The question is, If I buy the SDS7102, do I have any hope that a new Firmware will be released by Owon?? It could be an update for all SDS models 6102, 7102 --> 9302.? Realistically, my guess is, only if $$$ are there! RF-loop. any rumours of firmware update? It is good to see 3 EBay sellers (same address) still have a sale on for 7102 LAN, VGA & Battery .
Yes there is hope.
Owon have updated FW several times for fixing some critical bugs.
(zoomed) FFT cursors wrong frequency repaired some version ago.
Scan mode samplerate repaired/improved totally.
User can give file names when save, added some version ago.
Not exactly measured but feels like display/waveform handling have littlebit develobed faster.
(I can not proof becouse I have not old version for compare and before with old version I did not this measurement well enough)
Priority have been for make more and more stable software than hurry hurry add features without care about stability and then and drift into a deep spiral of more and new problems with a one point correction generates new problems. Owon has managed the errors of a serious and professional manner by ensuring that the priorities even if the pressure is also complementary to the properties. Fortunately, they have kept a cool head in this, although a too hasty change at some point did without proper justification. (Change in TFT backlight control).
Here is Owon official internet side. February 2012 they move official sides to hk, and soon they also open public download service for FW updates.
There is not any mind to update frequently with short time interval. But sooner or later there come some updates. What they include - this we can see later. But I hope most high priority they keep for stability and reliability in first place. What you do, do it well.. Quantity does not replace quality. Reliability, accuracy, stability, after sales customer care ... there is base key to go forvard. It is only road to real reputable name. There is no room for any big mistake.
My message to Owon: Do NOT hurry develop new features just becouse peoples push pressure. Stay calm. Do first reliability, accuracy, stability etc... repair carefully bugs in good order in priority. Test well before publish any update.
(We have seen too much these "oops" updates from some other brands.)
With good priority list and well argumented do some developing to UI ergonomy and some features to FW.
Just, do less but better, do simple but good.
Of course every peoples have more or less wish list...real useful,.. useful... nice to have and so on...
Maybe something like Fine adjust V/div
More features to cursors. (also level and time tracking) and becouse knobs have free push button... please use it as it is possible to make UI more handy.
Now there is "snap shot once" all measurements just like in old Tektronix. Please make it so that there is selection for repeate mode if user want select "repeat" mode for this. Of course user then accept update rate go slow but user select... )
Time mark... even just some and posibilty to fast jump using button betwen these.
Slow and fast mode for horizontal position knob.
Posibility to highlight real sampled point or shut off sinx/x
Posibility to change trace colors. (in some cases this red is not good over black bacround, specially if use single dots, so it is nice if example it can change example to green if user want.
Force whole capture to exactly screen area in run mode.
oh and wishlist is not in priority order and it may be long.