DS1104Z intensity dial not working - or am I missing something. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: beyondhelp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 09:22:58 pm
content: First postSo my brand spanking new scope arrived yesterday after finally upgrading from my old 1980's 20mhz hameg... Now, at first I thought I was just being stupid, but I'm pretty sure that the intensity dial is not working. Its the one that controls the menus etc, I thought it was just me having never used one before, but I thought I'd register here and ask anyone else with one, to check I'm not going mad.Symptoms the intensity dial does NOTHING at all in any menu context. Pressing it does 'reset' it, but since I'm unable to change it anyway I just get the slider icon appear on the screen and nothing else I do changes anything.Is the anyway to test the buttons? Like a self test feature? Its UK supplied so I'll take it back and ask for another if that's the case, but its a bit of a pain in the arse if it may be something simple that I can fix without pulling it to bits (not prepared to do - its too new)Any advice?Cheers

author: hans
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 09:57:38 pm
content: Check the display menu. The "Intensity" items marks the waveform intensity. You can change it from there too, or reset it to default (60%) by pressing the multifunction knob.As the multifunction knob is, well multi, it won't always map to the scope intensity if you're in a menu where the cursor is on another time setting.Other reasons I can think of is that it is the signal you're measuring. Make sure the trigger is set up correctly (that you're actually triggering on something),I don't think intensity grading will work very well (or at all) on "auto" mode with no trigger.If you're on a large timescale however, the scope will automatically gather a large amount of samples (at the highest sample rate it can) and try to compress it on your screen. With the intensity function you should be able to see contrast in frequent and less frequent events.On low time scales it should overlay multiple scope images and "intensify" them.

author: beyondhelp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 10:11:40 pm
content: Ah ok perhaps I'm not clear, what I mean is something as simple as pressing "help" and then trying to use the multifunction dial to scroll up and down the menu items, nothing happens at all, as if the control is totally dead.

author: hans
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 10:19:38 pm
content: Maybe I misread your last segment. But if it's not scrolling anywhere, then I suspect the knob is indeed dead and not working.I don't think there is a test utility for the buttons. But you can test the knob pretty simply. Go to trigger -> menu. On the first item (trigger type, menu should pop up), press the multifunction knob. If that doesn't popup a menu, the knob is completely dead. If you can't scroll through any of the items, the rotary part is dead. Either sounds like an unusable scope to me.I don't think Rigol uses the best mechanical rotary knobs out there. The horizontal knob on my unit feels a bit "eh", but it works.

author: beyondhelp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 10:28:07 pm
content: Ok, Yep get the menu appearing when I press the button, but cannot scroll through it.Will be calling Telonic tomorrow and asking them to exchange it for me.... shame I waited a few weeks for this!!

author: beyondhelp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2014, 01:08:07 am
content: Just to follow up. I took the unit to Telonic on the following Monday, and they swapped it out for me. Now all working good. In fact its damn amazing compared to my old one...