for it initially with a larger upfront cost if they did actually do it, it means they are stupid and you got a good deal you bought a DS1054Z which should cost around $400 ish to get all the options you should have paid around $1,000 total including the $400 for the DSO so i'm curious how much you paid for it ?
Martin Kuliza firstly, calm down mate. I bought it from one of only a couple of authorised resellers here in Australia. Legit scope+warranty options are limited. I assure you I did a tonne of research prior to purchase and my need/want/wife approval factor meant that I wasn’t willing to extend to a more expensive scope. I paid $658 AUD inc tax and I’m ok with that. It’s still a good buy. All options were included for the same basic price advertised this time last year when I first began looking at them. I compared with comparable Siglent and the entry level models of Tek and Agilent (can’t remember they’re latest name). The only thing I needed to add was the 100mhz hack. So, this is my first scope meaning that I’m no longer loaning scopes which is something.
Dave, this idea of a summary review linked to more in depth reviews is excellent - adopt this as policy for significant reviewed items. I invested in a Hameg HMO2024 last year as my key scope, but for £280 in the UK currently, I might sneak in the Rigol DS1054Z just to have another 4 channels to mess about with! Great blog. all the best for 2015
I bought mine 2022 from Rigol channel on Amazon. Calibration cert told me that it had been sitting on the shelf for 4 years. Only 2 years left on the cert for a brand new scope? Not best pleased, but still a fantastic piece of kit.
I based my purchase of the Rigol DS1054z based on your reviews of it! I trust you. No regrets yet, thanks for being straightforward and honest. Keep up the great work you do. BTW paid $349.99 on Amazon lol
Your summary videos are a real joy to watch! Thanks in large part to watching your terrific clip, you helped me solidify my decision to purchase the Rigol DS1054Z. I will take your advice to watch the other videos on this scope. Consider me another fan of EEVblog.
Great video Dave, jam packed with info! I don't follow development of scopes so I didn't realise this was the successor to the 1052e. Wow, that price! In the UK it's cheaper than my DS1052e was 4 years ago!
(0:31) - "bells and wussools"? Sorry Dave. Couldn't resist. I know. I'm pond life. Great video. I actually bought this scope on the strength of your review here so I really do have a lot to be both thankful and grateful for. Well, from EEVblog anyway. All the best Dave. Merry xmas and Happy New Year! from London! xxx
@@AndrewMcOlash Awesome. I'm building something with an STM32 and the Bluetooth part of the project isn't working. Been told bust out my oscilloscope, but don't have one. I know I know, how could I attempt to wing it without one. So I've been looking at some online. Thanks :)
@@The2Coolest2 there are much cheaper options (and I would recommend as a first scope). I got a cheap $30 solder-yourself scope to start. It was nothing special and quite bad in most regards, but it taught me about what a scope can be used for. Now I have an appreciation for them and know better of how to use it. There are also really cheap logic analyzers which might be sufficient to probe your project.
@@AndrewMcOlash I've used scopes for around 4-5 years in school, along with LAs, so I have some general idea of how to use them (not that I'm bragging just explaining). I've though of buying a cheap Logic Analyzer or the do it yourself oscilloscope but I'm gonna be printing a PCB outside of school for the first time and I've been reading its best to have a physical scope for that. Hmmmm, I'm not sure to be honest.
The quality of the video was simply great! Nice job. Great review, and since I am in the market for an entry level scope, Ill have to seriously consider this one. Thanks Dave!
@@godislove8740 I'm ready to buy one! I've heard only good rewiews for this scope! the only problems are (as Dave said) the rotary encoders and it lags a bit when you have all channel's on. but i think i will get used to it cuz I've had worst and i got used to them! if i will not forget, i will comment again when I'll get it.
For all the EE Students here i'll make it easy 2 choices, BOTH ARE GOOD CHEAPER SCOPE DS1054Z BETTER SCOPE DS2072A (if you can afford it , get this one, without question, if you can't GET THE OTHER ONE) if you can't afford the one, get a life or see what gumtree can do for you , it should be common sense that if your'e getting a scope you should need to invest around $800 - $1,000. if something is cheaper, great, but dont' expect it so get one of those and make your decision easier to answer the question of @Pickle Rick THIS WILL MORE THAN DO THE JOB FOR A FEW YEARS TO COME also.. research daves eev blog forum GET THE UPGRADES, the DS1000Z can be upgraded to 200MHz and the DS2000 series can go to 300MHz
Bought one of these scopes too! Absolutely AWESOME!! Was so impressed, I bought one at work too. Makes our £12,000 Tektronix look poor value! If you want a scope ....GO BUY THIS!! You can't go wrong! 👍👍
Great video Dave, Love watching your videos, as for the issue with the rotary encoders, the DS4000 series also suffers with that jitter, specially when you tune very slowly, Rigol are aware of this and told me that this jitter on the DS4000 and would be addressed in a future firmware update and that was a year and a half ago, other than that those scopes look nice.
Watching in 2020 and just purchased one. I was extremely tempted to get one of the Keysight factory refurbs, but they are literally still ten times the price.
Same! I had an old 1104z I wish I never got rid of because the price almost doubled with tariffs. This seems like a good bargain still as they’ve added pass filter options. I believe the software is fully opened now to include options and the 100mHz. I’m now getting one!
Little Star Little Star I’m actually curious about your opinion now. Have you seen the special on ds 1202z-e? For $300 no tax no shipping on TEquipment. I need a spectrum analyzer and might get one soon from te. I figured I might just get the ds1054z. Another scope won’t hurt, right?
8 years later. Still the Rigol DS1054Z is a very good entry scope still, especially with the free ready installed options. Little hack, and it's 100Mhz (reporting itself as a DS1104Z). So yes, it does even better than the 1052 imho.
It is now 2017. I just checked its price in multiple places. It is still a solid $399 although the Chinese RMB depreciation has been more than 11% since the time when this video was made. Its price competitiveness has been diminished gradually when other cheaper models have become available in past two years.
Man, your really going to town on this scope! But I suppose, as your channel started with the 1052e, it's only fitting that it's replacement gets a lot of attention. Anyway, great video, you've sold me on this scope, well as soon as I find one in stock in the UK that is! :)
It means that you have to buy those options. There is a 24 hrs of trial or something like that. They give you a key and you just write in the scope and it's unlocked, you can use that function unlimited. There are a pirate workaround for this, and you can unlock it to 100MHz BW, just don't install the 500uV option. You can find the method on the interweb.
I'm really glad that I watched this follow up, I'm just at the age I dont think it's a good idea to comprimise on display size . Already squint on a clamp on. Separate buttons for each channel probably a hidden aggravation I'm willing to dig up another bengerman or 2 for.
Just picked one up off of eBay. $229 including shipping. They still have a few left as of 23/Mar/17 if anyone is still contemplating picking one up. It's the best price by far that I've found.
Sorry, I should have mentioned that this is in the US. I just looked at the listing again, and it seems that the seller doesn't ship internationally. Here is the link anyway: www.ebay.com/itm/Meters-Rigol-DS1054Z-Digital-Oscilloscope-50-Mhz-DSO-4-Channels-/152483161694?hash=item2380b4665e:g:o00AAOSwzaJYBOO5
Crikey & strewth! It's about time! Thing is, I'd quite like a signal generator but they make you get the 70MHz one for the built-in. That's loads more money. On the other hand an external one's a fair bit of cash and it's not so handy to cart around...
One issue common to medical devices is this: " DON't buy a multi-function device!" ..any problem with one of the functions will 'take out' the entire unit , and you must then suffer the inconvenience of losing perhaps several other functions too. Any EKG + SaO2 + whatever device with any EKG problem forces you to lose the availability of all the other capabilities of the 'multi function' unit ... Be warned!
I am looking at getting the Hantek DSO5102P. It is a 100mhz scope for $259 US and that is tough to beat. For a Hobbyist like myself it is a great scope. Not really for the professional, but I am not and don't want to break the bank buying a scope I will only use twice per week. The Rigol is about $399, so still a bit high and I don't need a four channel scope, not to mention it is 50mhz.
As of Dec.1, 2017, the Rigol has had a price drop on a number of their scopes. The DS1054Z is now $349 and is so much better in use and quality of build over the Hantek (5072P) from my personal experience with both. The Rigol hack to unlock many features including 100Mhz is free and easily done with an online search. The Rigol is well worth the investment!
I have a Rigol DS1054Z but I have an issue with the controls. Sometimes when I start it up nothing happens when I turn the knobs or the displays changes by itself without turning the knobs. I suspect that there is some connector issue. Any idea what the problem could be?
Dumb question.. Real-time sample rate is equivalent to a single shot acquisition mode right? I only ask because I have a fluke 99B that lists 25MS/s for single shot and 5GS/S for recurrent. It seems most scopes today post their real-time/single shot sample capability. Or am I way off..
EEVblog Their two week lead time is killing me Good to know I have chosen a winner for my first real scope. I got a $100 china analog scope it works but it is useless for instance if change voltage scale the trace shifts massively.
I saw this on amazon prime and I was wondering if it was any good. After watching this review, I think I'll have to save up and get myself one. I cant afford a very expensive scope but I do want the best one I can get for the money.
Excellent review! Can you please post an updated video with comparison of competitiors. Also can you please include vertical resolution? Thanks in advance
Just got my DS1054Z and have gone through the menus only. But I think it is a little annoyingly sluggish in its button responses. Mostly when I compensated the probes and moved the waveform vertically. Horizontal movement was also slightly too unresponsive. Just something to get used to I guess. Hopefully it is not sluggish in its measurement.
Same question. I'm looking for one. There's a hack that unlocks software options that take it up to a 1104z, but with hardware limitations. Still looking.
If you need four channels, there does not appear to be much competition that can compare to it. If you only need two, then there are better options, like the Siglent SDS1202X-E (note the E) or the Keysight 1000X. Those are more modern scopes with higher bandwidth and better performing UI.
@@QueueTeePies it doesn't blow the performance of a DS2072A Hacked up to a DS2302A hehe.. TRUST ME, i researched it , hehe don't get me wrong though, it's still a fucking good little DSO
@@QueueTeePies HEHE and upgrading to 200MHz is like getting a blow job from 5 Penthouse pets at the same time huh hehehe yeah i agree 4 channels are handy from time to time but when you consider specs of one to the other the DS2000A wins over the DS1000Z. and for a student or a hobbyist , hey , it's a good little scope.. no question about it although the Niviza or what is it called Ultra Sigma software that interfaces with the scope, is pretty shit, i kinda wish it wasn't, but it is. the scope is what you need me personally i wish it was upgradeable to around 900MHz or 1 GHz that would suite me to a T but for now i have to put up with 300MHz max, thankfully i don't really need anything above 200MHz to 250MHz (for Terrestrial TV) and anything else is generally below that , i commonly troubleshoot TV's and electronic equipment, i have to regularly check the Oscillator and if you are working with less than 20MHz hehe.. you won't get far if you need to check a 24MHz crystal be cool mate ENJOY THE SCOPE in truth, when i bought mine, i didn't know how long it would last, given that Rigol is a cheaper brand, BUT.. IT'S STILL GOING STRONG i would only say this BE CAREFUL WITH THE FEET, the feet are kinda weird, I pulled my off (After a while, one foot got lose and the scope would tip to one side on the bench) i got tired of this, i removed the legs, i replaced the legs with Double sided tape that had a foamy layer in between , and i put double sided tape onto double sided tape enough times so that i achieve the correct height on the scope it also served to create a cushion layer SO WHEN I PUT THE SCOPE DOWN , THERE IS NO BANG, instead the slight bump gets absorbed, i can also remove of add tape as needed, because it's cheap enough to do that OTHER THAN THAT...........NO ISSUES AT ALL be cool
I have a DS1104Z... I find the 1X/10X switch on the probes a little to easy to accidentally switch. Other than that, I agree with the feature per $ value of the scope.
Hi Dave. What you think of that method to give DC voltage directly to AC power socket. Some info with google finded that 48v dc is enought to get rigol working, but is that DC do some harm on power supply what is designed AC voltage? Of course effiency is maybe bad compared if you use AC voltage, but any issues of power supply lifetime?
Thanks for your great reviews. What I wander, I just found a USB scoop from labnation (smartscope) on the net. Did you ever compared a USB scoop with a scope like this DS1054Z or do you have experience with the latest USB scoops?
Can you change the trigger points for pulse width from 50% to some other points like 10%? The Siglent looks like a better value for $400 (300Mhz) but you can not define the points where the pulse width is measured. So I would still stick with a used Trek TDS series.
If only it had a battery option for portable use! Then it would blow OWON scopes out of the water! Seriously, I would pay an extra $200 for the Rigol 1054Z just to get the battery option. Can't be that hard to implement...
Question: If this scope is powered with 12 volt D.C. power inverter to 120 volts with 25 Watts or more wattage. Would any measurements be affected by inverted power source. I bought the Rigol DS1054Z with your bang for the buck recommendation and have been happy to get started learning the oscilloscope. A lot of bells and whistles ahead to learn about!
Hey there, hope all is well and appreciate your detailed reviews. Have a question for you when you have time.. I'm a retired electrical engineer and would like to buy a more modern 4 channel oscilloscope as more of a hobby item use than profession. In my later years the job I had did not require much use of one, so I'm a bit rusty, but presently I own an old 60mhz analog scope. In your experience - which of these two 4-channel models would you recommend? I'm torn between Siglent or Rigol currently, but open to suggestions. Just trying to get the most bang for the buck basically. Siglent 1204-XE Rigol DS1054Z Thanks again for your advice!
Besides my issues with controls not working I think Rigol DS1054Z is rather slow. If the controls work it takes a long time to move the displayed waveforms up or down especially if you have more than 2 channels. Buying it in 2024 is not a good option. The hardware needs a big upgrade and there are newer models now.
Hey Dave, got a question for you. I have a Rigol DS1054Z and wondered if I could hook it up to a 3.5mm audio output to see the signal, will doing so hurt my scope? I know your probably wondering why I would want to do this, and all I can say is being nerdy!! :) I hook the ground to gorund and can I use two of the channels to see the left and right signal? I don't want to blow it up, i'm still new at using an Oscilloscope.
It's in the "Amazon Wish List" How many months till x mass?! I just picked up a Pomona 50 ohm 2 watt termination connector and a Tektronix 50 ohm 2 watt termination connector at Goodwill, In a sandwich bag of banana plug connectors for 99 cents!
I hear many people advise that if you want to work with 50 Mhz you need a 100Mhz scope. It seems to me that with a DSO the behavior is more a function of the overall sampling rate than the maximum bandwidth. In other words this scope would behave the same when analyzing a 49 Mhz signal whether you have the 100 Mhz feature enabled or not. Is my reasoning correct? Can you comment?
Looking to buy an entry level digital scope. The previous 2ch model had a VGA part, but the new 4 ch doesn't have it. Is VGA out ever used? Seems to me the VGA out would be really handy. What do people think? As for price everyone seems to be selling the 4 ch for $400 and the used 2ch of $300. Is there any advantage in buying a used 2 ch for $100 less? Seems to me it would be worth in to spend another $100 for the newer 4 ch. Or are there some features in the 2 ch which make it more appealing?
Looking to pick up a newbie scope and wondering if this is still a good buy? I see it's only 50mhz and the Siglent, at a comparable price, is 200mhz. For hobby level builds, teardowns and repairs; which is better for me? Thanks!
I know this late but thanks for the review. LOL..are they paying you? Quick question...Is it possible to connect an external digital monitor to this unit?
Hi Dave, Thank you for your very informative youtube channel, I have watched a lot of it😊 Now, I have a question.... Maybe you can help. My Rigol DS1054z has the 24MB option installed. In this way, the memory depth should be enough to fill one full screen at 1G samples/second at 2msec/division horizontally. (24msec totally) However, I experience that the last step with 1G samples is at 500usec/division, after this it will go to 500M samples and of course even lower at longer time per division. Can you explain why the scope does not allow 1G sampling all the way to 2msec/division? Also, the option for manually setting the sample rate is dimmed out. Can you explain why? Thank you in advance Best regards P. Payne, Denmark
Ok, I'm sold! I'm near the end of my Electronics Engeneering Master Degree course (only 1 year left to finish, I hope!) and I was wondering if I really need one oscilloscope to have at home. After seeing some reviews (and this one was the most convincent one) I guess that's not much more to think about :D
Still buying it in 2023, and still watching the channel.
Still buying it ? What ?
for 25 $ or so ?
I bought it for ultra-cheap because one of the knobs was broken. After replacing it (some soldering involved) and also by this occasion replacing the fan with a silent fan, and "upgrading" it to a DS1104Z through software hack, I could not be more happy with this oscilloscope. It's a great tool, Dave showed it very well.
You did a marvellous job reviewing every single aspect of this oscilloscope. All the way from teardown, performance testing, feature testing, to reverse-engineering the analog stuff and investigating a firmware jitter issue that was resolved by the manufacturer. You have not only gone to town on this, you've gone above and beyond to show every single aspect of this oscilloscope. This is possibly one of your most extensive (series of) product reviews.
I was only waiting when Dave say "Buy this, its the best scope for that price" :D
Looking to pick this model up for my bench at under $300USD and thanks to Dave once again, I can make an informed decision to move forward!
Well, 3 years have gone by. You can get it for $350 now. Thanks! Great scope.
just purchased one. as one who is used to old analog scopes. i LIKE Digital. yes its not as "alive" as the old analogs, but response time is good and the multi colors are a blessing. not to mention all the little info windows. and of course the size of the thing means it wont hog up my entire bench. still getting used to how it behaves and all. One thing i know is that all this functionality back 20 some odd years ago would have been $20,000 in a lecroy or something similar.
well it's 2021 and this one still seems the best
2022, came to the same conclusion. Bought it for 369€ from batronix.
Just bought one of these last week.
I searched the web for weeks trying to find a better scope for the price. While it may exist, it's hard to ignore the enormous community support for this tool. Doing analog audio stuff almost exclusively so this is far and away more scope than I need. But I am tired of getting fussy old analog scopes that take up half my bench and need almost as much attention as the stuff I'm supposed to be working on!
Besides, Dave said buy it so I did.
Why not Siglent 1104x-e?
@@bodzio_stawski187 I got about $150 reasons.
Bought this today and quite happy with it.Thanks Dave for this review.
Just happened to be in Melbourne droped in to emona and picked one up. Fantastic people there even showed me around the scope. I brought this scope because of your review cheers mate :)
Santa brought me one for christmas and it is indeed a great scope. Cheers Dave.
Just pulled the trigger (almost 4 years later) on the purchase of the DS1054Z with all options bundled. Still pretty good value in November 2018.
Same here, just ordered it off Amazon after watching through Dave's review. Did some searching and it seems to still be either the best, or close to the best at it's price point (after adding in the 100mhz hack at least).
Had enough of my silly little DSO scope, after using that thing for the past couple months it put me off going with a cheaper option, going for quality instead.
Happy probing!!
@Aaron Young
as one who bought a scope 5.5 years ago, same way you did, by way of being referred by dave's video's
i bought a RIGOL DS2072A (stock standard) 70MHz Bandwidth, 2 channel, 2GSa/s
i can tell you this
1. YOU WILL NOT FUCKING REGRET IT
2. Not to brag (ok, ... hehe to brag a little hehe) Your scope over mine... Your scope is inferior in every way except that it has 4 channels, but you have no Ext Trigger
3. Now i have never had a use for 4 Channels in 5 years, if you do, that's great
4. YOU DIDN'T NEED TO BUY ALL THE FEATURES, You could have upgraded the scope free of charge, that's what i did
I went from 70MHz - 300MHz
i went all the way up to 56 Mpts Memory Depth
- all the features unlocked after the trial period
i paid approx $1,100 at the time , and apparently with all the upgrades, it would have cost $1800 approx.
Now, if you already got all the options, that's fine, HEY MATE, JUST ENJOY YOUR SCOPE hehe............AND YOU WILL
i would just keep an eye on using all the mem depth over all 4 channels and the entire bandwidth over all the channels at once
as well as , you might want to check out HIGH RES mode
like this ....
ACQUIRE / ACQUISITION / Default is NORMAL. Select HIGH RES
You're Welcome hehe
enjoy it
as for warranty, fuck the warranty sticker, Open the scope and check it out
if your warranty label breaks, MINE IS STILL INTACT HEHE, i can send it to you hehe
but in truth, a sharp razor will take it off very easily without voiding the warranty, Just dont' spill a coffee in their while it's open.
BE COOL MATE, YOU'LL LOVE IT... TRUST ME
@@martinkuliza Ok thanks Martin. By bundled, I mean that all the options were included at no extra cost. I've already used 4 channels simultaneously.
@@aaronazz
at no extra cost
What ??? you're trying to tell me that Rigol JUST GAVE YOU ALL THE OPTIONS, hehe
ok, i have 2 questions
1. How much did you pay
2. Why would they unlock all the options for free
it doesn't make sense, if they unlocked it at NO EXTRA COST it means you paid for it initially with a larger upfront cost
if they did actually do it, it means they are stupid and you got a good deal
you bought a DS1054Z which should cost around $400 ish
to get all the options you should have paid around $1,000 total including the $400 for the DSO
so i'm curious how much you paid for it ?
Martin Kuliza firstly, calm down mate. I bought it from one of only a couple of authorised resellers here in Australia. Legit scope+warranty options are limited. I assure you I did a tonne of research prior to purchase and my need/want/wife approval factor meant that I wasn’t willing to extend to a more expensive scope. I paid $658 AUD inc tax and I’m ok with that. It’s still a good buy.
All options were included for the same basic price advertised this time last year when I first began looking at them. I compared with comparable Siglent and the entry level models of Tek and Agilent (can’t remember they’re latest name). The only thing I needed to add was the 100mhz hack. So, this is my first scope meaning that I’m no longer loaning scopes which is something.
Dave, this idea of a summary review linked to more in depth reviews is excellent - adopt this as policy for significant reviewed items. I invested in a Hameg HMO2024 last year as my key scope, but for £280 in the UK currently, I might sneak in the Rigol DS1054Z just to have another 4 channels to mess about with! Great blog. all the best for 2015
Love this short format for a quick review!
Picked one up for Canadian equivalent of 368.81 USD on Amazon.
Can't go wrong with these oscilloscopes. Used them in my undergrad, good stuff.
I bought mine 2022 from Rigol channel on Amazon. Calibration cert told me that it had been sitting on the shelf for 4 years. Only 2 years left on the cert for a brand new scope? Not best pleased, but still a fantastic piece of kit.
I just ordered this scope due to this video...
I based my purchase of the Rigol DS1054z based on your reviews of it! I trust you. No regrets yet, thanks for being straightforward and honest. Keep up the great work you do. BTW paid $349.99 on Amazon lol
I think this reveiw is gonna sell quite a few Rigol scopes. And deservedly so. Tops!
Great, almost priceless to get an unbiased assessment of these scopes. Thank you, it's $370 through aliexpress.
Your summary videos are a real joy to watch! Thanks in large part to watching your terrific clip, you helped me solidify my decision to purchase the Rigol DS1054Z. I will take your advice to watch the other videos on this scope. Consider me another fan of EEVblog.
2017 and still rocking!!!
Very happy with mine, the extra channels come in handy when debugging SPI
Awesome video - I'm sold!
Love your Channel
Great video Dave, jam packed with info!
I don't follow development of scopes so I didn't realise this was the successor to the 1052e. Wow, that price! In the UK it's cheaper than my DS1052e was 4 years ago!
ForViewingOnly I payed almost $800 for my original DS1052E!
(0:31) - "bells and wussools"?
Sorry Dave.
Couldn't resist.
I know.
I'm pond life.
Great video. I actually bought this scope on the strength of your review here so I really do have a lot to be both thankful and grateful for. Well, from EEVblog anyway.
All the best Dave. Merry xmas and Happy New Year! from London! xxx
Just got one of these this week. Fantastic so far once you get used to the menus!
Price?
@@The2Coolest2 $350 on amazon. It comes with probes and all features were factory unlocked - except it is the 50mhz, which is plenty for me
@@AndrewMcOlash Awesome. I'm building something with an STM32 and the Bluetooth part of the project isn't working. Been told bust out my oscilloscope, but don't have one. I know I know, how could I attempt to wing it without one. So I've been looking at some online. Thanks :)
@@The2Coolest2 there are much cheaper options (and I would recommend as a first scope). I got a cheap $30 solder-yourself scope to start. It was nothing special and quite bad in most regards, but it taught me about what a scope can be used for. Now I have an appreciation for them and know better of how to use it. There are also really cheap logic analyzers which might be sufficient to probe your project.
@@AndrewMcOlash I've used scopes for around 4-5 years in school, along with LAs, so I have some general idea of how to use them (not that I'm bragging just explaining). I've though of buying a cheap Logic Analyzer or the do it yourself oscilloscope but I'm gonna be printing a PCB outside of school for the first time and I've been reading its best to have a physical scope for that. Hmmmm, I'm not sure to be honest.
The quality of the video was simply great! Nice job. Great review, and since I am in the market for an entry level scope, Ill have to seriously consider this one. Thanks Dave!
Had mine for nearly a month now, and it is excellent. I wish I had bought one earlier. Get one!
I'm reading this now. What do I do !?
@@godislove8740 I'm ready to buy one! I've heard only good rewiews for this scope! the only problems are (as Dave said) the rotary encoders and it lags a bit when you have all channel's on. but i think i will get used to it cuz I've had worst and i got used to them!
if i will not forget, i will comment again when I'll get it.
Love it, i'm sold, buying it right now.
Okay, you talked me into it, not that I needed much of a push in that direction. Thanks for the excellent review and advice.
Thanks, liked! I really like the summary format - jam packed with good info in a short video!
I am in college (Electronic and Computer Engineering), and i was looking for a scope and now i am really interested in this one. Good summary video.
+David Teles Im in college ATM, looking into buying one aswell, can i ask if it did the job or if you went with another scope?
0100011001010101CK I ended up only using the scope from the EEE student group until now, but still thinking in getting one of this
David Teles how about now?
For all the EE Students
here i'll make it easy
2 choices, BOTH ARE GOOD
CHEAPER SCOPE DS1054Z
BETTER SCOPE DS2072A (if you can afford it , get this one, without question, if you can't GET THE OTHER ONE)
if you can't afford the one, get a life or see what gumtree can do for you , it should be common sense that if your'e getting a scope you should need to invest around $800 - $1,000.
if something is cheaper, great, but dont' expect it
so get one of those and make your decision easier
to answer the question of @Pickle Rick
THIS WILL MORE THAN DO THE JOB FOR A FEW YEARS TO COME
also.. research daves eev blog forum GET THE UPGRADES, the DS1000Z can be upgraded to 200MHz and the DS2000 series can go to 300MHz
Bought one of these scopes too! Absolutely AWESOME!!
Was so impressed, I bought one at work too. Makes our £12,000 Tektronix look poor value!
If you want a scope ....GO BUY THIS!!
You can't go wrong! 👍👍
Great video Dave, Love watching your videos, as for the issue with the rotary encoders, the DS4000 series also suffers with that jitter, specially when you tune very slowly, Rigol are aware of this and told me that this jitter on the DS4000 and would be addressed in a future firmware update and that was a year and a half ago, other than that those scopes look nice.
Does the last 2.5 minutes of this video still apply in 2018. Thanks.
I've just got one, most of the features are offically unlocked, and the 100M bw hack still works :P
Watching in 2020 and just purchased one. I was extremely tempted to get one of the Keysight factory refurbs, but they are literally still ten times the price.
Same! I had an old 1104z I wish I never got rid of because the price almost doubled with tariffs. This seems like a good bargain still as they’ve added pass filter options. I believe the software is fully opened now to include options and the 100mHz. I’m now getting one!
i want to get one too!
do you guys recommend it?
@@f.a3202 Yes. A seriously capable device that only top-end labs might be able to fault for higher priced equipment. Definitely recommend.
F.A they have a special @ TEquipment right now for the ds1202z-e 2ch 200mHz scope. It is cheaper but only 2ch
Little Star Little Star I’m actually curious about your opinion now. Have you seen the special on ds 1202z-e? For $300 no tax no shipping on TEquipment. I need a spectrum analyzer and might get one soon from te. I figured I might just get the ds1054z. Another scope won’t hurt, right?
8 years later. Still the Rigol DS1054Z is a very good entry scope still, especially with the free ready installed options. Little hack, and it's 100Mhz (reporting itself as a DS1104Z).
So yes, it does even better than the 1052 imho.
Yes still I had one selled it and now buying it back again 😇
Great review, and I appreciate the summary. I’ve been on the fence but assuming I can convince my other half then I’m taking the plunge.
thanks Dave, I can't wait till I get mine.
Great vid, I have the MSO1074 I have L.A. and Source below the CH4 button with two more BNCs above the Trigger Out/ Pass/ Fail.
It is now 2017. I just checked its price in multiple places. It is still a solid $399 although the Chinese RMB depreciation has been more than 11% since the time when this video was made. Its price competitiveness has been diminished gradually when other cheaper models have become available in past two years.
what are other cheaper or better models in this price range?
YES! Finally! Dave you rock
Man, your really going to town on this scope! But I suppose, as your channel started with the 1052e, it's only fitting that it's replacement gets a lot of attention.
Anyway, great video, you've sold me on this scope, well as soon as I find one in stock in the UK that is! :)
Thank you for posting these videos -- they are excellent!
I want one! Thank Dave, that will be my next purchase!
you should do a review on different portable oscilloscopes and what to look for when you are buying one.
already done on standard scopes
Great intro for the big review. Well done.
Awesome summary Dave, thanks a million 👍✔
I just bought this scope. The manufacturer offers the software options for free until March 31. 2018. Anyone who wants to buy it, do it now.
Sorry, what means by "software options" aren't they included by default ? I'm asking cuz considering this scope to buy. Tnx.
It means that you have to buy those options. There is a 24 hrs of trial or something like that. They give you a key and you just write in the scope and it's unlocked, you can use that function unlimited.
There are a pirate workaround for this, and you can unlock it to 100MHz BW, just don't install the 500uV option. You can find the method on the interweb.
I will buy one for my RPi projects
Thanks for the summary. Great service.
I'm really glad that I watched this follow up, I'm just at the age I dont think it's a good idea to comprimise on display size . Already squint on a clamp on. Separate buttons for each channel probably a hidden aggravation I'm willing to dig up another bengerman or 2 for.
So it’s now 2024 what would you say is now the best budget scope?
Still this one
Just picked one up off of eBay. $229 including shipping. They still have a few left as of 23/Mar/17 if anyone is still contemplating picking one up. It's the best price by far that I've found.
can you give me an URL? cant find it that cheep.
Sorry, I should have mentioned that this is in the US. I just looked at the listing again, and it seems that the seller doesn't ship internationally. Here is the link anyway: www.ebay.com/itm/Meters-Rigol-DS1054Z-Digital-Oscilloscope-50-Mhz-DSO-4-Channels-/152483161694?hash=item2380b4665e:g:o00AAOSwzaJYBOO5
Chris Trupiano did already expect that. :( its about €420 in the EU.
same :( found anything better?
Crikey & strewth! It's about time!
Thing is, I'd quite like a signal generator but they make you get the 70MHz one for the built-in. That's loads more money. On the other hand an external one's a fair bit of cash and it's not so handy to cart around...
One issue common to medical devices is this: " DON't buy a multi-function device!" ..any problem with one of the functions will 'take out' the entire unit , and you must then suffer the inconvenience of losing perhaps several other functions too. Any EKG + SaO2 + whatever device with any EKG problem forces you to lose the availability of all the other capabilities of the 'multi function' unit ...
Be warned!
akeavid My 25+ years in the practice of Anesthesiology confirm your wise advice!
11:10 "If you are still watching this video in 2016... or 2017..."
Thanks for all the information! Love the shirt :)
I am looking at getting the Hantek DSO5102P. It is a 100mhz scope for $259 US and that is tough to beat. For a Hobbyist like myself it is a great scope. Not really for the professional, but I am not and don't want to break the bank buying a scope I will only use twice per week. The Rigol is about $399, so still a bit high and I don't need a four channel scope, not to mention it is 50mhz.
As of Dec.1, 2017, the Rigol has had a price drop on a number of their scopes. The DS1054Z is now $349 and is so much better in use and quality of build over the Hantek (5072P) from my personal experience with both. The Rigol hack to unlock many features including 100Mhz is free and easily done with an online search. The Rigol is well worth the investment!
This looks like a good scope for aligning VCR and DAT machines.
I have a Rigol DS1054Z but I have an issue with the controls. Sometimes when I start it up nothing happens when I turn the knobs or the displays changes by itself without turning the knobs.
I suspect that there is some connector issue. Any idea what the problem could be?
Dave, almost 2 or 3 years later now - do you still recommend this very unit? Or is there anything that has rivaled it's A#1 STATUS
Dumb question.. Real-time sample rate is equivalent to a single shot acquisition mode right? I only ask because I have a fluke 99B that lists 25MS/s for single shot and 5GS/S for recurrent. It seems most scopes today post their real-time/single shot sample capability. Or am I way off..
I've bought it recently, it's adorable
I will need a scope. Cellphones repair here. Wondering if this will be enough for cellphones and laptops?
So where can you get one of these for US$399?
wait a while ... as always ...
www.rigolna.com/products/digital-oscilloscopes/ds1000Z/ds1054z/?gclid=Cj0KEQiA592lBRCXy8yl4bjK17wBEiQAg1Az_Z1pJ9RO9Wu7ZmeHlNAf18iLDgTJuXBGkYfFRDXxyaoaAogZ8P8HAQ
kd1010163 That's only if you're in the US though.
***** I don't think NZ have a proper Rigol agent. I sense a business opportunity there for you! I think a lot of NZers buy from Emona in Australia.
EEVblog Their two week lead time is killing me Good to know I have chosen a winner for my first real scope.
I got a $100 china analog scope it works but it is useless for instance if change voltage scale the trace shifts massively.
I saw this on amazon prime and I was wondering if it was any good. After watching this review, I think I'll have to save up and get myself one. I cant afford a very expensive scope but I do want the best one I can get for the money.
Excellent review! Can you please post an updated video with comparison of competitiors. Also can you please include vertical resolution? Thanks in advance
What about a budget used / old Techtronics off eBay - I only need 40Hz, very basic :) Suggestions for under $100?
Just got my DS1054Z and have gone through the menus only. But I think it is a little annoyingly sluggish in its button responses. Mostly when I compensated the probes and moved the waveform vertically. Horizontal movement was also slightly too unresponsive. Just something to get used to I guess. Hopefully it is not sluggish in its measurement.
So it's 2017... is there a better choice?
Same question. I'm looking for one. There's a hack that unlocks software options that take it up to a 1104z, but with hardware limitations. Still looking.
If you need four channels, there does not appear to be much competition that can compare to it. If you only need two, then there are better options, like the Siglent SDS1202X-E (note the E) or the Keysight 1000X. Those are more modern scopes with higher bandwidth and better performing UI.
what did you find?
@@QueueTeePies
it doesn't blow the performance of a DS2072A Hacked up to a DS2302A hehe.. TRUST ME, i researched it , hehe
don't get me wrong though, it's still a fucking good little DSO
@@QueueTeePies
HEHE
and upgrading to 200MHz is like getting a blow job from 5 Penthouse pets at the same time huh hehehe
yeah i agree 4 channels are handy from time to time
but when you consider specs of one to the other the DS2000A wins over the DS1000Z.
and for a student or a hobbyist , hey , it's a good little scope.. no question about it
although the Niviza or what is it called Ultra Sigma software that interfaces with the scope, is pretty shit, i kinda wish it wasn't, but it is.
the scope is what you need
me personally i wish it was upgradeable to around 900MHz or 1 GHz that would suite me to a T
but for now i have to put up with 300MHz max, thankfully i don't really need anything above 200MHz to 250MHz (for Terrestrial TV) and anything else is generally below that ,
i commonly troubleshoot TV's and electronic equipment, i have to regularly check the Oscillator and if you are working with less than 20MHz hehe.. you won't get far if you need to check a 24MHz crystal
be cool mate ENJOY THE SCOPE
in truth, when i bought mine, i didn't know how long it would last, given that Rigol is a cheaper brand, BUT.. IT'S STILL GOING STRONG
i would only say this
BE CAREFUL WITH THE FEET, the feet are kinda weird, I pulled my off (After a while, one foot got lose and the scope would tip to one side on the bench)
i got tired of this, i removed the legs, i replaced the legs with Double sided tape that had a foamy layer in between , and i put double sided tape onto double sided tape enough times so that i achieve the correct height on the scope
it also served to create a cushion layer SO WHEN I PUT THE SCOPE DOWN , THERE IS NO BANG, instead the slight bump gets absorbed,
i can also remove of add tape as needed, because it's cheap enough to do that
OTHER THAN THAT...........NO ISSUES AT ALL
be cool
hello, is this model still ok or is there something better for this price?
It is now 2021 is this still the recommendation for beginner oscilloscope?
I'm having exactly the same question, Nick.
I have a DS1104Z... I find the 1X/10X switch on the probes a little to easy to accidentally switch. Other than that, I agree with the feature per $ value of the scope.
We assume you meant to say ".. a little tOO easy ..."
akeavid yes, "too easy"...
Bryan Clingman Yeah, switchable probes can be annoying in that respect.
Hats off for Rigol!!
Hi Dave. What you think of that method to give DC voltage directly to AC power socket. Some info with google finded that 48v dc is enought to get rigol working, but is that DC do some harm on power supply what is designed AC voltage? Of course effiency is maybe bad compared if you use AC voltage, but any issues of power supply lifetime?
I am lookingnat this scope right now. I am really leaning twords it
It's crazy that it's still for sale at full price now, given its age.
Thanks for your great reviews. What I wander, I just found a USB scoop from labnation (smartscope) on the net. Did you ever compared a USB scoop with a scope like this DS1054Z or do you have experience with the latest USB scoops?
+Tilburger72 He recommended in one of the older videos not to touch USB scopes.
Can you change the trigger points for pulse width from 50% to some other points like 10%?
The Siglent looks like a better value for $400 (300Mhz) but you can not define the points where the pulse width is measured. So I would still stick with a used Trek TDS series.
If only it had a battery option for portable use! Then it would blow OWON scopes out of the water! Seriously, I would pay an extra $200 for the Rigol 1054Z just to get the battery option. Can't be that hard to implement...
Just build your own
Great Review, I like the new fast review format.
I wonder if I should sell my Siglent SDS1102CML and get this as a replacement?
Question: If this scope is powered with 12 volt D.C. power inverter to 120 volts with 25 Watts or more wattage. Would any measurements be affected by inverted power source. I bought the Rigol DS1054Z with your bang for the buck recommendation and have been happy to get started learning the oscilloscope. A lot of bells and whistles ahead to learn about!
Why not Siglent SDS1104-x?
@@bodzio_stawski187 your really pumping that scope
@@ohmslaw6856 Pumping?
Hey there, hope all is well and appreciate your detailed reviews. Have a question for you when you have time..
I'm a retired electrical engineer and would like to buy a more modern 4 channel oscilloscope as more of a hobby item use than profession. In my later years the job I had did not require much use of one, so I'm a bit rusty, but presently I own an old 60mhz analog scope. In your experience - which of these two 4-channel models would you recommend? I'm torn between Siglent or Rigol currently, but open to suggestions. Just trying to get the most bang for the buck basically.
Siglent 1204-XE
Rigol DS1054Z
Thanks again for your advice!
Besides my issues with controls not working I think Rigol DS1054Z
is rather slow. If the controls work it takes a long time to move the displayed waveforms up or down especially if you have more than 2 channels.
Buying it in 2024 is not a good option. The hardware needs a big upgrade and there are newer models now.
love that music in the end
I have a question, does the left side of the housing get so hot after buying the 1054Z in your home?
Hey Dave, got a question for you. I have a Rigol DS1054Z and wondered if I could hook it up to a 3.5mm audio output to see the signal, will doing so hurt my scope? I know your probably wondering why I would want to do this, and all I can say is being nerdy!! :) I hook the ground to gorund and can I use two of the channels to see the left and right signal? I don't want to blow it up, i'm still new at using an Oscilloscope.
It's in the "Amazon Wish List" How many months till x mass?!
I just picked up a Pomona 50 ohm 2 watt termination connector and a Tektronix 50 ohm 2 watt termination connector at Goodwill, In a sandwich bag of banana plug connectors for 99 cents!
I hear many people advise that if you want to work with 50 Mhz you need a 100Mhz scope. It seems to me that with a DSO the behavior is more a function of the overall sampling rate than the maximum bandwidth. In other words this scope would behave the same when analyzing a 49 Mhz signal whether you have the 100 Mhz feature enabled or not. Is my reasoning correct? Can you comment?
Love the shirt
Looking to buy an entry level digital scope. The previous 2ch model had a VGA part, but the new 4 ch doesn't have it. Is VGA out ever used? Seems to me the VGA out would be really handy. What do people think?
As for price everyone seems to be selling the 4 ch for $400 and the used 2ch of $300. Is there any advantage in buying a used 2 ch for $100 less? Seems to me it would be worth in to spend another $100 for the newer 4 ch. Or are there some features in the 2 ch which make it more appealing?
I can't see this for 399 anywhere from Australia .. I couldn't buy from daves Amazon as it wouldn't send to Australia .
9:56 Dave's verdict.
Looking to pick up a newbie scope and wondering if this is still a good buy? I see it's only 50mhz and the Siglent, at a comparable price, is 200mhz. For hobby level builds, teardowns and repairs; which is better for me? Thanks!
I know this late but thanks for the review. LOL..are they paying you? Quick question...Is it possible to connect an external digital monitor to this unit?
Thank you for your videos Dave!
Is it illegal to unlock the functionalities of the Rigol DS1074Z?
IF YOU ON JOE BIDENS SIDE NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
learning electronic for fun. i bought it. Dave is right, for the price... it is a bargain...
Hi Dave,
Thank you for your very informative youtube channel, I have watched a lot of it😊
Now, I have a question.... Maybe you can help.
My Rigol DS1054z has the 24MB option installed.
In this way, the memory depth should be enough to fill one full screen at 1G samples/second at 2msec/division horizontally. (24msec totally)
However, I experience that the last step with 1G samples is at 500usec/division, after this it will go to 500M samples and of course even lower at longer time per division.
Can you explain why the scope does not allow 1G sampling all the way to 2msec/division?
Also, the option for manually setting the sample rate is dimmed out. Can you explain why?
Thank you in advance
Best regards
P. Payne, Denmark
Ok, I'm sold! I'm near the end of my Electronics Engeneering Master Degree course (only 1 year left to finish, I hope!) and I was wondering if I really need one oscilloscope to have at home.
After seeing some reviews (and this one was the most convincent one) I guess that's not much more to think about :D
Great review