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Category: Knowledge Base MSO5000 Series

How to create a reference on the MSO5000, DS7000 and MSO8000
A reference signal can be created and stored on the scope to compare against later on. It can either be save and recalled later or shown on the display. To save a reference press “Ref” and then press “SaveToRef” this will save a reference of your signal and display it behind the signal. If you would like to save multiple references you r will need to change the current reference from Ref1 to Ref#. Additionally the scaling and position of the reference signal can be changed using the touch screen or the intensity knob and labels, change the color and add details can be changed in the more section of the menu.
Below I have taken a reference signal of the scopes compensation port and moved it up vertically to show the reference signal.
Search and Navigation capability on the MSO5000, DS7000 and MSO8000
Search and Navigation is a great feature to easily move around on long complex signals with multiple trigger events. The Search and Navigation feature can be used when either an edge, pulse, runt, slop, RS232, I2C or SPI signal is being trigger on and can allow you to select a desired trigger point.
For this example I have channel one on the oscilloscope connected to a SPI data line to show the search and navigation features capabilities.- Once the probe is connected press the “Auto” button, this will cause the instrument to trigger on the edge of the signal. It will not be using a serial trigger at this time.
- Change the horizontal scaling so that it reads 50 ms.
- Press “Search” then set the “Threshold” with the “Intensity Knob” so that the orange dotted line is in the middle of the signal.
- Press “Back” and then turn the “Search” ON.
- Notice at the top of the display there are now a large number of white triangles and one red triangle these indicate all of the trigger events that the search and navigation function is recognizing.
- Press the “Stop/Run” button and then turn ON the “MarkTable”. This will cause the Marker Table to appear on the screen.
- You are able to both scroll and then tap on any of the marked events and then the scope will automatically jump to them and they will then be marked in a red arrow.
- For instance, press on the 11th event and then change your horizontal scaling to be zoom in on the signal.

Update Firmware on the MSO5000 & DS7000 Series Digital Oscilloscope
To update the firmware push the keypad Utility key followed by System at the bottom right corner of the display:
Now push Help:
You now have the option of updating firmware using a USB memory stick by selecting “Local upgrade” or if you are connected to the LAN online upgrade can be selected.
How to use the MSO5000, DS7000 and MSO8000 Logic Analyzer different capabilities
The logic analyzer allows you to view up to 16 digital channels at once along with group them and label them to make your measurements easier to view.
- To activate the logic analyzer, press the “LA” button or the “L” section at the bottom of the display. Note that the LA channels will allow you some vertical scaling control within the LA menu, but the horizontal scaling is controlled through the horizontal control knobs.
- Once you have entered the logic analyzer menu you can choose which channels you would like to turn on by pressing the “On/Off” section and then with in there you can either turn on or off each bank of eight channel or you can turn on or off specific channels. Turn “OFF” channels “D15-D8”
- This is also where you can group your channels together by pressing “Group” and then you can select one of the four groups and then you can select which channels you would like to group together. Group channels D0-D2 together, and then choose another group and group D5-D7 together.
- Then press “Back” and then press “Group On/Off” to turn on both groups.
- Press the “Back” button.
- To change the channel arrangement, press “Arrange”. Notice how this will change how the channels will be positioned on the display either from D0-D7 or D7-D0.
- To change the vertical scaling of the channel press “Size” and then select “Large as your desired size. This will then fill the entire display with the eight channels.
- Press “Label” and then turn “Display” ON. You will now see the channel labels being displayed on the left-hand side of the display, and you can also change these labels. To change the labels press “Select” and choose your channel, then you can select a predefined label from the “Library” or you can create your own custom label by pressing “Label” and then you type one in with the onscreen keyboard.
- Add a “CLK” label to channel “D0” and then label “D7” with your name.

MSO8000, DS7000 and the MSO5000 Arbitrary Waveform Generator
The signal generator allows you to both create standard waveforms but also allows you to easily create some custom waveforms as well as replicate a captured signal on the oscilloscope.
- To activate the logic analyzer, press either “GI” or “GII” on either the front panel of the instrument or at the bottom of the screen.
- To begin with to select your desired waveform press “Wave” and then you can select form several different built in waveforms as well as load arbitrary waveforms that you either created externally or by copying one of the scope analog channels.
- Within the waveform menu you can set the functions frequency, amplitude, offset, starting phase.
- To modulate, burst or sweep the signal, you will need to press “Settings”, then “Type” and then select your desired advanced feature.
- To create the signal below connect “GI” to “Channel 1” on the instrument with a BNC cable.
- Select “Sinc” as your waveform by pressing “Wave” and then “Sinc”.
- Then change the signals frequency to 10 kHz. You can do this by either pressing on “Frequency” on the touch screen and then using the pop-up number pad or you can use the keys and then use the intensity knob to change the frequency settings.
- Press “AUTO” and you will see an image like the one below.
(The signal generator on the front of the MSO5000 and the DS7000 is a optional accessory, to activate them you will need to install a license.)
MSO5000, DS7000 and MSO8000 Alternative Factory Reset and Firmware Upgrade
To reset or upgrading the firmware on the MSO5000, DS7000 and MSO8000 series of oscilloscope without using the instrument’s Utility menu:
1) Power cycle the instrument
2) During the boot sequence, quickly and repeatedly press the Single button in the upper right hand corner of the instrument.
MSO5000 series Open Source Acknowledgment
RIGOL’s MSO5000 series product uses a number of open source software packages. This document lists the open source software packages used in MSO5000 series product.
https://beyondmeasure.rigoltech.com/acton/attachment/1579/f-79a90744-6878-4071-b9f1-ab4780ccf05b/1/-/-/-/-/MSO5000.pdf
Probe Compensation
In Order to insure system signal fidelity it is critical that probes be compensated to the instrument, Over or under compensated probes can cause distortions of your measurements and bad results.

Probe Basics
Making connection to your device under test is critical to accurate measurements. Learn the basics parts of the probing system and what they do.

Measure Delay and Phase Offset
Quickly determine the delay and phase between multiple channels using standard delay and phase measurements helps to identify system interactions and timing problems.

Making your first measurement
Provides and overview on how to quickly and easily start making measurements on your oscilloscope.

Introduction to Triggering
Overview of what triggering is, why it is important, and some key terminology associated with it.