Siglent USB Flash Drive Compatibility

[KungFuJosh]

There appears to be an issue with USB flash drive compatibility, especially for drives that aren't old and very low storage capacity (general generic compatibility aside).

I first posted my issue here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sds2000x-hd-12bit-(published-for-chinese-domestic-market-only)/msg5845999/#msg5845999

After further testing, and considering Joe's issue (below), it seems more thought needs to be put into this by Siglent. When I mentioned the issue to a Siglent rep, his repsonse was "I would use a smallish USB drive if possible. It should be FAT 32 formatted." I expected and understand that response. However, it's 2025. 32GB is a smallish USB drive. Availability of drives that small or smaller is only going to get worse. USB drive support needs to be improved.

@joeqsmith had some USB compatibility issues as well. That thread started here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sds7000a-dsos-coming/msg5842321/#msg5842321

Joe's test results and summary here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sds7000a-dsos-coming/msg5844027/#msg5844027

Rudi also noted USB drive compatibility issues with the SDG1000X Plus: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/upgraded-sdg1000x-plus-awgs-coming/msg5822549/#msg5822549

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These two exFAT drives failed to work in general with my scope:
SanDisk 256GB Ultra Luxe SDCZ74-256G-G46
SanDisk Ultra 128GB SDCZ43-128G-GAM46

However, formatting to FAT32 with 512 cluster size made the SanDisk Ultra 128GB SDCZ43-128G-GAM46 work, without crashing with popups open. The 256GB drive still didn't work after trying different formats.

This drive almost always works with all my test gear:
SanDisk 32GB Ultra Fit SDCZ430-032G-G46T

The only exception is the bug I mentioned in the SDS2000X HD thread. Here is a video showing the bug tied to the SanDisk drive, and comparing it to a Kingston 32GB drive. Both drives are formatted as 32GB FAT32 32k clusters using the SDCard Formatter utility:


(Apologies for the camera wobble.)

I tried formatting the SanDisk drive using Windows 11 and MacOS in FAT32 and exFAT, using clusters from 4k to 32k, and nothing improved it. Some combinations made the drive undetectable.

I have not had any issues with the Ultra Fit 32GB with any TE brand, including Siglent, except for this one issue.

This drive still works when the Ultra Fit 32GB doesn't:
Kingston 32GB DataTraveler Mini Rex DTMRX/32GB

Kingston, SanDisk, Crucial, and PNY are major brands and compatibility shouldn't be a concern.

Thanks,
Josh

My scope: SDS2504X HD (black)
Firmware: 1.2.2.9
OS: 2.5

I'll try and keep this updated here with a list of drives that work:
FAT32 formatted:
SanDisk 64GB Extreme Go SDCZ810-064G-G46
Kingston 32GB DataTraveler Mini Rex DTMRX/32GB
Kingston 64GB DataTraveler Micro DTMC3G2/64GB
Verbatim 32GB Store 'n' Stay Nano 98710
Verbatim 64GB Metal Executive 99106
SanDisk Ultra 128GB SDCZ43-128G-GAM46
SanDisk 32GB Extreme SDCZ80-032G
SanDisk 64GB Ultra Luxe SDCZ74-064G

exFAT formatted:
SanDisk 64GB Extreme Go SDCZ810-064G-G46

[coromonadalix]

ok for me

BUT in an SDS7K A scope 

many have been formatted to default values from the hp "usb / sd disk formatter" tool     quick format option ...

4 and 8gb SwissBit micro sd card worked in an usb card reader dongle

many unknown 4gb u disk 
dt101 8 and 16gb usb key
32gb usb key  Sandisk
8gb Lexar usb key


And in other stuff like lower bw scopes, hf and uhf sig gens etc ...   mostly the unknown 4 gb usb u-disk for screenshots and FW upgrades

[KungFuJosh]

Compatibility with flash drives 8GB and smaller is more common. However, I won't spend money on anything that small. I have 32GB and larger drives going back at least 10 years. 32GB is small my modern standards, and many lines don't go below 64GB anymore.

I don't know what's missing or messed up in the firmware that doesn't work more universally, at least with major brands. 🤷

[joeqsmith]

TV82 also posted about having problems with Siglents USB compatibility:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sds7000a-dsos-coming/msg5843717/#msg5843717

[Conrad Hoffman]

Common problem with a lot of test equipment that uses USB drives. You need to stick with 32 GB or smaller, formatted with FAT32, never NTFS. All the old Tek scopes at work have the same issue. I don't know why new equipment should suffer from this limitation, but I had to search through my pile of flash drives to find a few that were suitable and dedicate them to the purpose. I buy neck lanyards so I can loop them through the equipment handles, lest they develop legs and walk away.

[KungFuJosh]

It's a pain in the ass for many manufacturers, but since my scope is Siglent, I'm focused on that. I have a few other drives coming I'm going to test.

I hope Siglent (and others?) will choose to improve this. If not, at least we can get a list of the best modern flash drive options that work without issue.

[joeqsmith]

You youngsters don't know how good you have it!   At home I still use floppy drives, some 720k.  I keep known good floppies with the equipment.   

[KungFuJosh]

You youngsters don't know how good you have it!   At home I still use floppy drives, some 720k.  I keep known good floppies with the equipment.   

I'm not that young. My first computer laptop had two 3.5" floppy drives and no HDD...and it wasn't my first computer. 😉

[KungFuJosh]

This was a success, no issues so far, not even with the utility menu bug:
Verbatim 32GB Store 'n' Stay Nano (98710 Store 'N' STAY NANO)

The only issue with that drive is that they made it slightly hard to remove lol. On the bright side, only $7: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RORBNWG


Not surprising, but this was a fail:
SAMSUNG FIT Plus 3.1 USB Flash Drive, 128GB (exFAT)

[Martin72]

My first computer had a cassette tape drive; floppy disks were too expensive (for me).

To the point.
As I have already written elsewhere, which was attributed to me as an OT starter(  ) , I have no problems with any stick I have at home.
However, the largest of these is a maximum of 64GB and almost all of them are from SanDisk.
Whether siglent now has to ensure that every stick you have at home is compatible, I can't say.
However, it didn't seem to be a major problem so far, otherwise some kind of compatibility list would have been published for sure.
At least the touchscreen scopes are equipped with Linux and an SoC.
For the latter, you would have to find out what disk size is generally supported.

[nctnico]

The main issue is probably that Siglent forgot to install support for exFat (which involves more than just enabling an option in the kernel). Most USB flash drives are formatted using exFat nowadays so if you are developing an embedded Linux system that needs to be able to deal with USB flash, you need to add exFat support.

[KungFuJosh]

I agree with Nico that they should add exFAT support, but there are issues with FAT32 drives too.

[joeqsmith]

My first computer had a cassette tape drive; floppy disks were too expensive (for me).

Mine was built in the early 70s and had two hard sectored 8" floppy drives.  Later my Timex Sinclair, VIC-20 and TRS-80 used cassette tapes.  I did eventually get a floppy drive for the VIC-20. 

But I know you don't like to wander.

To the point.  As I have already written elsewhere, which was attributed to me as an OT starter(  ) , I have no problems with any stick I have at home.
However, the largest of these is a maximum of 64GB and almost all of them are from SanDisk.
Whether siglent now has to ensure that every stick you have at home is compatible, I can't say.
However, it didn't seem to be a major problem so far, otherwise some kind of compatibility list would have been published for sure.
At least the touchscreen scopes are equipped with Linux and an SoC.
For the latter, you would have to find out what disk size is generally supported.

As I previously wrote,  I had 2 out of 4 different brand/model USB FLASH drives fail when used with the Siglent 3000 when they were formatted using NTFS.   You keep going on about testing sticks.  My point is that Siglent's manual calls for FAT32 in the troubleshooting section of their manual.  They are certainly aware of the compatibility problems with formats outside of FAT32.  Yet they decided to make their manual ambiguous by only recommending FAT32 in the primary section of the manual.   It seems like an easy fix and doesn't require a lot of testing.  They seem to have already done that and are aware of it.   

I was just looking for some English help rather than Chinese and a unambiguous user's manual.  If the fan boys feel it is good enough, so be it.     

[EvgenyG]

Have you tried creating one small (say, 1GB) FAT32 partition on those 32 / 64GB usb sticks and leave the rest of the disk space empty/unpartitioned?

[KungFuJosh]

Have you tried creating one small (say, 1GB) FAT32 partition on those 32 / 64GB usb sticks and leave the rest of the disk space empty/unpartitioned?

No, but that's an interesting test idea. I don't think it will make a difference because I think it's a driver/chipset issue, but I'll try your test out and see what happens.

Thanks,
Josh

[KungFuJosh]

Have you tried creating one small (say, 1GB) FAT32 partition on those 32 / 64GB usb sticks and leave the rest of the disk space empty/unpartitioned?

No, but that's an interesting test idea. I don't think it will make a difference because I think it's a driver/chipset issue, but I'll try your test out and see what happens.

I tried 8GB FAT32, and 1GB FAT, and both failed, same as full capacity.

Thanks,
Josh

[squadchannel]

does changing the allocation unit size make any difference?

[KungFuJosh]

does changing the allocation unit size make any difference?

No, I've tried a range of allocation sizes, and it made no difference. The only time the Ultra Fit didn't work outside the bug is when I switched to exFAT. No matter what I've tried otherwise, the drive fails only with an info/options window on the screen.

It could be a resource issue? If the drivers are a little wonky and taking up too much resources, the extras on screen could make it crash, but that's really not great if that's the case. For any USB detection there's a brief pause of the measurement count, and obviously a complete halt when it crashes.

[KungFuJosh]

Verbatim 64GB Metal Executive 99106 also works without issues so far. OP updated.

SDCard Formatter can't be used for drives over 32GB (as Rudi pointed out), make sure you use FAT32 if you format the drive. I hope Siglent eventually adds exFAT support.

Also, formatting the SanDisk Ultra 128GB SDCZ43-128G-GAM46 to FAT32 on my Mac made it work. A good formatting utility in Windows would probably also work.

Thanks,
Josh

[Martin72]

I hope Siglent eventually adds exFAT support.

One of my SanDisk sticks is ex-FAT and works without problems with the SDS3104X HD and the SSG3032X IQE.

[KungFuJosh]

I hope Siglent eventually adds exFAT support.

One of my SanDisk sticks is ex-FAT and works without problems with the SDS3104X HD and the SSG3032X IQE.

Which model is the SanDisk that works in exFAT? I've tried different drives that work as FAT32 formatted as exFAT, and they don't work on the SDS2504X HD.

Maybe the 3000's better hardware helps? Or maybe its firmware has better USB support?

[Martin72]

SDCZ810 E3B3, that´s written on the body of the stick.

He also works with my siglent generators.
I can take it to work with me tomorrow and test it on an SDS2000Xplus.

[KungFuJosh]

SDCZ810 E3B3, that´s written on the body of the stick.

That's the SanDisk "Extreme Go" series. What size is it?

Thanks,
Josh

[Martin72]

Hi,

64GB

[KungFuJosh]

64GB

I just ordered one to try it out. I would be pleasantly surprised if it works as exFAT on my 2000HD scope.