Hacking the Rigol MSO5000 series oscilloscopes

[Nx-1997]

It is terminated using a 50 Ohm feed-through terminator. The before 100MHz image only shows 665mVrms as the scope's bandwidth is only 70MHz. After the hack, the scope accurately shows 1Vrms @ 100MHz as the bandwidth has been increased.

[tautech]

It is terminated using a 50 Ohm feed-through terminator. The before 100MHz image only shows 665mVrms as the scope's bandwidth is only 70MHz. After the hack, the scope accurately shows 1Vrms @ 100MHz as the bandwidth has been increased.

OK, sorry in the many times I have checked BW it is always with a 1V p-p signal not RMS.
So glancing at graticules...yes excuse me as that was the only way to measure with old CRO's, a 1V/div setting should be only 2 graticules amplitude but it was 4 which is the normal displayed output when the ARB is not terminated.
Please carry on. 

[JCS666]

Got the scope last week (MSO5074, Build 2021, Boot 2018, FW 1.03.00.03). I was also concerned about the bandwidth after the hack. So, I decided to test it using my signal generator, 1Vrms. I forgot to reset the statistics for the before images. The before images (before applying the patch) and after images (after applying the patch and selfcal). The hack works fine.

What is your signal generator?

[Nx-1997]

WaveTek 3510.

[Alekkomi]

Have a nice day to everyone! I recently bought myself such an oscilloscope and hacked it as you have described everything. Everything went well. The only thing that bothers me is the heating of the oscilloscope. Is this normal? Below I attach the pictures taken with a thermal imager. Sorry for my English.

[MegaVolt]

Yes, the temperature is normal. So is everyone. Somewhere there was a theme of refinement to reduce the temperature.

[Martin72]

+1.

Temperatures have increased since the fan noise was reduced(by lowering the rpm).
Asked the support and they answered this is OK and tested before.

[Ogawa Mitsuaki]

Hello
I also faced heat issues.
See my photo on page 78.
A USB5V powered fan was attached to the rear exhaust.
(It is installed in the direction of discharging to the outside)
This will dramatically reduce the temperature of the MSO5000.

[Martin72]

See my photo on page 78.

Here.

[crgarcia]

Hello
I also faced heat issues.
See my photo on page 78.
A USB5V powered fan was attached to the rear exhaust.
(It is installed in the direction of discharging to the outside)
This will dramatically reduce the temperature of the MSO5000.

Any chance you can share the files and the fan you are using? 
I have no clue how to do a 3d model, but I can send it to print online I guess

Thanks!

PS: If you just want to patch your Rigol but got lost in the thread, here all what you need: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hacking-the-rigol-mso5000-series-oscilloscopes/msg3943042/#msg3943042

[Robertkopp]

Hey buds,
I got the Rigol 5104 and it gave me a checksum error, so I cancelled the update.
In the posts I found that there are 2 versions of the firmware update.
I searched the web and only found these dumps https://gitlab.com/riglol/rigolee/firmware
I can not find the may version, only the march one.

2 questions

Do I need to change something in the patch because I got the 5104?

Can I do the 2021 update after the hack?

[MegaVolt]

You must install version v00.01.03.00.03. Then hack it.

[MathWizard]

So does this hack turn the 70MHz 4-ch scope into the 350MHz version ?

[thm_w]

So does this hack turn the 70MHz 4-ch scope into the 350MHz version ?

No, 500MHz, somewhere between 450-500MHz real world.

[Martin72]

So does this hack turn the 70MHz 4-ch scope into the 350MHz version ?

Yepp, in the official 5354 version..
Actually, the 5074 is real cheap to get including option bundle:

https://www.batronix.com/versand/oszilloskope/Rigol-MSO5074.html

For this price there is no alternative in sight.

[tautech]

So does this hack turn the 70MHz 4-ch scope into the 350MHz version ?

No, 500MHz, somewhere between 450-500MHz real world.

Really, please tell where a 500 MHz model is advertised ?

Instead the max for this range is 350 MHz.

[thm_w]

So does this hack turn the 70MHz 4-ch scope into the 350MHz version ?

No, 500MHz, somewhere between 450-500MHz real world.

Really, please tell where a 500 MHz model is advertised ?

Instead the max for this range is 350 MHz.

It was never sold, for various reasons. But the software option was partially implemented (ctrl-f in this thread for 500MHz).
Same thing Dave saw on one of the Keysights.

[Martin72]

It was never sold, for various reasons.

Main reason was, there is no 500Mhz bandwith avaible.

[tautech]

It was never sold, for various reasons.

Main reason was, there is no 500Mhz bandwith avaible.

Yep and SW code bears no relation to the models actually available. The code in these modern scopes is Cut/Paste into several models but the deeper SW commands are those that actually set the model #/BW.

The only way to be sure what any model series is capable of is to do a full investigation of what the manufacturers actually market, be it in their own marketplace and worldwide.

Wanna know the real truth then ask the Toy Wonder tv84.

[Caliaxy]

Have a nice day to everyone! I recently bought myself such an oscilloscope and hacked it as you have described everything. Everything went well. The only thing that bothers me is the heating of the oscilloscope. Is this normal? Below I attach the pictures taken with a thermal imager. Sorry for my English.

Nice thermal images. 69.3C?! You can pasteurize milk at that temperature... Why are BNC inputs 2 and 4 hotter than 1 and 3?

[thm_w]

It was never sold, for various reasons.

Main reason was, there is no 500Mhz bandwith avaible.

Yes as I noted, 450-500Mhz real world, which is not enough for a "500M badged" scope which would have to be ~550+. So if you had to slap a badge on it, maybe "420"?

Yep and SW code bears no relation to the models actually available. The code in these modern scopes is Cut/Paste into several models but the deeper SW commands are those that actually set the model #/BW.

The only way to be sure what any model series is capable of is to do a full investigation of what the manufacturers actually market, be it in their own marketplace and worldwide.

Wanna know the real truth then ask the Toy Wonder tv84.

The information is already provided by tv84 and others in this thread.

Reading comprehension here is really going downhill.

[MegaVolt]

The information is already provided by tv84 and others in this thread.

I have read this thread from the very beginning. And then again I specifically looked for how to make 500 MHz. I found many references to this. But there I did not find a working recipe that can be repeated

[m4l490n]

I am very happy to say that I was successful and it took no time at all by following the instruction provided by qali.pro in the following post: -

What instruction? The post you link is only a link to download the patch. I just bought mine yesterday and I'm having a hard time doing the hack. I haven't found the straightforward instructions to do this 

[ve2mrx]

The instructions are in the last three pages of this thread. Go read a few pages back. It's repeated every few pages.

Martin

[m4l490n]

Yeah, it turns out my USB stick was not properly formatted.

It is really as simple as downloading the patch.zip file here https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hacking-the-rigol-mso5000-series-oscilloscopes/msg3869852/#msg3869852 and perform a local upgrade. That's it!