Rigol MSO4000 Series User manual

RIGOL
Quick Guide
MSO/DS4000 Series
Digital Oscilloscope
May. 2013
RIGOL Technologies, Inc

RIGOL
MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
I
Guaranty and Declaration
Copyright
© 2013 RIGOL Technologies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Trademark Information
RIGOL is a registered trademark of RIGOL Technologies, Inc.
Publication Number
QGA15102-1110
Notices
RIGOL products are protected by patent law in and outside of P.R.C.
RIGOL reserves the right to modify or change parts of or all the specifications and pricing
policies at company’s sole decision.
Information in this publication replaces all previously corresponding materials.
RIGOL shall not be liable for losses caused by either incidental or consequential in
connection with the furnishing, use or performance of this manual as well as any information
contained.
Any part of this document is forbidden to be copied or photocopied or rearranged without
prior written approval of RIGOL.
Product Certification
RIGOL guarantees this product conforms to the national and industrial standards in China as well
as the ISO9001:2008 standard and the ISO14001:2004 standard. Other international standard
conformance certification is in progress.
Contact Us
If you have any problem or requirement when using our products, please contact RIGOL
Technologies, Inc. or your local distributors, or visit: www.rigol.com.

RIGOL
MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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Safety Requirement
General Safety Summary
Please review the following safety precautions carefully before putting the instrument into
operation so as to avoid any personal injuries or damages to the instrument and any product
connected to it. To prevent potential hazards, please use the instrument only specified by this
manual.
Use Proper Power Cord.
Only the power cord designed for the instrument and authorized by local country could be used.
Ground The Instrument.
The instrument is grounded through the Protective Earth lead of the power cord. To avoid electric
shock, it is essential to connect the earth terminal of power cord to the Protective Earth terminal
before any inputs or outputs.
Connect the Probe Correctly.
Do not connect the ground lead to high voltage since it has the isobaric electric potential as ground.
Observe All Terminal Ratings.
To avoid fire or shock hazard, observe all ratings and markers on the instrument and check your
manual for more information about ratings before connecting.
Use Proper Overvoltage Protection.
Make sure that no overvoltage (such as that caused by a thunderstorm) can reach the product, or
else the operator might expose to danger of electrical shock.
Do Not Operate Without Covers.
Do not operate the instrument with covers or panels removed.
Avoid Circuit or Wire Exposure.
Do not touch exposed junctions and components when the unit is powered.
Do Not Operate With Suspected Failures.
If you suspect damage occurs to the instrument, have it inspected by qualified service personnel
before further operations. Any maintenance, adjustment or replacement especially to circuits or
accessories must be performed by RIGOL authorized personnel.
Keep Well Ventilation.
Inadequate ventilation may cause increasing of temperature or damages to the device. So please
keep well ventilated and inspect the intake and fan regularly.
Do Not Operate in Wet Conditions.
In order to avoid short circuiting to the interior of the device or electric shock, please do not

RIGOL
MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
III
operate in a humid environment.
Do Not Operate in an Explosive Atmosphere.
In order to avoid damages to the device or personal injuries, it is important to operate the device
away from an explosive atmosphere.
Keep Product Surfaces Clean and Dry.
To avoid the influence of dust and/or moisture in air, please keep the surface of device clean and
dry.
Electrostatic Prevention.
Operate in an electrostatic discharge protective area environment to avoid damages induced by
static discharges. Always ground both the internal and external conductors of the cable to release
static before connecting.
Handling Safety.
Please handle with care during transportation to avoid damages to buttons, knob interfaces and
other parts on the panels.
Safety Terms and Symbols
Terms in this Manual. The following terms may appear in this manual:
WARNING
Warning statements indicate the conditions or practices that could result in injuries or
loss of life.
CAUTION
Caution statements indicate the conditions or practices that could result in damage to
this product or loss of data.
Terms on the Product. The following terms may appear on the product:
DANGER indicates an injury or hazard may immediately happen.
WARNING indicates an injury or hazard may be accessible potentially.
CAUTION indicates a potential damage to the instrument or other property might occur.

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MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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Symbols on the Product. The following symbols may appear on the product:
Hazardous
Voltage Safety Warning
Protective
Earth
Terminal
Chassis
Ground
Test
Ground
Measurement Category
Measurement Category
MSO4000/DS4000 series digital oscilloscopes can make measurements in Measurement Category I.
WARNING
This oscilloscope can only be used for measurements within its specified measurement
categories.
Measurement Category Definitions
Measurement category I is for measurements performed on circuits not directly connected to
MAINS. Examples are measurements on circuits not derived from MAINS, and specially protected
(internal) MAINS derived circuits. In the latter case, transient stresses are variable; for that reason,
the transient withstand capability of the equipment is made known to the user.
Measurement category II is for measurements performed on circuits directly connected to the low
voltage installation. Examples are measurements on household appliances, portable tools and
similar equipment.
Measurement category III is for measurements performed in the building installation. Examples are
measurements on distribution boards, circuit-breakers, wiring, including cables, bus-bars, junction
boxes, switches, socket-outlets in the fixed installation, and equipment for industrial use and some
other equipment, for example. Stationary motors with permanent connection to the fixed
installation.
Measurement category IV is for measurements performed at the source of the low-voltage
installation. Examples are electricity meters and measurements on primary overcurrent protection
devices and ripple control units.

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MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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Ventilation Requirement
This oscilloscope uses fan to force cooling. Please make sure that the air intake and exhaust areas
are free from obstructions and have free air. When using the oscilloscope in a bench-top setting,
provide at least 10 cm clearance beside, above and behind the instrument for adequate ventilation.
WARNING
Inadequate ventilation may cause temperature increase which would damage the
instrument. So please keep the instrument well ventilated during operation and inspect
the intake and fan regularly.
Working Environment
Temperature
Operating: 0℃to +50℃
Non-operating: -40℃to +70℃
Humidity
0℃to +30℃：≤95％relative humidity
+30℃to +40℃：≤75％relative humidity
+40℃to +50℃：≤45％relative humility
WARNING
To avoid short circuit inside the instrument or electric shock, please do not operate in
humid environment.
Altitude
Operating: less than 3 km
Non-operating: less than 15 km
Installation (overvoltage) Category
This product is powered by MAINS conforming to installation (overvoltage) category II.

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MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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WARNING
Make sure that no overvoltage (such as that caused by thunderbolt) can reach the
product, or else the operator might expose to danger of electric shock.
Installation (overvoltage) Category Definitions
Installation (overvoltage) category I refers to signal level which is applicable to equipment
measurement terminals connected to the source circuit. In these terminals, precautions are done
to limit the transient voltage to the corresponding low level.
Installation (overvoltage) category II refers to the local power distribution level which is applicable
to equipment connected to the AC line (AC power).
Pollution Degree
Degree 2
Pollution Degree Definitions
Pollution degree 1: No pollution or only dry, non-conductive pollution occurs. The pollution has no
influence. For example: a clean room or air-conditioned office environment.
Pollution degree 2: Normally only dry, non-conductive pollution occurs. Occasionally a temporary
conductivity caused by condensation may occur. For example: general indoor environment.
Pollution degree 3: Conductive pollution occurs, or dry, non-conductive pollution occurs which
becomes conductive due to condensation which is expected. For example: Sheltered outdoor
environment.
Pollution degree 4: Pollution that generates persistent conductivity through conductive dust, rain,
or snow. For example: outdoor locations.
Safety Class
Class 1 – Grounded Product
General Care and Cleaning
General Care:
Do not store or leave the instrument in where the instrument will be exposed to direct sunlight for
long periods of time.

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MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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Cleaning:
Clean the instrument regularly according to its operating conditions. To clean the exterior surface,
perform the following steps:
1. Disconnect the instrument from all power sources.
2. Clean the loose dust on the outside of the instrument with a lint- free cloth (with a mild
detergent or water). When cleaning the LCD, take care to avoid scarifying it.
CAUTION
To avoid damages to the instrument, do not expose them to liquids which have
causticity.
WARNING
To avoid injury resulting from short circuit, make sure the instrument is completely dry
before reconnecting to a power source.
Environmental Considerations
The following symbol indicates that this product complies with the requirements of European Union
according to Directives 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
Product End-of-Life Handling
The equipment may contain substances that could be harmful to the environment or human health.
In order to avoid release of such substances into the environment and harm to human health, we
encourage you to recycle this product in an appropriate system that will ensure that most of the
materials are reused or recycled appropriately. Please contact your local authorities for disposal or
recycling information.

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MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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Contents
Guaranty and Declaration ..............................................................................................I
Safety Requirement .....................................................................................................II
General Safety Summary................................................................................................ II
Safety Terms and Symbols ............................................................................................III
Measurement Category..................................................................................................IV
Ventilation Requirement..................................................................................................V
Working Environment .....................................................................................................V
General Care and Cleaning.............................................................................................VI
Environmental Considerations ...................................................................................... VII
Quick Start ....................................................................................................................1
General Inspection .........................................................................................................1
Appearance and Dimensions ...........................................................................................2
To Prepare for Operation.................................................................................................3
To Remove the Cover..............................................................................................3
To Adjust the Supporting Legs.................................................................................3
To Connect to AC Power Supply...............................................................................4
Power-on Inspection...............................................................................................4
To Connect the Probe..............................................................................................5
Function Inspection ................................................................................................5
Probe Compensation...............................................................................................7
To Connect the Logic Probe.....................................................................................7
Front Panel Overview......................................................................................................8
Rear Panel Overview.......................................................................................................9
Front Panel Function Overview...................................................................................... 11
VERTICAL............................................................................................................. 11
HORIZONTAL ....................................................................................................... 12
TRIGGER.............................................................................................................. 13
CLEAR.................................................................................................................. 13
AUTO................................................................................................................... 14
RUN/STOP............................................................................................................ 14
SINGLE................................................................................................................ 14
Knob.................................................................................................................... 15
Navigation Knob................................................................................................... 15
Default................................................................................................................. 16
Print .................................................................................................................... 16
Function Keys....................................................................................................... 16
Record................................................................................................................. 17
LOGIC ANALYZER ................................................................................................. 18
User Interface.............................................................................................................. 19
To Use the Security Lock............................................................................................... 23
To Use the Built-in Help System..................................................................................... 24
Troubleshooting ..........................................................................................................25

RIGOL
MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
1
Quick Start
General Inspection
1. Inspect the shipping container for damage
Keep the damaged shipping container or cushioning material until the contents
of the shipment have been checked for completeness and the instrument has
passed both electrical and mechanical tests.
The consigner or carrier shall be liable for the damage to instrument resulting
from shipment. RIGOL would not be responsible for free maintenance/rework
or replacement of the unit.
2. Inspect the instrument
In case of any damage, or defect, or failure, notify your RIGOL sales
representative.
3. Check the accessories
Please check the accessories according to the packing lists. If the accessories
are incomplete or damaged, please contact your RIGOL sales representative.

RIGOL
MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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Appearance and Dimensions
Figure 1 Front View Unit: mm
Figure 2 Side View Unit: mm

RIGOL
MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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To Prepare for Operation
To Remove the Cover
Before using the oscilloscope, remove the front panel cover by grasping the
transverse grab on each side and pull them in the arrow directions as shown in the
figure below.
Figure 3 To Remove the Cover
To Adjust the Supporting Legs
Adjust the supporting legs properly to use them as stands to tilt the oscilloscope
upwards, thus to place the oscilloscope stably and to operate and observe the display
better. You can unfold or fold the supporting legs in the arrow directions as shown in
the figure below.
Figure 4 To Adjust the Supporting Legs

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MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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To Connect to AC Power Supply
This oscilloscope accepts two kinds of AC power supplies: 100-127V, 45-440Hz and
100-240V, 45-65Hz. Please use the power cord supplied with the accessories to
connect the oscilloscope to the power source. Turn on the power switch under the
power plug; at this point, the oscilloscope is energized and the power key at
the lower-left corner of the front panel is in breath state.
Figure 5 To Connect to AC Power Supply
Power-on Inspection
When the oscilloscope is energized, press the power key at the lower-left
corner of the front panel to start the oscilloscope. During the start-up process, the
oscilloscope performs a series of self-tests and you can hear the sound of relay
switching. After the self-test is finished, the welcome screen is displayed and you can
view the Option Type, Option name, Option Edition and Left time of the option
currently installed in the “Installed Options” pop-up dialog box on the screen. When
the instrument is shipped, a trial version of the option is provided and the left time is
about 2000 minutes. Press Utility System SelfTestInfo to view the self-test
results.
AC Power Input Terminal

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MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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To Connect the Probe
RIGOL provides passive and active probes for the MSO4000/DS4000 series
oscilloscopes. For detailed technical information of the probes, please refer to the
corresponding Probe User’s Guide. The following are the probes recommended for
this oscilloscope.
Model Description
RP3500 500 MHz, passive probe, standard, auto detection
RP7150
1.5 GHz, active probe, optional, auto detection
Connect the Probe:
1. Connect the BNC terminal of the probe to a channel BNC connector of the
oscilloscope at the front panel.
2. Connect the probe tip to the circuit point under test and connect the ground
alligator clip of the probe to the circuit ground terminal.
Figure 6 To Connect the Probe
Function Inspection
1. Press Default to restore the oscilloscope to its default configuration.
2. Connect the ground alligator clip of the probe to the “Ground Terminal” under the
“Compensation Signal Output Terminal”.
3. Connect the input terminal of CH1 of the oscilloscope with the “Compensation
Signal Output Terminal” of the probe using the probe.

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MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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Figure 7 To Use the Compensation Signal
4. Press the AUTO key.
5. Observe the waveform on the display. In normal condition, the display should be
a square waveform as shown in the figure below:
Figure 8 Square Waveform
6. Use the same method to test the other channels. If the square waveforms
actually shown do not match that in the figure above, please perform “Probe
Compensation”in the next section.
WARNING
To avoid electric shock during the use of probe, please make sure that
the insulated wire of the probe is in good condition and do not touch
the metallic part of the probe when the probe is connected to high
voltage source.
Tip
The signal output from the probe compensation connector can only be used for
probe compensation adjustment and can not be used for calibration.
Compensation Signal Output Terminal
Ground Terminal

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MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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Probe Compensation
When the probes are used for the first time, you should compensate the probes to
match the input channels of the oscilloscope. Non-compensated or poorly
compensated probes may cause measurement inaccuracy and error. The probe
compensation procedure is as follows:
1. Perform step 1, 2, 3 and 4 of “Function Inspection”in the previous section.
2. Check the displayed waveforms and compare them with the following figures.
Figure 9 Probe Compensation
3. Use a nonmetallic driver to adjust the variable capacitor on the probe until the
displayed waveform is as the “Perfectly compensated” in the figure above.
To Connect the Logic Probe
RIGOL provides logic probe for the MSO4000 series digital oscilloscope. For detailed
technical information of the logic probe, please refer to the corresponding Probe
User’s Guide.
Connect the logic probe single head to the digital channel input terminal [LOGIC
D0-D15]at the front panel of the MSO4000 series digital oscilloscope. Note:
connect the logic probe adaptor supplies with the accessories to the corresponding
branch header (called channel group) before connecting the logic probe to the device
under test.
Figure 10 To Connect the Logic Probe
Over compensated Perfectly compensated Under compensated

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MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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Front Panel Overview
Figure 11 Front Panel Overview
Table 1 Front Panel Description
No.
Description
No.
Description
1 Menu 12 Record
2 LCD 13 Power Key
3 Knob 14 USB HOST
4 Navigation Knob 15 Digital Channel Input Terminal
5 HORIZONTAL 16 Function Setting Menu Softkeys
6 CLEAR 17 VERTICAL
7 AUTO 18 Analog Channel Input Terminals
8 RUN/STOP 19 Function Menu Keys
9 SINGLE 20 TRIGGER
10 Default&Print 21 EXT TRIG Input Terminal
11 LOGIC ANALYZER 22 Probe Compensation Signal Output
Terminal/Ground Terminal
12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
3 45
6 7 8 9 10
1 2
11

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MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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Rear Panel Overview
Figure 12 Rear Panel Overview
1. Trig Out/Calibration
Various kinds of signals can be output from this connector (press Utility 
AuxOutput to select the desired output type).
1) TrigOut: the oscilloscope outputs a signal which can reflect the current
capture rate of the oscilloscope each time a trigger is generated.
2) Fast: the oscilloscope outputs a fast edge signal which can be used in the
self-calibration of the oscilloscope.
3) GND: the oscilloscope outputs a ground level.
4) PassFail: the oscilloscope outputs a pulse when failed waveform is
detected and the pulse can be transmitted to other control system for easy
view of the test result.
2. Reference Clock
Provide more precise sample clock signal for the oscilloscope and it can also
synchronize two or more oscilloscope clocks.
3. Video Output
Through this interface, the oscilloscope can be connected to external monitors to
get clearer waveform display. Note that the display of the oscilloscope is still
valid.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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4. LAN
Through this interface, the oscilloscope can be connected to the network for
remote control. As the oscilloscope conforms to the LXI-C instrument standard, a
test system can be built quickly and accessed through webpage.
5. USB DEVICE
Through this interface, the oscilloscope can be connected to the printer or PC to
print data waveform or control the oscilloscope through PC software.
6. USB HOST
Through this interface, the oscilloscope can be connected to the printer to print
waveform data or be connected to a USB storage device to store waveform files.
GPIB interface communication can be realized by using the USB-GPIB interface
converter provided by RIGOL.
Note that there is also a USB HOST interface at the front panel.
7. Lock Hole
Use the security lock (please buy it yourself) to lock the oscilloscope to a fixed
location.
8. AC Input/Switch
AC power input terminal. The power supply requirements of this oscilloscope are
100-127 V, 45-440 Hz and 100-240 V, 45-65 Hz; CAT II. Please connect the
oscilloscope to AC power using the power cord provided with the accessories.
Then, turn on the AC power switch to energize the oscilloscope. Press the power
key at the front panel to start the oscilloscope.

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MSO4000/DS4000 Quick Guide
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Front Panel Function Overview
VERTICAL
MSO4000/DS4000 provides independent vertical control systems for the four analog
input channels.
CH1, CH2, CH3, CH4: analog input channels. The four channels are marked
by different colors which are also used to mark both the corresponding
waveforms on the screen and the channel input connectors. Press any key to
open the corresponding channel menu and press again to turn off the channel.
AC: illuminated when AC channel coupling mode is enabled.
50: illuminated when the channel input impedance is 50 Ω.
BW: illuminated when bandwidth limit is enabled.
MATH: press this key to open the math operation menu under which add,
subtract, multiply, divide operations, FFT operation, logic operation and
advanced operation are provided.
REF: press this key to enable the reference waveform function to compare the
waveform actually tested with the reference waveform.
VERTICAL POSITION: vertical position knobs. During the modification,
the position label at the lower left corner of the screen would change accordingly.
Turn clockwise to increase the position and counterclockwise to decrease. Press
down the knob to quickly reset the vertical position to zero.
VERTICAL SCALE: vertical scale knobs. During the modification, the scale
label at the bottom of the screen would change accordingly. Turn clockwise to
decrease the scale with a step of 5-2-1 and turn counterclockwise to increase