The RIGOL DS2202A Digital Oscilloscope is a general-purpose 200 MHz oscilloscope developed for engineers, technicians, service teams, research laboratories and educational institutions. It combines two analogue input channels, fast real-time sampling, deep acquisition memory and practical waveform-analysis functions in a compact benchtop instrument.
The DS2202A is part of the RIGOL MSO/DS2000A Series. It provides a maximum real-time sampling rate of 2 GSa/s in single-channel operation and 1 GSa/s per channel when both channels are active. This sampling performance helps users capture fast signal transitions, pulse waveforms, clocks, PWM signals and intermittent abnormalities with sufficient detail.
Unlike the MSO2000A models, the DS2202A does not include digital logic channels. It also does not include an integrated waveform generator, which is available only on the applicable “-S” mixed-signal models.
200 MHz Analogue Bandwidth
The DS2202A provides 200 MHz bandwidth across two analogue channels. This makes it suitable for applications that require more bandwidth than the 100 MHz DS2102A while retaining the same two-channel platform.
Typical measurements include:
- Embedded controller clock signals
- Digital pulse and timing measurements
- PWM and control signals
- Analogue amplifier outputs
- Power-supply switching signals
- Sensor and actuator waveforms
- Communication interface signals
- Input and output waveform comparison
- Phase and delay measurements
- Signal distortion and ringing
The calculated rise time is approximately 1.8 ns, which should be considered when measuring fast transitions.
Two-Channel Waveform Analysis
The two analogue channels allow engineers to compare related signals simultaneously.
Typical two-channel applications include:
- Input versus output
- Clock versus data
- Voltage versus current
- Gate-drive signal versus switching output
- Reference signal versus measured signal
- Sensor input versus controller response
- Power-supply input versus output
- Phase comparison between two waveforms
Each channel supports AC, DC and ground coupling, together with selectable 1 MΩ and 50 Ω input impedance.
Real-Time Sampling Performance
The DS2202A provides:
- 2 GSa/s with one analogue channel active
- 1 GSa/s per channel with both analogue channels active
- Real-time sampling architecture
- Peak detection of pulses down to approximately 500 ps in single-channel operation
- Peak detection of pulses down to approximately 1 ns in dual-channel operation
A high sampling rate provides more acquisition points across fast waveform edges. This improves waveform reconstruction and helps users identify overshoot, ringing, timing variation and narrow glitches.
Deep Acquisition Memory
The DS2202A includes 14 Mpts standard memory depth in single-channel operation.
Standard memory allocation:
- 14 Mpts with one active channel
- 7 Mpts per channel with both channels active
The optional memory licence increases maximum depth to:
- 56 Mpts with one active channel
- 28 Mpts per channel with both channels active
Deep memory helps retain a useful sample rate over longer acquisitions. It is valuable for:
- Long serial communication packets
- Power-supply start-up analysis
- Embedded-system timing sequences
- Intermittent fault investigation
- PWM waveform analysis
- Long pulse trains
- Production test monitoring
- Extended waveform recording
The 56 Mpts memory depth should be described as optional unless the applicable licence is installed.
Fast Waveform Capture
The RIGOL UltraVision architecture provides a maximum waveform capture rate of up to 52,000 waveforms per second in dots-display mode.
Fast waveform acquisition improves the probability of detecting rare signal conditions such as:
- Short glitches
- Runt pulses
- Timing violations
- Unstable waveform edges
- Signal dropouts
- Intermittent noise
- Abnormal pulse widths
- Occasional circuit faults
The oscilloscope provides up to 256 intensity-grading levels, allowing frequently occurring waveforms to appear differently from less frequent events.
Waveform Recording and Playback
The DS2202A supports hardware waveform recording, playback and analysis of up to 65,000 frames.
This function allows users to:
- Record successive waveform events
- Review waveforms frame by frame
- Replay captured signal activity
- Compare normal and abnormal waveforms
- Perform post-acquisition measurements
- Identify events leading to a failure
- Investigate intermittent problems
Hardware recording is a standard function and is useful when faults occur unpredictably or after long operating periods.
Low-Level Signal Measurement
The oscilloscope provides vertical sensitivity from 500 µV/div to 10 V/div, depending on the selected input impedance.
Available vertical ranges include:
- 500 µV/div to 10 V/div at 1 MΩ
- 500 µV/div to 1 V/div at 50 Ω
This wide range supports measurements of both low-amplitude signals and larger electronic waveforms.
Suitable applications include:
- Sensor output testing
- Power-supply ripple analysis
- Amplifier measurements
- Reference-voltage checks
- Small analogue signal analysis
- General electronics troubleshooting
The 500 µV/div setting uses digital amplification based on the 1 mV/div range and should be interpreted accordingly during precision measurements.
Bandwidth Limiting
The DS2202A provides selectable bandwidth limits of:
- 20 MHz
- 100 MHz
- Full 200 MHz bandwidth
Bandwidth limiting helps reduce unwanted high-frequency noise when the signal of interest occupies a lower frequency range.
This is useful for:
- Power-supply ripple testing
- Low-frequency analogue measurements
- Sensor signal analysis
- Noise reduction
- Cleaner waveform display
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Advanced Trigger Functions
The DS2202A provides several trigger modes for isolating specific signal conditions.
Standard trigger functions include:
- Edge
- Pulse width
- Slope
- Pattern
- Runt
- Setup and hold
- Standard video trigger
Additional trigger functions are available through the applicable advanced-trigger option:
- Window
- Nth edge
- HDTV
- Delay
- Timeout
- Duration
- USB trigger
These functions help engineers locate timing errors, incomplete pulses, abnormal voltage conditions and intermittent signal events.
Serial Bus Triggering and Decoding
The DS2202A supports serial protocol triggering and decoding through optional software licences.
Available protocol analysis includes:
- RS232 and UART
- I2C
- SPI
- CAN
Parallel bus decoding is listed as a standard function within the series, while RS232, I2C, SPI and CAN decoding require applicable options according to the current datasheet.
Protocol decoding displays interpreted communication data beside the electrical waveform. This helps users identify:
- Invalid packets
- Timing problems
- Communication interruptions
- Incorrect voltage levels
- Noise-related errors
- Physical-layer faults
The installed protocol licences should be confirmed in the commercial quotation.
Automatic Measurements
The DS2202A provides automatic measurements for common voltage, timing and frequency parameters.
Available measurements include:
- Maximum voltage
- Minimum voltage
- Peak-to-peak voltage
- Top and base voltage
- Amplitude
- Average voltage
- RMS voltage
- Frequency
- Period
- Rise time
- Fall time
- Positive pulse width
- Negative pulse width
- Positive duty cycle
- Negative duty cycle
- Overshoot
- Preshoot
- Phase
- Delay
- Area and period area
Up to five measurements can be displayed at the same time. Measurement statistics include current, average, maximum, minimum, standard deviation and measurement count.
Waveform Mathematics and FFT
The oscilloscope includes waveform mathematics and frequency-domain analysis functions.
Supported mathematical operations include:
- Addition
- Subtraction
- Multiplication
- Division
- FFT
- Digital filtering
- Logic operations
- Integration
- Differentiation
- Logarithmic functions
- Exponential functions
- Square root
- Trigonometric functions
FFT analysis is useful for:
- Harmonic analysis
- Switching-frequency measurement
- Clock-spectrum observation
- Noise-source identification
- EMI troubleshooting
- Detection of unwanted oscillations
The built-in FFT function is suitable for general troubleshooting but does not replace a dedicated spectrum analyser for demanding RF measurements.
Pass/Fail Testing
The DS2202A supports mask-based pass/fail testing for repetitive validation and production applications.
It can be used to:
- Compare waveforms against tolerance limits
- Identify waveform deviations
- Monitor signal stability
- Perform repetitive production checks
- Detect occasional abnormal events
- Support basic quality-control testing
The AUX output can provide trigger or pass/fail signalling for external systems.
Display and User Interface
The oscilloscope uses an 8-inch TFT colour display with 800 × 480 pixel resolution.
Display features include:
- 160,000 colours
- Up to 256 intensity levels
- Dots and vector display modes
- Adjustable waveform persistence
- Y-T, X-Y and Roll display modes
- Real-time clock
- Dedicated front-panel controls
- Search and navigation functions
The large display provides adequate space for waveforms, measurements, menus and protocol information.
Connectivity and Automation
The DS2202A supports laboratory networking, waveform documentation and automated test-system integration.
Connectivity includes:
- USB Host
- USB Device
- LAN
- LXI support
- AUX output
- Trigger output
- Pass/fail output
- Optional USB-to-GPIB connectivity
The oscilloscope supports remote control through SCPI-based programming and compatible PC software.
Applications
The RIGOL DS2202A is suitable for:
- Embedded-system development
- Microcontroller debugging
- Digital circuit testing
- Analogue circuit analysis
- Power-supply testing
- PWM signal analysis
- Sensor testing
- Communication interface debugging
- CAN analysis with optional software
- Component testing
- Electronic maintenance
- Production-line inspection
- Quality validation
- Research and development
- Educational laboratories
- Service and repair applications
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Why Buy from RevineTech?
RevineTech supplies test and measurement instruments for electronics development, industrial testing, research, production and education.
Technical product-selection support can include:
- DS2202A configuration
- Memory upgrade requirements
- Serial decoding licences
- CAN analysis options
- Advanced trigger licence
- Passive probe selection
- High-voltage probe selection
- Differential probe selection
- Current probe selection
- Calibration requirements
- Rack-mount accessories
- Automated test integration
