Anyone noticed that Rohde & Schwarz is blocking firmware informations / updates?

[RK_aus_S]

Hi

It seems that Rohde&Schwarz has changed its website / policy so that private or end customers can no longer find firmware update information for any devices, let alone download firmware updates.
Or can anyone as a private or end customer (in other countries) still access Rohde & Schwarz firmware updates and information?
My request to Rohde&Schwarz was rejected because I was, literally "...not a corporate customer".

I could imagine that some people here might be interested. Of course, I cannot say whether this is a misunderstanding or whether this change is permanent.

Regards
Roman

[Kean]

There is an issue they are aware of that is causing problems with registrations, probably needing to be manually reviewed and approved.

I am not sure if there is (or ever will be) a resolution for private customers.  I suggest you will need to go back to the seller that you it purchased through who should be able to assist.

Also see discussion at
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/newly-released-entry-level-rs-nge100-power-supply-series/msg5697807/#msg5697807
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-killer-scope-a-true-game-changer-from-rs-rtb2002-rtb2004/msg5700717/#msg5700717

[jjoonathan]

Ewwwwwwww, gross   

Not only are they requiring an account, you have to argue with someone who tries to tell you that your @company.com email isn't a corporate email   

... and then you apparently have to ask separate permission to download firmware 

[Hydron]

Ugh, shame to see them go down the KS route, if there's no solution for private customers then I guess I'll be putting R&S on the "avoid if possible" list for the labs I choose gear for (my hobby setup, and the labs at work).

[coppercone2]

trust me ks is no better with any corp account . it just does not care. or want to learn problems from the little guys to help the big guys. if you sell hardware every customer is a possible source of useful information. its like deciding to stop reading as a human being.


If your TM manufacturer locked itself into some tiny more profitable market, expect them to be useless because they have zero skill trouble shooting anything but some initial 'hot' deal they sleezed with someone. it's just a fact of technology. kind of like the king not knowing how to make toast bread because its for the underclasses.

[rf-messkopf]

Still no answer from R&S to my inquiry.

As I wrote in the other thread, I was able to register with my private email address, but now it is complaining that my email address is not a company address when I log in, and I cannot download any of the "premium content".

The nasty thing about it is that customers bought their devices assuming different conditions. If R&S is serious about this, they should at least take back purchased equipment and refund the costs.

Better avoid R&S as a private individual in the future.

Edit: you cannot even download manuals without being logged in. 

[coppercone2]

too many people said their super smart and they think they figured everything out and nothing useful will come from talking to the customers and that they will have the peak hardware forever despite not knowing the requirements other then from their biggest customers that are stuck in legacy mode 

[rf-messkopf]

trust me ks is no better with any corp account .

Last time I checked KS lets you download firmware and manuals even as a private individual. Now it seems that at R&S it is not limited to them not talking to you, but they don't even let you help yourself with information and software on their website. This is really novel.

[jjoonathan]

Right. https://siglentna.com/service-and-support/firmware-software/digital-oscilloscopes/ should not be a competitive advantage, but now it is.

"Premium content?" Do I have to subscribe to my oscilloscope's onlyfans to see waveforms now?

[madires]

Bummer! First Keysight, now R&S. What's next? Subscriptions for DSOs?

[newbrain]

Subscriptions for DSOs?

Sshh! Don't give them any idea! 

[squadchannel]

Can't even download the manual?
It would be toooooooooooooooooo crazy.

my experience is that the permissions changed between 10/16 and 10/28.
It would be a good idea for those who can download the file to back it up to xdevs, etc.

Tek is still ok. need an account to download to software and firmware, but gmail will work.

[KungFuJosh]

"Premium content?" Do I have to subscribe to my oscilloscope's onlyfans to see waveforms now?

Adult (XX)XY mode photos could make some pennies. 🤔

[jjoonathan]

The RTO2000 options page is private, but don't worry, I am here to leak the innovative new premium features 

[Rich@RohdeScopesUSA]

Hi Folks - like I said in the other thread, with respect to the new log-in requirements, I can only say I am sorry.  It is something that appears to be a requirement moving forward.  Because of so many registrations (and how quickly this happened), there have been some hiccups, but we're working to make it easier/better - hopefully we can ease some of the initial restrictions as we learn more.

In the end, we really do value each of you as a customer - big or small. I realize it may not always seem that way and I honestly hate that (we're consumers too - and get frustrated at things like this as well).

In the meantime - if you're a personal account and having trouble getting registered (while we figure out these new requirements), please don't hesitate to reach out to a partner - they are there to help and often have flexibility we do not. 

-Rich

[tautech]

Right. https://siglentna.com/service-and-support/firmware-software/digital-oscilloscopes/ should not be a competitive advantage, but now it is.

Much prefer the FW/SW/Docs access from Shenzhen HQ to that from the US and EU websites.

Freely available to everyone.......
https://int.siglent.com/download/firmwares/

[langwadt]

In the meantime - if you're a personal account and having trouble getting registered (while we figure out these new requirements), please don't hesitate to reach out to a partner - they are there to help and often have flexibility we do not. 

how can partners have less restrictions than the mother company, unless they are self imposed?

[Detlev]

It's a shame, if that turns out to be true, Rohde & Schwarz will be dead for me. I have a few R&S devices, including the FPL1000, all bought new and now I shouldn't get any new firmware? So you lose the trust of your customers and the Chinese are happy.

 

[coppercone2]

trust me ks is no better with any corp account .

Last time I checked KS lets you download firmware and manuals even as a private individual. Now it seems that at R&S it is not limited to them not talking to you, but they don't even let you help yourself with information and software on their website. This is really novel.

Keysight did not get that bad yet but I am saying that if you got a problem with them don't think it will go away if your with a big customer of theirs. 

A DMV approach. There is the illusion that if you roll with the gangsters you get things done. For anyone that thinks it might be discrimination.

We put the guy that did odd jobs and had 'free time' at work to deal with KS. Not any of the experts... they all promptly said its futile. It would be kind of like Picard deciding to use Commander Riker instead of Geordi Le Forge for a engineering 'situation'... he always had a kind of method to deal with sleezey stuff.

What I was getting at is a trend of the T&M companies getting generally bad. its like all your behavior if being leveraged to some how apply to some future negotiation rather then actually problem solving.

[J-R]

It's simple: companies have to follow the laws of the countries they operate from.  There are certain countries they are not allowed to sell products to or provide firmware/code to.  If they want to avoid fines when the books are audited, they'll need records of what went where.

[EEVblog]

Ugh, shame to see them go down the KS route

I just posted the other day that Keysight sent me a personalised email (because I'm already on their database) to download a free poster. Click on the link and I was taken to a sign up page to put in all my corporate details and intentions etc.
I'm already on the system

[coppercone2]

The DMV also mailed me the same warning 4 times 2 weeks after it was handled

[rf-messkopf]

Keysight did not get that bad yet but I am saying that if you got a problem with them don't think it will go away if your with a big customer of theirs. 

But I don't expect them to solve my problems. I only want to download firmware updates, instrument drivers or manuals for my instruments every now and then. 

It's simple: companies have to follow the laws of the countries they operate from.  There are certain countries they are not allowed to sell products to or provide firmware/code to.  If they want to avoid fines when the books are audited, they'll need records of what went where.

I'd be surprised if there's a legal requirement behind this (although this might be claimed as an excuse). This "premium content" stuff has written business-optimization-by-clueless-people all over it. And it's an opportunity to collect market data.

[coppercone2]

problems = software stop working (or drivers). kiss that computer connectivity good bye

[EEVblog]

It's simple: companies have to follow the laws of the countries they operate from.  There are certain countries they are not allowed to sell products to or provide firmware/code to.  If they want to avoid fines when the books are audited, they'll need records of what went where.

Yes, I suspect this is the genesis of the change, other companies have been forced to do the same and have mentioned that is the reason. And it's easier to change the system globally then it is to manage different systems for different countries. So one countries stupid laws can ruin it for everyone. Don't get me started on the EU GDPR...