Siglent SDS Scopes, PC API Access? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 04:01:49 am
content: So I just got a Siglent SDS 1022DL, from another forum member, its a 25mhz version with the least amount of memory but I got a great deal (Thank you again HighVoltage) and its much better than my USB scope!Anyways I know theirs not as much info out there about Siglent scopes as there are Rigol, or Hantek, as far as hacking them goes. But Im going to go ahead and guess the SDS series are all pretty much the same thing except maybe some un populated components. Id actually like to do a tear down if someone is willing to tear down a higher end SDS to see if im right. So any one out there with a Siglent SDS 1000x series scope if your interested in firmware/hardware hacking shoot me a PM.Anyways I saw this for rigols on hack a day,http://hackaday.com/2015/09/22/a-better-spectrum-analyzer-for-your-rigol-scope/basically there using a python script to use the scope as a spectrum analyzer and crunching the FFT pc side instead of on the scope. Apparently Rigol uses a protocol called visa to interface with the PC. Is visa the standard for all scopes or just a Rigol thing? I googled siglent sds API and came up with nothing useful. So do any of you siglent guys know anything about the scope PC communication? Is there documentation of the protocol somewhere? Id like to try to adapt this script to a siglent, if its possible. Id also like to see this scope work with sigrok but im not sure if any of the PC com stuff is hackable like Rigol or if its the same boat as Firmware hacks where no one really knows much about it becuase no one with a siglent scope has really tried yet?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 07:29:57 am
content: VISA is just a thin communication layer made by National Instruments to make a universel interface to various types of communication hardware (network, GPIB, serial port, ethernet, USB, etc). The protocols most instruments use follow the SCPI text based format but about the only command which is standard is *IDN?. I think it is very possible to do what you want though but you'll need to be aware that every oscilloscope manufacturer will use slightly different commands. I actually looked into make an external FFT application myself for an SDS2000 but at that time the SCPI over LAN didn't work for this oscilloscope so I didn't investigate it further.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 08:08:19 am
content: Hunted the Siglent USA website for a file that SHOULD be available.Programming manual attachedEasyscope SW available here:http://www.siglentamerica.com/gjjrj.aspx?id=14User & Service manuals:http://www.siglentamerica.com/down.aspxLabview drivers:http://www.siglentamerica.com/gjjrj.aspx?id=204

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 10:44:51 am
content: Lol, so if you didnt get that file off the siglent site where did you find it?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 10:53:09 am
content: Quote from: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin on September 26, 2015, 10:44:51 amOn my PC HDD, ex Siglent China.I''l be ensuring it's freely available from Siglent.Not sure, but I'll have to check if it's on new product CD's, it should be.

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 04:54:42 pm
content: Ya thats strange i printed out the manuals and downloaded the firmware update along with easyscope. I wonder why that file isnt available.

author: rf-loop
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 06:15:42 pm
content: At this time it can also dowload from Siglent from:http://www.siglent.com/2014EnglishWebsite/Documents/others/SDS1000-ProgrammingGuide%EF%BC%881.1%EF%BC%89.pdf(China language make some times these fun things with file names etc. (nice example is this full width parenthesis, it is not this ( or ) but is looks like same. Same problem is some times in cinese made DVD/CD when file can not open (windows) and some times it help if copy file to other media and then rename file. Example UTF-8 %EF%BC%881.1%EF%BC%89 looks like (1.1) but is not)I do not know why it is not now available in current web side. (I suspect there is some reason, perhaps there is some things they need update to this manual or some other reason. I do not know how compatible it is with newest FW's)I hope Siglent do work for arrange better these things inluding also more accurate information what versions are compatible if there is exeptions with different models/FW versions. There are not enough workers?? New versions, new models and all documentations are more or less obsolete or delayed... they need invest also this - valid and updated documentations are important part of products. I know they honestly want and try hard but amount of work what needs doing grow faster than work force power grow. )

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 07:39:52 pm
content: Quote from: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin on September 26, 2015, 04:54:42 pmI should add the SDS1000 series by having the same functionality will be covered by one SCPI reference manual.There is another manual with additional commands for the SDS2000 series.In time there will be another for the newly released SDS1000X series.