Product Reviews

November 2023

CQV-SWR120 SWR Power Meter

Rigol DS1202Z-E Oscilloscope

Siglent Tech Oscilloscope

Pascal Villeneuve, VA2PV, [email protected]

Product Review

CQV-SWR120 SWR Power Meter

Reviewed by John Leonardelli, VE3IPS
[email protected]

In the world of amateur radio, achieving

optimal antenna performance is crucial for
clear and efficient communication. To en-
sure your antenna is operating at its best,
monitoring the standing wave ratio (SWR)
and output power is essential. When I was
asked to evaluate this low-cost meter, the
CQV-SWR120, I approached it as a portable
operator. In this review, I examine this power
meter’s features, functionality, and overall
performance, to help you make an informed
decision about this important piece of equipment. This transmit power is applied. See Table 1 for the unit speci-
test instrument is even more important for portable radio fications.
operators, as deployed antennas typically require an
antenna tuner and a reliable, small, and lightweight Instructions were not included, but I figured it out. On
meter that can fit in a backpack. I never bring a power power up, the display shows “Hello,” the designer call
meter with me, as it’s too big and a needle-based meter sign, BG5CQV, and the current software version 4.01.
can be fragile. I do pack a portable digital SWR meter, AM, FM, and SSB modes are supported, but it does not
but having something to measure power at the same offer a PEP display for SSB. I think there may be soft-
time and cover the 6-meter band is of great interest to ware updates available, but I was unable to find any
me. Having multiple data points measured and a unique information.
alerting feature increases its functionality.

Features and Design Table 1

The CQV-SWR120 meter is thoughtfully designed to CQV-SWR120 SWR Power Meter
provide reliable measurements of SWR and power Manufacturer’s Specifications
levels. Its compact form factor and user-friendly inter- Operating frequency: 1.8 – 54 MHz
face make it suitable for both novice and experienced Measuring range: 0.5 – 120 W (SSB mode can reach
up to 200 W)
operators. Without a schematic, I had a look inside, and Standing wave range: 1 – 99.9
it appears to be the typical Bruene type of coupler with Charging interface: Type USB-C, 5 V / 1 A
diode detectors feeding a PIC chip. This type of design Internal battery: 3.7 V / 1000 mAh
Interface type: UHF (SL16) SO-239 equivalent
is more accurate than low-cost resistive-type couplers. Cabinet size: 3.5 × 2.5 × 1.5 inches
The meter features an easy-to-read OLED 240 × 240 Weight: 6.7 ounces
digital display with clear markings and multiple mea-
surement data points, allowing for quick and precise
readings. A USB-C charging jack is used to charge the
internal 3.7 V 1000 mAh battery using a typical 5 V 1 A Bottom Line
cell phone charger. There are three LED indicators for The CQV-SWR120 SWR power meter is com-
the battery state on the front panel. You need to turn the pact and lightweight for portable use, and the
unit on via its rear-facing power switch in order to charge simultaneous display of all parameters is con-
the internal battery. I found out by accident that it also venient. Get reliable readings on the go with
has a power-saving function where the display will turn
this low-cost, tiny RF power meter.
off after a set amount of time and turn on again when

www.arrl.org QST November 2023 37

If you hold the DOWN button longer than 1 second, you
can set the SWR alarm (2.0 default) using the UP and
DOWN buttons, and then press M to save the settings. If
you hold the UP button longer than 1 second, you can
set the shutdown delay time (10 seconds default) to one
of your choosing, and then press M to save the settings.
If you hold the M button longer than 1 second, it will turn
the unit off. One thing I found peculiar was that the rear
switch can be used to turn the meter on or off, but the
front switch can be used only to turn it off. The operation Figure 1 — The CQV-SWR120 rear panel view.
is very simple, and I don’t see a need to make changes
from the default settings. The inclusion of two plastic
covers for the SO-239 connectors prevents them from feedback. I chose menu #3 mode display, which shows
scratching other equipment when the unit is tossed into forward power and SWR in bigger letters than the other
a backpack. data points.
I also found that a quick press of the left button turns on The SWR alarm feature is very useful, as a buzzer will
the SWR buzzer alarm, the middle button changes the sound if the SWR is greater than the 2:1 set point. I have
language between Chinese and English, and the right- not seen this feature in other portable meters. I was
most button selects the data presented on five different operating POTA at a beach in Halifax when I did not see
screens. that the wind had knocked down my Buddistick an-
tenna. The SWR jumped up on transmit, I noticed a loss
Functionality, Performance, and Accuracy of receive signal strength, and I saw on the Icom IC-705
The SWR120 excels in functionality, providing reliable display that the SWR was 10:1. The audible alarm would
measurements and a range of useful features. It allows have quickly told me I had an issue. I also tried adjusting
you to measure SWR, forward power, and reflected my 40-year-old MFJ-1610 manual antenna tuner with
power, enabling you to determine the efficiency of your the Buddistick antenna. I used the Icom VS-3 Bluetooth
antenna system and identify potential issues. The microphone to key up and adjusted the counterpoise
SWR reading is particularly important, as it indicates until the buzzer stopped. Sure enough, the SWR was
how well the antenna is matched to the transmission below the 2:1 set point. I could use this as an audible
line, directly impacting the performance of your trans- SWR meter in the field to assist in antenna tuning.
mit signal. I always strive to operate with an SWR below
2:1 to avoid becoming a member of the “blown finals I also noticed that the front-panel LED and SWR display
club.” indicate status in three ways, with a default alert set
point at 2.0. The SWR display itself is green at 1.5, and
The display does get washed out in the bright sun, mak- the green LED comes on; it’s yellow from 1.6 to 2.4, and
ing reading difficult. I am looking at using a small card- the yellow alert LED comes on with the buzzer above
board hood to help shade the display to improve read- 2.0; and it’s red at 2.5, with the red LED turning on. So,
ability. I also added four rubber feet to prevent the unit you can quickly get a visual of what the SWR is at any
from moving around or scratching the top of my radios. time. The buzzer can be turned off in the settings menu.
One of the standout features of the SWR120 is its broad
frequency range, covering 1.8 – 54 MHz. The power
measurement capability is also commendable, support- Table 2
ing power levels up to 200 W on SSB, with 120 W stated CQV-SWR120 SWR Power Meter SWR Chart
for the other modes.
------ 50 Ω Resistive Load ------ -- 100 Ω Resistive Load --
Band (m) Power Out (W) SWR Power Out (W) SWR
Ease of Use 160 2.0 1.0 1.9 2.2
The SWR120 is exceptionally user-friendly, making it 80 2.0 1.0 2.0 2.2
40 2.1 1.0 2.1 2.2
accessible to operators of all skill levels. Its intuitive 30 2.1 1.0 2.1 2.2
design and simple operation enable quick setup and 20 2.1 1.0 2.1 2.2
hassle-free measurements. Connecting the meter to 17 2.1 1.0 2.1 2.2
15 2.1 1.0 2.2 2.2
your antenna system is straightforward using the rear- 12 2.1 1.0 2.2 2.2
panel SO-239 connectors (see Figure 1), and the clear 10 2.1 1.0 2.2 2.2
6 2.0 1.1 2.2 2.0
digital display and bright LEDs provide instant visual

38 November 2023 QST www.arrl.org

 Lab Notes: CQV-SWR120 SWR Power Meter
For the price, it is good. The battery voltage didn’t drop quick, easy, and inexpensive device, it’s a good little tool to
much in the few hours I was testing it. As you can see in have, especially if you use a radio that doesn’t already have
Figures A, B, and C, compared to the ARRL Lab wattme- these features built in. — George Spatta, W1GKS, ARRL
ter, the meter over-reports some of the figures, but for a Laboratory Manager

4.9 4.9 4.9

4.5 4.5 4.5
4.1 4.1 4.1
3.7 3.7 3.7
3.3 3.3 3.3
2.9 2.9 2.9

SWR
SWR

SWR
2.5 2.5 2.5
2.1 2.1 2.1
1.7 1.7 1.7
1.3 1.3 1.3
0.9 0.9 0.9
0.5 0.5 0.5
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Output Power (W) Output Power (W) Output Power (W)

ARRL Wattmeter 50 Ohm CQV-SWR120 50 Ohm ARRL Wattmeter 50 Ohm CQV-SWR120 50 Ohm ARRL Wattmeter 50 Ohm CQV-SWR120 50 Ohm
ARRL Wattmeter 12.5 Ohm CQV-SWR120 12.5 Ohm ARRL Wattmeter 12.5 Ohm CQV-SWR120 12.5 Ohm ARRL Wattmeter 12.5 Ohm CQV-SWR120 12.5 Ohm
ARRL Wattmeter 200 Ohm CQV-SWR120 200 Ohm ARRL Wattmeter 200 Ohm CQV-SWR120 200 Ohm ARRL Wattmeter 200 Ohm CQV-SWR120 200 Ohm

Figure A — The CQV-SWR120 power Figure B — The CQV-SWR120 power Figure C — The CQV-SWR120 power
meter compared to the ARRL Lab watt- meter compared to the ARRL Lab watt­ meter compared to the ARRL Lab watt-
meter at 3.800 MHz. meter at 14.200 MHz. meter at 28.500 MHz.

I ran the meter during ARRL Field Day, and it performed

as I expected it to while operating at 100 W. The alarm
tripped when a passing rain shower kicked up high
winds and caused one of the sides of my Chameleon
tactical dipole to rub against a 2-meter J pole that was
deployed by another ham too close to my antenna. I ran
out and lowered the J pole a few feet, and the problem
was solved.

If the internal battery voltage falls below 3.4 V, an alert

buzzer sounds, indicating a charge cycle is required.

I set the power output of my Icom IC-705 to 20%, which

showed 2 W using a Bird 43 meter into a 50 and 100 Ω
resistive load. You can see my results in Table 2.

Durability and Build Quality

The SWR120 is built to withstand the rigors of regular
use, with its aluminum case construction that also offers
RF shielding. My only concern is that the display could
be damaged, but I pack it carefully. I may choose to add
some small rails on either side.

I put the meter in an X-access organizer pouch (from

Decathlon) with SO-239-to-BNC adapters, a short
PL-259 patch cord, a USB-C charging cable, and a
Figure 2 — The CQV-SWR120 size compared to the Icom
Goal Zero Power Bank. This makes it easy to grab IC-705.

www.arrl.org QST November 2023 39

and go and allows me to use it with any radio. See Fig- choice for both beginners and seasoned enthusiasts.
ure 2 for a size comparison with my Icom IC-705. Maybe Whether you’re adjusting your antenna for optimal per-
someone can create a snap-on cover using a 3D printer formance, troubleshooting potential issues, or simply
to protect the display and/or work as a sun hood. monitoring power levels, the SWR120 delivers consis-
tent and accurate readings. Its durable construction
Conclusion ensures it will remain a reliable tool in your arsenal for
The SWR120 SWR power meter is a valuable tool for years to come. For precise antenna tuning and efficient
any amateur radio operator seeking reliable antenna communication, the SWR120 SWR power meter is a
and radio measurements. Although I looked at it from a worthwhile investment that will enhance your amateur
portable operator perspective, there is no reason that it radio experience.
would not also be useful in the home shack (I did use it
on Field Day at 100 W). Its compact design, broad fre- Manufacturer: Unbranded (design by Zehua He,
quency range, and intuitive operation make it an ideal BG5CQV), available from various online retailers. Price:
from $49 to $70.

Oscilloscopes — Rigol DS1202Z-E and

Siglent Technologies SDS1104X-E
Reviewed by Paul Danzer, N1II this price range today. Table 3 is a comparison of the
[email protected] published capabilities of the two units reviewed here;
three other units will be presented in a future issue of
In the last 8 to 10 years, oscilloscopes, along with QST. While some manufacturers may use one stan-
many other electronic devices, have transitioned from dard and definition, other manufacturers may measure
an analog to a digital design. While it may still be pos- the same parameter by a different standard or with a
sible to find a few low-cost analog “student scopes,” slightly different meaning.
most analog units available today are used. These
used units may be a good value for hams, unless you Most oscilloscopes consist of the following hardware
worry about parts replacement; as for their calibration, blocks, strung in series: an A/D converter for input, a
it may be good enough for your applications. digital processor or microcomputer with memory, a
display driver, and a display such as an LCD panel.
Today, there are a number of digital oscilloscopes There are several benefits and problems associated
available in the price range of $200 to $500. Because with this design. In the days of analog oscilloscopes,
they are completely solid state, they are usually storage scopes (which allowed keeping a visible wave-
smaller, lower weight, and not totally dependent on form on the screen until it was erased) tended to be
component stability to retain their accuracy. In fact, very expensive.
many of them depend heavily on only one timing com-
ponent — often a 10 MHz source from which other Digital oscilloscopes convert the input analog trace to a
times and frequencies are derived. set of digital words. There is usually a button labeled
RUN/STOP near the screen. When you want to freeze
In addition to the transition to digital, there has been a the observed waveform, the STOP button stops the
great improvement in the capabilities of analog-to- processor from taking in any new data, and the last set
digital (A/D) converters, which are needed to bring the or sets are kept in memory. In other words, functioning
analog waveforms being examined into the scope as a storage scope is inherent in the design at little or
digital processing. Some units take advantage of the no extra cost. In addition, several sets of data — per-
presence of one or more microprocessors, digital haps one set from channel 1 and one set from channel
memory, and precise timing to include other capabili- 2 — are already in memory, and the microprocessor
ties in the same box, such as counters and even wave- can perform various arithmetic functions and display
form (square wave, pulse, etc.) generators. the results.
The oscilloscopes chosen for this review were selected Again, with little or no cost, the processor and memory
not only to examine their basic capabilities but also to can be configured to act as a waveform generator, with
provide a comparison of the capabilities available in
40 November 2023 QST www.arrl.org
Table 3
Oscilloscopes (2 units) (not tested in the ARRL Lab)
Models Rigol DS1202Z-E Siglent SDS1104X-E
Bandwidth (sine wave) 200 MHz 100 MHz
Rise time ≤3.5 nS ≤3.5 nS
Horizontal scale 2 nS/div – 50 S/div 1 ns/div – 100 s/div
Sample rate 1 GSa/s (single-channel), 500 MSa/s 1 GSa/s single channel of a pair, 500 MS/s both
(dual-channel) channels
Display 7-inch color LCD 7-inch color LCD
Display resolution 800 × 480 pixels 800 × 480 pixels
Channels 2 4
Max record length For a single channel, 24 Mpts For a single channel, 14 Mpts
Sampling rate/time accuracy ±25 ppm Rate is 1 GSa/s if all four channels are used
Input coupling dc, ac, ground dc, ac, ground
Input impedance 1 MΩ in parallel with 15 pF 1 MΩ in parallel with 15 pF
Max input voltage 400 V (ac + dc, peak) 400 V (ac + dc, p to p)
Gain accuracy ±3 to 4%, less than 3% 5 mV/div – 10 V/div
Vertical sensitivity 500 μ/div – 10 V/div 500 µ/div – 10 V/div
Trigger types Selectable Selectable
Trigger modes Seven types Auto, normal, single
Automatic measurement More than 20 types (period, frequency, duty) 38 types, displays four measurements at the same time
Waveform math 19 selectable +, –, *, /, FFT, d/dt, integral dt, sqr root
Waveform storage N/A Max 80,000 frames
I/O ports LAN, USB, trigger out USB to PC, USB flash drive
Calibrator Yes Yes
Built-in help menu Yes Yes
Protocol decoding Four types Many
Waveform types See text See text

selectable sine waves, square waves, and other syn- Another common problem is the division of resources.
thesized waveforms. Because there is already a time It is not unusual to find, buried well within the fine print,
base or clock within the oscilloscope, a digital counter a statement limiting a particular parameter (often the
can also be included. bandwidth) to the specified value if only one channel is
selected. If both channels are active, the value is di-
There are, however, some problems associated with vided in two. Unfortunately, this omission may well be
digital oscilloscopes. Often they are advertised and inadvertent.
sold with a statement such as “This is a 50 MHz
scope.” This may be true, and they will accurately dis- Rigol DS1202Z-E: Two-Channel
play a 50 MHz sine wave, but most other waveforms 200 MHz Digital Oscilloscope
require harmonics of the base frequency to be added
This relatively lightweight (slightly less than 6.4 pounds)
to the base to make the new waveform. This is just oscilloscope may look familiar. It resembles a matching
another way to say that a “50 MHz” scope will not nec- Rigol signal generator reviewed in the March 2023
essarily properly display a 50 MHz square wave, un- issue of QST. It measures approximately 12.3 × 6.5 ×
less there is some additional processing to ensure 4.8 inches, excluding the pop-up handle and tiltable
proper response rise times and other edges. This can
be explained by the Nyquist theorem, which states that
a signal must be sampled at least twice as fast as the
highest-frequency component of the signal to accu-
rately reconstruct the waveform. Keep in mind that the
Nyquist rate is a minimum; generally, scopes are de-
signed for a higher rate than this lower limit. Frequency
components higher than half the sample rate are mis-
takenly interpreted as low-frequency components, a
phenomenon known as “aliasing.” So according to the
Nyquist theorem, a 50 MHz scope would be useful
measuring signals up to about 25 MHz.

www.arrl.org QST November 2023 41

feet. Rigol is a well-known exporter of test equipment springs; the probe setting (1X or 10X attenuation),
from China. which is a slide switch on the probe body; a warranty
form to be returned to Rigol; an accuracy certification
The 7-inch (as measured diagonally) TFT liquid display
certificate; a packing list with a QR code on the reverse
has a resolution of 800 × 480 pixels. The design speci-
side to bring up the Quick Start Guide; and an ac
fication is 16 million colors (24-bit true color).
power cord and a USB type A-to-B cable. End to end,
After unpacking this unit, you will probably have to read the probe assembly measures 50 inches. Caution: the
the instruction manual to best use this oscilloscope. compensation screw head is very small; patience may
Along the bottom edge of the front panel are four con- be necessary while making adjustments.
nectors — three BNC and one USB, plus the power
switch, a waveform test point, and a ground point. Before You Start
There are also more than 40 pushbuttons and knobs Adjust the legs to make the front panel comfortably
facing you. visible. The next step is to connect the ac line cord at
the right rear of the enclosure (see Figure 3). After
Fortunately, by going to the Rigol website (https:// pressing the power button, the unit does a self-test,
rigolna.com) and selecting SUPPORT/TECH­NICAL followed (if all is well) by a welcome screen.
SUPPORT/OSCILLOSCOPES, you can download four
documents totaling almost 500 pages of information. The next two steps probably do not have to be re-
The Quick Start Guide is only a handful of pages, and peated unless a problem arises. Instructions in the
the 220-page User Guide is well indexed. Also worth Quick Start Guide take you through the steps of a short
viewing is a video tutorial on oscilloscope terminology “function inspection.” A three-step routine for probe
and the meaning of many specification numbers. compensation checking and adjustment of both probes
There are several videos, including one that explains finishes the initial checkout. Probe compensation is the
the relationship between bandwidth and rise time. process in which the probe capacitance is adjusted to
Another shows the relationship between sample rate compensate for the effects of the input capacitance of
and record length. The specific numbers for this model the scope. Properly adjusting the probe compensation
of oscilloscope can be found on the Rigol website in is necessary to ensure accuracy and linearity in the
the “DS1000E/D Series Oscilloscope Specifications” measurement results.
file.
There is one other feature you might want to look at
The model selected for this review has two channels, before using the unit. Toward the upper right corner of
200 MHz bandwidth, a real-time sample rate of 1 giga the front is a green HELP button. There are nine push-
samples per second (GSa/s), and memory depth of buttons on the left of the screen. Press the top MENU
24 mega points (Mpts), or number of samples that can button, and the two bottom light blue buttons will take
be recorded in memory. A similar model is available, you through the help menu choices.
with the bandwidth limited to 100 MHz.
Common Controls
Included in the Package Oscilloscopes have a usual set of controls — namely,
Currently, there is no instruction book or CD included horizontal or sweep rate, vertical or V/cm, and a trigger
with the oscilloscope. Therefore, you will have to go to section. While older analog scopes had the knobs
the manufacturer’s website for the instructions. Other calibrated in units per division — a division was usually
items in the shipping carton include: two probes with one centimeter, as seen on the graticule over the
interchangeable color identification rings; the probe
compensation adjustment, a screw, in the probe han-
dle; a miniature screwdriver packaged with the two
probes, along with safety covers and grounding

Bottom Line
The Rigol DS1202Z-E is a full-featured oscil-
loscope with certifications and accuracy
traceability. It has many features and capabili-
ties that some hams will not need but are a
real help to others.
Figure 3 — The Rigol DS1202Z-E rear panel view.

42 November 2023 QST www.arrl.org

screen — most digital scopes, like this one, read out internal help menu. The other green button can be
the settings in numerical form on the screen. used in two ways: to save the current screen to a USB
storage device, such as a flash drive; or to send the
In the control area of this scope, there is a portion de- selected contents to the printer when a PictBridge
voted to both channel selection and vertical scale. The printer is connected to the front-panel USB port. Dis-
vertical setting of each channel is independent. The cussion of the PictBridge interface is beyond the scope
channels are selected by pressing one or both CH of this review. The format of the storage function is
buttons. The top knob is labeled POSITION, and the selectable through another menu.
bottom knob is labeled SCALE. The voltage scale se-
lected is read out in numbers on the lower left of the The RUN/STOP button in the same row allows freezing
screen in a color corresponding to the channel se- of the display when red. When green, the scope con-
lected. Pressing the SCALE knob selects the rate at tinuously displays the input waveform. AUTO is de-
which you change the scale. signed to make the display decisions for you, setting
the vertical scale, time base or sweep rate, and trigger
The MATH button, when pressed, turns on the vertical point for what it considers an optimum display. Testing
row of buttons just to the right of the screen. Several of this function showed an unexpected result. AUTO
choices then can be made by pressing the button works as expected if only one channel is used. The
keyed to the math legend at the top of the list. Appli- best performance was obtained when the second
cable submenu choices are selected by the rotary con- channel was off (channel light was not on).
trol just above the channel select buttons. This shows
up as a brief set of choices in a box to the left of the The CLEAR button works in conjunction with the RUN/
selected function. The Quick Start Guide has a concise STOP button. If the RUN/STOP is on (red), the display
explanation of the controls in the VERTICAL section. will be blank. Pressing the RUN/STOP again will restore
continuous waveform display.
The HORIZONTAL section, just to the right of the VERTI-
CAL section, has similar controls. The bottom control Pressing the final SINGLE button on the top row starts
selects the horizontal time division or sweep rate, and a single triggered signal acquisition. Just below the
the value is shown on the screen at the top near the CLEAR button is a rotary control that is used to select
left edge. This control also sets the expanded sweep certain settings when in menu choices that require a
rate by pressing it in, and is used in conjunction with selection.
the MENU button in this section.
Pressing the display button followed by a long push of
Finally, the third common setting, TRIGGER, is on the the rotary control allows changing the display intensity
right of the HORIZONTAL section. The trigger level is by rotating this control. A bar line on the lower left of
adjusted up and down by the level control when the the graticule area shows the display intensity setting
MODE button selects NORMAL. The numerical value is you have chosen.
read out on the lower left of the graticule area of the
screen. A horizontal dotted line pops up and reminds Function Menus and Automation
you of your setting. Selection of the AUTOMATIC mode The six buttons in the area labeled MENU are used to
sets the trigger point. control both system functions, such as the display in-
tensity just described, and automation of many of the
The MENU button in this section brings up a set of oscilloscope’s capabilities. For example, pressing the
selection keys on the right side of the display. The DISPLAY button followed by a number of menu selec-
voltage value of the trigger selection point is read out tions provides control of the display type, persistence
on the top left of the screen. The User Guide lists time, waveform intensity, and graticule settings.
seven different trigger parameters, as well as 15 differ-
ent trigger types, that can be selected. Many of the automation capabilities require only one or
two buttons to push to run; however, it may take travers-
Finally, the FORCE key manually generates a trigger, ing a steep learning curve in order to set up the function.
and under certain conditions whatever trigger is active For example, storing the display and associated data
generates a pulse that is output at a BNC connector on takes four pages of information to set it up. It requires
the right side of the enclosure. making a file system and determining what format cer-
tain elements should be stored in (e.g., GIF, TIFF, BMP).
More System Buttons
At the top right of the panel, there are several system The interface for a computer is detailed in another full
function buttons. The green HELP button brings up the document, the “Programming Guide-En,” which can be

www.arrl.org QST November 2023 43

downloaded from the same source as the other two need to look at four waveforms, as raw data, you need
documents. The connection is made through the sup- four channels. Although it might not be often, you will
plied USB cable, but no software is supplied. be glad you have the capability.

The manufacturer lists the following capabilities and One of the problems with a multi-channel instrument is
others: hardware waveform recording and playback; remembering which probe (and channel) is connected
recording up to 60,000 frames of a dynamic signal and to which signal. It might be a bit confusing with two
playing them back; decoding and triggering on serial simultaneous channels; with four channels, you can
bus systems, including RS232, UART, I2C, and SPI; easily lose track of which is which. This unit uses four
gathering data in hex, binary, or ASCII, and exporting colors, and everything correlated to an individual chan-
to an event table for further analysis; automatically nel is color marked: yellow, red, blue, and green corre-
measuring 37 waveform parameters (with statistics); spond to channels 1 through 4, respectively. Common
and FFT functions using display or memory data. buttons, when pressed, light up in a very pale, but very
visible, green, or in a few cases pale pink.
In Summary
This is a full-featured oscilloscope, with many features While some capabilities are rather complex and require
and capabilities that some hams will not need but are a serial selections with the controls, most settings are
help to others. With the included certifications and limited to a single pushbutton. This reduces the need
accuracy traceability, at least when delivered, it can to split our attention between the scope and an instruc-
certainly make life easier for some hams. Having 500 tion book.
pages of instructions is no different than the two books The SDS1104X-E model acts as though it is two dual-
that came with my new hybrid vehicle; you only have to channel oscilloscopes that can be used independently
read the sections covering features in which you are or combined to act as a single scope. It has two GSa/s
interested. A/D converters and two 14 Mpt memory modules. If all
Manufacturer: Rigol USA, 10220 SW Nimbus Ave., channels are selected, each channel has a sample
Suite K-7, Portland, Oregon 97223, https://rigolna. rate of 500 MSa/s and a standard record length of 7
com. Price: $339. Mpts. When only a single channel per ADC is active,
the maximum sample rate is 1 GSa/s, and the maxi-
Siglent Technologies SDS1104X-E mum record length is 14 Mpts.
100 MHz Digital Oscilloscope The maximum vertical sensitivity is 500 µV/div. In addi-
This Siglent oscilloscope is roughly 12.25 × 10 × 5.25 tion to having a large family of triggering modes, de-
inches (including knobs and other protrusions), weighs coding capability for several bus types is included. The
about 5.75 pounds, and has a 7-inch TFT LCD (800 × million-point FFT capability is one of the mathematical
480). However, a glance at the unit gives you a sur- functions available and provides a view of a signal
prise — it is a four-channel unit (rather than the usual spectrum.
two). In addition, it is a commercial-use unit with certifi-
cations and performance traceability. While the model examined for this review — as well as
its lesser models of the same family — provides signifi-
Why four channels? I was once debugging a logic cant capability, a great deal of patience and learning
system design, and I needed to monitor four points most likely will be required to take advantage of many
simultaneously to find and solve a problem. When you of the built-in abilities. If this is your first exposure to
modern digital oscilloscopes, even the terminology
used (GSa/s, Mpts, and so on) may require an amount

Bottom Line
The Siglent SDS1104X-E is an oscilloscope with
certifications and accuracy traceability. It can be
used without a lot of explanation as a basic
oscilloscope for users without extensive experi-
ence. But it’s also an industrial-strength scope
with a wide range of capabilities.

44 November 2023 QST www.arrl.org

 Before You Start
In addition to plugging in the line cord and setting up
the feet, the Quick Start booklet suggests you do a
functional check by attaching each of the probes, one
at a time, to the front-panel test point. You should see a
square wave and use this opportunity to adjust the
probe compensation to make the square wave wave-
form appear square. To familiarize yourself, you can
use this as a chance to change the settings on a verti-
cal channel and the horizontal channel, followed by
pressing the blue AUTO SETUP button close to the top
Figure 4 — The Siglent SDS1104X-E rear panel view.
left of the front panel. In a few seconds, the result
should be a display that the scope sees as optimized.
In practice, you can use this as a starting point for
of studying. The User Manual (see the next section) viewing almost any kind of input waveform.
has an introductory section starting on page 76.
Common Controls on the Front Panel
Included in the Package In the right center of the front panel are four sets of
In addition to the main unit, the package contains a controls that, in one way or another, are common to all
calibration certificate with traceability information. The digital oscilloscopes. Because this is a four-channel
reverse side of this certificate includes date recom- scope, there is a difference here. Most often, on two-
mendations for recalibration. The only other paper channel scopes, there are two sets of controls for the
included is a 23-page Quick Start booklet, to be dis- vertical (sensitivity) setting. On a four-channel scope,
cussed later. Four probes are each individually pack- this would occupy a great deal of panel space, so the
aged with a set of color-identifying rings. first is a vertical column of numbers from one to four,
which are used to select one of the four channels. The
Each package also contains a miniature screwdriver to
next vertical section controls the vertical settings. The
adjust the probe compensation. Caution: the compen-
next column of controls is the horizontal settings or
sation screw head is very small; patience may be nec-
sweep speed. The final vertical set is used to control
essary while making adjustments. Each probe comes
the sweep trigger selections.
with a grounding clip. Like with many similar probes,
considerable force was required to press the grounding Because most oscilloscopes have three setting groups
clip open; a mechanical aid, such as a pair of pliers, (vertical, horizontal, and trigger), they are considered
may be needed. It also includes a standard power line common controls. In addition, this scope has four
cord and a USB A-to-B cable. channels, and therefore needs four selection buttons
and four input jacks. The vertical row of pushbuttons
The ac power connector is on the rear panel of the
just to the right of the display is associated with the four
unit (see Figure 4), just above the right-hand foot. On
BNC connectors on the bottom right edge.
the right edge are several signal connectors. The top
one is the LAN connector, followed by a port desig- Just below the display are two special-use pushbut-
nated for a USB device. This accepts the USB cable tons and six soft switch buttons. Calling the six buttons
supplied for communications with a personal computer “soft switches” is another way of saying they are con-
or other external control system. The third socket down text sensitive — that is, they have different functions
is a type A USB port, like the one on the front panel. depending on the item being controlled. To the left of
The lowest connector, a BNC, is used to output cer- these soft switches is the MENU ON/OFF control. As an
tain information or triggers described in the various example, if you press the UTILITY button (in the center
manuals. of the 18 pushbuttons on the top right), a menu of utility
selections appears on the bottom edge of the screen.
Instructions and Guidance Pressing the MENU ON/OFF button will clear this dis-
While the Quick Start booklet has a great deal of infor- played menu.
mation, you will find more information on the Siglent
website (www.siglentamerica.com). There are six To the right of the soft switch is a button labeled PRINT.
different PDF documents to download, the User Man- A search of all available documents does not result in
ual, the Quick Start booklet, and the data sheet. any information about using this button to print. How-

www.arrl.org QST November 2023 45

ever, this button is described as a shortcut to the data value is set somewhere above the bottom of this wave-
storage routine. form. Any pulse that occurs within the difference be-
tween the high level and low level is seen visually as a
On the bottom of the soft switch, you will find the power shorter pulse than the rest. This is considered a runt
button on the left. Just to the right of this button is the pulse and can be selected as the trigger — as might
USB connector used to plug in a flash drive for stor- happen in a sequence of pulses when one pulse fails
age, and on its right is a socket labeled SBUS. This is a and shows up as a runt.
proprietary connector, and the instructions advise
against using it to connect to anything but a Siglent- Along the top of the right-hand part of the display is a
approved device, such as a set of logic probes. Finally, set of 16 buttons and a rotary control on the far left of
there is a 5 V dc square wave test point and grounding this section. Normally, this control is used to set the
points for system test and probe compensation just brightness of the waveform, the brightness of the grati-
below the PRINT button. cule, and the transparency of information over a wave-
form. First, a DISPLAY / PERSIST button has to be
In addition to the four probe selection buttons, the pressed, and then the control varies the selected bright-
VERTICAL section to the right of the display contains
ness. With some of the other functions, this rotary con-
the vertical position control. The result of turning the trol acts as a universal knob to make selections within
position control can be seen on the display. The top the use of these other modes.
rotary control sets the vertical gain. When this knob is
rotated, the resulting scale of volts or mV/div flashes in Each of the buttons in this top section brings up various
a window in the center of the display. In some modes, related menus for use in the automated functions. The
this value is also echoed in a data block on the top RUN STOP button is on the top right of this array. It is
right of the display. used to freeze the display at any time you want. The
AUTO SETUP button was described previously. A typical
Also located in the VERTICAL section is the MATH but- operation starts by pressing these buttons, such as the
ton. After pressing this button, the math function shows UTILITY button. This brings up a set of labels on the
up on the bottom of the display as labels for the soft display just over the soft switches. Some button selec-
switches. The math function is selected by the leftmost tions bring up what is called multiple “pages” of choices,
soft switch in the display section of the panel. Finally, as controlled by pressing the right-hand soft switch.
the REFERENCE button brings up a waveform of known
value, which can be compared with the waveform con- The Quick Start booklet lists these buttons and con-
nected to any probe. trols with brief — often very brief — descriptions. Full
explanations of each, with their associated menus and
The HORIZONTAL section is like the VERTICAL section. submenus, as well as the button press sequences, are
The bottom rotary control moves the displayed wave- given in detail in the User Manual.
form sideways. The top rotary control is the equivalent
of the sweep speed control in older oscilloscopes. In Summary
Changing this control, the new horizontal sweep value This oscilloscope can be used in two ways: first, as a
is shown for a short time in the middle of the display. basic oscilloscope whose controls and basic scope
Pressing the top rotary control in the VERTICAL section functions are arranged so that a user without extensive
changes the speed of rotation from coarse to fine. experience can see a wide range of waveforms and
Pressing the top rotary control in the HORIZONTAL make basic measurements without a lot of explanation
section selects a piece of the waveform and expands or training; and second, as an industrial-strength scope
the waveform around the selected point. with a wide range of capabilities that may require a
learning curve. With accuracy, traceability, and prepro-
Trigger selection, in both the height of the waveform grammed measurement functions, it can be used in
and the type of waveform, is set by a few buttons in the applications where automated measurement functions
TRIGGER section. For normal use, you would probably are used over and over, such as testing on a produc-
select either the AUTO trigger button or the NORMAL tion line. The online documentation is extensive and
trigger button. The trigger level is set with the bottom even includes two application notes as demonstrations
rotary control. of what can be done.

A unique trigger is called the “runt trigger.” Given a set Manufacturer: Siglent Technologies North America,
of repetitive pulses, a high-level value is set some- Inc., 6557 Cochran Rd., Solon, Ohio 44139, www.
where below the top level of the input, and the low-level siglentna.com. Price: $499.

46 November 2023 QST www.arrl.org

Cushcraft ASQ-6 6-Meter
Squalo Antenna
Reviewed by Phil Salas, AD5X
[email protected]

Back in 1965, I attended my first ARRL

Field Day with a local club in Howard
County, Maryland (my home county at
the time). I was very impressed with
the 6-meter AM activities (Gonset
Communicators were the radios used),
and I vowed to get on that band myself.
In 1966, with the help of a summer job
and Dad paying for half, I purchased a
Lafayette HA-650 2.5 W input 6-meter
AM transceiver. For the antenna, I
chose a Cushcraft Squalo. The price
was just $12.50 back then. I had a ball
with that radio and antenna combina-
tion. From Maryland, I often worked up
and down the east coast, into the cen-
ter of the US, and even down into Cuba
— not bad for probably a 1 W output AM transceiver!

So now, I wanted an omnidirectional antenna to moni-

tor 6 meters. Because the Squalo is still around, I pur-
chased one. The price is a bit higher now, though —
almost 20 times higher!

Overview
The ASQ-6 Squalo, or square halo, is a horizontally
polarized omnidirectional antenna. It is a half-wave
dipole folded into a square. Unlike the Squalo I pur-
chased in 1966, which had a gamma-match feed, the
current Squalo uses a ferrite balun. However, like the
original, the current Squalo is rated at 200 W PEP. It is
designed to mount on a 1.25-inch OD TV-style mast.

Figure 6 — All the parts for the Cushcraft ASQ-6 Squalo antenna.

Bottom Line
The Cushcraft ASQ-6 Squalo
provides omnidirectional per-
formance on the 6-meter
band. It is great for casual
operations on the Magic Band.
Figure 5 — The Cushcraft ASQ-6 boxed up.

www.arrl.org QST November 2023 47

 Figure 8 — The Cushcraft ASQ-6
tuned SWR curve.

Figure 7 — Internal view of the balun Figure 9 — The Cushcraft ASQ-6

included with the Cushcraft ASQ-6. Squalo mounted on the reviewer’s
chimney.

Assembly, Tuning, and Mounting wooden fence, in order to check resonance. I found
The ASQ-6 comes fully disassembled in a 3 × 4 × that rather than 32 inches, I needed to adjust the width
45-inch box. All hardware is aluminum, fiberglass, and to 28.75-inch tubing center to center. Figure 8 shows
stainless steel (except for the galvanized mast bracket; the SWR curve, which has the lowest SWR at 50.2
see Figures 5 and 6). MHz. Later, I found that when I mounted the Squalo in
its final position on my chimney (see Figure 9), the
The first thing I noticed was that the balun output resonant frequency dropped 80 kHz, to 50.120 MHz.
screws were loose. There were no lock washers under
the mounting nuts. I opened the balun box in order to Operation and Conclusion
add two #8 stainless-steel split lock washers. I made I’ve been having a lot of fun again on 6-meter CW and
one other change. As you can see in Figure 7, there is SSB. From my location in central Texas, I’ve easily
a white nylon tie wrap holding the two external ferrites worked all over the continental US with my 100 W
in place. I replaced this with a sun-resistant black tie Elecraft K3. While not a high-performance antenna,
wrap. It will be interesting to see how well the plastic the ASQ-6 Squalo will provide plenty of contacts when
balun box holds up to the elements over time. 6 meters is open. And no rotator is necessary!
The actual assembly took only about 30 minutes (see Manufacturer: Cushcraft (MFJ Enterprises), 300 Indus-
the lead photo). The only mildly confusing instruction trial Park Rd., Starkville, Mississippi 39759, www.
was that the balun could be attached to either insulator. mfjenterprises.com. Price: $220.
However, it is apparent that it can only be attached to
the larger insulator. Also, for ease of assembly, attach
the balun brackets to the balun first, and then to the
insulator. It would have been nice if Cushcraft had
Explore the QST Product Review Archive
included a couple of tie wraps, which are necessary for
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attaching the balun cable and your feed line to the and-short-takes-columns
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­publication, or by manufacturer’s name.
The boom sets the Squalo boom length dimension to
25.25 inches (tubing center to center), so tuning occurs
by adjusting the antenna width. The assembly manual
suggests a width of 32 inches for resonance at 50.125
MHz (the SSB calling frequency). I temporarily mount-
ed the ASQ-6 on an 8-foot pole, leaning against a

48 November 2023 QST www.arrl.org