Spectrum Analyzer - Rigol DSA815

[videobruce]

How did you come across this "Guide" for the 815? is there one for the 1030(A)?

[ted572]

How did you come across this "Guide" for the 815? is there one for the 1030(A)?

No there is not a Service Guide for the DSA1030A (etc series), although there is a Performance Verification Guide at >  http://beyondmeasure.rigoltech.com/acton/attachment/1579/f-048e/1/-/-/-/-/DSA1030%20DSA1030A%20Performance%20Verification%20Guide.pdf

[ted572]

A new Rigol 2014 DSA800 Performance Verification Guide is attached:

[georges80]

A new Rigol 2014 DSA800 Performance Verification Guide is attached:

Amusing that all the calibration/verification test equipment they quote is agilent... and it would cost >>$10k

cheers,
george.

[ted572]

    CAUTION!  For Anyone Planning To Adjust The 'DSA815-TG 10MHz Clock (Freq. Std.) Frequency'

See the attached 'DS815-TG Calibration Menu .jpg' showing the > Maintenance, Service, Calibration menu

You have been alerted to the potential Hazard !!!    Please use CAUTION. . .     This is a vulnerable TRAP.

[ted572]

Installing DSA815 Options on units with Firmware 00.01.09.00.07 and Boot Loader version 00.01.03.
Note: It will NOT work for new Rigol production units with Firmware 00.01.09 and Boot Loader version 00.01.04.

 ***  Booting a Rigol DSA815 using a USB Drive (FAT32, without other files, or any directory) just a previous Firmware file in its root directory  ***
                                          For use when installing Rigol Options, etc that would not work/install with a newer Firmware.

This is how to re-load a previous version of Firmware when you can NOT install it per Rigol's Firmware Installation Procedure.

Inset a USB Drive in a DSA815 (that is known to function properly with the instrument) with a previous Firmware in the root directory.

When you first power up the instrument, a message should pop up in the lower left corner of the screen that says "Press 'Preset' (green button) to boot from U disk!".  With the USB Flash drive installed, press the Green Preset button 3-4 times right after you Power ON the DSA815.  With a USB Drive with nothing on it except for a firmware 'DSA800_UpdateFile.sys' file (in the Root Directory), the machine starts writing the file to itself while indicating its progress.  After it finishes this write process, it continues on with its Boot sequence.

Then to insure that the Firmware installation has completed fully, repeat using the Rigol Firmware Installation Procedure.
 
When you are done with any required modification such as installing Rigol Options, etc. (that would not work before with the newer Firmware), you can reinstall the newer Firmware using the Rigol Firmware Installation Procedure.

[thorswait]

Hi everyone, I'd just try booting from a previous version I recently bought a DSA815 with the 00.01.09 firmware version and with the version of boot 00.01.04 and it didn't work to get back to previous version 00.01.08, 00.01.07 and 00.01.06  I try several times each and I always get the message : Failed ...(UpdateFile Error!) I would like to try other firmware version if anyone could provide me with previous .sys  file.

Thanks
Regards,

[Orange]

Hi everyone, I'd just try booting from a previous version I recently bought a DSA815 with the 00.01.09 firmware version and with the version of boot 00.01.04 and it didn't work to get back to previous version 00.01.08, 00.01.07 and 00.01.06  I try several times each and I always get the message : Failed ...(UpdateFile Error!) I would like to try other firmware version if anyone could provide me with previous .sys  file.

Thanks
Regards,

Did you use the preset button procedure form above?

If that still fails, you can try to use another USB stick. Use a low storage capacity type like 1GByte or so.

[thorswait]

Hi Orange,

Yes I use the preset Button then push it three times as mention in the procedure below, but I use a 2Gb USB key ... I'll try with a 1Gb tonight (if I can find it). But  I doubt it would solve the problem because I'll already add success with this 2Gb key using the firmware on the is the 00.01.09.007 ... Anyway I'll give it a try tonight and let you know if anything changes.

Thanks for the reply,

[ted572]

Hi Orange,

Yes I use the preset Button then push it three times as mention in the procedure below, but I use a 2Gb USB key ... I'll try with a 1Gb tonight (if I can find it). But  I doubt it would solve the problem because I'll already add success with this 2Gb key using the firmware on the is the 00.01.09.007 ... Anyway I'll give it a try tonight and let you know if anything changes.

Thanks for the reply,

Are you using a empty USB drive with FAT32 format, no other files on it except the (one) firmware (.sys) file, and no directories (folders) on it at all.  You can use FW .06 or earlier for sure, although I think .07 and .08 also work.  I don't think it is the size of you USB Flash Drive.  The size was more important a couple of years ago.  I use SanDisk Cruzer Glide 8GB USB Flash Drives.  Please check the items I listed in the first sentence, which are critical using the Boot Method, and not so much using Rigol FW Install Method.  By the way a USB Flash Drive that works in one Rigol instrument may NOT necessarily work in a different Rigol device type.

This has worked for lots of people that installed .09 (and Boot Loader .03) and then wanted to drop back to a previous version to add Options, fix something, etc.   Did you receive this from the factory with FW .09 and Boot Loader .04 (Won't Work for this), or did you have an earlier version installed previously (Should Work Fine)?

       Good Luck and don't give up yet.

[thorswait]

Hello ted572,

I confirm that the USB Key size (1Gb, 2Gb,4Gb even 8Gb) doesn't matter, also the format FAT or FAT32 both works if I use the firwmare 00.01.09.07 but it's not working with my unit to downgrade to firmware 00.01.06,00.01.07 or 00.01.08. The unit I buy was already with the firmware version 00.01.09.07. But I think what matters here is more the bootloader version that doesn't allow to downgrade the system (for the moment !!!)

There's still some work to do here I won't give up

[ted572]

Hello ted572,

I confirm that the USB Key size (1Gb, 2Gb,4Gb even 8Gb) doesn't matter, also the format FAT or FAT32 both works if I use the firwmare 00.01.09.07 but it's not working with my unit to downgrade to firmware 00.01.06,00.01.07 or 00.01.08. The unit I buy was already with the firmware version 00.01.09.07. But I think what matters here is more the bootloader version that doesn't allow to downgrade the system (for the moment !!!)

There's still some work to do here I won't give up

Hello thorswait:

You are correct it is not working because of the new Boot Loader 00.01.04.

[ted572]

The new Rigol 2014 'DSA800 Programming Guide PDF' is available here:

http://www.filedropper.com/dsa800programmingguidepdf

[radiogeek97]

I understand why they did it but when Rigol wonders why the sales of the 815 Drop off dramatically well DUHHH   

[HighVoltage]

I recently (August 2014) bought a new DSA815 TG that came with the 00.01.08 firmware version installed.
Then I applied the "option fix" and all options are activated and work well.


---------------
Quote from the 1.09 release notes:

Version?00.01.09.00.07   Date?2014-05-22
1.      Solve the problem option to be cracked.   M
2.      Compatible hardware version V05.   M
3.      Solve the problem continuous external trigger timing was not right.   M
4.      Solve the problem different version of the data can not be loaded.   M
5.      Solve the problem U disk copy file size more than 6 bytes.   M
6.      Increased Trace Avg Reset function.   E
7.      Increase the accuracy of the calibration function.   E
8.      Solve the problem Marker Table display error.   M
9.      Solve the problem with GPIB card boot, does not match the address to identify the address settings.   M
10.      Completely solution to the problem LXI communication is unstable.   M
11.      Solve the problem read trace data lead to crashes.   M
12.      Solve the problem spelling mistake, Change ‘???’ to ‘???’.   M
13.      Solve the problem after the upgrade from version 00.01.07 to 00.01.09 lead to the type of language from Chinese to English.   M
14.      Solve the problem since the calibration display line value becomes 0dBm.   M
----------------

My questions are:
Can I upgrade to firmware 00.01.09 without any problems ?
Or should I rather stay with v 00.01.08 since everything is working perfectly so far?
And what real world benefits can I expect to get from the upgrade to 00.01.09 ?
And most importantly, will the activated options stay activated with the upgrade to 00.01.09 ?

Thanks for any suggestions
 

[eurofox]

I recently (August 2014) bought a new DSA815 TG that came with the 00.01.08 firmware version installed.
Then I applied the "option fix" and all options are activated and work well.


---------------
Quote from the 1.09 release notes:

Version?00.01.09.00.07   Date?2014-05-22
1.      Solve the problem option to be cracked.   M
2.      Compatible hardware version V05.   M
3.      Solve the problem continuous external trigger timing was not right.   M
4.      Solve the problem different version of the data can not be loaded.   M
5.      Solve the problem U disk copy file size more than 6 bytes.   M
6.      Increased Trace Avg Reset function.   E
7.      Increase the accuracy of the calibration function.   E
8.      Solve the problem Marker Table display error.   M
9.      Solve the problem with GPIB card boot, does not match the address to identify the address settings.   M
10.      Completely solution to the problem LXI communication is unstable.   M
11.      Solve the problem read trace data lead to crashes.   M
12.      Solve the problem spelling mistake, Change ‘???’ to ‘???’.   M
13.      Solve the problem after the upgrade from version 00.01.07 to 00.01.09 lead to the type of language from Chinese to English.   M
14.      Solve the problem since the calibration display line value becomes 0dBm.   M
----------------

My questions are:
Can I upgrade to firmware 00.01.09 without any problems ?
Or should I rather stay with v 00.01.08 since everything is working perfectly so far?
And what real world benefits can I expect to get from the upgrade to 00.01.09 ?
And most importantly, will the activated options stay activated with the upgrade to 00.01.09 ?

Thanks for any suggestions

I did the upgrade from 1.08 with all options to 1.09 without problem and all options are working. 

[ted572]

First, Firmware (FW) 00.01.09 does not allow installations of the Riglol Key-Generted Options.  You have to downgrade to a any previous FW to install the Options.

When we upgrade our DSA815 FW to 00.01.09.00.07 we have Boot Loader version 00.01.03. And upgrading to FW 00.01.09.00.07 is desirable with the improvements it provides, and Yes all of the Options will be retained.  Plus you can always downgrade the FR to reinstall the options, although it shouldn't be necessary.

Some users have returned there units to Rigol for repair and upon return found their Options removed, and with FR 00.01.09.007, but fortunately still with BOOT Loader 00.01.03.  So they were able to downgrade the FW to reinstall the Options, and then upgrade back to FR .00.01.09.   But please don't count on this capability in the future after a Rigol repair!   

The new factory DSA815s with FW 00.01.09 come with Boot Loader version 00.01.04:  FW 00.01.09 does NOT allow installation of the Options.  And Boot Loader 00.01.04 prevents down grading the Firmware (to 00.01.08 or lower) that would allow installation of the Options.

Therefore currently new DSA815 units with the newer FW 00.01.09 as received, will NOT accept the installation of the 'Riglol Key-Generated' Options.

[HighVoltage]

Thank you both for the feedback, this gives me some confidence that I can upgrade to FW 00.01.09
I will let you know, how it went.

 

[ted572]

Thank you both for the feedback, this gives me some confidence that I can upgrade to FW 00.01.09
I will let you know, how it went.

Don't worry at all, it will be fine, and you will be very happy!

[radiogeek97]

I wonder if the boot loader itself could be down graded

[jstarr]

[
Some users have returned there units to Rigol for repair and upon return found their Options removed, and with FR 00.01.09.007, but fortunately still with BOOT Loader 00.01.03.  So they were able to downgrade the FW to reinstall the Options, and then upgrade back to FR .00.01.09.   But please don't count on this capability in the future after a Rigol repair!   

Has anyone found a way to remove the options before returning to Rigol for service?  I heard Rigol USA is not honoring warranties when they find the "user-installed" options.

j

[Wall-E]

Dear navzptc:

What is the solution to recovering the options after Rigol removes them in firmware .09?   
Will it work for those of us that receive a new DA815 with .09  ?   

   Thanks for info.

[navzptc]

It won't help those who have got the latest boot loader, only people who have had their units tweaked by Rigol after repair :-(

[Wall-E]

It won't help those who have got the latest boot loader, only people who have had their units tweaked by Rigol after repair :-(

Please, what is it we can do after it has been repaired?

Thanks for helping.

[HighVoltage]

Thank you both for the feedback, this gives me some confidence that I can upgrade to FW 00.01.09
I will let you know, how it went.

Don't worry at all, it will be fine, and you will be very happy!

Well, I just installed the new firmware v. 00.01.09 and it works perfectly and all "options" stayed activated.
So, I want to say a big thank you to all involved, making this happen.