Rigol MSO 5000 hardware/software revisions

[NoisyBoy]

There has been a number of discussions about the Rigol MSO5000 hardware/firmware changes in the hacking thread, thought I would start a new topic to consolidate these discussions and leave hacking thread to hacking discussions.

To start, I received my unit back in mid March.  It has a late February build date (based on calibration certificate), it has firmware 1.00.000.  I use it in an average lit room, I have to say that the screen brightness is not a serious issue in my case.  It won't compare to a new iPad Pro screen, but it is usable.

Here is what I picked up from various discussions:
* ivonenand received his unit in mid May, hardware has been updated to 1.01.000, there is no publications on exactly what this change entails.
* From rowifi: "Have heard that there is a revised hardware for the MSO5000 to fix the screen brightness.  Just resistor changes apparently. New devices being shipped with this change", and "Scopes at distributors need to go back to Germany to be fixed"
* From Magnum: "Batronix told me today that the display fix was already introduced a couple of months ago. Don't know if that is true."
* From Martin72: "I´ve asked them(if the resistor-fix is true and how to handle it), answer should be given next week."
* There is also a new firmware revision coming, rumored in June, to improve the self-cal, adds new features in power analysis, and various fixes.

I look forward to hearing contributions from all of you, thank you.

[Martin72]

Hi,

See this one:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/new-rigol-scope/msg2448378/#msg2448378

New MSOs should arrive with low noise fan and brighter display - After consulting rigol.eu service, I´ll send mine in the mid/end of june to them for fixing the noisy fan and probably lighter display.
For free, except shipping costs to them.
New firmware-update is planned for sometime in june.

[Magnum]

Hello,
received a MSO5074 today. It shows Firmware 00.01.01.04.04 and hardware 01.00.000
Last Selfcal was in March, I assume that was in the factory.

The screen looks ok, IMHO as bright as my DS1054Z. Maybe a bit brighter. Fan is audible, but ok for me.

[hhappy1]

Hi~ sir.

My Rigol arrived in mid-May and Latest selfcalibration on April 28th.
firmware : 01.04.04    ,   hardware : 1.00

There was nothing uncomfortable about fan sound and screen brightness.
Channels 3 and 4 are slightly darker, but similar to ds2000a.

The self calibration was inaccurate, so I asked 'Rigol' and contacted me.
On June 11th, I send the product to RIGOLKorea.

I will ask about fan sound and screen brightness. I will write back how it was modified.

[NoisyBoy]

Keep us posted.  It seems like they are in the midst of a transition to version 1.01 hardware, as I have only seen one person reporting in with the new hardware.  Since you have seen how ver 1.00 hardware works, if they upgrade you to 1.01, you would be the first person who can tell us the difference it makes.

The biggest question is whether 1.01 is just a component change with equivalent function as 1.00?  Or does it actually bring improvement to the scope such as lower noise or brighter screen.  If it is the latter, then I would definitely be sending mine in for service.

[Magnum]

i am pretty sure that the one I got (with hardware 1.00) already has the improved display and fan. I have nothing to complain.

[maginnovision]

I'm sure you're happy with it but I suspect it's the same as others.

[Martin72]

I´ll send mine in this week to rigol for modification what fan and screen-brightness concerns….
It wouldn´t be unsurprised if these mods were already done in newer fabrications, wearing then a new hardware state - because it is a new hardware state.

[maginnovision]

Yes, you'd expect the HW version to change because otherwise they could be accepting good hardware for repairs it doesn't need.

[Martin72]

It is the normal way in production line.
The developement isn´t finished because the units has been left the factory for sale.
When improvements hast to be taken, they (the improvements) must take a change in the hardware configuration state, at least to different older from newer versions.
So do we, if an older unit comes in for repair/servicing, the first we check is the actual hardware state, say state "A".
If it´s now state "B" or "C", we´ll look in the history, what has been changed and change the old one too.

So I won´t worry actual about the hardware Version - As long, as my model could be changed to it too, of course....

[whatisthis]

Yes, you'd expect the HW version to change because otherwise they could be accepting good hardware for repairs it doesn't need.

They can check also by serial number.

I have MSO5074 fw 00.01.01.04.04, hw 01.00.00, last calibration 29-apr-2019, purchased and received in May. No problems with display or fan.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Based on a chat with TEquipment here in the US, I went ahead and ordered a 5074. They confirmed that all their stock is < 30 days old and that the updates for the screen were implemented at the factory roughly 90 days ago. That would make the "effective date" for the change on the production like something like the start of April. If it takes 30 days for product to go from assembly through shipping (maybe it does ....) that could mean ship dates / calibration dates anywhere in the month of April might / might not have the fix.

All of this is in the "who knows" category as far as I'm concerned. I pass it along only as reference matterial. We will see what the unit looks like (if ....) when it gets here.

Bob

[tv84]

Just for the record, I don't know if you saw my msg:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hacking-the-rigol-mso5000-series-oscilloscopes/msg2482800/#msg2482800

My MSO bought last month has HW 01.01.000.

[uncle_bob]

Just for the record, I don't know if you saw my msg:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hacking-the-rigol-mso5000-series-oscilloscopes/msg2482800/#msg2482800

My MSO bought last month has HW 01.01.000.

Hi

Yup, that's why I asked them about it. My concern is about just how much inventory is left lying around in stock from "way back when". If it comes in and it is *not* the latest version, I wanted to be sure I had at least done my part to validate things. ( = they pay shipping back ....).

Bob

[Martin72]

My MSO bought last month has HW 01.01.000

Mine got HW 01.00.000, bought in Nov. 2018.
Tomorrow (here) it should arrive after hardware modifications doing by rigol - so it should be on HW 01.01. too.
We´ll see..

[hhappy1]

My MSO bought last month has HW 01.01.000

Mine got HW 01.00.000, bought in Nov. 2018.
Tomorrow (here) it should arrive after hardware modifications doing by rigol - so it should be on HW 01.01. too.
We´ll see..

I expect what has changed.

I bought it on June 10. The lastest cal is June 13.
The hardware is 1.00.  firmware 1.04.04.    (mso5000)

hardware 1.01 and I hope everything is fixed.

[NoisyBoy]

Martin72, you may be the first who has seen both versions.  Please keep us posted on the changes you observed so the rest of us can decide whether we need to send ours in for the upgrade. 

Thanks in advance.

[Martin72]

Hi,

so it should be on HW 01.01. too.

After request they confirm, with the modifications my rigol is on actual harware level HW 01.01.
Today I got mine back - And the fan noise is dramatically lowered 
Also the display looks brigther than before, I´ll try to make a picture to compare (with nearly the same ambient light, could be difficult).
Of course they don´t give any further information about the mods taken, in the delivery note there are only two statements about:

- Maintenance of the whole machine to reduce fan noise
- Maintenance of LCD display for more brightness

Nevertheless, I´m very satisfied with the mods. 

[NoisyBoy]

Hey Martin72, excellent! 

When did you get your original unit?  Love to see the pictures for before/after comparison.

Have you tried the hack to see if It works with the new hardwares?

[tv84]

Nevertheless, I´m very satisfied with the mods. 

I never had the other, so can't make a comparison. But noise and screen seem OK to me.

[Martin72]

The fan noise was really annoying….
Now it´s on the level of our WS3024, fine.

When did you get your original unit?

End of november 2018, one of the first.

Have you tried the hack to see if It works with the new hardwares?

Will doing it soon.

Martin

[Martin72]

Done it, with no Problems:

[TK]

Hi,

so it should be on HW 01.01. too.

After request they confirm, with the modifications my rigol is on actual harware level HW 01.01.
Today I got mine back - And the fan noise is dramatically lowered 
Also the display looks brigther than before, I´ll try to make a picture to compare (with nearly the same ambient light, could be difficult).
Of course they don´t give any further information about the mods taken, in the delivery note there are only two statements about:

- Maintenance of the whole machine to reduce fan noise
- Maintenance of LCD display for more brightness

Nevertheless, I´m very satisfied with the mods. 

My unit's (purchased May 2019) LCD looks OK and the fan noise is low, but HW is 01.00.  I contacted Rigol USA and asked about the mods.

[Elminster]

I got my MSO5000 in May after waiting for a month, or so, for them to come back in stock. I am assuming the new stock have all the fixes as I have never had an issue with the fan, and the brightness is down at 20% on mine and plenty bright enough in a sun-facing room with a big bay window. But it still says hardware 01.00.00 so not sure they actually incremented the number.

Regards.

[Martin72]

I´ve asked them (rigol service) directly, if my scope are with the mods equal to those with 01.01 and they answered "yes".
But still the "old" hardware state will be shown.
I think, they modify all the scopes which were already produced(and not shipped to the sellers), simultaneously totally new produced doesn´t need the mods anymore and this will be marked by the 01.01 state.