Digital Oscilloscope: Siglent SDS1104X-U

By Vivek T.

    Resources

    • Digital Oscilloscope - Siglent SDS1104X-U (User Guide)

    Probe Recompensation vs. Scope Recalibration

    OperationRecompensation / Probe AdjustmentRecalibration / Internal Calibration
    What is adjusted?The variable trimmer capacitor inside the physical passive probe handle.The internal analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and preamplifiers inside the oscilloscope.
    Primary PurposeEqualizes high-frequency response to eliminate overshoot or signal rounding.Corrects DC offset voltage drift caused by thermal changes or component aging.
    FrequencyEvery time a probe is moved to a new channel or different oscilloscope.Every few months, or when ambient room temperature changes by $>5^\circ\text{C}$.
    Required EquipmentNon-magnetic plastic adjustment tool + Probe connected to CAL terminal.None (All external BNC connections must be removed).

    Channel Configuration & Probe Attenuation

    To ensure accurate vertical amplitude readings ($V_{pp}$, $V_{rms}$), the scope’s software menu setting must match the physical attenuation switch on your probe.

    1. Set the physical slide switch on your probe handle to 10X.
    2. Connect the probe BNC connector to CH1 (or CH2, CH3, CH4).
    3. Press the illuminated channel button (1, 2, 3, or 4) in the Vertical panel section to bring up the channel menu at the bottom of the screen.
    4. Press the softkey directly below Probe on the LCD screen. (Press Page 1/2 softkey if Probe is not visible).
    5. Press Attenuation, then rotate the Universal Knob (top-left panel) to select 10X. Push the knob to confirm.

    Probe Recompensation Procedure

    1. Attach the passive probe BNC connector to CH1. Confirm the physical probe switch is set to 10X.

    2. Connect the probe hook tip to the metal CAL tab on the front panel ($1\text{ kHz}$, $3\text{ Vpp}$ square wave output).

    3. Connect the probe alligator ground lead to the adjacent ground tab labeled with the ground symbol ($\perp$).

    4. Press the blue Auto Setup button on the top-right control section.

    5. Observe the square wave shape on the display:

      • Flat Top: Probe is correctly compensated.
      • Spiked / Overshooting Corner: Over-compensated (too much high-frequency gain).
      • Rounded Corner: Under-compensated (high-frequency attenuation).

    6. Insert the small plastic trimmer screwdriver into the adjustment hole on the probe body or BNC connector barrel.

    7. Turn the trimmer screw until the leading edges of the square wave are completely flat and square.

    Internal Scope Recalibration (Self-Cal)

    Run an internal calibration if the ground reference baseline ($\perp$) drifts away from zero volts when no signal is applied.

    1. Turn on the Siglent SDS1104X-U and let it warm up for 20 to 30 minutes so operating temperatures stabilize.
    2. Disconnect all probes, BNC cables, and USB connections from the scope front panel.
    3. Press the Utility button on the front control panel.
    4. Press the softkey below Do Self-Cal.
    5. When the pop-up warning appears on screen, press the Start softkey to begin.
    6. Allow the automated process to complete (takes roughly 2 to 5 minutes). Once finished, press any button to exit.

    Display & Waveform Controls

    • Volts/Div Knob: Adjusts vertical grid amplitude scaling (e.g., $1\text{ V/div}$, $500\text{ mV/div}$).
    • Sec/Div Knob: Adjusts horizontal timebase resolution (e.g., $100\text{ \mu s/div}$, $1\text{ ms/div}$).
    • Position Knobs: Shifts waveforms vertically or horizontally across the division grid.

    Automatic Measurements

    1. Press the Measure button on the panel.
    2. Press Type softkey $\rightarrow$ turn Universal Knob to select Pk-Pk ($V_{pp}$) or Frequency.
    3. Push the knob to add the parameter to the bottom measurement banner.