Spectrum Analyzer - Rigol DSA815

[lost_bro]

Good day All:

OK, figure I'd post my latest finding regarding the *never_ending_trial_time_mod* with a FRAM Write Protect Switch.
I have a *new* DSA815-TG which was purchased the end of last year, 2016.   So I am using 1.18 Firmware and version 1.04 Boot.
I was beginning to get desperate because my *Trial Time* was about to run out........
At the suggestion from CombatWombat71, I went ahead and opened the DSA and ran two thin jumper wires, one from Pin7 and the other from Pin8 on the ICU1105 to a small slide switch mounted on the RF-shield. I have access to the switch from outside of the unit with a toothpick, in case I need to run updates, etc.

I did NOT *lift-up* Pin7 when I connected the *jumper wires*, it remained soldered to the pcb.

Switching on the switch effectively shorts together Pin7 and Pin8.  I now have 13hrs 9mins xxseconds remaining forever.......  Each time I reboot the SAME 13hrs 9mins xxseconds is restored. So I will definitively state that the *never_ending_trial_time_mod* does indeed still work with the *new* 1.18 Firmware and ver. 1.04 Boot.

Of course I also still have functioning the 10Hz RBW that came activated from the factory with the 1.18 Firmware.

I hope this post helps answer some of the sought after questions regarding the *new* DSA815-TG w/ 1.18 Firmware.

take care,
peace

lost_bro

[N8AUM]

Hello Ted, can you tell us what exactly you did to improve the RL of the bridge in post 871 ?
tnx  N8AUM

[ted572]

Hello Ted, can you tell us what exactly you did to improve the RL of the bridge in post 871 ?
tnx  N8AUM

Post #871 is at -> https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/spectrum-analyzer-rigol-dsa815/msg1112327/#msg1112327
Hello N8AUM:
I sent you a PM.  I provided information as to what I would like from you, for me to be able to provide the information you are asking about.  This was easy for me to do, although it can be difficult to explain the fine points to others without a marked up photo(s), etc.  It requires basic soldering skills, and for some of the work a lot of concentrated heat for soldering the added ground connections to two of the N connectors (body), as they are secured to the unit's aluminum case (effectively a big heat sink).
Please keep in mind that these units have been quite good as received (35 dB RL typical), so you may be happy without making any modifications.  Ted

[Spike101]

I recently got a used DSA815-TG and would like to update the firmware on it. I have some questions, maybe someone here can help me out.
The unit seems to be quite old and has the following versions:

Main Board: 00.04
RF Board: 00.05
Digital Board: 00.04
Firmware: 00.01.08
Boot: 00.01.02

Now i downloaded the V00.01.18 update from the Rigol site, but in the installation instructions in the archive say:

Applicable models and component versions:
    ------ Embedded software version number: 00.01.09 and later
    ------ BOOT version number: 00.01.04 and later
    ------ Digital FPGA version number: 00.05 and later
    ------ RF FPGA version number: 00.05 and later
    ------ Main board version number: 00.05 and later


********************************************************************************
     Please be sure to carefully check the product system information
     and component version. Incompatible upgrade will cause serious problems,
     such as a failure in starting the instrument.

********************************************************************************

Does that mean, that i can't update my unit with this update? Are there other updates available for older units? The problem with the current firmware is, that the remote-commands seem to be not fully implemented, so the automation software i would like to use does not work.

Another question - The device has options enabled (keygen) - Will these options be lost, should the update be possible?

thanks,
Sebastian

[Daruosha]

I recently got a used DSA815-TG and would like to update the firmware on it. I have some questions, maybe someone here can help me out.
The unit seems to be quite old and has the following versions:

Main Board: 00.04
RF Board: 00.05
Digital Board: 00.04
Firmware: 00.01.08
Boot: 00.01.02

Now i downloaded the V00.01.18 update from the Rigol site, but in the installation instructions in the archive say:

Applicable models and component versions:
    ------ Embedded software version number: 00.01.09 and later
    ------ BOOT version number: 00.01.04 and later
    ------ Digital FPGA version number: 00.05 and later
    ------ RF FPGA version number: 00.05 and later
    ------ Main board version number: 00.05 and later


********************************************************************************
     Please be sure to carefully check the product system information
     and component version. Incompatible upgrade will cause serious problems,
     such as a failure in starting the instrument.

********************************************************************************

Does that mean, that i can't update my unit with this update? Are there other updates available for older units? The problem with the current firmware is, that the remote-commands seem to be not fully implemented, so the automation software i would like to use does not work.

Another question - The device has options enabled (keygen) - Will these options be lost, should the update be possible?

thanks,
Sebastian

You can safely upgrade to the latest version which is 1.18.
And if you enabled the options with the keygen, all enabled options will be kept after update. So go ahead and update.

[N8AUM]

I was looking at that but way out of my price range. I just purchased the SIGLENT  SSA 3032X, already found a bug LOL

[tautech]

I was looking at that but way out of my price range. I just purchased the SIGLENT  SSA 3032X, already found a bug LOL

Please report it here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-technical-support-join-in-eevblog/

We need to know the FW in your unit and exactly how to reproduce your bug.

[Vtech]

I've just successfully flashed firmware 00.01.18.00.02 on my DSA815-TG.
My unit is rather old and had firmware 1.09:

Main Board: 00.04
RF Board: 00.05
Digital Board: 00.04
Firmware: 00.01.09
Boot: 00.01.02

Everything works fine and all options except SSC-DSA are still intact.

I've also tested new print screen format. PNG works terribly slow - it hangs the DSA for something like 10 to 20 seconds.

But JPEG option is the best - it is flipped up side down and has white border around the screen. JPEG image resolution is 840x600pix. This is hilarious!
Really RIGOL, flipped image? Can you do something right the first try? You implement new feature and nobody even tried it once to check if it's working correctly?
Guess I should be happy that my unit didn't explode in a huge fireball when it came straight from the factory.

[mesteruvd]

Has anyone done a full procedure how to enable 'Advanced Measurement Kit'
+ .... on a Rigol DSA815 TG with
Version of Main Board: 01.08
Version of the Radio Frequency Board FPGA: 00.05
Version of Digital Board FPGA: 00.05
Version of Firmware: 00.01.18
Version of Boot: 00.01.04 ?

[Nilton C]

Hi, I need FW 0.16 to try to solve the problem of activating test license
I am using FW 0.18 it installs the test key s but not active

[sv1eia]

Hi,
Got a strange problem with the DSA815 and would like to see if anyone else is observing it.
Bought it recently about 6 months ago.

When using the DSA815-TG to get a spectrum output from a HF transmitter, seen a strange spurious signal in the area of 14.3 MHz.

Specifically, when a signal is fed to the instrument, in the area around 14.3 MHz eg 14.25 MHz or 14.35 MHz, appart from the original signal there is also displayed another signal (mixing product?), for that see attached images 501/2/3/5/6/7. When feeding the instrument with a signal at exactly 14.3 MHz, then the observed phase noise gets beyond the instrument's advertized limits, for that see the attached image 504.png

To verify the problem, I replaced the HF transmitter with a lab signal generator, the DG1022Z.
Seen the exact problem again.
The screenshots attached are from that setup, DG1022Z transmitting into DSA815-TG and the problem is still there so it was not the HF transmitter.

Has anyone else seen this or is it just my unit?.

Version of Main Board:00.09
Version of Radio Frequency Board FPGA:00.05
Version of Digital Board FPGA:00.05
Version of Firmware:00.01.18
Version of Boot:00.01.04


And btw, how can I submit a ticket to Rigol?


Thanks,
Christos

[Orange]

Hi,
Got a strange problem with the DSA815 and would like to see if anyone else is observing it.
Bought it recently about 6 months ago.

When using the DSA815-TG to get a spectrum output from a HF transmitter, seen a strange spurious signal in the area of 14.3 MHz.

Specifically, when a signal is fed to the instrument, in the area around 14.3 MHz eg 14.25 MHz or 14.35 MHz, appart from the original signal there is also displayed another signal (mixing product?), for that see attached images 501/2/3/5/6/7. When feeding the instrument with a signal at exactly 14.3 MHz, then the observed phase noise gets beyond the instrument's advertized limits, for that see the attached image 504.png

To verify the problem, I replaced the HF transmitter with a lab signal generator, the DG1022Z.
Seen the exact problem again.
The screenshots attached are from that setup, DG1022Z transmitting into DSA815-TG and the problem is still there so it was not the HF transmitter.

Has anyone else seen this or is it just my unit?.

Version of Main Board:00.09
Version of Radio Frequency Board FPGA:00.05
Version of Digital Board FPGA:00.05
Version of Firmware:00.01.18
Version of Boot:00.01.04


And btw, how can I submit a ticket to Rigol?


Thanks,
Christos

Don't worry, mine is doing exactly the same  ....
It is about 3 years old and the MB version is 00.04
Probably an issue with all DSA815 systems.

[sv1eia]

Don't worry, mine is doing exactly the same  ....
It is about 3 years old and the MB version is 00.04
Probably an issue with all DSA815 systems.

Thanks!..

[IRB]

I am having two different issues with the Rigol. (I miss my Advantest R3131A, the TG dies after 10 minutes. )

I have not seen anything about Normalization, or low end non-linearity.

For the normalization it seems to be disabled in linear mode, I have toggled LIN/LOG "Scale Type" (under AMPT) and the Normalize option becomes grayed out.
See bmp screen dumps from Rigol
I just tried the reverse I, put the unit to LOG mode, then Normalized the cable. I switched back to AMPT now the Scale Type is grayed out.

Is this in everybody's firmware?

And when I am sweeping the low HF end I get a noisy response, just from a good looped back cable. See scren.jpg

I contacted Rigol Costumer service by e-mail  help@rigoltech.com .
I went through and was told(by Steve Huss), I could only go to 1.08 Firmware
With:
   BOOT version number:             00.01.03
   Digital FPGA version number:   00.04
   RF FPGA version number:         00.05
   Main board version number:     00.04
Now I get:
    Version of Main Board :                            00.04
    Version of Radio Frequency Board FPGA :  00.05
    Version of Digital Board FPGA :                 00.04
    Version of Firmware :                          00.01.08
    Version of Boot :                                 00.01.03


P.S. I just got a follow up email, "I’ll be talking to a coworker tomorrow for more information. "

[IRB]

Here is a little VB6 I was working on. Based off of the Rigol sample.
I had to put the files in to a .zip, it didn't want to make a split file.

The RIGOL_815 contains the exe but it probably won't run with out the vesa32.dll from National Instruments. It's in the installer. 

It's a work in process, I am trying to figure out how to pull the save file over the USB port.
In the Rigol programmer's guild there is enough codes to pull all the information over to re-draw the screen data but that seems redundant..

Forgot to mention Clicking Command button will look for the Rigol, and put the Address in the Box if it finds the unit.

[IRB]

Small addition to the program, add text box to show the out going command.
and moved the License box up. 

Made _2 longer delay on USB write to File

[IRB]

Next Step, added a Trace grab.

It takes three clicks to get it, Get Settings, Get Trace, Draw 
Technically, four if you count the Connect.

I think the save is calling it a jpg, but it might be a bmp file. I opened it in paint, and saved it without modifying it the file size dropped form 4meg to 216K 

The _3 seems undersized. So I remade it as_4

[Daruosha]

Nice work IRB, I'm glad someone started to develop a 3rd party app for Rigol DSAs.

I have a few comments as well:Add the graticules to the captured trace would be nice. Also having more detailed analysis tools like spectrogram, projection of amplitude/power/frequency vs. time and waterfall graphs, in the app would make it a priceless tool as well.


BTW: Are you going to share the source code on GitHub or you want to keep it as a free licensed close source code?

[IRB]

Daruosha, hadn't put much thought in to sharing it. My code is ugly, my comments are loose to non-existent.

I don't have a GIThub account. I think there free?

Yes, I intend to do graticales. I am trying to work out save files, I am writing the program for where I work, for production records.

I, don't have a need for a spectrogram, the USB might be too slow. Another programmer where I work did one in dotnet, this is old VB6 stuff, single threading.   

I haven't looked a Rigol's UltraSigma, I was told it's a free software package, and can do a screen save. I have not even seen screenshot of it, that would be nice to know what it can do.

Not much to see: https://rigol.desk.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2272607-ultrasigma-user-s-guide

Thanks for the feedback   

 

[IRB]

Yes, a am aware that the unit can save to a thumb drive, I even put a button to do that on the first form.
Thanks for the discouragement in the pursuit of knowledge and the sharing with others. 

I followed the link you provided, I am not good at German, and Google failed to translate. Maybe I'll try again later.

[ted572]

Hello IRB  Edit: Re. your post #918 on September 29, 2017, 3rd paragraph

In my DSA815-TG with the TG On, 'Normalize' functions (properly) with the X (Horz.) Display set for either Log. or Lin., and also with the Y (Vert.) Display set for either Log. or Lin.  I don't know why one would choose to use the TG with the X display in the Log. mode, but yes it does work.  The only times I have used the Log. X Display mode is for FCC EMI/EMC Compliance Testing and Reports.
   
I have firmware version 00.01.18.00.02 installed, and if you still have 00.01.08.00 firmware, you should upgrade to 00.01.18.00.02 for several reasons (bug fixes and added features).  Rigol should NOT have told you to stay at 00.01.08.00!  You won't have to read back very far in this thread to see that this firmware has worked fine for others with the same hardware that you have in your unit.   Cheers, Ted

[N8AUM]

Yes, a am aware that the unit can save to a thumb drive, I even put a button to do that on the first form.
Thanks for the discouragement in the pursuit of knowledge and the sharing with others. 

I followed the link you provided, I am not good at German, and Google failed to translate. Maybe I'll try again later.

I say LET IT RIP,we need more people like you that don't mind sharing their knowledge !
tnx for all your efforts.
Vidas  N8AUM

[Pinkus]

There is now a new RSA5000 Series of High Performance Real Time Spectrum Analyzers shown on the Rigol Web Site.

oh man, they should hire some real designers. This thing looks so strange with these deformated buttons and housing. This is a professional measurement device sitting in lab and not a new hot gadget from CES. Next year they will sell RGB illuminated fans as an option.

[GRA]

If my trial version is over, and I do not have more hours. Will the modding work??

[cyberfuzzy]

Hi Folks. Thank you for the information on this thread, this is great!

DSA815, DSA832, DSA875 Adding FRAM Write Protect
This mod. is to permanently retain the factory supplied DSA800 Series Trial Options (fully functional) forever.  Suggestion - do it at least several hours before they expire.
Note: When they are gone, they will be gone forever, with currently no other way to get them.

I have a question to that: What happens if only one hour of trial time is left, FRAM Write Protect is enabled and I turn on the DSA815 for more than 1 hour. Will it be gone then? Or will it still be there after rebooting the system?