Brightness of waveform with DS1000Z-E Rigol scope - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: PatrickB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2022, 10:18:40 pm
content: Hello,There is a problem with the display of my DS1102Z-E purchased 2 months ago.The waveform brightness decreases a lot when the horizontal time base is equal 5ns and only with this value.With greater or lower values of time base the brightness is normal.Take a look on pictures done with different time base ( 2, 5, 10 and 20ns). The display adjusted intensity is about 30%, the readability is good when time base not equal 5ns." alt="" class="bbc_img" />With the default value of brightness the difference of brightness is lower but there is always a difference with 5ns time base.The software version installed on my scope is 00.06.03.02.02 and board version0.0.1What versions of software and card are installed on your scope and do you have this problem?RegardsPatrick

author: PatrickB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2022, 08:24:31 pm
content: Hello,I am the only owner of a RIGOL DS1000Z-E oscilloscope and the only one to have this trace brightness problem when the time base is 5ns! ?I do not believe that.The owners of this Rigol give me your comments on this problem and the software and card version of your scope.

author: manupthehills
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2022, 10:04:19 pm
content: I can totally replicate this issue. It's very visible at default display brightness; a little less at higher brightness.Lower brightness usually is associated to lower wfms/s, so I was expecting some triggering issues considering the clean signal feed to the oscilloscope (pure sinewave 2.5Vpp)Connecting the Trigger out to another scope is possible to see that the refresh rate is always ~6k wfms/s regardless the time base.I believe is a firmware bug.And on a side I'm wondering where are the 30k wfms/s in the spec sheet... (the other scope delivered 1M wfms/s as promised in the same situation)

author: PatrickB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2022, 11:58:28 am
content: With what you said, manupthehills in your last post, I made measurements with the following configuration.An HF generator connected to a single channel of the DS1102Z-E with its trigger output connected to a second oscilloscope.I measured a refresh of the DS1102Z-E of 30000wfms/s (period of 33µs) obtained ONLY when:- only 1 oscilloscope channel is used- frequency of the signal generator lower than 10Mhz (approximately)- oscilloscope time base is equal to 50nsThese conditions for having the highest refresh rate are certainly different from one oscilloscope to another and from one manufacturer to another and especially the purchase price.Regarding the brightness problem, I measured under the same conditions as my first post:DS1102Z-E time BaseTrigger (Time between 2 wfms)2ns125µs5ns120µs10ns57µs20ns76µs50ns87µs100ns150µs200ns290µsThe low luminosity of waveform on the screen of the oscilloscope with a time base of 5ns cannot be explained with the refresh rate (wfms/s) of 120µs. This value is higher with other time base values and the luminosity is normal.As you said, manupthehills, it may be due to a bug in the software or, in my opinion, a hardware problem with the motherboard...You, the other users of a DS1000Z-E, what is the version of the motherboard?

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2022, 01:54:18 pm
content: Quote from: PatrickB on January 31, 2022, 11:58:28 amHan, the image is all software. It has to be a firmware bug.(also the fact that other people can reproduce it)

author: trmntr
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2022, 08:55:43 am
content: PatrickB, Hello. Has the 5ns display brightness issue been resolved?

author: PatrickB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2022, 01:52:52 pm
content: NoThe problem is not solved.2 weeks ago I sent an email to Rigol, last week another email and still no response.Rigol does not respond to emails. There are 2 possibilities for which Rigol does not answer:1) they do not want to answer because we are not important customers.2) Rigol knows the problem perfectly well and they have no solution.Whatever the reason, it's completely unacceptable from a manufacturer like Rigol.A device may have a malfunction but the manufacturer must take responsibility.Regards

author: trmntr
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2022, 02:46:42 pm
content: Perhaps the problem is not being solved due to the fact that there are too few complaints from customers. When I get my scope, and if I see this problem in myself, I will write to them too ...

author: PatrickB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2022, 12:21:07 pm
content: You must be right there are not enough customer complaints. When no one complains, manufacturers do nothing to fix the problem.When you receive your scope tell me the firmware version and the board version. I know there are several card versions but I don't know which ones do not have this problem. Thank you