Independent comparisons. We may earn from shop links. More info

How to choose an oscilloscope

Updated: 22 October 2026

You are about to spend £180.00 to £209.93 on a first OWON from amazon.co.uk, and the title is already shouting a bandwidth. How to choose an oscilloscope is a check that the bandwidth belongs to that model, then that the sample rate still holds with both channels on, then that the record is long enough for the time base you will use. It does not crown a winner among the three listings in the [OWON oscilloscope comparison](/hub/measuring-equipment/owon-oscilloscope). Peter F. read the amazon.co.uk files and the manufacturer tables on 21 October 2026. It is not a lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You are about to spend £180.00 to £209.93 on a first OWON from amazon.co.uk, and the title is already shouting a bandwidth.

Our top picks

Owon Owon SDS215S

Best overall

Owon Owon SDS215S
6.5/10about £209.93
View offer
Owon Owon HDS2102

Best value

Owon Owon HDS2102
3.9/10about £180.00
View offer
Owon Owon SDS1022

Alternative

Owon Owon SDS1022
2.7/10about £181.00
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.What bandwidth actually means
  2. 2.Sample rate with both channels on
  3. 3.Why record length changes the picture
  4. 4.Two channels, and when four would matter
  5. 5.Read the model code before the title

What bandwidth actually means

Bandwidth on a scope is the frequency where a sine is already about 3 dB down, about 30 percent low on the screen. Edges that need the harmonics above that point look softer than they are. A rule of thumb, not a measurement of these OWON units, is about three times the highest sine you care about, or about three to five times a clock when the edge shape matters. The title does not settle which bandwidth you have bought.

Sample rate with both channels on

Rohde & Schwarz’s UK buyer’s guide treats about 2.5 times the bandwidth as a rule of thumb, and a headline rate can fall when the second channel shares the converter. That is about 50 MS/s at 20 MHz and 375 MS/s at 150 MHz. OWON’s SDS200 table says the SDS215 keeps 1 GS/s on both channels. The HDS2102 listing states 250 MSa/s, while OWON’s column says 1 GSa/s.
Owon Owon SDS215S

Testsieger

Owon Owon SDS215S
6.5/10about £209.93
View offer

Why record length changes the picture

Time captured is the number of points divided by the sample rate. That is arithmetic, not a claim about OWON software. The HDS2102 bullet states a maximum record of 8K. Eight thousand points at 250 MSa/s is about 32 microseconds. The SDS215S title includes 20M. Twenty million points at 1 GS/s is about 20 milliseconds. owon.co.uk states 10K for the SDS1022, about 100 microseconds at 100 MS/s.

Two channels, and when four would matter

Every OWON kept in this comparison is a two-channel instrument. Two channels let you put a clock on one input and a data line on the other. Four channels start to matter when a bus, or three lines plus a clock, must share the screen. None of these three listings offers a third input.

Read the model code before the title

The SDS1022 title says 100 MHz and 1 GS/s. OWON’s SDS1000 table lists that code at 20 MHz and 100 MS/s. The SDS1102 on owon.co.uk at £225 agrees with a 100 MHz page, and it is not one of these three ASINs. The 25 MHz in the SDS215S title belongs to the generator. Which listing to open is the job of the best OWON oscilloscope page. Screen and battery are on handheld or bench.

Common questions

What bandwidth do I need for hobby electronics?
For 5 V logic, start from the edge you need to see, not from the largest number in a title. A rule of thumb is about three times the highest sine, or about three to five times a clock when the edge matters. A true 20 MHz scope can show that a slow pulse exists and still soften a fast edge. The figure has to belong to the model code. The SDS1022 title says 100 MHz, and OWON’s table says 20 MHz for that code.
Why is a 100 MHz scope already soft at 100 MHz?
Bandwidth is the point where a sine is about 3 dB down, about 30 percent low. A 100 MHz scope shows a 100 MHz 1 V sine at about 0.7 V. The instrument has reached the edge of its stated band, and the harmonics that make a square edge are already above it. Treat the printed bandwidth as a sag point. Use the three-to-five-times rule of thumb when the shape of the edge is the measurement.
Does the sample rate fall when I turn on channel 2?
It can, on scopes that share one converter. Rohde & Schwarz’s UK guide warns that a headline rate may fall with the second channel on. OWON’s SDS200 table says the SDS215 keeps 1 GS/s on both channels, so a shared-converter cut is not the story on that table. The HDS2102 listing states 250 MSa/s, and the manufacturer column states 1 GSa/s. Read the model, and leave both rates visible.
What does 8K versus 20M record length change?
Time stored is points divided by sample rate. An 8K record at 250 MSa/s is about 32 microseconds. A 20M record at 1 GS/s is about 20 milliseconds. The longer record holds more of a slow event without dropping the fast sample rate. The HDS2102 bullet states 8K. The SDS215S title includes 20M. owon.co.uk states 10K for the SDS1022.
Do I need four channels for Arduino or Raspberry Pi work?
A first check of one clock and one data pin needs two channels. Every OWON in this set has two, which is enough to see whether two pins moved together. Four channels matter when a bus, or three lines plus a clock, must share the screen. None of these listings is a four-channel scope. A multimeter is enough when you only need one settled voltage and the shape of the waveform does not matter.
Should I buy on the amazon.co.uk title or the model code?
Match the model code first, then see whether the title agrees. The SDS1022 title says 100 MHz and 1 GS/s. OWON’s SDS1000 table and owon.co.uk say 20 MHz and 100 MS/s. The HDS2102 title says 100 MHz, and a bullet says bandwidth up to 70 MHz. Goods have to match the description you relied on, so catch the clash before you pay. The first trace, on a battery or a 5 V rail, stops before 230 V.

Related pages

Oscilloscope mains safety in the UK

Owon oscilloscope

Best OWON oscilloscope: top pick and who should skip

Handheld or bench oscilloscope: screen and battery

How to use an OWON oscilloscope: first stable trace

Sources

Public UK and manufacturer sources from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026. Shelf prices and the star line are the amazon.co.uk figures captured with these three listings. The price band is this set, not a market average.

  1. HSE INDG354: safety in electrical testing (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  2. HSE GS38: electrical test equipment for use on low voltage systems (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  3. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, regulation 16 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  4. GOV.UK: Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  5. Owon SDS1000 series table (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  6. Owon HDS200 series table (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  7. Owon SDS200 series (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  8. owon.co.uk: SDS1022 (retrieved 22 October 2026)