Rigol DS1052E v2.06 - 100MHz

[VK2GOM]

Just wondering if anyone has a Rigol DS1052E 50MHz scope with ver 2.06 firmware? That firmware release made it supposedly impossible to run the now famous hack to turn it into a 100MHz scope. But, I found a way. I just converted mine using a new method. It reports back as the more expensive 100MHz model in self test, and now has a minimum of 2nSec timebase, where previously it stopped at 5nSec.

More bandwidth for free

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

[VK2XAX]

Sounds like a cool mod Rob!

Have you tested it to see if its still accurate with the "new settings" ?

regards

Tim

[VK2GOM]

It should be Tim. The hardware and components in both scopes are absolutely identical. This isn't the only model of test gear Rigol has done this with - it has also come to light that their new SpecAn can be 'upgraded' by a similar method to unlock a whole host of new features to make it work exactly like the more expensive model.

It isn't an unheard of method of manufacturing and marketing. Keeps production costs low, and can then offer two models at different price points, with the lower one 'crippled' accordingly.

This scope has been thoroughly discussed over at EEVBlog and all modded scopes appear to perform well. I don't have anything else to compare it with, but it'd be interesting to measure and compare rise times on a Schmitt trigger fast rise time oscillator with a known high end scope.

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

[VK2XAX]

Ok cool - Seems a bit rude to use s/w to cripple it.

Have you got a GPS with 1PPS out ?

If you have a thunderbolt its 1pps is only about 10ns wide - a good test.

regards

Tim

[VK2GOM]

Sold all my Thunderbolts now Tim. Rubidium only. I just wish I'd bought a few grands worth of Thunderbolts when I was getting them for $80 each out of China! I'd have that IC7800 by now

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

[VK2CMP]

Interesting Rob! I have the same scope running 2.04 firmware. Thanks for the heads up. I assume its reversible?

cheers
Mick

[VK2XAX]

Hi Rob,

If you'd like to run comparison tests you're welcome to bring it here and compare against my HP 54720A. It has a bit over 1Ghz bandwidth on two of its 3 channels.

Its interesting to plug the Thunderbolt 1PPS into it, with a bit of crappy coax, and watch the ringing on the pulse

We could also send it signals from a sig gen to see where its 3db points are.

regards

Tim

[VK2GOM]

Mick, I emailed you some code

Tim, that would be interesting to check it out. Are you around this Saturday?

I have run another self-calibration on the scope, as is advised. It all seems to be working well

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

[VK2XAX]

Mick, I emailed you some code

Tim, that would be interesting to check it out. Are you around this Saturday?

Sure... how about 1pm on Saturday ?

We'll put it through its paces

cheers

Tim

[VK2GOM]

For those interested, we did indeed put my scope through its paces.

It seems to work really well. Looking at some super-fast rise times on square wave pulses (with ringing) down at 2nSec, the trace looked very similar to the reference high-end HP scope.

What a great bandwidth mod, for free I also hear the Rigol Spectrum Analysers are similarly 'upgradeable' through firmware hacks to unlock the 'missing' features of the higher end Rigol Spec An since, once again, they are the exact same design internally and just crippled by firmware in order to offer two price points.

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

[VK2LK]

Very keen to get some more details on this!!

Cheers,
Matt

[VK2GOM]

Hi Matt,

I have PM'd you... or drop me a line - vk2gom@arrl dot net

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH