Spectrum Analyzer - Rigol DSA815

[Mark]

OK so I just bought a DSA815-TG as I looked at the price rises on the Batronix website.  I am keen to learn about RF amplifiers and antenna theory, but for now, I will be using the DSA815 to do EMC pre-compliance testing. 

A question about the Tekbox TBPS01-TBWA2 probe set, which comes with either 20dB or 40dB wideband amplifier.  Which one should I go for?  40dB is more expensive.  Would I find the the 20dB amp limiting when using these probes?  I have only ever used home-made H and E field probes with the spectrum analyser setting on an oscilloscope. 

Can the amp be used with anything else, say an wideband antenna for radiated emissions checking? 

http://www.saelig.com/product/M00154003.htm

[coflynn]

I bought that probe set w/o the amp, and just enable the preamplifier in the DSA815 (also ensure input attenuation is set to 0dB).

[ted572]

A question about the Tekbox TBPS01-TBWA2 probe set, which comes with either 20dB or 40dB wideband amplifier.  Which one should I go for?  40dB is more expensive.  Would I find the the 20dB amp limiting when using these probes?  I have only ever used home-made H and E field probes with the spectrum analyser setting on an oscilloscope. 
http://www.saelig.com/product/M00154003.htm

I have the 40dB amplifier, and firmly believe that it is the preferred choice.  To track down closer to an EMC source you will be using the narrow aperture H-Field probe and you will often need the amplifier, and the 40 dB is very beneficial.   By the way the amplifiers are powered from the DSA815's front panel USB connector (5 VDC).  And yes you can conveniently use the amplifier for other applications with the DSA, etc.  You will often use the amplifier along with the DSA815's internal preamplifier.  If you look at the loss through the probes (see Tekbox EMC manual) you will appreciate why the amplifier is required.  I don't even think of it as an option.  Although if you are just now learning about Spectrum Analyzers, you may want to postpone the Amplifier for now.
You can buy other Amplifiers for less, but they may NOT work off of the DSA815's USB supplied 5 VDC.  The full EMC Probe Set comes with all required cables and a Amplifier in a very nice Wooden Storage Box, with room for the included (Probes'/Amplifier's) Calibration Data Sheets.
http://www.amazon.com/Tekbox-TBPS01-Near-Field-Wideband-Amplifier/dp/B00OD57L4G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1429194773&sr=8-3&keywords=tekbox+emc+probes
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EMC-Near-Field-Probe-Set-40dB-Wideband-Amplifier-Tekbox-Digital-Solutions-/191380693870?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c8f2da36e

[Mark]

Thanks ted, I had already purchased the 20dB amp with the kit just before you posted, too late to change it!  Nevermind, I will probably end up buying a 40dB amp if I need one in the future. 

Not sure what I will do about the DSA815 options, mine has bootloader 1.04.  Thinking I'll take the risk and modify the eeprom pins on the PCB before my time runs out.   

[ted572]

Thanks ted, I had already purchased the 20dB amp with the kit just before you posted, too late to change it!  Nevermind, I will probably end up buying a 40dB amp if I need one in the future. 

Not sure what I will do about the DSA815 options, mine has bootloader 1.04.  Thinking I'll take the risk and modify the eeprom pins on the PCB before my time runs out.

My suggestion is:  Don't think about it, Just Do It!  I feel that everyone with BootLoader .04 should do it immediately when they get their new DSA815.  Otherwise the real RISK is that you may never have access to the Option without spending $2000+ more.
1. Watch the video on the Security Seal Removal.  http://youtube.com/watch?v=KGcNS5g9ygg
Hint: If you add some heat from an electric Hair Dryer it will almost lift off by itself.  Even if you damage the Seal (unlikely), the chances of ever needing DSA815 a Warranty repair is also very unlikely.
2. Solder U1105 pins 7 and 8 together (It can easily be UNDONE with Solder Wick {and PCB Solder Rosen Cleaner} if you need to do so in the future).
* At this time the possibility of a New Generation Riglol Kegen doesn't look very likely for the newer DSA815 Hardware. *   Although maybe someone will take this as a challenge and come up with one(?).  But, don't count on it!
We know that the Trial Options count down while the DSA is powered up, and then the Trial Time gets reset where it was, on the next Power ON state.  But what if the Trial Options TIME OUT and go to ZERO(?).  Does the unit still reset the Trial Options when you Power On again?  We hope so, and maybe, but I haven't heard of anyone testing this scenario.  In any case; the more time that is left on the options, leaves more room for experimenting, etc. in the future when it may be very critical.
And then when the newer Firmware is released for the DSA815, wait for it to be verified Ok before installing it, to make sure that it doesn’t include a new check for U1105’s normal operation (without pins 7 and 8 connected).

[nixfu]

Frankly, if Rigol makes it so you can't enable the options, then they basically have made it so there is no reason to chose their SA over a used HP etc.. 

I can easily find a good used Agilent, or Tek SA that has features like SWR/Vector Analyzer features built-in cheaper than the DS815-TG + a $500 add-on.

Thats fine if what they want, but the hobbiest, and ham radio user market will probably go back to used gear instead.   Frankly some of the HP/Agilent gear even performs better to begin with.

[Mark]

Any news on a new firmware version from those in contact with Rigol?  Mine has the power sweep issue, although I'm not sure if I'll need that feature or not in the future. 

[XFDDesign]

Frankly, if Rigol makes it so you can't enable the options, then they basically have made it so there is no reason to chose their SA over a used HP etc.. 

I can easily find a good used Agilent, or Tek SA that has features like SWR/Vector Analyzer features built-in cheaper than the DS815-TG + a $500 add-on.

Thats fine if what they want, but the hobbiest, and ham radio user market will probably go back to used gear instead.   Frankly some of the HP/Agilent gear even performs better to begin with.

I'm actually sitting on the fence, trying to figure out if i shouldn't just sell my DSA815 and go buy a used HP. Measuring phase noise is difficult, it's even harder when the SpecAn only has ~70dB dynamic range due to its own synthesizer. Plus, it's an extra $380 for the GPIB adapter...

[N8AUM]

Frankly, if Rigol makes it so you can't enable the options, then they basically have made it so there is no reason to chose their SA over a used HP etc.. 

I can easily find a good used Agilent, or Tek SA that has features like SWR/Vector Analyzer features built-in cheaper than the DS815-TG + a $500 add-on.

Thats fine if what they want, but the hobbiest, and ham radio user market will probably go back to used gear instead.   Frankly some of the HP/Agilent gear even performs better to begin with.

I'm actually sitting on the fence, trying to figure out if i shouldn't just sell my DSA815 and go buy a used HP. Measuring phase noise is difficult, it's even harder when the SpecAn only has ~70dB dynamic range due to its own synthesizer. Plus, it's an extra $380 for the GPIB adapter...

What options are on it and how much do you want for it if you decide to sell ?

73 Vidas

[XFDDesign]

What options are on it and how much do you want for it if you decide to sell ?
73 Vidas

Everything but the EMI, including the 10Hz RBW, as to price, eh I'd have to see what the going reasonable prices are (i.e. not ebay's "used" units costing near MSRP). I'll PM you if/when I get around to selling it to see if you're still interested.

[videobruce]

XFDDesign;
Which Hp were you looking at? Have you considered something new? A Rigol 1030A or a 832 if you have the coin? There is also the Instek 9300 at around $2500 less than the 832 with similar specs.

[Electro Fan]

XFDDesign;
Which Hp were you looking at? Have you considered something new? A Rigol 1030A or a 832 if you have the coin? There is also the Instek 9300 at around $2500 less than the 832 with similar specs.

It's a tough decision; for the price of a 1030A (and definitely an 832) you are in the realm of a fair amount of bandwidth with an 856XE or EC, or maybe even a 44XXB with some good options.  On the other hand new with a warranty is cool too.

[XFDDesign]

XFDDesign;
Which Hp were you looking at? Have you considered something new? A Rigol 1030A or a 832 if you have the coin? There is also the Instek 9300 at around $2500 less than the 832 with similar specs.

Thinking more HP 8594E. It might be used, but it has GPIB built in and a better Dynamic range.

[videobruce]

The "sleeper" is GW's Instek's GSP-9300 (3 GHz coverage) which is the original GSP-930 with all the software applications included and a faster boot time. It can be had around $5700 w/ the TG. The preamp is standard and it has a battery option that the 832 does not. You can get the 832 w/TG for around $7700.
The $2k difference makes it attractive, but Instek's support sucks which could be a deal killer. Rigol is far better, but surely not at the level of any of the US based manufactures. Not even close.

There was a guy on e-Bay selling 'no boot up' 930's for less than $700 (no TG). He had four of them. For $250 for the repair and $270 DHL shipping to/from China $520 total, Instek will repair the scope which makes that a excellent deal (if you don't want the TG). You can get them to install the TG for around $1500 and the $270 shipping (no repair charge). The specs on the 832 are somewhat better in a couple of parameters, but not earth shaking (AFAIC), especially for the $2k price difference.

[videobruce]

There was some discussion )with a link) with this guys software  almost a year ago for screen capture using a PC. He has updated his software. The site is German;
http://peter.dreisiebner.at/rigol-bildschirmkopie-lan/

There has been five updates since last summer.

[johnny_canuck]

Re. The new DSA815 User Guide, March 2015, for Firmware 00.01.13 (with a fix for the Newer DSA815-TGs with Main Board Ver. 7 or 8, for Power Sweep mode, etc.):
 
Go to: http://www.rigolna.com/products/spectrum-analyzers/dsa800/dsa815/

Under [Documents] - Select (the PDF) 'DSA800 Series User's Guide'

Sign in with your information:  Select 'Submit', and it will down load for you.

Or just go directly to ->  http://beyondmeasure.rigoltech.com/acton/attachment/1579/f-0503/1/-/-/-/-/DSA800_UserGuide.pdf  and it is yours!

    Ted

PS    Firmware 00.01.13 may still NOT be available as of today, Apr. 6, 2015 (I haven't seen it yet).  Hopefully it will be released soon (?).

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF 1.13 HAS BEEN RELEASED?

[Melt-O-Tronic]

According to Rigol, the latest version at the moment is 1.12.

http://beyondmeasure.rigoltech.com/acton/form/1579/0012:d-0001/1/index.htm

[videobruce]

Is the options key case sensitive?
Are the hyphens necessary? If so, how do you enter them?

[Wall-E]

Is the options key case sensitive?
Are the hyphens necessary? If so, how do you enter them?

NO, Option characters are NOT case sensitive.
Hyphens are NOT to be entered.  Enter on single string of characters without hyphens or spaces.
Do not put or leave any spaces in the keygen entries.
See this PDF for how to enter the Options into the DSA815: http://beyondmeasure.rigoltech.com/acton/attachment/1579/f-01a7/0/-/-/-/-/file.pdf

You have been hanging out here for a long time now, and I would have thought that you would have seen and known all this.
Bruce, have you been watching too many videos?

   Good Luck, Your friend Wall-E

[TheSteve]

Received my 815-TG today from tequipment today. Cal was done March 14, 2015 of this year. Rather surprised it wasn't double boxed(my Rigol DS1054Z was).

Main board: 00:08
RF Frequency board FPGA: 00:05
Digital Board FPGA: 00:05
Firmware: 00:01:12
Version of Boot: 00:01:04

Now, who wants to work on hacking the newest version with me?

[N8AUM]

Congrats on your new toy !
Judging from your cal date you must have the latest shipment. Can you try the power sweep function to see if they fixed the problem or not and if the RBW will only go down to 100Hz? Also curious how much time is left on on the trails. I had 32hrs remaining on mine before I did the hardware mod.

[TheSteve]

Congrats on your new toy !
Judging from your cal date you must have the latest shipment. Can you try the power sweep function to see if they fixed the problem or not and if the RBW will only go down to 100Hz? Also curious how much time is left on on the trails. I had 32hrs remaining on mine before I did the hardware mod.

Power Sweep does not appear to do anything when enabled. RBW is 100 Hz minimum. My trials had just under 36 hours on them at first power up. I expect I will "lock" the trials in with around 34 to 35 hours remaining after a little more testing. They must have powered yours up, tested it and then gone for a long lunch before powering down and boxing it up.
Shame my directional coupler hasn't arrived yet...

And yes, this is a great toy!

[fqahmad66]

Measuring Low level Phase noise using DSA815-TG.

The article is in Germen. Is there an English ver. available?

Regards

[pa3bca]

The article is in Germen. Is there an English ver. available?

Almost... it's Dutch 
No English translation found, but Google translate might work?

[Gertjan]

I also received a new DSA815-TG last week. (from Conrad in Germany)
But cal. date on mine was April 09th, 2015.

Version of Main Board: 00.08
Version of Radio Frequency Board FPGA: 00.05
Version of Digital Board FPGA: 00.05
Version of Firmware: 00.01.12
Version of Boot: 00.01.04

- RBW goes down to 100Hz
- Power Sweep does not seem to function (but did not look very deep into it)

I soldered a thin wire across pin 7 and 8 from U1105, and the remaining time on the options is fixed to 24 hours.
Works like a charm!

Very happy with the log frequency scale in the latest firmware!

regards, Gertjan.