Gw Instek GDS2204E (200MHz 4 channel DSO) review

[Ruggo]

Hidey Ho.
Just got myself a gds-2074e.
When I tried the hack using the html code generator, all options failed.
Scope cam with F/W V1.34

Am I right in assuming that I need an older F/W and if so, any ideas where i can get it from?

TIA

[Mortymore]

New firmware for GDS-2000E 2020-04-07

Version 1.41

1.Fixed Datalog error at low frequency signals.
2.Fixed the Portuguese translations.
3.Fixed the Japanese translations.
4.Fixed Russian menu bug.
5.Fixed the SA menu freeze bug

https://www.gwinstek.com/en-global/products/detail/GDS-2000E

[Mortymore]

OpenWave v1.05 2020-04-13

A "continuous" option for capture was added.

[PeterKlop]

Based on what i learned on this forum and got from both his thread and the GDS1000B thread, i recently bought a GW Instek GDS-2074E. I tried the license generator and it worked easy and flawless. Thanks to you all!

I had no idea what to expect from trying to 'hack' this scope with the tools that are provided in these threads.
For the people comming after me i want to tell what i experienced.

The scope came with firmware 1.34. I download the lis2.txt from the gds1000b thread, renamed it to *.html to turn it into a webpage and then loaded it into my browser. Then i put the serial number from my scope into the page, clicked "generate" and after that i could save the license files from that webpage. I put those on a usb stick.

With the scope on, i put the usbstick into the scope, then wend into the menu 'Utility' > 'File Utilities'. The scope showed the license files that i had on the usb stick. I then selected one of these (the bandwidth upgrade) and the scope installed it. Then i had to turn of the scope. I repeated this for the other license.

The license for 300 Mhz is installed and also the Spectrum Analyser. I did not check the bandwith yet but the license is visible on the System Info page. The spectrum analyser works very good and is accessible via the Option button.

After this i download the latest firmware from the GW Instek website (version 1.41). I did put that file on a otherwise empty usb stick. As instructed in the manual i wend on to install the formware by turning the scope on while rotating the Variable knob. The scope couldn't read the firmware file, eventhough it had read the license file earlier (i had those removed from the stick now). I tried another usb drive and this one could be used. After the installation of the new firmware the licenses remained and everything worked fine.
It was really that easy! )

Oh wait, forgot to mention; I did by the way first make a mistake with entering my serial number and because of that the license files didn't work. I had misread a G for a C.

On to another but related topic;
I was thinking about either buying this GW Instek or the Siglent SDS2000X Plus. I'm sure the Siglent is a great scope and it has better specs (because it is a more recent scope). I do however own a few pieces more GW Instek gear and have gotton to appreciate the brand. The people behind it are also very responsive, both here in The Netherlands and the people from Taiwan, and i think that is of great value.

Anyhow, i also like the interface/screen/layout on this scope very much. That was an important reason to choose this one (i do this for fun after all). I do find the scope to be even much nicer to look at in person, then what i got from the pictures and videos. It's very enjoyable.

Anyhow, you guys saved me a lot of money and helped me with all your oscilloscope discussions. I read a lot of them and had fun doing that )

[Mortymore]

New firmware released Version 1.42 - 5/5/2021

Version 1.42
1.Fixed a freeze issue that could occur when switching to PictBridge printing.
2.Fixed a bug for the BUS trigger mode.
3.Fixed the Portuguese translations.
4.Add Multilanguage : Polish.
5.Add Multilanguage : Italian.
6.Fixed an issue when saving the "ALL CSV" data in Roll mode.
7.Adjusted the OCP maximum value for the Power supply function of the MDO series.
8.Adjusted the LCD panel readout of  vertical scale to the second decimal place.

[tv84]

@Mortymore, is it you that have been fixing the portuguese translation? 

[Mortymore]

@Mortymore, is it you that have been fixing the portuguese translation? 

No I haven't.
I don't even use it. 

EDIT: I don't use... the interface in Portuguese. Not talking about the scope

[piramida]

I read the thread with pleasure. Good oscilloscope. But there are points that can be improved.
1. One mathematical channel is not enough, at least two are needed.
2. Make it possible to select a math channel as a source for FFT and SA and for another math channel.
3. Make it possible to display only the necessary traces on the screen. For example, to be able to leave only a trace of the math channel without traces of the source channels.
4. Vertical zoom.
5. And from the category of fantasy. Make it possible to combine two input channels into one differential input.
It would be a mega device!

[2N3055]

I read the thread with pleasure. Good oscilloscope. But there are points that can be improved.
1. One mathematical channel is not enough, at least two are needed.
2. Make it possible to select a math channel as a source for FFT and SA and for another math channel.
3. Make it possible to display only the necessary traces on the screen. For example, to be able to leave only a trace of the math channel without traces of the source channels.
4. Vertical zoom.
5. And from the category of fantasy. Make it possible to combine two input channels into one differential input.
It would be a mega device!

Check Siglent SDS2000X+.

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. No and, correct that is a fantasy! 
6. It has 2Gsa/s sampling rate.
7. Much bigger screen. Touch screen.

[kcbrown]

5. And from the category of fantasy. Make it possible to combine two input channels into one differential input.

5. No and, correct that is a fantasy! 

I do have to wonder how hard it would be to make it a reality.  The scope already has hardware that is able to apply voltage offsets to the signal prior to amplification.  How hard would it be for the offset to include the voltage supplied by one of the channels?

I do agree that it's unlikely to become a scope feature (possibly because it's harder than it sounds?  The offset input mechanism itself would have to have a bandwidth that equals or exceeds the channel bandwidth for this to work, and that alone might be enough to nix the idea).  It'd probably be more expensive at a minimum, and it's probably better to spend the money on making the math trace fast enough and flexible enough that the absence of the differential input feature wouldn't be noticed.

[piramida]

... and it's probably better to spend the money on making the math trace fast enough and flexible enough that the absence of the differential input feature wouldn't be noticed.

Yes, a good solution.
Make it as a separate math channel, with vertical sensitivity adjustment with one knob. Solved by firmware. But all the same, I would like to be able to choose this channel as a source for FFT, SA or other mathematics.

Check Siglent SDS2000X+.

  I am also considering this device ... as well as the picoscope 5000 series. 

[nctnico]

5. And from the category of fantasy. Make it possible to combine two input channels into one differential input.

5. No and, correct that is a fantasy! 

I do have to wonder how hard it would be to make it a reality.  The scope already has hardware that is able to apply voltage offsets to the signal prior to amplification.  How hard would it be for the offset to include the voltage supplied by one of the channels?

For that you use a differential probe or pre-amplifier which you can put much closer to the circuit as well.

But still... there are oscilloscopes out there that have differential inputs. Some older Yokogawa DSOs for more specialised purposes come to mind.

[ibuski]

Hi, I have been just a reader of this forum's contents so far.  There are lot of valuable contents and I could gain much knowledge from your discussion.   In that manner you can call me a free rider.   I registered myself now just to say thank you to all members who enabled Hacking of GW Instek Oscilloscope, tested it, shared it and reported some successful experiences.   Actually I don't own GW Instek brand Oscillo, but Iso-tech IDS-2072E.   From its appearance, it was clear that they share the hardware.  Of course it's possible that some software modification differentiate them, but from my experiences, usually they don't spend such efforts.   So I tried GW Instek Hack on my Iso-Tech.   It worked without any issues!!   I could enable 200 MHz BW setting on my 70 MHz model.  Spectrum Analyzer application is now active as below.   For those who is wondering which digital oscilloscope to buy, I can suggest that Iso-tech works as same as GW Instek and you can hack it if it's the reason for you to buy GW Instek.   I guess probably you can buy Iso-Tech Oscilloscope with less money than GW Instek's equivalent model due to the brand's less popularity.

[Mortymore]

Hi ibuski!

Welcome to the forum.

I have an Iso-Tech also, and as you figured out, it's a GW-Instek rebranded.
You cant take your scope up to 300MHz if you wish. At first, I also "upgraded" mine only up to 200MHz, thinking that if it that was the max frequency commercially available, it should be the limit for the scope, but it's not.

For further reading about my adventure with the BW:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/possible-gw-instek-gds-1000b-hack/msg2298513/#msg2298513

Have fun with your scope

[ibuski]

Hi Mortymore,

Thanks for your reply and welcome.
I recall there was somebody who verified compatibility (or identity) of GW and ISO, that's one reason I could try, but didn't find the particular post.  Now I see that was you!

I have only70 MHz probe and probably it doesn't make much sense to enable 300 MHz.   I work only on Audio signal and that's another reason.   Thanks for your comment anyway.

[Mortymore]

New firmware released V1.43 - 2023/06/14

Version 1.43
1.Updated Russian translation.
2.Fixed the issue that the data is not synchronized when the "DataLog" function saves pictures and waveforms together.
3.Fixed the FFT calculation when the memory length is 1k.
4.Fixed the related SCPI return string of measurement function.
5.Improved internal memory usage.
6.Fixed an issue with the "Math" function in calculating values containing Deskew value.
7.The Vertical scale display changed to 3 digits (supplemental change)
8.The channel's deskew range are expanded to +/- 1us.
9.Fixed DVM function screenshot problem.