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[Reply #15 on:]

Thanks for all answers in special to JoeN
I was looking for that answer. The scope Rigol  DS1102E it seems to handle the job. I also found a comment on EEVblog  describing it.
I will search for more info about it
Any more models and opinions are welcome

Don't tell anybody I told you, but... apparently the DS1052E can be changed to a DS1102E via the serial port.

Word on the street is that they tightened up the firmware to disallow that.  You have to find an older model with a firmware version older than something or the other otherwise the patch won't work.  I would do an Internet search about that before buying the $329 model thinking you can patch it yourself.  $399 isn't that much anyway...

[Reply #16 on:]

Rigol oem'ng for Atten is like GM oem'ng for Ford.

They used to make the HP low end scope too until it was replaced with the new and fancy scope I mentioned earlier.

[Reply #17 on:]

I have a digital scope and a Saleae logic analyzer. I use the logic analyzer 99% of the time. It costs around $149.

http://www.saleae.com/logic

The Logic does a lot more, in many respects, than a digital scope (unless you pay, like, $10,000). For example, it captures up to 10 billion samples (via USB upload). It analyzes protocols (I2C, SPI, Manchester, CAN, Serial, etc.). It is quick and easy to use. I reach for the Logic a few times each day. I turn on the scope once a week or less.

My recommendation is get the Logic, and supplement (if you need to) with a cheap digital scope like the Atten, which you can get for under $1000. That's for when you really need to see the analog signals (which isn't that often when working on microcontrollers).

You could consider the Logic 16, which samples up to 100 MHz. ($US 299).

http://www.saleae.com/logic16

This isn't an ad, honestly. It's just my honest opinion.

[Reply #18 on:]

I've recently acquired a ATTEN ADS1102CAL+  - which sounds like its related to that Rigol model

Where did you purchase it and how much it  cost?
Looking on ebay I found it at a good price I think?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150620675417&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

I have an ADS1102CAL too, which I purchased directly from HK via ebay (the seller was aonehere). No complaints so far. Just remember that depending on where you live, you may have to pay import duty and/or VAT.

[Reply #19 on:]

The Logic is nothing but a 8051 development board + a software piece. The really bright spot is the software piece. As such, you can get certain cheapo 8051 boards and flash with the right vid/pid and it will work with their software. $20 max.

The same with the new Logic 16.

[Reply #20 on:]

My recommendation is get the Logic, and supplement (if you need to) with a cheap digital scope like the Atten, which you can get for under $1000. That's for when you really need to see the analog signals (which isn't that often when working on microcontrollers).

Thanks Nick
That is a good observation. I will reconsider buy the Logic 8 instead the scope.
Like you say most of the time I will also use it to track for digital signais in microcontrollers.
One bad point of Saleae in my opinion is I can't see Serial comunication in real time, or I'm wrong?
From what I seen from the Logic 8 I can just capture some data until be buffer is full.
What if I want to analize Serial comunication (TTL RX and TX lines) while I do some events on the microcontroller and log what is happpen on those lines

[Reply #21 on:]

Whilst that is true, you can set up the capture buffer size. For a million samples (say) at 16 MHz the sampling is over very quickly.

In practice you can't really usefully "analyze" serial data in real time, the bits just fly past really quickly. If you just want to see if serial comms is happening, or not, an LED or similar would show you that.

The scope comes in handy for situations where you want to see the rise time, for example, or see if a certain voltage is reached.

But say if you want to press a button, and see if some data is sent from the processor, then you just set up the Logic to trigger on an edge transition on the Tx line. Then it captures nothing until you press the button and start the transmission. Usually works very well.

[Reply #22 on:]

On a related note, does anybody know where you can buy Rigol in Europe? There doesn't seem to be anywhere that sells them. There's a lot on eBay but I'm not sure whether to trust them or not.

At the moment I'm using a DSO quad. It works great for Arduino-type stuff, very useful. You get two analog channels and two digital channels in a thing the size of a smartphone. Definitely worth having if you're on a restricted budget. Four channels in a proper 'scope would be a lot more expensive.

[Reply #23 on:]

I bought a Rigol DS1052E from Batronix in Germany a couple of weeks ago. Arrived here in 3 days, and very competitive pricing. They also offer 3 years warranty. http://www.batronix.com/shop/oscilloscopes/Rigol-DS1052E.html

[Reply #24 on:]

Great shop.
The Rigol DS1052D also have a logic analiser but it cost the double and have the same bandwith
I think I will spend my money on Saleae Logic Analiser and delay my scope buy until next year 

[Reply #25 on:]

If you happen to have a pickit2, it can be used as a logic analyzer (and it can be configured to program avrs too).