R&S NGU201 Source Measurement Unit / Battery simulator - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Leo Bodnar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2021, 05:29:00 pm
content: This is recent foray of R&S into "proper" SMU market.https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/ph/products/test-and-measurement/dc-power-supplies/rs-ngu-source-measure-units_63493-1005128.htmlI am evaluating this unit for a few weeks with intention of buying it eventually.Does anyone have any comments on its daily use?GUI drives me mad. It's barely at a first year university student level. Everything is beautifully ugly and functionally disfunctional.I can't even get to actual performance evaluation because it makes me cringe.Anyone got one? Am I just missing something or need to just get on with it?Leo

author: trophosphere
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2021, 06:21:45 pm
content: The GUI for the NGU series does indeed leave a lot to be desired in terms of actual usefulness. Rich has commented that the NGU series "has a number of updates coming for it" inanother threadabout the NGU401. That being said, I am waiting patiently as I have already purchased a NGU401.

author: Leo Bodnar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2021, 06:38:53 pm
content: I chose NGU201 to a large extent due to the fact it advertises headline "graphical capability." Well here it is in full glory.1. You can't change the time scale2. You can't pause it or look beyond 60 seconds into the past3. You can't change vertical scale or the top/bottom value limits4. It autoscales on you like "Jack In the Box" to stop you from getting used to the scale. You can't stop this5. It does not respond to any touch input apart from changing the trace colours from a selection of 10 preset CGA era colours6. If you correct your instrument time by two hours back, it locks up for two hours and you need to reset the instrument (or wait two hours)7. Min/Max are in the format of "47.591 10 mA" and are randomly overlaid on each other8. There is no average9. Trace font is non-antialiased and jagged like randomly scaled down vector oneAnd this is just the beginning of the list.It feels like designed by a kid that just learned programming and have no idea that people don't look at the charts to find max/min values with 7 digit resolution.Even Chinese would be embarrassed of this GUI design.Is this really R&S?!Leo

author: tv84
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2021, 08:26:35 pm
content: That screenshot...Those guys could learn a lot with member Nx-1997.

author: Leo Bodnar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2021, 09:49:42 pm
content: It gets worse...I was in the middle of a two hour test run using NGU201 in battery simulation mode (a £650 additional software option) and the NGU201 just locked up on me.None of the buttons or touchscreen worked apart from a single output on/off switch.I can't tell what currents and voltages I have ended up feeding my device with and whether any of the output protection worked.http://leobodnar.com/files/locked-up-NGU201.mp4This is pretty gross. I would say this is not production ready. Maybe a proof of concept stage...I really need an SMU and a battery simulator to streamline the work I am doing. It looks like I would have to give Keithley another look. I was hoping to replace 2281S + 2450 with a single box...Leo

author: Leo Bodnar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2021, 08:02:00 am
content: I am in touch with R&S UK guys who let me have the evaluation unit. I need to update the firmware - I didn't want to mess with updates on a borrowed unit.Leo

author: candrian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2023, 09:22:13 pm
content: @Leo Bodnar it has been a while since your last post. Did you finally managed to fix your issues with firmware updates? Did you ended up buying this SMU?I'm close to purchase it but your experience made me think if it really worth it.

author: pdenisowski
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2023, 02:47:47 pm
content: There has been at least one firmware revision since then:https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/firmware/ngu/I'm not exactly an unbiased reviewer, but I've spent a substantial amount of time using the NGU and never had any issues with the current FW. I also made a video showing how to use the NGU and explaining its main features:Quote from: Leo Bodnar on July 02, 2021, 05:29:00 pmThe GUI is same one we use for most of our power supplies and I really haven't heard any complaints. Some people don't care for the graphing functionality (which I'll admit could use some polishing), but we do provide a free utility that does very nice graphing and logging:https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/applications/logging-and-charting-tool-for-power-supplies-r-s-ngm200-ngu201-ngu401-ngl200-ngp800-nga100-and-nge100-application-note_56280-720790.html(And I have one of Mr. Bodnar's GPSDOs and I think it's excellent, despite the GUI)

author: candrian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2023, 07:36:45 pm
content: Thank you for letting me know. The video is really interesting and I'm wondering how i didn't came across it while i was searching for this device.Do you know if this application for power analysis comes also for free with the instrument or it requires any extra licenses ?https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/applications/power-consumption-analysis-tool-for-r-s-ngx-power-supplies-application-note_56280-1171639.html

author: pdenisowski
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2023, 08:10:54 pm
content: Quote from: candrian on January 31, 2023, 07:36:45 pmThanks!Quote from: candrian on January 31, 2023, 07:36:45 pmThe software is free and does not require any license to run.

author: Leo Bodnar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2023, 11:55:21 am
content: Quote from: candrian on January 28, 2023, 09:22:13 pmI am using it for testing batteries and it does well for that.I'll give a new firmware a go.Quote from: pdenisowski on January 31, 2023, 02:47:47 pmWell, touché!Leo