Siglent SDS1052DL+ does not recognize USB stick - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Atomillo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2021, 10:55:35 am
content: Hello:I've had the SDS1052DL+ for about three years (it is my first oscilloscope) and has served me extremely well for all this years.In all this time I've never connected it to a computer or to a USB stick, as I had no need to do so. Recently however I needed to take various captures and though about using the Print to a USB stick feature.But the oscilloscope doesn't recognize any USB stick! I've tried with about 10 different sticks, and although they receive power (some of them have a light that turns on when powered) the scope doesn't recognize them.I'm clueless why this happens. Following this (https://siglentna.com/operating-tip/save-external-usb-sds-series-oscilloscopes/) I made sure than the USB sticks were in FAT32 format (not that I know what that means) but it still doesn't work.Any help would be very appreciated

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2021, 03:58:38 pm
content: Perhaps you need to format the stick first?It could be that the scope needs a 100% clean drive.

author: Atomillo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2021, 04:02:37 pm
content: I have formated various sticks to make sure they were FAT32 but they still were not recognized

author: tunk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2021, 04:13:32 pm
content: Wouldn't really know, but it could be that the scope doesn't recognize sticks larger than e.g. 2GB.

author: Atomillo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2021, 05:02:52 pm
content: I found this thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sds1000-series-use-only-fat-formatted-usb-sticks/.However, that was an older model (mine has DL+ at the end). Presumably has been fixed?The smallest USB stick I have is 4gb, but after formatting it and making sure it was FAT32 it still was not recognized. I'm going to ask at work to see if someone has older 1 or 2 gb stick.Thanks for the hint this might very well the problem.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2021, 06:29:39 pm
content: Quote from: Atomillo on September 03, 2021, 04:02:37 pm"Quick" format or full format? There's quite a difference. Quick only clears the FAT (file allocation table).

author: Atomillo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2021, 07:53:56 am
content: The "full" format. I suspected that there was a difference despite not having any idea about it because the "fast" option was really fast (a couple of seconds) while the normal option took a couple of minutes.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2021, 10:31:28 am
content: Quote from: Atomillo on September 04, 2021, 07:53:56 amExperiment with Allocation Unit size.While I don't have DL+ here 8k or 4k seem to work fine with all scopes we have here.Our preference is for 8GB USB sticks although larger ones will work OK too however for OS and FW uploads 8GB and smaller is required.

author: Atomillo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2021, 05:08:21 pm
content: I tried various AU (the highest and lowest) on a 4GB stick (always doing slow formatting) but it still isn't recognizedEdit: typo

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2021, 07:01:59 pm
content: Perhaps this part from the user manual holds a clue:Code:USB Flash Drive isn’t connected! : When the “Save To” option is set to “File”or the “Print Key” option is set to “Save Picture” in “Save/Recall” menu , Pressthe “Save” option button or the “S/div” knob before inverting the USB FlashDrive to the USB Host port will appear this information on the screen.https://siglentna.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/SDS1000CML_UserManual_UM0101A-E01B.pdfMiserably written, by the way. Is Siglent from a Latin-language country or the Far East? They've saved money by not hiring an English-speaking editor.I translate "inverting" to mean "inserting".

author: Atomillo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2021, 08:26:31 pm
content: I don't understand pressing the S/div key is the zoom in sweep. It also changes nothing. It at a miss: as you say, the wording doesn't make any sense.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2021, 08:46:36 pm
content: Quote from: Atomillo on September 03, 2021, 10:55:35 amOk you've tried everything one would expect so it has to be a SW or HW fault so I think we should try some recovery SW and we must do this by email so send me yours via a PM and we will try a few things.

author: Atomillo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2021, 01:12:40 pm
content: Many thanks to Tautech for all his quick and helpful messages.We've finally determined that the problem is a damaged USB data trace. Because this oscilloscope is out of warranty and this is not really a feature I care about, I will just leave it as it.Again, thanks to Tautech for all the help.

author: CaptDon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2021, 09:43:09 pm
content: Did you damage the trace? You said you never used the port before. Or is this yet anotherone of those Chinese made Agilent scopes that when it fails testing to become a high pricedAgilent scope it gets an 'off-brand' name stuck on it and goes out the door broken from dayone. The testing house I worked for bought one of those 'identical knock-offs' of a high pricedscope and after returning 3 of them (every one of them had at least one broken or failedfeature/device we simply said return our money in full. It has been said by folks in the knowthat those knock-offs came right out of the 'high priced' scope contract manufacturer in Chinabut failed QC/QA testing in some manner, thermal intermittents during break-in, minor flaws inthe LCD/Backlight, wrong component loaded in the chip shooter causing the unit to fall outsidethe manufacturer specs on some ranges, etc.etc.

author: CharlotteSwiss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2021, 12:20:55 pm
content: So you have an oscilloscope that has a broken usb port without ever using it? Trace interrupted would be the diagnosis, but on which tests carried out? I would not be happy to have a part of the instrument, virgin but not working!

author: Atomillo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2021, 05:16:54 pm
content: Well, as stated previously, I got this oscilloscope three years ago when I didn't really knew about electronics, or about anything really.It has served me well and more importantly it has taught me a lot. I have connected it to a computer a couple of times no problem, but never used the USB port because when I wanted to take a capture of the screen I would just make a photo with my phone.Regarding the diagnostic, I know the power is well because a couple of sticks with internal LED light when connected. Since everything else seems to work properly the trace seemed like the most plausible option.

author: CharlotteSwiss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2021, 12:37:52 pm
content: Having a convenience and not using it is not the best of life; I would get tired of taking pictures of the siglent display, saving the screen to usb is very convenient for storing measurement data. Don't you have the curiosity to open the box and view the USB port circuit?However you could hear about in the parts of Augsburg, Germany, they may have had previous cases and maybe recommend the solution.

author: Atomillo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2021, 08:09:28 pm
content: Tautech has kindly contacted the factory to see if anything could be done.I'm actually curious to take a look inside, however it would be prudent to wait until the Holidays (when I plan to gift to myself a new and better oscilloscope), so that in case anything goes wrong I have a backup.

author: CharlotteSwiss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2021, 09:32:20 pm
content: when you decide to open and check them, share your experience here, it could be interesting