Rigol DS4000 option and bandwidth hack

• Rigol DS4000 option and bandwidth hack
  Posted by mani9876 on 03 Jan, 2015 16:50
• Hello,
  
  I want to know if it is possible to hack the bandwidth of the Rigol DS4000?
  
  I found something about hacking the Rigol to get all the options, but nothing about the bandwidth. So does anyone know something about that?
  
  Thanks,
  
  Manuel
• #1 Reply
  Posted by dr.diesel on 03 Jan, 2015 22:15
• Yes, many examples around on the forum.
• #2 Reply
  Posted by mani9876 on 04 Jan, 2015 11:31
• Thank you for your answer.
  
  I've found the option codes to hack the BW.
  
  But do you know if the MSO4000 could also be hacked? I haven't found anything about hacking the MSO Series.
  
  Thanks
• #3 Reply
  Posted by dr.diesel on 04 Jan, 2015 11:33
• Yes, also works for the MSO4000.
• #4 Reply
  Posted by mani9876 on 04 Jan, 2015 17:00
• Ok very nice, thank you!
  
  The Spektrum Analyser DSA815 doesn't have the possibility of a Bandwidth hack right? I got the extra options, but there is no BW hack?!
• #5 Reply
  Posted by dr.diesel on 04 Jan, 2015 17:01
• Quote from: mani9876 on 04 Jan, 2015 17:00

  but there is no BW hack?!
  

  
  Correct, no BW hack.
• #6 Reply
  Posted by mitslo76 on 04 Feb, 2015 17:14
• Hi Guys,
  
  Can someone send me the codes/procedure for upgrading BW for DS4000. All that I was able to find is related to DS2000 Series.
  
  Thanks in advance.
  
  BR
• #7 Reply
  Posted by nbritton on 12 Oct, 2015 06:42
• Just to be clear, the MSO/DS4014 100 MHz version can be hacked to 500 MHz?
• #8 Reply
  Posted by rcmit on 12 Jun, 2016 13:22
• I have a DS4014 and want to apply the BW hack. I have, however, located two pages with different hack codes. The page http://www.gotroot.ca/rigol/ds4000_option_codes.pdf lists one set of codes and the page for Riglol 1.03d, while it doesn't even list a hack code for BW, the codes it does list are different. For example, I successfully used the Rigol 1.03d code for RS232 decode (DSHB). However, the code as specified by ds4000_option_codes.pdf would be BAAB.
  
  I would like to apply the BW hack but I *really* don't want to brick my scope.
  
  Does anyone know why there would be different codes for the same scope? Neither code list specifies hardware/firmware version.   Thanks!
• #9 Reply
  Posted by H.O on 12 Jun, 2016 17:46
• I don't Think you need to worry about bricking the scope, I don't think there's been any reoports of that happening. The worst thing that can happen is the key is rejected and if it's rejected multiple times the key installer gets blocked for a number of hours then it's good to go again.
  
  I think the Riglol page hasn't been updated as more information surfaced over time. Use the .pdf and you'll be fine.
• #10 Reply
  Posted by Andrew8086 on 13 Jun, 2016 18:45
• You may want to use RS39 with riglol_103d to unlock all options incl. 500 MHz BW.
  
  Also after uninstalling above 'all options' or instead of installing it, VSA9 gives you the serial decoding options trial, repeated installation possible.
  
  Both codes (i.e. the resulting keys, of course) have been tested on my DS4014.
  
  Have fun!
• #11 Reply
  Posted by Tank on 10 Nov, 2017 17:16
• Has anybody verified that the the DS400 bw +options hack as shown in the goroot  pdf  will still work on the newer machines/firmware? 
  Thinking of purchasing a ds4014 and, er, upgrading it.
  Thanks
• #12 Reply
  Posted by bozidarms on 10 Nov, 2017 17:32
• Hi,
  so far as i know, nothing has changed in hacking procedure, also despite of newer or older hardware, and all procedure is completely safe. This is thru for 100MHz 2Ch model too.
  Hope this help.
• #13 Reply
  Posted by glarsson on 10 Nov, 2017 17:42
• Isn't delivering expensive 500MHz probes with a 100MHz oscilloscope an indication that Rigol expects and supports that the scope is upgraded? 
• #14 Reply
  Posted by bozidarms on 10 Nov, 2017 17:56
• I think you are absolutely right
• #15 Reply
  Posted by maddy on 11 Nov, 2017 01:44
• Can someone please confirm if the activated 500MHz bandwidth and other options still work on the 2.03.00.03 firmware?
  
  I want to know if there might be problems if I upgrade to the latest from 2.01 on the DS4014
• #16 Reply
  Posted by Andrew8086 on 11 Nov, 2017 14:29
• Still works as expected with FW 00.02.03.00.03. I'd suggest
  
  RBT9 for BW500 & all Decoders +I2S
  or
  RB39 for BW500 & all Decoders w. PA + I2S (formatting of "installed options" screen broken)
  
  
• #17 Reply
  Posted by maddy on 14 Nov, 2017 12:40
• Thanks for the confirmation Andrew. I finally found some time to update and it went through without issues.
  
  I also see the problem you noted with the installed options screen when all options are enabled.
  
  There are several codes that work and based on an older thread I found that RS39 and RZ39 does the job as well 
  
  I wondered if that obscure option Power Analysis would make sense with this update. While its shown as activated has anyone found out what it does?
• #18 Reply
  Posted by H.O on 15 Nov, 2017 16:41
• Here's a link to a document describing what the Power Analyzer is:
  http://int.rigol.com/File/TechDoc/20160617/UltraPowerAnalyzer_DataSheet_EN.pdf
  
  And here's a link to where the associated PC software can be downloaded:
  http://int.rigol.com/Support/SoftDownload/2
  
  I have not tried this myself so from here on you're on your own ;-)
  
  
  EDIT: BTW, does anyone have the release notes for 2.03.00.03 ?
  
  
  
• #19 Reply
  Posted by Andrew8086 on 16 Nov, 2017 11:47
• Quote from: H.O on 15 Nov, 2017 16:41

  Here's a link to a document describing what the Power Analyzer is:
  http://int.rigol.com/File/TechDoc/20160617/UltraPowerAnalyzer_DataSheet_EN.pdf
  
  And here's a link to where the associated PC software can be downloaded:
  http://int.rigol.com/Support/SoftDownload/2
  
  I have not tried this myself so from here on you're on your own ;-)
  
  EDIT: BTW, does anyone have the release notes for 2.03.00.03 ?
  

  
  Sadly, the 'Power Analyzer' (- PC software) requires a separate license, the scope's PA and I2S options are meant as 'future options'.
  
  While the I2S protocol decoding may very well be implemented in one of the future FW releases I doubt that the PA 'application' will make it into the scope.
  
  Anyway, release notes for 00.02.03.00.03 (and prior versions) in the attachment.
  

  ---

  DS4000 Firmware Release Notes.pdf
• #20 Reply
  Posted by H.O on 16 Nov, 2017 17:41
• In that case I stand corrected.
  So what you're saying is that the PA software is "stand alone" and does not need the PA option in the scope?
  
  I was under the assumption that the software IS the power analzer and basically used the attached scope as a "dongle", if the PA option installed the software is allowed to execute - simple as that but again, I'll stand corrected.
  
  Thank you for the release notes, I wonder why they don't just include them in the download...
• #21 Reply
  Posted by Tank on 17 Nov, 2017 00:52
• Hey guys, has anyone tested the rise times?...
  Does the DS4000 BW upgrade mod also decrease the rise time?  As stated in the DS4000 spec sheet,
  DS401x has  a calc'ed rise time of 3.5 ns
  DS402x = 1.8 ns
  DS403x = 1 ns
  DS4054 = 700 ps!
  
  There are other attributes that also have different capability levels between the 4000 model numbers, wonder if these are also upgraded with the BW mods?
  Still haven't switched the flip on that sweet 4014.
  Thanks
• #22 Reply
  Posted by hendorog on 17 Nov, 2017 01:19
• The DS4k has a built in fast rise time test signal which can be used for that test.
  
  And yes my DS4014 measures its own cal signal in the 700-800ps range.
• #23 Reply
  Posted by Andrew8086 on 17 Nov, 2017 10:48
• Quote from: H.O on 16 Nov, 2017 17:41

  So what you're saying is that the PA software is "stand alone" and does not need the PA option in the scope?
  

  
  Yes indeed.
  
  

  Quote

  I was under the assumption that the software IS the power analzer and basically used the attached scope as a "dongle", if the PA option installed the software is allowed to execute - simple as that but again, I'll stand corrected.
  

  
  That's what I originally thought also, but even though the PA software does use the scope as "dongle" for the to-be-analyzed data you still need to purchase a license.
  
  This is regardless of whether the scope's 'PA option' is installed or not.
  
  You may want to try this -  IIRC there is a 30 day trial period for the 'PA Analyzer' PC software.
  
  
• #24 Reply
  Posted by H.O on 17 Nov, 2017 18:33
• Quote from: Tank on 17 Nov, 2017 00:52

  Hey guys, has anyone tested the rise times?...
  Does the DS4000 BW upgrade mod also decrease the rise time?  As stated in the DS4000 spec sheet,
  DS401x has  a calc'ed rise time of 3.5 ns
  DS402x = 1.8 ns
  DS403x = 1 ns
  DS4054 = 700 ps!
  
  There are other attributes that also have different capability levels between the 4000 model numbers, wonder if these are also upgraded with the BW mods?
  Still haven't switched the flip on that sweet 4014.
  Thanks
  

  
  Yes, that has been tested, verified and shown several times. Using Leo Bodnars <50ps pulser my unlocked/upgraded/hacked/patched/whatever DS4014 shows a risetime of 620ps. Two other users have reported similar numbers (620 and 650ps) in the 50ps pulser thread.
  
  On an unlocked DS4014 the timebase goes down to 1ns/div and you'll get the additional bandwidth limit options 100 & 200MHz. I'm not aware of any other differences.
  
  The scope really does turn into a DS4054, people have speculated on Rigol performing "binning" on the units to determine which ones are worthy of the DS4054 sticker on the front but so far no evidence what so ever of such thing has been shown. An unlocked DS4000 has its -3db point well above 500MHz.