Rohde & Schwarz Oscilloscopes - Questions/Comments? Let me know!

[ruairi]

Hi Rich,

I got an email from the R&S mailing list today titled "New White Paper: Fundamentals of an RF Design".  I nervously clicked the link and ……. it brought me straight to the white paper!  No repeated sign in and no unnecessary contact!

This is great, I'll read on my lunch break today.

You guys are writing excellent materials, I'd include a direct link if I had it.

Cheers,
Ruairi

[Rich@RohdeScopesUSA]

Hi Rich,

I got an email from the R&S mailing list today titled "New White Paper: Fundamentals of an RF Design".  I nervously clicked the link and ……. it brought me straight to the white paper!  No repeated sign in and no unnecessary contact!

This is great, I'll read on my lunch break today.

You guys are writing excellent materials, I'd include a direct link if I had it.

Cheers,
Ruairi

Nice!  I'm not going to say we are perfect (because we're not  ), but we are trying! 

-Rich

[GlennB]

Hi Rich,
I just joined EEVblog because of your original post :-)
I have three R&S questions:
1. when did R&S come out with their first swept-frequency (superheterodyne) spectrum analyzer?
(I know you're a 'scope guy' so maybe you have to ask around internally)(I think ca. 1968-70, but I can't find it anywhere on the net)

2. Please correct me if I'm wrong...but each of the 4 input channels on my (2012) RTO 1024 has it's own 10 GS/sec ADC, correct?
This is to answer a nerd argument: someone is telling me the actual sampling rate is MUCH lower, and also, that the RTO 1024 is based on a 2 GS/s Hameg design.
Which sounds pretty fishy to me

3. Is there any hope to get a sw update from R&S to fix this miserable GUI?
The RTO 1024 is an amazing machine but hobbled by a klunky user interface... (dare I say I'm a committed LeCroy man..?  :-o)
:-o
Many thanks in advance for your kind attention and
Best Regards,
Glenn B

[Rich@RohdeScopesUSA]

Hi Rich,
I just joined EEVblog because of your original post :-)
I have three R&S questions:
1. when did R&S come out with their first swept-frequency (superheterodyne) spectrum analyzer?
(I know you're a 'scope guy' so maybe you have to ask around internally)(I think ca. 1968-70, but I can't find it anywhere on the net)

2. Please correct me if I'm wrong...but each of the 4 input channels on my (2012) RTO 1024 has it's own 10 GS/sec ADC, correct?
This is to answer a nerd argument: someone is telling me the actual sampling rate is MUCH lower, and also, that the RTO 1024 is based on a 2 GS/s Hameg design.
Which sounds pretty fishy to me

3. Is there any hope to get a sw update from R&S to fix this miserable GUI?
The RTO 1024 is an amazing machine but hobbled by a klunky user interface... (dare I say I'm a committed LeCroy man..?  :-o)
:-o
Many thanks in advance for your kind attention and
Best Regards,
Glenn B

Hi Glenn - thanks for joining - I think you'll find EEVBlog is a pretty great place!  With respect to your questions:

1.  I'll have to ask
2.  Each RTO1000 (and RTO2000) channel has a custom R&S designed, monolithic, 10GS/s ADC.  For the RTO1044/RTO2044 (4GHz) and RTO2064 (6GHz) we interleave two ADCs to give 20GS/s behind 2 channels.  You are correct.
3.  I'm sorry you are frustrated with the UI.  What firmware are you on?  Are you Win7 or XP?  We've made a lot of updates to the UI over time based on user feedback so it may be that there are some changes you haven't seen yet.

-Rich

[kwass]

Rich,

I've been using the UART decode quit a bit recently and came across a couple of things:

1) The Bus Table status does is not saved across reboots.  When the scope is started it always thinks that the bus table was last in the off mode.  It also does not remember the location/size of the table.

2) It would be a big help if the pattern trigger did not have to be at a fixed position in the frame, often you know the data you're looking for but not the position.  The single character trigger works to search anywhere in the data stream but it would be great if the pattern trigger would also.

Thanks,

[Rich@RohdeScopesUSA]

Rich,

I've been using the UART decode quit a bit recently and came across a couple of things:

1) The Bus Table status does is not saved across reboots.  When the scope is started it always thinks that the bus table was last in the off mode.  It also does not remember the location/size of the table.

2) It would be a big help if the pattern trigger did not have to be at a fixed position in the frame, often you know the data you're looking for but not the position.  The single character trigger works to search anywhere in the data stream but it would be great if the pattern trigger would also.

Thanks,

Hi Katie,

Thanks - I'll pass these on.

-Rich

[pulsewidthmodul]

Hi,

i just received my RTB2002 and i'm playing around with it to learn how to use it.

With the Videotrigger Option i may found a bug.
Trigger set to Video 720p, feeding a 720p Signal the scope triggers on falling edge of the Tri-Level Sync pulse, aacording to SMPTE 240M standard the trigger should be where the negative (-300mV) pulse goes to positive (+300mV.)
 
Or is it just me doing something wrong?

Thanks a lot

P

[Rich@RohdeScopesUSA]

Hi,

i just received my RTB2002 and i'm playing around with it to learn how to use it.

With the Videotrigger Option i may found a bug.
Trigger set to Video 720p, feeding a 720p Signal the scope triggers on falling edge of the Tri-Level Sync pulse, aacording to SMPTE 240M standard the trigger should be where the negative (-300mV) pulse goes to positive (+300mV.)
 
Or is it just me doing something wrong?

Thanks a lot

P

Hi - yes, it does appear to be a bug with the polarity.  R&D will get it fixed up.  Thanks.

-Rich

[Ghislain]

Hi Rich,

Any new firmware updates for the RTB2000 series on the horizon?

[pulsewidthmodul]

Any new firmware updates for the RTB2000 series on the horizon?

anything new on this?

[Rich@RohdeScopesUSA]

Any new firmware updates for the RTB2000 series on the horizon?

anything new on this?

I'm expecting an update for the 2000/3000/4000 in late April to early May.

-Rich

[KaneTW]

Are there student discounts for the RTB2004 available in Germany? I'm monitoring the bargain shop, but who knows when something will appear there.

[Rich@RohdeScopesUSA]

Are there student discounts for the RTB2004 available in Germany? I'm monitoring the bargain shop, but who knows when something will appear there.

Hi KaneTW - unfortunately, this isn't my area of expertise as I don't do anything outside of the US and Canada    Having said that, I imagine there is something and would encourage you to ping your local distributor.

Sorry I wasn't more help.

-Rich

[nugglix]

Are there student discounts for the RTB2004 available in Germany? I'm monitoring the bargain shop, but who knows when something will appear there.

Some distributors do have special offers.
Example: http://www.datatec.de/shop/artikelpdf/sonderposten_d.pdf

I'm not affiliated with them by any means.
But bought a scope there. 

[Rich@RohdeScopesUSA]

Hi Everyone,

The new firmware for the 2000/3000/4000 has released (you've probably already seen the 2000 firmware that came out about a week ago, but just in case):

RTB2000:
https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/firmware/rtb2000/

RTM3000:
https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/firmware/rtm3000/

RTA4000:
https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/firmware/rta4000/

Enjoy!
Rich

[LaurentR]

Hi Rich,
do you know when the User Manual will get updated to reflect the firmware additions?

[mikeselectricstuff]

Minor bug on RTM3004 - not sure if it is new in the new FW, not tested on RTB2000
If you have UART TX and RX decode, then go to zoomed mode, the TX and RX traces overlap ( does it regardless of decode trace height) 

[Kean]

The new firmware for the 2000/3000/4000 has released (you've probably already seen the 2000 firmware that came out about a week ago, but just in case):

Rich, is there somewhere we can subscribe to notifications of firmware or errata?  Other than this thread I mean.
I had a look around the website, but didn't find a place to register for this.  I am starting from the R&S AU website... but this is easy on Keysight and Rigol websites! 

[sixtimesseven]

Hi Rich

The new firmware worked so far and added some nice additions, thank you.
I would have some additional small feature requests:

On the decoder side:
1. RS422/485 decoding options
2. Ability to export the time difference between packages on the protocol list to cvs as well
3. Ability to get the protocol list data via browser / scpi to the pc

On the analog side
1. Bode plotting for mag/phase with the integrated sig. gen. Carrying a pc to do it in software is a pain.

Thank you so much!

[mikeselectricstuff]

Hi Rich

The new firmware worked so far and added some nice additions, thank you.
I would have some additional small feature requests:

On the decoder side:
1. RS422/485 decoding options

This can be done using UART decode in the vast majority of situations. If your data is so noisy that you really need the differential input then you probably have bigger problems than protocol decoding.
 

[sixtimesseven]

Hi Rich

The new firmware worked so far and added some nice additions, thank you.
I would have some additional small feature requests:

On the decoder side:
1. RS422/485 decoding options

This can be done using UART decode in the vast majority of situations. If your data is so noisy that you really need the differential input then you probably have bigger problems than protocol decoding.
 

Hi Mike

Yes this is true. However we often have rather long and noisy RS422 connections which I would like to probe without carrying my converter with me.
Looking into the options I think all it would take is the option to decode on top of the math channel.

[MikeP]

 Rich.
 In the great RTM3004 review, nctnico mentioned the Autoscale function as requiring refinement. This is good feature, thanks. Unfortunately, this function turns off the REF function. And the button is not located in the most convenient way. Often Instead  the channel menu, I enable the Autoscale. Is it possible to swap the Autoscale button and the Probe button?

 Thanks.

[Rich@RohdeScopesUSA]

Hi Rich

The new firmware worked so far and added some nice additions, thank you.
I would have some additional small feature requests:

On the decoder side:
1. RS422/485 decoding options
2. Ability to export the time difference between packages on the protocol list to cvs as well
3. Ability to get the protocol list data via browser / scpi to the pc

On the analog side
1. Bode plotting for mag/phase with the integrated sig. gen. Carrying a pc to do it in software is a pain.

Thank you so much!

Thanks - this is good feedback.  It looks like you may have already answered one of my questions on the 422/485 - basically you'd like to be able to use a math function to subtract two channels and then decode on that function?  Is that correct?

-Rich

[sixtimesseven]

Hi Rich

The new firmware worked so far and added some nice additions, thank you.
I would have some additional small feature requests:

On the decoder side:
1. RS422/485 decoding options
2. Ability to export the time difference between packages on the protocol list to cvs as well
3. Ability to get the protocol list data via browser / scpi to the pc

On the analog side
1. Bode plotting for mag/phase with the integrated sig. gen. Carrying a pc to do it in software is a pain.

Thank you so much!

Thanks - this is good feedback.  It looks like you may have already answered one of my questions on the 422/485 - basically you'd like to be able to use a math function to subtract two channels and then decode on that function?  Is that correct?

-Rich

Yes, that would be great!

[sixtimesseven]

Rich, I found a new reference to option R&S RTB-K18 "spectrum analysis". Are new options coming  ?