Anyone used the OWON digital scopes?

These OWON brand scopes seem like a real bargain and as low as $329US for a 25MHz USB enabled color scope. Any opinions good or bad? I'd like to get the local Toronto vendor to carry them if they're any good as they're only $100 more than a simple 2MHz USB scope.
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I found the same scope for $369:
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The manual is at:
http://www.owon.com.cn/eng/PDS5022S USER MANUAL.pdf

Tequipment was selling the 60MHz version for LT $700 on Ebay, but they seem to be out of stock.

I have already checked this out for a couple of different newbies at different forums looking for a "good scope". It has impressive features for the price. I read the manual online and got concerned because of the Chin-lish. This may be OK if you're already familiar with oscilloscopes, especially features and specs for digital sampling scopes. It has some of the same automated measurement options of my expensive Fluke scope. And more than twice the sampling memory! The blurbs say it has a USB port that allows saving out the display, but the manual was very vague about its usage. Also there is no picture of the back panel? They include a USB cable, so it's in there somewhere.

I'd say it's an OK beginner's scope, but the limited bandwidth and sampling rate make it useless for the bench tech, unless you're repairing guitar amps. If you're goal is to outdo a 2MHz scope for a little more money, then go for it.

Later!
kenjj

The $329 price was from a retailer in the USA
https://www.saelig.com/ cheaper than ebay!

OWON may have a USB problem

I just purchased one. As a stand-alone scope, it's a great value for the money, however, the USB function doesn't work. I'm going 'round and 'round with the seller right now trying to solve the problem.

What OS are you using? Did it include software; can you download updated software from a website?
I never did wind up getting the OWON, the passive matrix LCD was a big turn off (who still makes non TFT displays over 5" anyway?)
I did get a hobbyscope and it's pretty neat.

I'm using XP. The scope included a software CD, but I've downloaded a newer version and the seller sent me new drivers. XP just doesn't like it, says the device is malfunctioning when you plug it in.

Hi Bill,

OWON scopes were tested extensively at ELEKTOR's e-labs (German electronics mag).

All of them have turned out to be an organized pile of junk.

If you are looking for working and low priced scopes check out https://www.uni-trend.com.

The company is located at Hong Kong. Sales are done by foreign importers.

Hans

Do you happen to remember which issue of Elektor?

blueroomelectronics said:

Do you happen to remember which issue of Elektor?

Click to expand...

Hi Bill,

there is no article published yet. I just got the information from an ELEKTOR engineer. He warned me purchasing an OWON scope.

I'll ask him for a detailed describtion of all the negative aspects of the scopes.

Regards

Hans

Hi Bill,

I don't have that particular OWON scope but I do own an OWON HDS (handheld) scope.

Works great, really happy for what use I make of it.

Good luck.

Mark

p.s. EPE rated that model scope as "OK", i suppose it just depends on what use you make of it.

I'm happy to report that the USB functions on a replacement unit work fine. The bad unit reported "V3.4" in it's System Status display, and the good one "V3.7". I presume these are firmware versions. I don't know if the bad unit had an isolated problem, or if the problem was in that particular firmware version.

I bought one in Sept 08. I have had no occasion to use the usb port until now. My units status version is the dreaded 3.4. Is it changable for upgrade?

Otherwise the scope, although cheaply made, does what I want it to do.

Happy to report that the scope is great and best of all - it works great. Looks are some times NOT the best feature of this scope as it is kinda plasticy but I guess I am used to the old timer, metal CRT scopes.. LOL

More pics of the actual scope (no stock photos):


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Looks OK from here ;-D

Right now I'm beginning to think I might as well buy Chinese junk as to buy a Tektronix. My Tek TDS2024B has failed twice, the screen goes dark, then fails to reboot on a power cycle. It 'fixed' itself the next day the first time. The second time was no joy after multiple reboots over two days. I sent it back under warranty. Two weeks later a Tek tech (couldn't resist) calls and says it worked non-stop the whole time, even with time in the oven. Well, yeah, it took over two years to show any problems! He asks want I want him to do. I point out that the 3 year warranty runs out in July this year and I don't want it back so I can wait for it to fail OUT of warranty and pay a $1G for later repairs! Good news, he says, if it doesn't break while in the shop, there's no cost to me!
THIS time, while under warranty, I get to use TEK's UPS account to send it in and ship it back. OUT OF WARRANTY, I pay the freight both ways, lose the use for 2 to 3 weeks, and risk spending $BIG if it DOES stay broke.
I mention this to the tech, who tells me he doesn't think his manager will authorize modules replacement on a whim, as there's no guarantee it will fix the problem. I tell him to keep it another week and watch it and give me a call later.

This does not bode well. I could have suffered the same fate with a Taiwanese knockoff with the same features and twice the memory for $800 less. So much for Tek superiority.
kenjj

Looks good, the interface is virtually identical to my handheld.

For what it is - this scope does a good work for me. My expectations were reasonable and I was not disappointed.

I am not familiar with ELEKTOR's e-labs so this is just a subjective opinion based on my own family observations in EU behavior - European companies are pissed that they are all getting rimmed by their Chinese competitors and would say anything to discredit them. And that is why they deserve to enjoy declining purchasing power, one-used-car per lifetime and perpetual brain drain due to heavy stratification Good work Owon and any hard working Asian manufacturer out there!

Experience with OWON PDS 5022S

I have used the OWON PDS 5022S for over a year now.

PROS: It is an adequate oscilloscope for audio circuits and PWM power circuits up to a few Mhz. You have enough BW track down instabilities and glitches. The storage function works well for this kind of diagnostic use. The triggering function is adequate and stable in most cases. The USB output works well in the "live" mode and in the storage mode of operation. I had no problem getting the supplied trace capture software to work under XP-Pro. The o'scope is lightweight and easily portable.

CONS: My o'scope had the optional rechargeable Li-ion battery pack, (so I could have high CMR for locating EMI sources). The charger only recharges the battery when the scope is plugged in and turned on. So, if it sits unused and plugged in for a while (a month or so) the battery discharges. Battery life was fairly limited (less than an hour) when new and it was not long until the battery refused to hold a charge.
The 7+" STN LCD can only be used if the user is located directly in front of the scope screen since the viewing angle is very limited. A TFT display would be a very worthwhile improvement over the STN display used.

Overall, a usable scope but certainly not the high quality of some of the leading (and expensive) brands.

For $299 shipped free my OWON PDS5022S suits me fine - everything works as advertised. Did not get the battery as I have a NLS MS-215 if I need to go portable. The OWON replaces a 35 year old B&K 10 mhz single trace analog that finally gave up(HV PS died for second and last time). The B&K cost over $300 in 1970's money.

Al

I just bought an OWON PDS5022S and I would like to ask your help, please.

I guess that it doesn't work well; in fact, also without probes, it displays changing values.

It shows Vp-p, mean, V-min and V-max values also if I am not testing in that moment, and also without any probe connected.

For example, without probes connected and with these parameters:

CH1 5V-
CH2 5V-
M 1.0ms

I see:

PK-PK = 400.00~600.00mv (variable)
Vmax = 200.0mv
Vmin = -400mv
Mean = from 167.0mv to 163.6mv (variable)

I performed RECALL FACTORY, and also DO SELF CALIBRATION but without success... I always read these strange values also if I'm not measuring, and also without probes fitted (with or without is the same thing).

I don't know if this oscilloscope's behaviour is normal or not.

May you help me? Is there some other test that I have to do to verify this unit, please?

Many thanks
Francesco

Small noise can be normal, though 1/2 a volt is a little more than noticeable. When you connect the probe GND, does the noise disappear?