Overview
The GW Instek GDS-820C is a dual-channel digital storage oscilloscope engineered for benchtop electronic testing, signal analysis, and laboratory waveform measurement. Manufactured by Good Will Instrument Co., Ltd., the instrument features an analog bandwidth of 150 MHz and provides equivalent-time sampling alongside real-time waveform capture.
Technical Specifications
| Attribute | Details |
| Manufacturer | GW Instek (Good Will Instrument Co., Ltd.) |
| Model | GDS-820C |
| Instrument Type | Digital Storage Oscilloscope |
| Bandwidth | 150 MHz |
| Input Channels | 2 analog channels plus external trigger |
| Equivalent-Time Sampling Rate | 25 GS/s |
| Input Impedance | 1 Megohm in parallel with 22 pF |
| Maximum Input Rating | 300 Volts Category II (300 Volts peak) |
| Probe Compensation Output | 2 Volts peak-to-peak |
| Display Architecture | Color liquid crystal display |
| Primary Trigger Modes | Edge, Auto, Single, TV |
| Interface Ports | USB and RS-232 serial communication |
Physical Description
The unit is housed in a compact benchtop enclosure with an integrated carry handle, folding front tilt legs, and a molded front bezel. The front panel is anchored on the left by a color liquid crystal display screen framed by five soft-function keys labeled F1 through F5. The control surface to the right of the display is grouped into distinct operating clusters for acquisition, measurement, utility, trigger, horizontal timebase, and vertical deflection settings. The vertical channel interface features independent rotary dials for volts-per-division and vertical positioning, accented by backlit pushbuttons for Channel 1, Channel 2, and mathematical operations. Three standard BNC connectors are aligned along the lower edge for Channel 1, Channel 2, and external trigger inputs, accompanied by a dedicated probe compensation terminal lug.
History
The GDS-800 series was developed by GW Instek during the broader industry transition from legacy analog cathode-ray tube oscilloscopes to compact digital storage instrumentation. As microcontroller and digital circuit designs accelerated in clock speeds, test benches required broader bandwidths, digital trace storage, and automated parameter calculations that standard analog scopes could not provide.
GW Instek positioned the GDS-820C as a versatile, 150 MHz solution within the lineup, integrating equivalent-time sampling rates up to 25 gigasamples per second to reliably resolve fast repetitive signal transitions. Designed primarily for educational laboratories, field servicing, and light manufacturing test lines, the platform introduced automated measurement suites, digital math functions, and computerized data transfer capabilities over USB and serial interfaces.