Tips and Tricks:  R&S RTB2000/RTM3000/RTA4000 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2019, 03:54:12 pm
content: I thought I'd start a thread on tips and tricks for the RTB2000/RTM3000/RTA4000. Some of these may be known already, but hopefully some are new. I'll try to add more to this as I get time - feel free to add your tips/tricks too!-RichTap on clock opens time and date setup.Tap on interface icon opens interface short information window (e.g. this is helpful if you need the IP address quickly).Tap on gear wheel opens interface menu (this is more if you need to update your USB/Ethernet settings - it gives you quick access to that menu).Tap on information window opens numeric keypad.Tap on waveform marker to select a waveform. Every marker is moveable.

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2019, 04:08:27 pm
content: A couple more:You can name your device:SCPI: syst:name “ViliWonka”If you tap on menu item it will increment the selection in pull down menu.-Rich

author: BU508A
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2019, 04:29:31 pm
content: Hello Rich,thank you for this nice thread, saw two tricks which I didn't know yet.But may I ask you to increase the size of the screenshots? With some hi-res display they are a bit hard to read.Thank you very much.Mounty

author: maginnovision
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2019, 05:23:56 pm
content: Quote from: BU508A on July 22, 2019, 04:29:31 pmYea, here's what I get when I click the image. Without clicking it it's even smaller.

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2019, 09:15:29 pm
content: Sorry about that. I'll make them larger.-Rich

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2019, 09:18:48 pm
content: Tap on clock opens time and date setup.Tap on interface icon opens interface short information window (e.g. this is helpful if you need the IP address quickly).Tap on gear wheel opens interface menu (this is more if you need to update your USB/Ethernet settings - it gives you quick access to that menu).Tap on information window opens numeric keypad.Tap on waveform marker to select a waveform. Every marker is moveable.You can name your device:SCPI: syst:name “ViliWonka”If you tap on menu item it will increment the selection in pull down menu.-Rich

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2019, 09:26:07 pm
content: Any better?-Rich

author: BU508A
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2019, 09:50:42 pm
content: Yes.Thank You Rich.

author: hwj-d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2019, 01:09:07 am
content: Booked

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 03:22:26 am
content: If you have several sources available, you can click on the measurement source icon to select another one:-Rich

author: Harjit
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 03:43:24 am
content: If the waveform tips are orange or you see up / down arrows next to the channel number on the bottom of the screen, that means the channel was clipped when it was digitized.

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 07:28:01 pm
content: This is one of my favorites for deep memory captures (works best with lots of memory turned on):Set the waveform how you want to see it. Adjust memory depth to an amount that gives offscreen data.Press Stop.Make a short swipe in the horizontal direction and the scope will automatically scroll through your waveform for you.It can take a few tries to get proficient at it (if you don't get it right, the waveform will just move a small amount). Sometimes helps to do it above/below the trigger level.-Rich

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2019, 03:41:51 pm
content: If you connect a mouse (you can use a mouse and keyboard), you can use the scroll wheel on the mouse to emulate the "multi-purpose knob" on the front panel.-Rich

author: Warhawk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2019, 01:13:56 pm
content: Please, keep going with this thread.

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2019, 05:54:11 pm
content: You can tap on the calculated cursor value and it will open the cursor menu. If you tap on the automatic measurement value it will open the measurement menu.-Rich

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2019, 05:03:25 pm
content: A couple cool Pattern Generator tips:If you are in the arbitrary setup menu, you can tap on the signal it will change the bit level:You can also tap on the value and manually enter what you want via the keypad and it will set the correct bit levels:-Rich

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2019, 02:11:26 am
content: Turning on FFT and then pressing autoset will auto-configure the FFT's settings.-Rich

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2019, 10:28:09 pm
content: You can set the waveform color (normal/rainbow/fire/temperature) via the channel menu:-Rich

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2019, 10:39:42 pm
content: Another one of my personal favorites - when you save a setup file, it also saves a screenshot. You can then search by file view or list - in file view it will show you the screenshot. I love this because I typically remember more what my setup *looked* like vs. what I named the setup.-Rich

author: hwj-d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 10:18:54 pm
content: The automatic picture rendering is faulty!

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 10:21:33 pm
content: Quote from: hwj-d on August 13, 2019, 10:18:54 pmIt looks OK to me. Can you post a pic of what you're seeing? I may be doing something wrong embedding the pics.Thanks,Rich

author: hwj-d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 10:32:29 pm
content: Quote from: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA on August 13, 2019, 10:21:33 pmThat's not you. Something is wrong with the rendering algorithm.

author: hwj-d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 11:01:01 pm
content: That must be serverside issue. Because this was FF Win10, but Safari iPadOS 13 is the same.Depending on iPad orientation horizontal or vertical, there is more or less horizontal picture left on screen. The picture will not fit horizontal lower resolution client screens, as it is with picture expandable thumbnail method. If you have a bigger horizontal screenresolution, you din't notice the mismatch.

author: hwj-d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2019, 11:07:26 pm
content: Ok, that's OT here, should be reported to the admins.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/suggestions/there-is-another-issue-with-rendering-pictures-horizontal/msg2614179/#msg2614179Edit: @RichI suggest to upload with "end of post expandable thumbnail" method. This pictures fits perfect.Thanks

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2019, 04:37:41 pm
content: Quote from: hwj-d on August 13, 2019, 11:07:26 pmThanks - updated.-Rich

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 11:37:02 pm
content: Another super cool one. You can "pull out" menus so you have quick access to them. Open the menu you want, grab it with your finger (or mouse) and slowly slide it to the left. When you see the blue arrows you can pop it out in to the display. You can then make quick changes. You can also add multiple different quick access menus, move them around the display, etc. To delete them, just hit the gear and choose what ones you want to delete.-Rich

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 11:38:15 pm
content: Does the gif above work for anyone?-Rich

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 11:39:12 pm
content: Quote from: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA on August 15, 2019, 11:38:15 pmNot for me.

author: jjoonathan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 12:30:14 am
content: I couldn't get the forum upload for gifs to work either. Same symptoms. I've been uploading to gfycat.com and then hotlinking to the thumbnail from (User Heiroglyph > Profile). Presumably there's a bandwidth limit but I haven't hit it yet.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 02:16:02 am
content: I'm guessing the new plugin doesn't support animated GIF's?

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 03:39:59 pm
content: Quote from: jjoonathan on August 16, 2019, 12:30:14 amThanks for the tip. Hopefully what I did above works now (you have to click the image to see the animation).-Rich

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 03:59:54 pm
content: Quote from: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA on August 16, 2019, 03:39:59 pmYup, thanks. I'll have to try that - it looks really useful.

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 04:15:48 pm
content: One more quick one - you can adjust window size easily using the arrows on the left side of the graticule. This works in zoom mode, FFT, serial decode, etc. No need to have a fixed window ratio.Click on the image to see the animated version if the gif doesn't work for you.-Rich

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 04:31:59 pm
content: Looks like gifs are working again?I've updated the posts - let me know if you all can't see them directly in the posts now.-Rich

author: genghisnico13
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 05:09:32 pm
content: The last one (the one about resizing) is perfect, good size and it works on desktop and mobile.The one about quick access works, but is big on the desktop.

author: Rich@RohdeScopesUSA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 09:07:11 pm
content: OneTouch is pretty cool too, especially if you're doing documentation. Basically allows you to configure the "camera" button to not only save a screenshot, but also your setup, waveform file, references, event tables and even statistics, all in to a zip file on your thumbdrive with one push. You can choose what all you want to be saved.-RichPS - I tried resizing this one so hopefully it is more viewable across different platforms. Let me know.

author: hwj-d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 10:02:19 pm
content: QuoteHorizontal resolution is fixed! This can't work.(Think of smartphones.)

author: zitoune
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 04:23:23 am
content: Hi Rich,Thank you for all those tricks; they are very useful!I got a RTM for a couple of days now and love it. I was wondering how you can display the decoded values (say from an I2C bus) vertically - meaning the HEX values are not displayed like all the screenshots we usually see but rather like what's visible in that R&S image:https://cdn.rohde-schwarz.com/pws/powerslave/504580/18/import5a214aee0d0d9.jpgThanks!

author: Hydron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 01:09:23 pm
content: Use the V/div control to expand the decode vertically, then see if it'll do it.

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 02:02:24 pm
content: Hello,in the picture are not the decoded value in the table but the relative time of the single segments.Best regardsegonotto

author: zitoune
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 02:26:51 pm
content: Quote from: Hydron on August 02, 2020, 01:09:23 pmThank you - indeed changing the V/div scale does work. Very handy, you can see more decoded values on the screen!

author: zitoune
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 02:27:28 pm
content: Quote from: egonotto on August 02, 2020, 02:02:24 pmYes indeed, I was looking at the decoded values on the top part of the screen.

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 03:16:03 pm
content: Hello,what I can get is shown in the two pictures.Best regardsegonotto

author: zitoune
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2020, 03:46:13 am
content: Yes this is exactly what I was looking for and it is even more handy when decoding long words like in the attached screenshot (24bits I2S protocol).Thanks.

author: analogRF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2024, 02:23:46 am
content: I am not sure if this is the right thread for this question but my RTM3000 has started resetting the time and date when I turn it off with the hard switch at the back(or unplug it). Everytime I power on it asks to adjust the time and dateI have looked inside and there is no battery or super cap that I can see on the main board.Am I missing something or this is a fault I need to look into?could be a battery or supe cap on the front panel board? I didnt disassemble that far.

author: Hydron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2024, 10:03:01 am
content: Battery is on the front panel board I believe

author: analogRF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2024, 02:32:26 pm
content: Quote from: Hydron on November 16, 2024, 10:03:01 amhave you seen it there or it's just a guess?needs a lot of disassembly to get to the FP board

author: analogRF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2024, 06:59:26 pm
content: the scope is not even 5 years old yet.in older equipment one had to deal with something like this after like 10 years or moretoday you'd think with lower power components available, the battery should last much longer...

author: Hydron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2024, 10:57:21 pm
content: On my RTB2k you can see the battery through the grill on the back of the unit. There's a cutout in the metal shield so it can be accessed without a full teardown (just remove back case). Mine is still good @ ~7.5 years old.Now on the 3k series it may be hard to get to (though I assume the front panel and battery will be the same) - I think there are a few teardowns on youtube which might shed some light though (I think 3k and 4k will be very similar, unlike the 2k).

author: analogRF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 10:37:05 pm
content: battery replaced. CR2032 on the front panel board.first I tried to attack it from the front so I opened all the 11 T8 self tapping screws of the front bezel/panel but then I found out there is one more screw behind the main board in the middle of the front panel so....I had to take out the main board (12 T10 screws) and right underneath there is a cut out and the battery is sitting there behind the front panel boardIt is easier than I thought. I didnt even disconnect one connector from the board I just gently lifter the board with all cables connected and tucked in the new battery and the board falls into place easily.still it should not be happening for a scope that is barely 5 years old.The battery was Lithium RENATA brand and only had 0.77V