First proper scope arrives today :) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: makerman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 12:37:44 pm
content: Started off with a soundcard scope in 2007, then a £25 USB one in 2010, then a £50 USB one last year and today i'm getting a Rigol DSO1054Z 50MHz, can't waitI've watched 'how to not blow up your scope', are there any things i should do first before using it?I'm in UK, i've read that each probe should be calibrated with each BNC input, is that right, 16 calibrations for a 4-channel?Thanks, Gary.

author: JackJones
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 12:47:01 pm
content: I don't think there is really anything else to do once you get it than compensate the probes. (other than maybe hack it for 100MHz..)You want to compensate the probe on the channel you use the probe on. I'm not sure how big of an effect it really is if you use the same probe on a different channel, but it is easy to keep track of since the probes are colour coded.

author: makerman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 01:29:56 pm
content: Quote from: JackJones on January 17, 2019, 12:47:01 pmThanks Jack, will definitely be doing the 100MHz hack, i've read up on it here, including the microsecond problem.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 02:01:38 pm
content: Quote from: makerman on January 17, 2019, 12:37:44 pmi'm predicting few months or just weeks from now, you will get the real real scope, something like 5-6GHz 20GSps scopethe "Moving Forward to the Future, Breaking GHz limit" slogan for hobbiestsQuote from: makerman on January 17, 2019, 12:37:44 pmyes and no. yes if you keep swapping probes between channels, in this case not 16 actually, it depends on how much you swap them, it can be 100... with 100 times of changing probes. and no, if you stick one probe to one channel, so 4X compensation only once in a lifetime.i think you are referring to higher end scope, like the GHz scope, because it can recognize different probe's ID. and each probe has memory to store calibration for each channel it connected to. for Rigol probe nada, its just a passive probe.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 04:33:47 pm
content: Read the manual, particularly page 15-7 where it talks about the scope self-calibration. This is done with probes removed.There is no calibration possible on the probes. All you can do is compensate them - page 1-8The other references to 'calibration' in the manual refer to the digital inputs and you don't have them.It makes sense to run the self-calibration after you do the upgrade. Whatever you have read, "DSER" is the only valid option string if you want all the features that actually work.ETA: This is NOT a menu choice, you just have to go on faith.After the self-calibration and probe compensation, you are good to go.Remember, you are working with a 3% kind of machine - page 18-3.

author: ArthurDent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 07:47:49 pm
content: As others have said, you compensate each probe for the input it is going to be matched with. Each probe has a colored split ring that identifies which input and color trace it is used with to make identifying which signal you're looking at easier. The compensation adjustment corrects for individual differences of probes and inputs by adjusting a trimmer in the probe connector while viewing a square wave compensation signal on the screen. If you want to use a probe on a different input then you should change the color rings to match and readjust the compensation. Here is a photo of probes with spare colored rings and a small plastic adjustment tool.

author: makerman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 10:35:54 pm
content: Thanks all, DSER upgrade went smoothly except i forgot to update the firmware first, i'm currently running software version 4.04 SP3, board version 0.1.4.Is it safe for me to upgrade firmware here or am i stuck with current version :https://beyondmeasure.rigoltech.com/acton/form/1579/0025:d-0005/0/-/-/-/-/index.htmDoing the self-calibration now.Thanks again for advice.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2019, 01:58:37 am
content: You can upgrade the firmware. People unlocked the scope prior to several incantations of firmware upgrades.

author: schmitt trigger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2019, 02:30:38 am
content: Congrats! You are now hooked!Hopefully this will be the start of a good tinkerer's lab.

author: makerman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2019, 04:52:46 pm
content: Quote from: schmitt trigger on January 18, 2019, 02:30:38 amTotally hookedIt's amazing seeing what's going on inside inductors etc.

author: makerman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2019, 04:55:23 pm
content: Quote from: rstofer on January 18, 2019, 01:58:37 amThe download link is asking for an email and serial number, should i go ahead with that or is there somewhere we can direct download ?

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2019, 12:47:35 am
content: I think that this scope hacking is overrated.As a beginner you're much better of with a scope you can have repaired under warranty if needed.Rigol scopes often develop a fault because of low quality encoders on the front panel.It is quite annoying if you want to increase the timebase, and it get decreased instead, and if this happens within warranty you can have it repaired for free.As a beginner the difference between a 50MHz scope and a 100MHz scope is probably also only that you will see more noise.Therefore I advise to wait with the 100MHz hack untill your scope is out of warranty anyway, or you have a project where the increased bandwith is actually usefull.

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2019, 03:32:46 am
content: Quote from: makerman on January 21, 2019, 04:55:23 pmGo here instead (Otherwise you will need to wait for Rigol to send you a link) (This is the link they sent me)http://beyondmeasure.rigoltech.com/acton/fs/blocks/showLandingPage/a/1579/p/p-0019/t/page/fm/0Edit-Version 04.04.SP3 (i.e. 00.04.04.03.05) is the latest version