Rigol DS1054+option bundle, BW still hackable?

[ChenBH]

Hello,
once a year I see a post popping called: "Is the DS1054 still hackable?"
I couldn't find the 2020 edition and I'm about to make a purchase of a Rigol DS1054+option bundle from a local vendor (Israel).
He sent me this picture and stated that if I want the 100MHz version I'll need to buy the '1104 model.

Something has changed? New firmware? Can I still hack the 1054's bandwidth in this day and age ?

Attached a screenshot of the stated included options.

Thanks,

[Gandalf_Sr]

Simple answer is yes, you can still hack bandwidth.

Google "Riglol" (not a typo).

Many recommend using DSER (not listed in the Riglol page) as the preferred option which will give all features except the 500uV Vertical resolution, that is because the scope isn't physically capable of that resolution and some have complained that the display is pixelated/wrong.

Oh and several people have tested bandwidth at around 133 MHz.

[ChenBH]

Simple answer is yes, you can still hack bandwidth.

Google "Riglol" (not a typo).

Many recommend using DSER as the option which will give all except the 500uV Vertical resolution, that is because the scope isn't physically capable of that resolution and some have complained that the display is pixelated/wrong.

Thnks for the quick reply
Yeah, I know about Riglol but I doubted its power because of the vendor's statements.
So you say there is no known firmware upgrade that makes the scope unhackable?
Is there an option to downgrade the firmware? Any remarks about known good past firmwares if downgrading is possible?

[Gandalf_Sr]

What Riglol does is generate the same codes you would get if you paid to buy the upgrades so there is no actual 'hack' taking place on the scope itself, all you're doing is entering code(s) that are correct for your scope.

If Rigol issues new firmware, the scope will work as before; if it didn't, Rigol would be hobbling all the buyers who paid for upgrades.

FYI, after the bandwidth 'upgrade', the DS1054Z will report itself as a DS1104Z under system info.

[Fungus]

So you say there is no known firmware upgrade that makes the scope unhackable?

Nope.

Simple reason: There's no ongoing "war" between Rigol+Hackers. Hacking is Rigol's way of getting hobbyists to buy their 'scopes.

[ChenBH]

Got it, thank you for the replies