Products > Test Equipment
Buyer Beware: Siglent Electronic Load
kcbrown:
--- Quote from: digby70 on June 23, 2021, 05:05:53 pm ---Problem solved: I was using a Verbatim 16 GB flash drive to upgrade the firmware but the upgrade failed. Upon switching to
a Cruzer 2 GB drive allowed the unit to complete the firmware upgrade successfully (both of these drives do work in my PC and laptop).
--- End quote ---
This is clearly a bug in the firmware update mechanism, either on the software end or the hardware end. A failed upgrade should never compromise the device. Flash memory is so cheap these days that there's absolutely no excuse for the device to not have enough to store both the pre-upgrade boot image and the upgraded one, so that boot from the pre-upgraded one would happen in the event the upgrade fails or is incomplete. Verification of the upgraded version in flash is an obvious required step, as is integrity checking the firmware image copied from the USB drive prior to installation of it, as is not changing which of the two boot images the device will boot from until after the installation has been completed (thus guaranteeing that in the event of a failure or interruption, the device will boot from the pre-upgrade image).
I would suggest registering a bug with Siglent on this.
james_s:
--- Quote from: kcbrown on June 23, 2021, 09:10:10 pm ---Flash memory is so cheap these days that there's absolutely no excuse for the device to not have enough to store both the pre-upgrade boot image and the upgraded one, so that boot from the pre-upgraded one would happen in the event the upgrade fails or is incomplete.
--- End quote ---
I completely agree there. Unfortunately this sort of failsafe seems to be far less common than it ought to be.
rf-loop:
--- Quote from: digby70 on June 23, 2021, 05:05:53 pm ---Problem solved: I was using a Verbatim 16 GB flash drive to upgrade the firmware but the upgrade failed. Upon switching to
a Cruzer 2 GB drive allowed the unit to complete the firmware upgrade successfully (both of these drives do work in my PC and laptop).
--- End quote ---
In many Siglent instruments there is limits. In some Siglent instrument one update was even so that Siglent told it can use Only! 8G USB with Only 4k cluster size. But so tight limits are rare,
With over 10 years experience with Siglent instruments I have made my own decision for my own use. I use only Kingston (2G, 4G) and 8G formatted to native FAT32 with 4k cluster sizes. And I keep these some sticks only for use with Siglent. These 2 and 4G have also led if there is some reason for watch activity)
Of course many Siglent instruments may work today also with bigger capacity USB sticks, but because in my homeland I also give technical support to some my friends etc... for avoid "Oops things" (I use these old USB drives so I do not need think what pass for what model) what I know works reliable and if with these is some problem I know that problem is not USB stick itself.
Also never use any USB stick what have used for some linux or some other boot... if so, they need restore to original factory state (deep format) and example in Windows, example using "diskpart" (Windows key + R and write just diskpart, after then you need really know what you are doing for avoid "oops")
Normal quick format is just bullshit for this purpose.
Last least 8 years I have never meet any single FW update problem with Siglent instruments and I have done these quite lot (or other problems with USB sticks).
But mostly I do these things so that I use first brain and after then hands.
Also before plug out USB from computer, first close it... safe to remove and so on... (you may have experience it is not necessary... until you first time meet "what a shit happen" situation.
Deep format for critical USB drives are also good to do some times because it also find and block bad sectors ( I do it also for all new drives if used for critical purposes). It need remember that USB drives are not reliable!
Partition size, Cluster size
512 - 8191 MB, 4 KB
And note, for use with Siglent FW updates. There must be only one partition!
Sighound36:
Rf-loop
Did you have a hand in this design or coding for this product or were the SA & VNA more your field of expertise?
digby70
Personally, If I find a fault with a test product I go back to the point of sale, explain the issue and leave the ball firmly in their court. 95% of time I receive satisfactory outcome. The vendor is more than happy to assist, if he cannot resolve the issue, the manufacturer is involved simple process. Personally, I find bitching about it on an open forum distasteful, However I would suggest that if all avenues have failed then this maybe your only option. Though if a manufacturer lets the situation escalate to this stage without intervention or just fobbing you off then possibly. Still, they are ways and means of going about it, just my observations.
Its called customer service, strange old fashioned concept I know but it is very valid personally I have encountered issues with various manufacturers and the suppling vendor has rectified the problem very positively.
Just a side bar;
Our company has a distribution company, and not so long ago I was presentating at a new product launch at one of our retailers, at the end of which I asked the question to around 20 guests (pre covid);
"What in your minds constitutes good dealer service?"
Answers ranged from:
'Phoning up at 4pm and getting a next day delivery'
'Giving me x£££ on a trade in and free delivery'
'Great coffee and chat'
So, I posed the question
If you purchased say a 48inch 4K tv from an online retailer, you could possibly save £250 on your purchase with a genuine warranty.
Now if in that warranty period the set went wrong, you call the supplier who says 'Right we will arrange for collection of the unit’ You have to remove it from its wall mount etc, pack it up securely and wait in for the courier to collect which will be between 8am and 6pm sorry we can’t be any more specific due to couriers’ route'
You do not get a loan unit in the meantime and its down the manufacturer whether they repair or replace the unit which could take up to three to four weeks, then you have the reverse of having to wait in for delivery and then mount and set up the tv again.
Purchasing from a reputable dealer you will not have these issues, they will arrange collection and removal of the faulty unit at your convince and will leave a loan unit while your faulty one is attended to. Then when ready will arrange a delivery time to suit you and reinstall the unit.
Yes, you pay more, however is this customer service worth the extra against two days out or paying the mother in law to stay in and wait for the collection and drop off?
You pay your money and makes your choice
2N3055:
I stumbled upon this topic, and must say that Sighound summed it up nicely.
My first reaction was:
1. If I tried to flash 2 different devices and they had same error, first thing I would check is what I did wrong.
2. Error was to try upgrade with same device that was involved in first unsuccessful upgrade. I would download again, use different stick with fresh format.
3. I would contact vendor to try to troubleshoot with them.
4. Only after I had definitive proof that it wasn't my fault and with explanation what is wrong and if vendor would refuse to fix the problem although it was their to fix, and then only, I would publish to general public an inflammatory topic with inflammatory title "Buyer beware...:"
This way it came out as: don't buy Siglent loads because I'm a Muppet... :-DD
My advice to OP: Everybody make mistakes.. God knows I reacted too soon many times in my life.. But please be so kind and fix (edit topic title to something like: False alarm and warning: Siglent Loads are sensitive to USB stick properties..). That would convert a mistake to a useful topic that will warn other users that if they have problem, the USB stick might be the culprit...
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