Rigol DS1052 white horizontal lines issue - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Xyphro
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2013, 02:51:42 pm
content: Hi!I have tested in total 3 Rigol DS1052 scopes:1.) Orderd a DS1052D (with LA, Firmware V4.0)=> The display showed a strange flicker. White lines/stripes appeared sometimes over the screen. This happens more often when the timebase was modified.I decided to return that one and got 2 * DS1052E as replacement Both have Firmware version V00.04.00.00.01The first one is working perfectly. No strange flicker issues on the screen.The second one has exactly the same white lines appearing sometimes on the screen as the DS1052E which I returned.Both scopes are brand-new and not modified at all.Does anybody have an idea what the root cause is?Machanical vibration/careful knocks do not influence it at all.Is this firmware related?Should I downgrade it? Is this possible at all?Here a video of this issue:http://youtu.be/ygCGEmOpYvIBest regards,Xyphro

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2013, 03:53:51 pm
content: It looks like a loose LVDS connector to me.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 23, 2013, 04:01:45 pm
content: This might be a hardware fault, since large area's of the screen are flickering ? or possibly a software problem; somehow the address lines are being disrupted on-block... personally, I would contact Rigol Technical; and tell them the fault your getting, plus state this is the second scope with same or similar problem; then direct them to your video... they ought to know about it anyway, just in case it's a production issue.

author: Xyphro
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2013, 04:08:31 pm
content: I wrote them already 2 weeks ago, before I returned the DS1052D =>Still no reaction at all :-(I'm afraid I'll have to return this one again.3 Scopes => 2 times the same issue? Looks like a generic problem to me.Maybe the LVDS is loose, but the scope does not react to any mechanical vibrations.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 23, 2013, 04:14:15 pm
content: I would go with that decision too... better still find another manufacture or supplier if you can.Just to say, I have been using an ATTEN direct from China, Model ADS1102 CML. 100Mhz 2Channelit can be a bit slow on LF timebase refresh, but otherwise it fills the requirement needed.Okay with your second e-mail, hope all works out for you.

author: Xyphro
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2013, 04:17:21 pm
content: I wrote them another email. Let's see what happens :-)Nevertheless, I would also like to understand WHY it behaves like this.

author: lewis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2013, 04:23:24 pm
content: Quote from: Xyphro on March 23, 2013, 02:51:42 pmIt's knackered.Looks like a hardware issue - possibly a loose connection on the display driver PCB or between the PCB and LCD glass.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2013, 04:33:32 pm
content: Could be a frame buffer issue, if the hardware was set up to use a frame buffer but it is not present then display writes can corrupt the screen every so often. I have this with my laptop every so often, but it is not so often that it is an annoyance. If it becomes more common then I will try using -noframebuffer a a kernel argument to see if this cures it. Known problem with video cards, otherwise it is a dying BGA chip ( lead free solder balls cracking due to them being lead free) which is not easy to fix.

author: Xyphro
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2013, 09:16:27 am
content: My assumption:- The TFT is an interlaced type with odd/even lines.- It can be hardware related => Bad solder joints / cabling BUT:- Or software => A timing setting is "on the edge" and OK for some units, but on some this issue occurs.The screenshot-readout via USB never shows this issue. I made a kind of endurance test :-)Just FYI: Found a video of somebody having the same issue, allthough it happens by far not as often as it does with my units:It occurs at 8:14.

author: Xyphro
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2013, 06:58:00 pm
content: Hi!I used my second DS1052E a lot during the last days. This one has the same issue.3 of 3 my received Rigol scopes have this issue!!!Feedback from Rigol: They are not aware of this problem, never heard of it :-(Best regards,Kai

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2013, 12:00:52 am
content: I would be interested to see if it happens with the scope running on a UPS (running on battery)It kinda looks like a power spike on the line, at least the issue in the video does.Do you live near an industrial area or have any X10/UPB devices in the house?

author: Xyphro
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2013, 06:26:03 am
content: Hi!I found the root cause.It is indeed a Software issue which seems to be common to all Rigol DS1052E. I found a spanish youtube comment and translated it.To reproduce:Turn on CH1Turn on FFTSet 2 cursors in FFT window (Cursor: Manual, Type X, Source=Math)put the cursors somewhere, so that they are visibleTurn off Mathplay with the Horizontal timescale=> voila it happens!To get rid of it, set the cursor source to CH1 again.Annoying problem, but good to know it is only a software issue.Best regards,Kai

author: Xyphro
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2013, 07:01:54 pm
content: Rigol finally found the root cause for this problem and will publish a fixed firmware soon!

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2013, 01:15:16 am
content: Hay does this persist between boot-ups? 'Cause I have just reproduced the problem successfully.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2013, 01:16:19 am
content: Oh fuck it persists

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2013, 01:20:09 am
content: Weird, restorung to factory defaults fixed it, but I have to test it further. I'm an idiot

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2013, 01:23:53 am
content: What I did to eliminate the flicker was:Both channels onEnter system info and get outPushed storage buttonSet Storeage soft-button to factory, and click loadSet storage to waveform, and loaded one I had saved earlier before the problempower cycle the oscilloscope (was fixed before power cycling, I just did it to confirm)Can you try to replicate this on a DS1102E?My info:Software version: 00.04.00Serial: DS1ET1502*****Power up times: 33 (much more than I thought!)DSP: 00.01FPGA: 03.07HardVersion: 58Did 2 more power cycles and nothing strange going on. There's no flicker or white lines right now. I will confirm tomorrow.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2013, 01:47:47 am
content: Quote from: Xyphro on April 11, 2013, 06:26:03 amSo... reseting to factory defaults includes setting the cursor source back to CH1, right>

author: Xyphro
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2013, 08:16:49 am
content: Did not verify it, but I think so.

author: TVHeadedRobots
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 06:34:24 pm
content: I realize that this thread is a bit old, but I recently had the same issue. I found that the white lines on my DS1052E only appeared when I had Chan 2 on and Chan 1 off. I performed the self calibration and it seemed to fix the issue. During the calibration it reset the color scheme back to default, so I am guessing that the calibration does reset some setting to factory defaults. That said, if the factory default isn't working for you, give a self cal a try, it worked for me.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 06:36:11 pm
content: Well, it will still apears when messing around with the math functionality, sometimes not just FFT, for me.