When I first saw the dual "FlexKnob" encoders on the various Rigol DHO models, I thought they were a brilliant idea. (Not Rigol's idea, I believe, but first introduced by
KeysightTektronix?) With my old scope, far too much encoder-knob-clicking was required to iterate through different knob assignments, e.g, when controlling the cursors. Having two knobs, and having their function dynamically assigned by what you touch in the dialogs, seemed like a great UI feature.
Having used the knobs for a while on my new DHO1074, I am less excited now:
- Often, their step size is really odd. When setting e.g. the vertical scale and offset for FFT plots, you end up with awkward numbers on the axis. More often than not, it is not even possible to navigate to an even number, because the steps always fall onto odd values.
- At other times, the step size is set so small that I would have to turn the knob forever. There is no dynamic acceleration, it seems. So I find myself calling up the on-screen keyboard for parameter entry much more often than I'd like.
- Some encoder functions are actually harder to reach now than in the old single-encoder approach. In manual cursor mode, how do I switch to moving both cursors together? Is there really no other option than to open the cursor dialog?!
- I have run into situations multiple times where the knobs get confused as to what they are controlling: Yellow 1/2 indicators show in two parameter fields, but the knobs actually change some other values. Or a knob controls a vertical scale value, but has its horizontal white arrows illuminated.
What are others' experiences with the FlexKnobs? Am I just "holding it wrong", or do those knobs need some love and care from the Rigol software team?