New Rigol DS1054Z oscilloscope

[Fungus]

Is the UI a tad more responsive? Or just placebo effect?

I'm thinking of a way to quantify that before I upgrade mine. I want to compare before/after.

OTOH if the difference isn't instantly obvious then they probably didn't change it.

[JPortici]

HOLY SHIT IT IS (faster. a tiny noticeable bit)!
Also, the vertical reference updates with the waveform and not after a long couple of seconds. nice.
only thing left is the retarded horizontal offset knob acceleration
rms bug seems to be no more
wow. they can actually fix stuff

edit: no. only at slower time bases

[IAmBack]

I don't find UI to be bothersome... I will check it more later..

And it does say +Pulses and -Pulses [snippety snip]

On the menu, yes...on the on-screen measurement it's still Pluses.
Ah well, I will not complain for my scope having so many pluses over the competition...

Is the UI a tad more responsive? Or just placebo effect?

Hopefully they won't fix it to "+Pluses" and "-Minuses"
Math->Filter error (timeshift) still present.

[newbrain]

Is the UI a tad more responsive? Or just placebo effect?

I'm thinking of a way to quantify that before I upgrade mine. I want to compare before/after.

OTOH if the difference isn't instantly obvious then they probably didn't change it.

I think I noticed a difference, but it might be just my memory...maybe someone with the old version (you?) could confirm:
When I adjust the vertical position even at slow scan rates (200ms/div) the whole trace moves up and down almost smoothly without waiting for the new scan.
Is this the same behaviour as before? I seem to remember that the position update waited for the refresh.

I should have waited...instead I just confirmed that the RMS bug was then updated and checked it's now gone.

[bitseeker]

"Pluses": Still there

RMS crosstalk: Fixed. Yay!

Speed: Unsure. I was on 4.03.SP1 before, which supposedly wasn't slow. I didn't specifically move the trace up/down just before upgrading to 4.04.01.01 in order to compare. The speed on 4.04.01.01 seems OK to me. When setting it to a very slow scan (1.00s), the trace will immediately stop when you change the vertical position so that you don't have to wait. However, it can take several seconds for the trace to resume after you've stopped moving the trace up/down.

[TurboTom]

At minimum sampling memory depth it´s fairly smooth (not to compare with a Keysight), but at higher or auto mem depth setting, it´s still a PITA. I´m not too sure if the instrument got more responsive, I rather just might have got used to it. Otherwise, the new firmware appears to be a good one... 

Cheers,
Thomas

[newbrain]

However, it can take several seconds for the trace to resume after you've stopped moving the trace up/down.

I predict that with the trigger in its default mid-screen position it will take about 6 seconds (at 1s/div)

[Fungus]

OK, I just updated mine.

Before I did it I had a good fiddle with the vertical position to get a good idea of what it was like before.

They seem to have tweaked it a little bit.

The way it works is that the trace on screen doesn't move until you stop twiddling the knob, only the little marker at the side of the screen moves. This is the same before+after.

The movement of the little marker is much better after the update. Before it was easy to overshoot and have to go back a little bit. That doesn't happen any more. It's much easier to get the marker to a specific place on screen first time.

A tiny improvement, but it's there. It shows they're working on it.

[newbrain]

They seem to have tweaked it a little bit.

Thanks you, Fungus, for reassuring me about the working state of what's left of my neurons!

Where I don't see an improvement is in the horizontal scrolling in zoom mode, it still has the crazy acceleration as in:
- You start to move slowly
- Almost no reaction
- So you accelerate somewhat
- Still no reaction
- You accelerate a bit more
- "Oh, then they are in a hurry!"
- Bang! to the left or right end of the screen.
- Rinse and repeat.

[Dwaine]

Nice to see the RMS bug fixed.

It must be just me, but I really like the UI on the Rigol scopes.   I like it better than the rest of the manufactures.   I don't know why people complain about it.  It looks more polished than the other scopes in this price range.  It would be nice if Rigol offer a 9 or 10 inch LCD touch screen with this scope, but for the price.  I like it?

Dwaine

[bitseeker]

Yep, gotta like it. For larger screens or ones with touch, it's a lot more money. This little guy works just fine for my purposes and it's easy to take it with me when needed.

[alsetalokin4017]

OK, I just updated mine.

Before I did it I had a good fiddle with the vertical position to get a good idea of what it was like before.

They seem to have tweaked it a little bit.

The way it works is that the trace on screen doesn't move until you stop twiddling the knob, only the little marker at the side of the screen moves. This is the same before+after.

The movement of the little marker is much better after the update. Before it was easy to overshoot and have to go back a little bit. That doesn't happen any more. It's much easier to get the marker to a specific place on screen first time.

A tiny improvement, but it's there. It shows they're working on it.

That's strange... Just upgraded my firmware too, but on mine, the trace moves in time with the vertical position knob and the baseline marker catches up when I stop moving the knob. This behaviour depends somewhat on the timebase setting.

[netdudeuk]

I've done a search both here and with Google but cannot find out what has to be done to recalibrate or whatever else after a firmware update. I've got the scope just under two years ago and would like to update for the first time so any advice regarding this would be appreciated.  Calibration, gotchas, etc.  Thanks.

[alsetalokin4017]

Copy the .GEL firmware file to a USB thumbdrive that you know works in your scope.
With the scope already running, insert the USB drive in the front panel socket of the scope.
The scope should identify the new .GEL file by version number and ask if you want to install it. The newly released file is version 00.04.04.01.01.
Tell the scope that you do want to install the new firmware.
Make sure you don't have any power failure during the update and don't remove the USB drive until it finishes.
Once the scope tells you that the update has completed, remove the USB drive and cycle the power.
Let the scope warm up for at least a half hour in the environment where you intend to be using it. (Ambient temperature changes affect the calibration.)
Remove all inputs from all BNC connectors.
Run the Self-Calibration routine found in Utility>Self-Cal>Start
It can take 20 minutes or so for the Self-Cal routine to complete.
After the Self-Calibration is done, cycle the power again.
Now connect to a signal source and go and make some pretty colored squiggly lines!

Note that you cannot roll back to an earlier firmware once a later one is installed. (Actually I haven't tested this with the very latest firmware but I expect it still to be true.)

The partial System Info screen will identify the new firmware as 00.04.04.SP1. To see the complete System Information screen, press _very fast_ the buttons in the Trigger section: Menu Menu Force Menu, then Utility>System>System Info. This will show the complete version numbers for the entire software suite in the scope.

[McBryce]

I assume this update doesn't undo any "liberated" features either?

McBryce.

[alsetalokin4017]

I assume this update doesn't undo any "liberated" features either?

McBryce.

Correct.

[Dwaine]

I assume this update doesn't undo any "liberated" features either?

McBryce.

They are still good.  No issue.

[McBryce]

Good stuff, will update tonight

McBryce.

[Fungus]

That's strange... Just upgraded my firmware too, but on mine, the trace moves in time with the vertical position knob and the baseline marker catches up when I stop moving the knob. This behaviour depends somewhat on the timebase setting.

I had another play and yes, it depends on the timebase and (possibly) memory depth.

If you set a combination where the trace isn't very responsive (eg. 10ms timebase, "auto" memory depth) then the baseline marker moves first and the trace catches up later (when you stop twiddling the knob).

At 5ns timebase the trace moves first then the baseline marker catches up later. With one or two channels on it's really fast and it's still quite responsive even with all 4 channels on(!).

I didn't make an exact list but it looks like I was unlucky yesterday - most of the timebase/memory combinations are "trace moves first". I just happened to hit one that wasn't.

So yes, a BIG improvement.  Massive. Looks like the DS1000Z firmware team have returned.

[hansibull]

.. And I guess this update doesn't break my precious Riglol hack either?

[Fungus]

.. And I guess this update doesn't break my precious Riglol hack either?

Of course not.

[rstofer]

If there is an improvement in the UI, I didn't notice it.  With 4 channels and Auto sample memory, the display still lags.  Not that it matters...

It will never be the case that the UI will respond as well as turning a potentiometer that directly impacts the deflection circuit.

[netdudeuk]

Copy the .GEL firmware file to a USB thumbdrive that you know works in your scope.
With the scope already running, insert the USB drive in the front panel socket of the scope.
The scope should identify the new .GEL file by version number and ask if you want to install it. The newly released file is version 00.04.04.01.01.
Tell the scope that you do want to install the new firmware.
Make sure you don't have any power failure during the update and don't remove the USB drive until it finishes.
Once the scope tells you that the update has completed, remove the USB drive and cycle the power.
Let the scope warm up for at least a half hour in the environment where you intend to be using it. (Ambient temperature changes affect the calibration.)
Remove all inputs from all BNC connectors.
Run the Self-Calibration routine found in Utility>Self-Cal>Start
It can take 20 minutes or so for the Self-Cal routine to complete.
After the Self-Calibration is done, cycle the power again.
Now connect to a signal source and go and make some pretty colored squiggly lines!

Note that you cannot roll back to an earlier firmware once a later one is installed. (Actually I haven't tested this with the very latest firmware but I expect it still to be true.)

The partial System Info screen will identify the new firmware as 00.04.04.SP1. To see the complete System Information screen, press _very fast_ the buttons in the Trigger section: Menu Menu Force Menu, then Utility>System>System Info. This will show the complete version numbers for the entire software suite in the scope.

Thanks for comprehensive reply.  It gives me the confidence to do the upgrade and others will no doubt find this in future too.

[rstofer]

Copy the .GEL firmware file to a USB thumbdrive that you know works in your scope.
With the scope already running, insert the USB drive in the front panel socket of the scope.
The scope should identify the new .GEL file by version number and ask if you want to install it. The newly released file is version 00.04.04.01.01.
Tell the scope that you do want to install the new firmware.
Make sure you don't have any power failure during the update and don't remove the USB drive until it finishes.
Once the scope tells you that the update has completed, remove the USB drive and cycle the power.
Let the scope warm up for at least a half hour in the environment where you intend to be using it. (Ambient temperature changes affect the calibration.)
Remove all inputs from all BNC connectors.
Run the Self-Calibration routine found in Utility>Self-Cal>Start
It can take 20 minutes or so for the Self-Cal routine to complete.
After the Self-Calibration is done, cycle the power again.
Now connect to a signal source and go and make some pretty colored squiggly lines!

Note that you cannot roll back to an earlier firmware once a later one is installed. (Actually I haven't tested this with the very latest firmware but I expect it still to be true.)

The partial System Info screen will identify the new firmware as 00.04.04.SP1. To see the complete System Information screen, press _very fast_ the buttons in the Trigger section: Menu Menu Force Menu, then Utility>System>System Info. This will show the complete version numbers for the entire software suite in the scope.

Thanks for comprehensive reply.  It gives me the confidence to do the upgrade and others will no doubt find this in future too.

There are README instructions in the download as well.

[Karel]

I just tried the new fw for the Ds1000Z. First impressions:

1.) They fixed the *IDN? command which they broke in the version before and rendered
 a lot of software useless or had to make workarounds like sending *IDN?;:SYST:ERR? instead.
 I guess that's what they called "Supported the multi-inteface of LXI" in the release notes.
 Honestly, I think this is the only reason they released a new version so quickly. Not because of the RMS bug.

2.) The multi-channel waveform data download bug is still present.
 There's a time difference of 200 nS between the channels: