Here's my attempt to catalog the bugs and wish list items for the Rigol DS1000Z oscilloscopes. This should apply to the regular and -s versions, but may not apply to the MSO versions) I'll try to modify this top post as people add their found bugs and wish list items. Hopefully Rigol will see this thread and respond to it.
This list is for software version: 00.04.02.SP4 only.
I'll get this started by posting a few that I've come across (some of which appear elsewhere in this forum).
Bugs:
1) The new Large and Extra Large measurement fonts are nice, but they are reset to Normal on each power cycle. This should be retained like all the measurement settings are.
2) The Select Item sub-menu on the Measurement menu has 5 check boxes implying that it should be useable for Normal font too, but it's grayed out. The only way to remove a measurement from the screen using Normal font is a power off/on cycle.
One member has already suggested that the left side menu as a series of on/off toggles as the means for including/removing the measurement. This in conjunction with the Select Item sub-menu (which could turn on/off the display position of an item) might give maximum flexibility and ease of use.
3) The FFT function only works for channel 1. However it will work for the other channels as long as channel 1 is turned on. It's actually more complicated than that for more detaisl see this thread: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/another-rigol-1000z-bug/msg568478/#msg568478
Wish List Items:
A) Full screen X-Y mode, the current display is tiny.
B) Decoders should allow DATASRC to be either Trace or Memory. This is documented in the manual but apparently only Trace is implemented, so this might be a bug.
C) When displaying a math function allow the underlying channels to be hidden.
D) Compress and move the waveform to the bottom of the screen when Measure All is on.
E) Allow Measure All to be selected in the AUTO options menu.
F) Allow the left and right menus to be hidden and expand the waveform to fill the extra screen space.
G) When selecting a channel, show some corresponding channel color around the settings instead of having everything in just white. Maybe just change the color of the tiny CH1, CH2, CH3, CH4 label next to the Coupling setting.
H) Use a larger font for the popup keyboard.
I) Save the last few file names in the Storage menu for faster access. Maybe use the left side menu for this?
J) Allow the trace Display Persistence Time to be turned off -- instead of just MIN. The scope would then just show each waveform as it's captured and blank the display before showing the next. Even the MIN persistence level can hide some detail.
-Katie
4) Brightness slider is covered when the 3 measurements are visible in Large Font Size mode. There is plenty of space for this and other indicators (e.g. HW counter) in the lower right corner of the screen (right side of the channel selector bars)
5) Offset between channels 1 and 2 when they are both on low range (1mV). SelfCal does not fix this.
6) MATH Chanel information (e.g. MATH (CH1+CH2) 1.000V ) in lower left corner of the screen is covered when the 3 measurements are visible in Large Font Size mode.
Wish List Items:
K) Different color for MATH trace (maybe green or red). The color MATH trace is very similar to the color CH4 line.
L) Selectable FFT size for example: 128, 256, 512, 1024 points (accuracy vs speed).
M) Selectable digital Low and High pass filter for measurement channels like in the DS1052E.
N) Automatic measurements end cursor for FFT (e.g frequency and amplitude of the first harmonic and other useful measurements ).
O) No information on the main screen about Edge trigger couplink mode (i.e. small icon or text DC, AC, LFR, HFR next to speaker ikon in the lower right corner).
P) Too small coupling icon on the channel selector bars.
R) Channel selector bar for MATH and REF.
S) Button for Trigger Coupling should be in the Trig main menu ( lowest tab), not in the settings tab.
T) A little bigger and bold font for Time Base (maybe another color - red) and Trigger Level on the upper bar.
U) Cursors A and B with a different color or shade. Faster and smoother cursor update are also welcome.
W) Selectable items for History Graph ( selection menu like in large font mode for automatic measurements).
Y) Compress and move the waveform to the bottom of the screen when DispHistory is on. Selectable time base for History Graph are also welcome (e.g 1, 2, 5 ,10, 20, 50, 100 ms /s /min/h ).
R) Channel selector bar for MATH and REF.
Another vote from me for the availability to turn menus off.
Even if menus off might not be able to allow for more waveform space if limited by FPGA resources, it would still be nice if measurements and other useful data could take this space once measurements are setup instead of menus which no longer serve any purpose.
Quote5) Offset between channels 1 and 2 when they are both on low range (1mV). SelfCal does not fix this.
As noted earlier my scope (for one) doens't have this issue so I think it's hardware/temperature related and possibly not fixable. But I'll put it on the list just the same.
In any case, i also think that after an auto-cal the traces should be centered around the center line, with no offset in either direction. Same goes for the channel marker on the left side of the grid. The marker seems to be pointing at the bottom of the trace, not the center.
Just wanted to add:
In case the offset problem is due to some component variations in the scopes that the auto-cal routine can't catch, it would be great if there would be a way to manually set the offset calibration. I.e. the channel marker is pointing exactly at the center line, and one uses one of the knobs to adjust the offset of the trace while the marker stays in place, and then that offset can be stored as cal-value, if needed for each V/div separately. And that for all four channels, of course.
Wish List Items:
A) Full screen X-Y mode, the current display is tiny.
B) Decoders should allow DATASRC to be either Trace or Memory. This is documented in the manual but apparently only Trace is implemented, so this might be a bug.
C) When displaying a math function allow the underlying channels to be hidden.
D) Compress and move the waveform to the bottom of the screen when Measure All is on as is done, optionally, for FFT display. Also for measurement history.
4) Brightness slider is covered when the 3 measurements are visible in Large Font Size mode. There is plenty of space for this and other indicators (e.g. HW counter) in the lower right corner of the screen (right side of the channel selector bars)
Good catch, I'll add it to the list. I think that the larger font sizes are still a work in progress which is why they didn't even mention this in the last firmware release.Quote5) Offset between channels 1 and 2 when they are both on low range (1mV). SelfCal does not fix this.
As noted earlier my scope (for one) doens't have this issue so I think it's hardware/temperature related and possibly not fixable. But I'll put it on the list just the same.Quote6) MATH Chanel information (e.g. MATH (CH1+CH2) 1.000V ) in lower left corner of the screen is covered when the 3 measurements are visible in Large Font Size mode.
I'll note that too.QuoteWish List Items:
K) Different color for MATH trace (maybe green or red). The color MATH trace is very similar to the color CH4 line.
L) Selectable FFT size for example: 128, 256, 512, 1024 points (accuracy vs speed).
M) Selectable digital Low and High pass filter for measurement channels like in the DS1052E.
N) Automatic measurements end cursor for FFT (e.g frequency and amplitude of the first harmonic and other useful measurements ).
O) No information on the main screen about Edge trigger couplink mode (i.e. small icon or text DC, AC, LFR, HFR next to speaker ikon in the lower right corner).
P) Too small coupling icon on the channel selector bars.
R) Channel selector bar for MATH and REF.
S) Button for Trigger Coupling should be in the Trig main menu ( lowest tab), not in the settings tab.
T) A little bigger and bold font for Time Base (maybe another color - red) and Trigger Level on the upper bar.
U) Cursors A and B with a different color or shade. Faster and smoother cursor update are also welcome.
W) Selectable items for History Graph ( selection menu like in large font mode for automatic measurements).
Y) Compress and move the waveform to the bottom of the screen when DispHistory is on. Selectable time base for History Graph are also welcome (e.g 1, 2, 5 ,10, 20, 50, 100 ms /s /min/h ).QuoteR) Channel selector bar for MATH and REF.
Could you please explain this further?
I'll work on adding these in, but some seem excessive to me, like automatic measurement on the FFT display. This isn't a spectrum analyzer!
Just wanted to add:
In case the offset problem is due to some component variations in the scopes that the auto-cal routine can't catch, it would be great if there would be a way to manually set the offset calibration. I.e. the channel marker is pointing exactly at the center line, and one uses one of the knobs to adjust the offset of the trace while the marker stays in place, and then that offset can be stored as cal-value, if needed for each V/div separately. And that for all four channels, of course.
Greetings,
Chris
1 image is equal to 1000 words (see atachment)
In case the offset problem is due to some component variations in the scopes that the auto-cal routine can't catch, it would be great if there would be a way to manually set the offset calibration. I.e. the channel marker is pointing exactly at the center line, and one uses one of the knobs to adjust the offset of the trace while the marker stays in place, and then that offset can be stored as cal-value, if needed for each V/div separately. And that for all four channels, of course.
In case the offset problem is due to some component variations in the scopes that the auto-cal routine can't catch, it would be great if there would be a way to manually set the offset calibration. I.e. the channel marker is pointing exactly at the center line, and one uses one of the knobs to adjust the offset of the trace while the marker stays in place, and then that offset can be stored as cal-value, if needed for each V/div separately. And that for all four channels, of course.Much simpler than that: I suspect the offset comes from the analog ground switch. Simply have a manually-initiated offset auto-cal where the user must either disconnect all channels (the inputs still get pulled to ground by the input attenuator) or put terminators on inputs for lower noise. After that, the scope can use those values to compensate its analog-switched ground until the next user-initiated calibration.
- Would be very useful to be able to put a user / project name on the display so when an image of the display is saved you have a reference for documentation.
- Be able to display a message from software on a PC. Ideally it would also have a Yes / No / Close button attached. I have a background in production testing and was often asked "Why can't I have a message on the scope screen to let me know?".
That's the thing, i'm not certain that this is an issue with the signal itself or if the issue is with their cal routine. At least on my unit it just looks as if they simply set the 0-point at the lowest value they see in the signal. Only in the 10 mV range the trace/signal on the screen even goes below the center line as well. In all other ranges it literally sits right on top of it. But then, looks can be deceiving, so...
That's the thing, i'm not certain that this is an issue with the signal itself or if the issue is with their cal routine. At least on my unit it just looks as if they simply set the 0-point at the lowest value they see in the signal. Only in the 10 mV range the trace/signal on the screen even goes below the center line as well. In all other ranges it literally sits right on top of it. But then, looks can be deceiving, so...
For the record, I have no complaints about the zeroing after a cal. Here are 4 screen shots taken 24 hours after calibration, showing all 4 channels at 1mv/div (note the probe is set to x10) and ground coupled (no probes attached).
I asked and it was reported to Rigol as a change that the Measurement select buttons on the left side for Horizontal and Vertical measurements be set up as a toggle. IE: Push once for on and again for off. It didn't make this upgrade version.
Oh well, maybe later.
I've incorporated this into the wish list.
For the record, I have no complaints about the zeroing after a cal. Here are 4 screen shots taken 24 hours after calibration, showing all 4 channels at 1mv/div (note the probe is set to x10) and ground coupled (no probes attached).
B) Decoders should allow DATASRC to be either Trace or Memory. This is documented in the manual but apparently only Trace is implemented, so this might be a bug.
-Katie
Those offset calibration shots at 24 hours are not bad at all considering the input frontend is discrete. You can hardly complain about what looks like maybe half or three-quarters of a millivolt...
Those offset calibration shots at 24 hours are not bad at all considering the input frontend is discrete. You can hardly complain about what looks like maybe half or three-quarters of a millivolt...
Those offset calibration shots at 24 hours are not bad at all considering the input frontend is discrete. You can hardly complain about what looks like maybe half or three-quarters of a millivolt...