Rigol DSO question

Aug 07, 2019 3 Replies

Is there a way to set up a Rigol scope, DS1102E in this case, to check for longer term frequency stability of some signal?



It seems to display frequency of signals sometimes when it can figure it out, and you can pull up a FFT, but the averaging period is pretty short


What frequency and how much change might you want to see? You can trigger on the signal, set the scope for a long time delay, and then watch it, or put the the 'scope into infinite persistence and see if the waveform moves.

George H.

Thanks, Display > Persist = Infinite is perfect

If you have a good, stable frequency reference operating at the signal frequency, you can set up the Rigol in dual-trace mode (triggering on either one of the signals) and have it measure the time between the zero crossings of the two signals. Plot this and you can determine the phase shift per sweep, and figure out the frequency difference.

This only works (meaningfully) if your reference and test frequencies are very close together. I used this approach to compare two 10 MHz signals... one from a GPS-disciplined oscillator I was working on, and the other from a surplus rubidium reference.

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required