Hi Guys, I've been asked to Post a SOLUTION to...
HACKING THE RIGOL DS2000A SERIES OSCILLOSCOPE and to explain to everyone HOW TO GET
70MHz Unlocked/Upgraded to 300 MHz Bandwidth and
All the Trial Options Unlocked/Upgraded to fully Licensed Options
I had purchased a DS2072A a few months ago with 70MHz and Trial options
My Scope Currently Has 300MHz Bandwidth Unlocked, and all the Trials including 56 Mpts Memory Depth
So.. Here we go, I'm going to try to be as short as possible, However i want to do the respect of Giving Credit to those who made this Possible and to briefly give background
as to what's going on, so that you don't have to read and sift through, The Currently 229 page Monster Post, Known as
[Sniffing the Rigols Internal I2C Bus]
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/sniffing-the-rigol_s-internal-i2c-bus/if your a tech junkie, like me and you want to know how it all came about and you want to know every step that was taken in the troubleshooting, be my guest,
I've read it 3 Times, and i still like it
but.. for some, information is hard to find and it's all over the place. so...
My intention for this post is to Provide a Smaller , Easier to read Post, So.. Here goes.
THIS POST IS ONLY INTENDED FOR YOU IF YOU OWN OR ARE BUYING A DS200A SERIES RIGOL OSCILLOSCOPE
it is not For DS2000 Series (Although some of the instructions can be used)
it is not for the DS1000 Series
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ THIS POST YOU CAN JUST EMAIL ME AND WE'LL DO A SKYPE SESSION AND I'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO DO IT... OK
Now.. The Whole thing Started like this...
- Rigol Made a bunch of scopes and with all their scopes they decided that instead of Making 1 Scope, eg. DS2072A 70 Mhz then Making another scope that was capable of 100 MHz
then making another that was capable or 200MHz then another for 300MHz,
They took the easy road and Created the DS2000A Series to be capable of 300MHz, HOWEVER, THE FIRMWARE WAS THE LIMITATION.
This Firmware Meant that the scope could be locked to a Certain Bandwidth and hence they would charge you for differing bandwidths.
so.. if you wanted 70MHz you paid about $1000 and if you later want to upgrade to 300 MHz you would pay around $3000
All that is required to be done by the techie at Rigol or Emona Instruments is that he pops in a USB stick and Unlocks the Firmware Option to 300 MHz (it's piss easy and Takes about 5 Mins to
do, Very tidy profit margin in that 5 Mins , wouldn't you agree LOL)
So are we clear on this, All the DS2000A Scopes are capable of 300MHz Bandwidth, Not 200MHz it's 300MHz Definitely. So don't keep asking ok, YES.. IT'S 300MHZ
- Now andyturk became a curious little chappy, butchered his scope FOR ALL OUR BENEFITS (so, let's all show the respect that is deserved), and discovered that the Rigol I2C Bus
Had Decodable information..
- With the help of CYBERNET (Most Notably) and Many others, and about 299 Pages of Posting later and Dave Freaking out over how huge this Post became, and let's give a thanks to dave
for the Side by Side Comparion of the DS1000 and the DS2000 Blog.
so.. after all that WE HAVE A SOLUTION [and i have to admit, if you followed it, it was a really cool journey of discovery] Trust me, Read the entire post sometime from start to finish.
anywhoo...
it all started with the DS1000 Series, then it went to the DS2000Series then to the DS2000A Series, each series has it's own Max Bandwidth, i think with the DS1000 it was 200MHz
Anyway, this post is Dedicated to the DS2000A incidentally , it's not the DS2000A-S i haven't tested this on that platform.
So.. thats the History lesson and how it all came about, OH
on other thing we need to show respect to, madcrow Even though he doesn't feel he is worthy of it,.. in my eyes , He is.
After the solution came about, it was still complicated, madcrow was responsible for simplifying everything into one solution he called the DS2000A Upgrade Utility.
because.... before it
a) You had to Request the Drivers from Rigol, it's not like Just downloading a Graphics card driver
b) Then there was the NiVisa software, Man that was a Headache, the NiVisa Site does not have a stable server, i tried 7 Times with a 115Mbps connection before i finally got a proper uncorrupted download
c) there were dependancies that had to be installed
d)There was a Public key and you had to know how to Modify the Firmware in order to make it compatible to your meter
BOTTOM LINE, if you care to know how it all progressed... be My Guest
Read the Post 229 Pages, and still out of control
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/sniffing-the-rigol%27s-internal-i2c-bus/3420/SO.. then MADCROW takes all this information and using his Software Programming skills [Thanks mate for making life that much easier, appreciate it]
Madcrow creates his
DS200A - UPGRADE UTILITY
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/ds2000a-upgrade-utility/Thanks to him YOU DON'T NEED TO DO A SINGLE THING,
SO NOW.. MOVING FORWARD TO THE SOLUTIONThere are 2 Ways you can attack this
1. The Easiest Way... Contact me on martin@btotechnicalexperts.com.au and i will arrange a skype session time with you and we'll get it done.
2. Start here and follow the steps (Nothing to be scared off, no viruses, and the steps are really easy, YOU JUST NEED TO READ IT)
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/ds2000a-upgrade-utility/ at the bottom of the first post by MADCROW there are THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS
Standard edition (with installer) ------------------------------------------ NOT THIS ONE
Portable edition
VirusTotal analysis of the Portable edition
Mirrored on
http://gotroot.ca, courtesy of VE7XEN:
Standard edition (with installer) ---------------------------------------------------YOU SELECT THIS ONE
Portable edition
Quick note on this
YOU MAY get a message from your Antivirus Program saying that there is a Suspicious Pythia or Trojan or some bullshit (and it's just that, ... bullshit)
it's a false positive, Ignore it and deactivate your Antivirus for the process
However that only happens if you download the top one, You shouldn't have the issue with the bottom one.
GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW TO AVOID TROUBLE1. YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING - a) a Windows Environment of Windows Vista or better, (i don't think Windows 8 is supported, i could be wrong), i did it with Windows 7, worked fine.
a Linux Solution does exist, However its not automated, this Utility Runs of a .exe file, therefore it won't run under Linux
b) if you skyping me, You will obviously need Skype and a Webcam with Microphone
c) You will need to start with your Scope at a Min Software Version of 1.0
Most Scopes will now come out with 2.0, so your ok, the Current Firmware Version is 3.0 FYI
d) to ascertain your Hardware Version follow the following steps on your Scope
d1) Find the Orange "HELP" Button at the top left of your DS2000A Scope
d2) now that you've done look to the LEFT of that button, You will see 6 Buttons as follows..
MEASURE / AQUIRE / STORAGE /CURSOR /DISPLAY /UTILITY these are your top level buttons, everything starts from here.
d3) Press the "UTILITY" button and you will find that a Menu will pop out
d4) Press the GREY UNMARKED BUTTON to the Right of the word "SYSTEM" You see how this works....... good
d5) Press the GREY UNMARKED BUTTON to the Right of the Word "SYSTEM INFO"
You will get something that looks like this
SYSTEM INFORMATION
-------------------------------------------------------
Manufacturer: Rigol Technologies
Model: DS2072A
Serial: DS2D160000000 (THIS IS YOUR SERIAL NUMBER, DON'T POST IT ONLINE, It won't have zeros, it will have numbers .. OK)
Software Version: 00.02.01 (This is what you want, this is Version 2.01)
Hardware Version: 2.0
-------------------------------------------------------
Now.. FYI before the upgrade your System Info will Look Like this
SYSTEM INFORMATION
-------------------------------------------------------
Manufacturer: Rigol Technologies
Model: DS2072A
Serial: DS2D160000000
Software Version: 00.02.01
Hardware Version: 2.0
-------------------------------------------------------
AFTER IT WILL LOOK LIKE THIS
SYSTEM INFORMATION
-------------------------------------------------------
Manufacturer: Rigol Technologies
Model: DS2302A -----------------Notice the Model Number Change
Serial: DS2D160000000
Software Version: 00.02.01 ------------------ Maybe the version will also Change
Hardware Version: 2.0
-------------------------------------------------------
Now, if you use the same Navigation Method as above
Go to the following Directory level
UTILITY / OPTIONS / INSTALLED
My Scope Looked Like this BEFORE THE HACK (i took photos, therefore the information is accurate)
option Type Option Name Option Edition Time Left
ADVANCED TRIGGER Windows Trial Version 861 Minute
Nth Edge Trial Version 861 Minute
HDTV Trial Version 861 Minute
Delay Trial Version 861 Minute
Timeout Trial Version 861 Minute
Dur Trial Version 861 Minute
USB Trial Version 861 Minute
DECODE RS232 Trial Version 861 Minute
SPI Trial Version 861 Minute
I2C Trial Version 861 Minute
PROTOCOL ANALYSIS CAN Trial Version 861 Minute
MEM_DEPTH 56M/28M Trial Version 861 Minute
[Where's the bandwidth option , You may ask..... Be Patient My Young Jedi]
so.. these are all the Trials that we also will Unlock, and further to it, we will unlock 300MHz Bandwidth and IT WILLSHOW UP UNDER MEM_DEPTH
Check back here after the upgrade
e) Here are some things that will give you headaches
1) THE UPGRADE UTILITY WILL TAKE ABOUT 20 MINS TO INSTALL, so.. Don't sit there and be like ... is it frozen, Chances are , it's not, Just be patient, Make a cup of coffee and sit back and be
thankful to Madcrow for the priviledge of NOT HAVING TO DO ANYTHING DIFFICULT and the fact that he just saved You $2000
[Once again, madcrow, Massive Respect to you and Cybernet, thanks Dude and everyone else who participated who are too numerous to name, everyone put in a piece to the puzzle]
2) Once all that is installed RESTART YOUR COMPUTER (No, it's not all bullshit, ACTUALLY RESTART YOUR COMPUTER NOW....it is important
3) When following Madcrow's instructions on the utility, and when you plug in your Scope to the USB port on your computer, YOU MAY GET AN ISSUE OF NON DETECTING OF THE USB DEVICE
Troubleshoot as follows :
3a) ENSURE THAT THE SCOPE IS PLUGGED INTO YOUR COMPUTER AND HAS A USB CABLE FROM COMPUTER TO SCOPE (Front USB Port)
3b) Go to DEVICE MANAGER, and Confirm that the Driver has been installed for the scope
if you don't know how.. do this
START BUTTON /
right Click on COMPUTER
Select MANAGE
Select DEVICE MANAGER
THE DRIVER WILL SHOW UP AS "USB VIRTUALISATION DEVICE" (if there is NO Yellow Question Mark, Your Good to go)
3c) if it still doesn't detect, THAT MEANS THE FOLLOWING
Your Scope has 2 USB Ports, 1 USB (A Type) in the Front and a USB (B Type) in the Rear
the front one is Defined as the PictBridge Port,
the Rear is defined as the Computer Port
You can only use one at a time, so.. if you have the rear one selected and your plugged into the front one.. it logically, won't work.. Right
ON YOUR SCOPE
go to this menu
UTILITY / IO SETTING / USB DEVICE
When you have your USB A Cable end plugged into the front of the scope,
this Value has to be set to PictBridge
DO THAT AND YOU WILL FIND THAT THE SCOPE WILL DETECT IN THE UPGRADE UTILITY SOFTWARE.
f) YOU WILL NEED A USB STICK FORMATTED TO FAT32, it has to be completely blank, Basically any size will do , the file is really small
g) NOW.. HERE'S THE TRICKY PART
YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO PUT THE SCOPE INTO FIRMWARE UPDATE MODE
The Utility Explains it very clearly, But let me make it even clearer
The instructions are
g 1) Turn OFF the Scope
g2) PRACTICE THIS BEFORE YOU TURN ON THE SCOPE
g3)Don't worry if you stuff up, , worst case scenario, you go back to step g1 and start over
g4) Put Your LEFT THUMB on the POWER BUTTON
g5) Put Your RIGHT THUMB on the "HELP" button
GOT THAT
Now, this is what you do
from the moment that you press the Power button, You have HALF A SECOND to press the HELP BUTTON FIRMLY DOWN
so.. it's
Press the Power Button and let go
Press the Help Button Firmly and let go
IF YOU DID IT CORRECTLY, the "SINGLE" Button will be SOLID ORANGE
if you didn't, the scope will just boot up as per normal
if it does start up normally, TUN OFF THE SCOPE AND REPEAT THE PROCESS .........DO IT FASTER
Once you got that down pat
Run Your Upgrade Utility software
with the scope connected
Have the USB Stick IN THE COMPUTER TO BEGIN WITH
Follow the Instructions
the Software will create the .GEL file for the firmware that you need
The software will Detect your USB stick and do this
the Software will detect your Scope as well
After the .GEL file is created you need to put the USB stick into your Scope
and put the scope into upgrade mode
ONCE YOU PUT IN THE USB STICK
if the scope detects the .GEL file and reads it correctly
YOU WILL SEE THE "CH1" Button Flash GREEN (This is normal, it means that communication is taking place and it's upgrading your meter)
be patient it takes about 2-3 minutes (This is the part where you will be saying "How do i know when it's done")
YOU WILL KNOW BECAUSE .... All of the lights on the Scope will come ON
at that point, Keep Your Scope Connected to the Computer and Restart Your Scope
then the software will bring you to a page that will ask you to select OPTIONS
Obviously this is a No Brainer
Select the option that says something like
300MHz + All Options (something to that effect)
after all that is done and you hit the finish button
Restart your scope and check the system info to see the following
Trial options should change to OFFICIAL VERSION
The Model Number will Change
Possibly the Software Version will change
You will See a BANDWIDTH 300M BandWidth official Version option
and that's that
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS LET ME KNOW, I'M HERE TO HELP
Sorry for the long Post, But at least it's not 229 Pages Until you get to a solution and Get Totally confused by the end of it
Be Cool Guys and Enjoy Your Scopes
And Remember
That the following people Saved you approx $2000 Perhaps more, if you consider all the options unlocked
so.. Let's Give Credit and Thanks to the following (if i missed someone i apologise)
Top of the List has to go to
CYBERNET (bloody good work mate)
Then
Zombie28
Madcrow (for putting it all into 1 Easy container as you like to put it
)
andyturk (for Sacrificing his Scope LOL)
Ve7xen
Studio25
marmad
and all the rest who contributed.
THAT'S IT... THAT'S THE SUMMARY OF THE LONG POST
BE COOL GUYS