Rigol DS1000C Waveform Examples
Scott Prahl
Mar 2026
[1]:
%config InlineBackend.figure_format = 'retina'
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import imageio.v3 as iio
from RigolWFM import Wfm, DS1000C_scopes
repo = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/scottprahl/RigolWFM/main/tests/files/"
A list of Rigol scopes in the DS1000C family is:
[2]:
print(DS1000C_scopes[:])
['C', '1000C', 'DS1000C', 'DS1000CD', 'DS1000MD', 'DS1000M', 'DS1302CA', 'DS1202CA', 'DS1102CA', 'DS1062CA', 'DS1042C']
DS1202CA
We will start with a .wfm file from a Rigol DS1202CA scope.
Now for the .wfm data
First a textual description.
[3]:
# raw=true is needed because this is a binary file
wfm_url = repo + "wfm/DS1202CA-A.wfm?raw=true"
w = Wfm.from_url(wfm_url, "1000C")
description = w.describe()
print(description)
General:
File Model = DS1000C
User Model = 1000C
Parser Model = wfm1000c
Firmware = unknown
Filename = DS1202CA-A.wfm
Channels = [1, 2]
Trigger:
Mode = edge
Source = CH1
Derived Level = 24.00 mV
Channel 1:
Coupling = unknown
Scale = 200.00 mV/div
Offset = -608.00 mV
Probe = 1X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 10.000 ms/div
Offset = -1.600 ms
Delta = 100.000 µs/point
Points = 5120
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 5119, 5120]
Raw = [ 198, 198, 198 ... 192, 192]
Times = [-257.600 ms,-257.500 ms,-257.400 ms ... 254.300 ms,254.400 ms]
Volts = [ 24.00 mV, 24.00 mV, 24.00 mV ... 72.00 mV, 72.00 mV]
Channel 2:
Coupling = unknown
Scale = 500.00 mV/div
Offset = 0.00 V
Probe = 1X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 10.000 ms/div
Offset = -1.600 ms
Delta = 100.000 µs/point
Points = 5120
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 5119, 5120]
Raw = [ 92, 92, 92 ... 77, 77]
Times = [-257.600 ms,-257.500 ms,-257.400 ms ... 254.300 ms,254.400 ms]
Volts = [660.00 mV,660.00 mV,660.00 mV ... 960.00 mV,960.00 mV]
downloading 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/scottprahl/RigolWFM/main/tests/files/wfm/DS1202CA-A.wfm?raw=true'
[4]:
ch = w.channels[0]
plt.subplot(211)
plt.plot(ch.times, ch.volts, color="green")
plt.title("DS1202CA-A from .wfm file")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
# plt.xlim(-0.6,0.6)
plt.xticks([])
ch = w.channels[1]
plt.subplot(212)
plt.plot(ch.times, ch.volts, color="red")
plt.xlabel("Time (s)")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
# plt.xlim(-0.6,0.6)
plt.show()
DS1042C
First the .csv data
Let’s look at what the accompanying .csv data looks like.
[5]:
filename = "wfm/DS1042C-A.csv"
csv_data = np.genfromtxt(repo + filename, delimiter=",", skip_header=2).T
plt.plot(csv_data[0] * 1e6, csv_data[1], color="green")
plt.title(filename)
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.show()
[6]:
ch = w.channels[0]
plt.plot(csv_data[0] * 1e6, csv_data[1], color="green")
plt.title(filename)
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlabel("Time (µs)")
plt.xlim(0, 10)
plt.show()
Now for the .wfm data
First a textual description.
[7]:
# raw=true is needed because this is a binary file
wfm_url = repo + "wfm/DS1042C-A.wfm?raw=true"
w = Wfm.from_url(wfm_url, "1000C")
description = w.describe()
print(description)
General:
File Model = DS1000C
User Model = 1000C
Parser Model = wfm1000c
Firmware = unknown
Filename = DS1042C-A.wfm
Channels = [1]
Trigger:
Mode = pulse
Source = CH1
Derived Level = -20.00 mV
Channel 1:
Coupling = unknown
Scale = 500.00 mV/div
Offset = -1.82 V
Probe = 10X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 1.000 ms/div
Offset = 8.000 ms
Delta = 50.000 ns/point
Points = 524288
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 524287, 524288]
Raw = [ 215, 215, 215 ... 217, 216]
Times = [-5.107 ms,-5.107 ms,-5.107 ms ... 21.107 ms,21.107 ms]
Volts = [ 20.00 mV, 20.00 mV, 20.00 mV ... -20.00 mV, 0.00 V]
downloading 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/scottprahl/RigolWFM/main/tests/files/wfm/DS1042C-A.wfm?raw=true'
[8]:
ch = w.channels[0]
plt.plot(ch.times, ch.volts, color="green")
plt.title("DS1042C-A from .wfm file")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlabel("Time (s)")
plt.show()
[9]:
ch = w.channels[0]
plt.plot(ch.times * 1e6, ch.volts, color="green")
plt.title("DS1042C-A from .wfm file")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlabel("Time (µs)")
plt.xlim(0, 10)
plt.show()
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