Rigol DS1202Z-E Trigger problem - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: ellisthegas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2021, 05:19:34 pm
content: I just got a new oscilloscope for a significant birthday and so far I have been really pleased with it.While messing around using a video signal generator as the source of a complex waveform to play with the 'scope, I have discovered that the video trigger facility doesn't work. I simply can't make the oscilloscope trigger using that mode, let alone select the line I wish to examine. I have carefully set all of the parameters such as video standard etc.I then tried to use the separate sync pulse output of the generator on the ext trigger input, which also seems to do nothing (just like a couple of other posts I have seen here). I can easily trigger by putting the sync pulses onto channel 2 and using that to trigger, but the same signal on the ext socket (selected in the menu etc) does not work.My scope is loaded with firmware 00.06.02 and the board version is 0.0.1I am somewhat disappointed at this following my initial joy at having an oscilloscope far better than any of my others.Does anyone else have these issues? I wonder if it is a problem with the most recent firmware or a faulty scope. If anyone else can comment on the function of theirs, with this or a previous firmware version, it may be helpful for when I contact the supplier.With thanks in anticipation,Ellis

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2021, 07:58:06 pm
content: Quote from: ellisthegas on February 06, 2021, 05:19:34 pmDo that until the next firmware update :-)

author: ellisthegas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2021, 11:00:56 pm
content: Do you think that it is simply a firmware issue rather than a fault?

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2021, 11:39:38 am
content: Quote from: ellisthegas on February 06, 2021, 11:00:56 pmI can't sayfor certainthat it's firmware but there's two or three threads on this problem now. All the "broken" ones seem to be firmware 6.02, although that could be a coincidence and there genuinely is a bad batch of hardware. Hardware QC would normally catch things like this though.The only way to confirm it 100% would be if somebody had a known working 'scope with 6.01 and they upgraded to 6.02 and it stopped working.What firmware do you have?Here's an example thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/rigol-ds1202z-e-external-trigger-input-defective-or-general-problem/

author: ellisthegas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2021, 11:57:23 am
content: Thanks Fungus.I had seen the thread that you gave me a link for but I started a new one as my oscilloscope also does not trigger on the video setting.My firmware is indeed 6.02 and I agree with your thought about someone with 6.01 checking it out, although fts in his thread states that his exchanged model works. I wonder which firmware the replacement is?I gave also contacted RIGOL and asked them the question.E

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2021, 12:44:19 pm
content: Quote from: ellisthegas on February 07, 2021, 11:57:23 amDoes it trigger normally? (eg. On simple rising edges, etc).That's a completely different thing.

author: ellisthegas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2021, 01:27:28 pm
content: Yes, it triggers on channel 1 and channel 2 in the usual modes. I haven't checked them all but other complex ones such as pulse width and voltage window modes seem to work OK.It was the failing to trigger in video mode that led me to try the ext trigger facility as my video generator has sync pulse outputs on a separate connector.

author: Oilngas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2021, 03:39:29 pm
content: I have a DS1202Z-E purchased June 2020. I am having the same issue with the external trigger. I tested it with a 9 volt battery as mentioned in the other thread and there is no response to the trace.My scope has software version 00.06.01 and board version 0.0.1.

author: StillTrying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2021, 03:47:44 pm
content: "It was the failing to trigger in video mode that led me to try the ext trigger"Are you switching the trigger back to EDGE before switching to EXT, and then giving the trigger level a good twiddle.And check there's no trigger filters on of course.Try to get EXT trig to work on it's own 1kHz if you can't, it's broken.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2021, 04:12:27 pm
content: Quote from: ellisthegas on February 07, 2021, 01:27:28 pmOK, I was confused, I thought you meant the video trigger didn't work on the external trigger in. You mean it doesn't work on channel1+2.Does external trigger work at all? If so, and you have firmware 6.02 then let the guys in the other thread know.

author: ellisthegas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2021, 10:45:05 pm
content: Quote from: Oilngas on February 07, 2021, 03:39:29 pmMany thanks oilngas. It looks like this also happens with the previous version of firmware. Does your video trigger work on channels 1 & 2?Quote from: StillTrying on February 07, 2021, 03:47:44 pmThanks StillTrying. I did all of that.Quote from: Fungus on February 07, 2021, 04:12:27 pmFungus, external trigger doesn't work in any form. Modes other than video seem to work on channels 1 & 2. Weejag has let the guys in the other thread know as his is the same.It's starting to look like it's not just this recent firmware at fault (on the basis of one reply from a 6.02 user!) and that a replacement may work (from other thread).I can't wait to hear what RIGOL say.

author: weejag
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2021, 05:54:11 pm
content: FIXED IT!It wasn't a hardware issue. I wondered if there was a full factory reset for this scope - nothing in the manual but found a solution on the net.To reset the oscilloscope, just power off and then on, repeatedly pressing the fifth grey button down on the left side and the oscilloscope resets to factory settings. The menu changes to Chinese, but that's easily fixed by just selecting English in the language settings on the list to the right of the screen (press utility to get that menu if required).I first checked that the firmware was still 6.02 and that all the options were still available. No problems there.Did a self-calTried the external trigger - worked perfectly!All other functions seem to be fine too. Brilliant.To check if your 'ext trig' works try this. It would be interesting to know how many people have this problem and have never noticed.You can just check using the two probes on the calibration square wave. Put them on channels 1 & 2 and set the trigger to sync on channel 2.Then swap the probe from channel 2 on to the 'ext trig'. Set the trigger to 'ext' and see if the signal on channel 1 will sync.You will probably have to adjust the voltage on the trigger (displayed at the top right of the screen). My external trigger synced between -180 to -460mV.Spoke to Ellis and this fixed his 'ext trig' problem too!His video problem is partially resolved.He is able to sync using everything other than the PAL/SECAM option despite his video signal generator being PAL standard.Not sure what is going on there.

author: Oilngas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2021, 08:42:33 pm
content: Thanks weejag! I followed your steps and my scope checks out OK now, too.