Rigol MSO 5000 hardware/software revisions

[TK]

Frequency Response Analyzer (AKA Bode Plot).  It is a tool that sweeps a sinewave signal from a starting to an ending frequency and plot the amplitude and phase response of a filter or an amplifier.

[nimish]

Anyone know how to upgrade the scope's HW revision at all? Can you ask the rigol NA distributers to do it?

[Martin72]

I send mine to rigol.eu(Puchheim, Germany), they´ve done the upgrade and sent it back.
In the delivery note was the new HW version stated, in the systeminfo menu on scope it remains the old version number.

[tv84]

Anyone know how to upgrade the scope's HW revision at all? Can you ask the rigol NA distributers to do it?

I have a "feeling" that HW rev is directly tied to the processor manufacturing batch. So, to change HW rev, one would need to change the board.

[Martin72]

Nearly a year has passed as rigol launched the MSO5.
And in this time, only one ("official") update was launched.

Shhh…..be aware of things to come….soon. 

Again, it has been postponed...

First it was someday in may, then july, then "soon", then "in a couple of days", now it would be end of january next year.

Disappointing.

[maginnovision]

They probably haven't decided how much they're looking to fix yet.

[NoisyBoy]

Sadly, this points to multiple failures within Rigol. 


Firstly, that it took over a year to release an official firmware upgrade for a new key products with identified issues (thought many are not crippling).
Secondly, that it releases different version of firmware to different markets (China and international site have different version from the U.S.)
Thirdly, that it failed to manage its personnel on what information should be released, creating repeated missed dates and customer disappointment.  Clearly, in this case the source has no control in the actual firmware development and he just broadcast the internal gossip to the outside world without consequence.
Lastly, creating undocumented phone-home behavior within its product and sending information to China without user's knowledge and consent.

I worked for one of the largest software company in the world.  We would have product roadmap and associated timeline for our products, I had tight rein on what my team could share.  It was bad that one missed a date, and unforgivable when one repeated it over and over.  I would not share any actual release date unless we were through beta and ready for GM code.  My enterprise customers had clear vision of our direction and that kept them happy and well informed.

Like most Chinese companies, they are decent hardware vendors.  But when it comes to service, software and firmware development, they are 1-3 decades behind the leading practice.  If this is important to you and take the total value/cost/service into consideration, the Rigol equipment is suddenly not such a good bargain.  Sadly, if you shop by comparing data sheet only, these deficiency is often overlooked until you have the equipment in hand and start using them for real work.

Depending on your expectation, your opinion would vary, but Rigol is a hobbyist equipment provider in my opinion.  They are cheap decent hardware, but I will not recommend them for top-tier commercial applications.  While the 8000 series is pushing up-market, they have a long way to go to convince someone like me to trade in the Keysight MSOX4000 for a 8000. 

The good news is it is not impossible to fix if Rigol realize these gaps and understand that it takes more than hardware to win customer loyalty.

[Martin72]

Like most Chinese companies, they are great hardware vendors.  But when it comes to service, software and firmware development, they are 1-3 decades behind the leading practice.  If this is important to you and take the total value/cost/service into consideration, the Rigol equipment is suddenly not such a good bargain.

Depending on your expectation, your opinion would vary, but Rigol is a hobbyist equipment provider in my opinion, they are cheap decent hardware, but I will not recommend them for top-tier commercial applications.  While the 8000 series is pushing up-market, they have a long way to go to convince why someone like me to trade in the Keysight MSOX4000 for a 8000. 

True words.
An example:
We (company where I´m working) bought 2 months ago 2 "bigger" scopes from lecroy (with 40% off, totally for 26000€).
A few days later the salesman asked me via email if everything is fine so far and I answered yes and so on and in an minor part of one sentence I had a little issue/wish what the UI concerns.
The next day I got mail from the R&D departement, we have noticed it and put it on the to do list for firmware updates….

The rigol MSO5 is a very good piece of scope, even when you buy it actually for 2000 with mostly all options including ( the actual promo).
And it could be even better when they fix/adding some things and with the specs ( huge memory, big screen, high samplerate, advanced triggerfunctions, advanced mathfunctions, etc) it musn´t hide from brands like tek and co., even when they´re more expensive.
But it´s actual nothing for professionals to work with.
Therefore I couldn´t recommend it as we were looking for new, priceworthy scopes for daily use in our departement.
For hobbyists this should be not an important point when looking for a new scope.
Yes, actual the postponing is a little bit disappointing for me as I wait for new additonal features like bode plot or different math-trace colours ( this is annoying, when everything has the same colour).
But that´s all, a little disappointment.
The scope is nevertheless a good thing worth buying.
For hobbyists.

[MegaVolt]

I observe the same behavior with Tektronix. Devices on the market for more than 5 years has a bunch of errors including a blue screen of death.

So this is more like the global problem of lack of competition in this area.

[rolfdegen]

Hello friends

I bought my Scope MSO5104 in December 2019. On the picture you can see the current sales version of Rigol.





Greetings from Germany 

[Martin72]

Which Picture ?

Martin

[rolfdegen]

Can you see the picture now ?

[Martin72]

yep 

[rolfdegen]

Hallo..

I measured the volume of the fan with my smartphone S10+.

I positioned the microphone on the backside of the oscilloscope (10cm near of fan side).

Scope off: The volume is about 30dB (noise in my room).
Scope on: The volume is about 50dB.

I have check with tree android apps: iNVH Bosch, NoiseCapture

[rolfdegen]

Frequency Response Analyzer (AKA Bode Plot).  It is a tool that sweeps a sinewave signal from a starting to an ending frequency and plot the amplitude and phase response of a filter or an amplifier.

That would be a desirable future because I need it for my electronics development.

Greetings from germany. Rolf

[Martin72]

Once they (rigol.eu) told me, bode plot will come - But nowadays I will only believe it when I can see it...

Scope off: The volume is about 30dB (noise in my room).
Scope on: The volume is about 50dB.

I´ve measured the noise too.
When I remember it right, it was +6dB additional to the enviromental noise.
Measured with a calibrated microphone.

[rolfdegen]

Hallo Martin

Where exactly did you measure?

I positioned the microphone (Smartphone) on the backside of the oscilloscope (10cm near of fan side).

[Martin72]

Appx 50cm, I thought it was more realistic.
Last measure (last pic) I ´ve made with as short as possible distance.

[rolfdegen]

I did a frequency analysis with and without my scope. The distance from microphone to the scope (backside) was approx. 50 cm.

Without Scope



With Scope


If you hide the low frequencies below 100 Hz, than confirms your measurement of + 6dB(A) with scope 

Greetings from Wuppertal. Rolf

[Martin72]

Hi,

Something I´ve forgotten:
Measures were taken BEFORE the modifications were done by rigol.
Should repeat it...

Martin

[rolfdegen]

What modifications did you make?

[Martin72]

Not me, rigol.eu service did it - the upgrade to the newer hardware version with brighter screen and less noisier fan.

Send it to them and got it back inbetween 2 weeks.

Edit:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/rigol-mso-5000-hardwaresoftware-revisions/msg2515140/#msg2515140

[NoisyBoy]

Well, now we are into February and I am glad that I did not hold my breath for the next firmware update.

Rigol has not released any firmware update for any of their products since November (there was only one in November for the RSA3000E).

[Gandalf_Sr]

If I buy an MSO5074, what are the probes that come with it?  Are they 350 MHz probes?

[tv84]

Well, now we are into February and I am glad that I did not hold my breath for the next firmware update.

ATM they are the ones holding their breath...