Review of a UNI-T UPO1204 200 MHz 4 Channel Digital Oscilloscope

[@fjs1111]

Thank you Kerry, this was awesome. I am going to take a closer look in to buying one of their higher end units.

[@KerryWongBlog]

You are welcome!

[@wtmayhew]

Sadly, protocol decode is an extra cost option on the higher end units, but the prices are still fairly competitive.

[@marcfruchtman9473]

Thanks for making this video.

[@qzorn4440]

The UNI-T UPO1204 200 MHz 4 Channel Digital Oscilloscope is a nice scope. My Siglent SDS1104X-E will do for now. The 12 bits scopes will be the way of the future. 😎 Thank you.

[@wtmayhew]

What sets this oscilloscope apart is that the protocol decode options are included. For many other scopes, decode is an extra cost add-on. It would have been nice to have optional CAN/LIN bus decode for looking at automotive and industrial control signals. Including of RS-232, SPI and I2C at no extra cost is a good start. I am interested in the MSO2204-S 200MHz 4+16Ch MSO with Signal Generator, but getting equivalent protocol decode noticeably increases cost over the otherwise competitive starting price.

[@jstro-hobbytech]

I bought the mso5074 and did the firmware upgrade and bought the logic analyzer probes. Little did I know someone sells them from time to time for a third of the price. I'm thinking about selling it to buy a used tektronix mdo. It's still under warranty. I saved the original fw. I paid 2400cad for the scope. It's more feature rich than I require and I got it free when a hurricane tore my house apart. I've not even used it for 5 hours. I use my tds2002c more often.

[@jstro-hobbytech]

I'd include the logic probes. I have people who will speak to my honesty if you're interested. I'd love to have the old tektronix mdo that wae5w has had for like 8 years only one a little cheaper. I don't want to spend 3k on a spectrum analyzer to fix audio gear when I can sell my scope and add some money and save bench space.

[@csimet]

Looks like nice scope, especially considering it has data decode built-in. Your videos are always my go-to for tests of new gear.

[@bnunesc]

Thanks for the video. I like this scope but it is a bit pricey. In your opinion what is the best scope out there below $250? Thank you

[@kuro68000]

Thanks for the review. Looks decent for the money. Shame sigrok doesn't support it.

[@Homer19521]

Wonder how OEM's decide things like max input voltage. My "old" Rigol 1074Z is good for 300VRMs. Is a 135VRMS targeted at a specific industry/usage? Also, I like how you use the word "annoying". One might live with an occasional glitch, but one can't live with annoying. Hope UNI-T fixes those annoying things. I always look fwd to your reviews. 👍

[@ivolol]

I'm guessing they're targeting that it can handle US single-phase mains up its clacker, as EEVBlog would say.

[@NoferTrunions]

WATERFALL: Uni-T does not even mention this capability on their website (!) Would like to see more Waterfall demo. Waterfall is extremely useful when doing modal analysis of structures with a transient load like impulse or step. SUGGESTION: use a microphone input and tap something that rings and see the harmonics and their damping. Could be a tuning fork or anything you can make ring. SUGGESTON: part of the Waterfall "survey" is to determine what bandwidth and sampling have on the time between waterfall lines - slow is not good - so where is the sweet spot between speed and resolution? This waterfall capability is now my #1 criteria for buying my first non-Tektronix scope: my first digital scope.

[@insightfool]

Thank you for covering this instrument so in-depth. I wonder if it's possible (easy) to power this scope with a battery (grounded battery, I suppose) rather than just from the wall?

[@ppaolosan]

so is it worth to buy this scope or the siglent or Rigol at the same price level are better quality? No answer OK

[@TheGmr140]

Very nice scope 😊😊

[@ivok9846]

23:30 external from where? you didn't connect anything ...

[@engjds]

Yeah upto 400Mhz IF its just a sinewave, but is that really useful?

[@JamesE707]

Hi Kerry, Regarding vertical resolution ... Does the 8-bit apply to both screen resolution and internal voltage resolution, or just screen? If also internal, then that implies some considerable quantisation errors during measurements? Thanks.

[@KerryWongBlog]

The 8-bit is resolution of the acquisition ADC.

[@JamesE707]

@@KerryWongBlog Thanks Kerry.

[@martinho53]

👍

[@barrybogart5436]

Quite a toy box! Is there anything it doesn't do?

[@gorak9000]

clearly no wavegen or digital logic analyzer channels :)

[@ivolol]

12 bit 😂

[@gorak9000]

@@ivolol I really don't see 12 bit being that useful, unless you're doing very specific types of measurements. There are definitely SOME actual use cases for 12 bit, but probably not anything anyone buying a "budget" scope is doing!

[@mrpetit2]

It can't do bodeplotting like it's rival the Siglent SDS1104X-E. TBH I think that's a more useful feature than 12bit (although having both is best of course)

[@keyspost]

The UPO1204 stands out as the most worthwhile 4-channel oscilloscope currently available on the market. At its price point and specifications, other brands feel outdated in comparison. UNI-T's oscilloscope excels in both hardware and software, boasting the latest and most efficient technologies. Moreover, UNI-T is the only brand that manages the entire production process-from PCB assembly to final product testing-in-house. This comprehensive in-factory approach signifies a meticulous control over the entire manufacturing process, ensuring an unmatched quality in UNI-T's products. This level of dedication to quality and innovation makes the UPO1204 an exceptional choice for professionals and enthusiasts alike.

[@stevenbliss989]

VERY NON-LINEAR BANWIDTH, going up-down-up-down by about 5% all over the place!!!!!!!!!!!

[@KerryWongBlog]

Where did you see this behavior?

[@eggman3141]

​​@@KerryWongBlogAs Steve said, all over the place, but especially as you increased the frequency above 200MHz, at about the 4:15 mark and beyond.

[@gregandark8571]

@@eggman3141 Is this because of firmware of hardware? Should i buy this scope as my first "discrete" scope.

[@petersvideofile]

Yeah I think there's some software over adjustment magic going on :) I think repeating the pulse based bandwidth analysis on 2 and 4 channel modes might have further elucidated this. Great review though!

[@typedef_]

this totally ruins this as a scope... not having a trustworthy amplitude measurement makes it useless

[@stevenbliss989]

Considering the already existing Rigol DS1054Z, this scope makes no sense, especially for the price! Especially with the Rigol DHO804.814, this scope makes ZERO ZERO ZREO sense!!!

[@bigdog9480]

@stevenbliss989 you sounded like someone having a nightmare and hysterically screaming in bed, calm down, no need to stress it out, it's just an oscilloscope, and people will buy what they think it's good for their needs. also you are comparing the UNI-T to other devices that have lower bandwidth, lower sample rate, lower memory depth (per channel), and the 12-bit vertical resolution is something barely useful because it is only used when you want to take a really closer look at specific signals which 90% of the buyers don't bother/need and the remaining 10% of the buyers are professionals and most of them buy much more expensive oscilloscopes. this device also comes with decoding features which are great.

[@stevenbliss989]

@@bigdog9480 I agree with you for the most part, BUT like Tek and others, it is over priced! And for the record, in the Rigol 900 series, there is a 200MHz version, but still only at 1.25 Gs/s, but for a far lower price.

[@xorlw8549]

@@stevenbliss989 the siglent sds800x hd is much better than that and cheaper