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The Rigol DHO804 Firmware Unlock: What It Does and Should You Do It?

Last updated: March 2026·3 picks reviewed

The Rigol DHO804 firmware unlock explained — what you gain, the risks, legal considerations, and whether to just buy the DHO924S instead.

Our Top Pick

Rigol DHO804

70 MHz·4 ch·25 Mpts·$439
7.0/ 5
Buy on Amazon · $439Read Full Review

Prices may change · Free shipping with Prime

Quick Comparison

ProductRatingPrice
Rigol DHO80470MHz · 4ch7/10$439Buy on Amazon · $439
Rigol DHO924S250MHz · 4ch9/10$449Buy on Amazon · $449
Rigol DHO814100MHz · 4ch7.5/10$549Buy on Amazon · $549

What the Unlock Does

The Rigol DHO804 firmware unlock is one of the worst-kept secrets in the hobbyist oscilloscope world. Through firmware modification, users can increase the DHO804's bandwidth beyond its stock 70MHz rating, effectively getting a higher-tier scope's capabilities at the DHO804's $439 price point. This is possible because Rigol uses the same hardware across multiple models in the DHO800/900 series. The DHO804, DHO814, and higher models share the same analog front end and ADC — the bandwidth limitation is enforced in firmware, not hardware. This is a common practice in the test equipment industry: build one board, sell it at different price points with different firmware-enabled features. Beyond bandwidth, the unlock can also enable additional features that are normally locked behind paid license keys — protocol decoders, advanced trigger modes, and math functions. The exact features available depend on the firmware version and the unlock method used.
Top Pick

Rigol

Rigol DHO804

$439

7.0/ 5
70 MHz4 ch25 Mptsbenchtop

Why we like it

The Rigol DHO804 is the entry point to Rigol's DHO platform, offering the same 7-inch IPS touchscreen experience as the DHO924S with 70MHz bandwidth and 25Mpt memory at $439. For Arduino, basic analog work, and learning, 70MHz is genuinely sufficient — most signals you'll encounter stay well under this limit. The honest challenge at this price is the DHO924S: it costs only $10 more but gives you 250MHz bandwidth, 50Mpt memory, and a built-in function generator. At a $10 price gap, it's very hard to recommend the DHO804 over its sibling. Unless you find a significantly better deal on the DHO804 specifically, the extra $10 for the DHO924S is obviously worth it.

Buy on Amazon · $439Read Full Review

What You Get

The specific gains from unlocking a DHO804 include increased bandwidth, which can bring the scope's measurement capability in line with the DHO814 or even higher models that sell for significantly more. You're looking at a potential upgrade worth $100-200+ in Rigol's pricing structure. Additional protocol decoders beyond the standard SPI, I2C, and UART may become available, depending on the unlock method. This can include CAN, LIN, and other automotive and industrial protocols that Rigol normally sells as separate license options. Advanced math functions, expanded trigger types, and other software-locked features may also be enabled. The exact feature set varies by firmware version and unlock method — the community maintains documentation on what's available for each combination. The unlocked scope performs identically to its higher-tier siblings in the features that are enabled. This isn't an overclock or out-of-spec operation — it's enabling capabilities that the hardware was designed to support.
Top Pick

Rigol

Rigol DHO804

$439

7.0/ 5
70 MHz4 ch25 Mptsbenchtop

Why we like it

The Rigol DHO804 is the entry point to Rigol's DHO platform, offering the same 7-inch IPS touchscreen experience as the DHO924S with 70MHz bandwidth and 25Mpt memory at $439. For Arduino, basic analog work, and learning, 70MHz is genuinely sufficient — most signals you'll encounter stay well under this limit. The honest challenge at this price is the DHO924S: it costs only $10 more but gives you 250MHz bandwidth, 50Mpt memory, and a built-in function generator. At a $10 price gap, it's very hard to recommend the DHO804 over its sibling. Unless you find a significantly better deal on the DHO804 specifically, the extra $10 for the DHO924S is obviously worth it.

Buy on Amazon · $439Read Full Review
Pick #3

Rigol

Rigol DHO814

$549

7.5/ 5
100 MHz4 ch25 Mptsbenchtop

Why we like it

The Rigol DHO814 is the mid-tier entry in Rigol's 12-bit DHO800 lineup, offering 100MHz bandwidth and 4 channels in a compact, USB-C-powered package. The 12-bit ADC is the real story here — the Reddit community has essentially made 12-bit resolution the new baseline for oscilloscope recommendations, and the DHO814 delivers. The compact form factor and power bank compatibility are genuine advantages over the larger DHO900 series. The uncomfortable truth is pricing: at ~$549, you're within striking distance of the DHO924S at $449 which gives you 250MHz bandwidth and 50Mpt memory. The DHO814 only makes sense if you specifically value the smaller size or find it on sale significantly below MSRP.

Buy on Amazon · $549Read Full Review

How the Community Does It

We're intentionally not providing step-by-step unlock instructions in this guide. The unlock methods change with firmware versions, and outdated instructions could lead to problems. Instead, we'll point you in the right direction. The Rigol hacking community is active and well-organized. The EEVblog forums have dedicated threads tracking the latest unlock methods for the DHO800/900 series. Reddit's r/oscilloscope and r/AskElectronics communities also discuss unlock procedures, though the most detailed technical documentation lives on the forums. The general approach involves connecting to the scope via USB or network, accessing the firmware's license system, and modifying the bandwidth and feature flags. Some methods use custom tools developed by community members; others leverage known vulnerabilities in Rigol's license validation system. Before attempting any unlock, check the forums for the latest information specific to your firmware version. Methods that worked on firmware 1.x may not work on 2.x, and vice versa. The community is generally responsive to questions from newcomers, as long as you've done basic research first.
Top Pick

Rigol

Rigol DHO804

$439

7.0/ 5
70 MHz4 ch25 Mptsbenchtop

Why we like it

The Rigol DHO804 is the entry point to Rigol's DHO platform, offering the same 7-inch IPS touchscreen experience as the DHO924S with 70MHz bandwidth and 25Mpt memory at $439. For Arduino, basic analog work, and learning, 70MHz is genuinely sufficient — most signals you'll encounter stay well under this limit. The honest challenge at this price is the DHO924S: it costs only $10 more but gives you 250MHz bandwidth, 50Mpt memory, and a built-in function generator. At a $10 price gap, it's very hard to recommend the DHO804 over its sibling. Unless you find a significantly better deal on the DHO804 specifically, the extra $10 for the DHO924S is obviously worth it.

Buy on Amazon · $439Read Full Review

Should You Do It?

This is where I'll give you my honest opinion rather than just presenting facts. If you're comfortable with the warranty implications and enjoy tinkering, the DHO804 unlock is one of the best value propositions in hobbyist test equipment. For $439, you can potentially get capabilities that would cost $550-600+ buying the equivalent Rigol model outright. The process is well-documented, the community is supportive, and the risk of hardware damage is very low. If you want a no-hassle experience with full warranty support and guaranteed firmware updates, just buy the model with the features you want. The peace of mind has real value, especially if you're using the scope for professional or client-facing work. There's also an ethical dimension that the community debates: by unlocking, you're getting features you didn't pay for, which arguably undermines Rigol's tiered pricing model. On the other hand, Rigol builds identical hardware and charges different prices for software-enabled features — some people view firmware unlocking as a reasonable response to artificial product segmentation. I think reasonable people can disagree on this. What matters is that you make an informed decision.
Top Pick

Rigol

Rigol DHO804

$439

7.0/ 5
70 MHz4 ch25 Mptsbenchtop

Why we like it

The Rigol DHO804 is the entry point to Rigol's DHO platform, offering the same 7-inch IPS touchscreen experience as the DHO924S with 70MHz bandwidth and 25Mpt memory at $439. For Arduino, basic analog work, and learning, 70MHz is genuinely sufficient — most signals you'll encounter stay well under this limit. The honest challenge at this price is the DHO924S: it costs only $10 more but gives you 250MHz bandwidth, 50Mpt memory, and a built-in function generator. At a $10 price gap, it's very hard to recommend the DHO804 over its sibling. Unless you find a significantly better deal on the DHO804 specifically, the extra $10 for the DHO924S is obviously worth it.

Buy on Amazon · $439Read Full Review

The Alternative: Just Buy the DHO924S

Before going down the unlock path, consider whether the Rigol DHO924S at $449 is the simpler answer. For just $10 more than the DHO804, you get 250MHz bandwidth, 4 channels, and full feature access — no hacking required. The catch: the DHO924S is an 8-bit scope, while the DHO804 is 12-bit. If you primarily need bandwidth and don't care about vertical resolution, the DHO924S is the obvious choice. But if you want 12-bit resolution AND more bandwidth, unlocking the DHO804 is the only way to get both at this price point — Rigol's legitimate 12-bit options with higher bandwidth start at $549+ with the DHO914S. There's also the Rigol DHO814, which sits between the DHO804 and DHO924S in Rigol's lineup. It offers more bandwidth than the DHO804 at a higher price. Depending on the current pricing, the DHO814 might be a compromise between unlocking and buying the full-featured scope. My bottom line: if you don't specifically need 12-bit ADC resolution, skip the unlock discussion entirely and buy the DHO924S. It's the best overall value in hobbyist scopes and requires zero hacking.
Pick #2

Rigol

Rigol DHO924S

$449

9.0/ 5
250 MHz4 ch50 Mptsbenchtop

Why we like it

The Rigol DHO924S is the best hobbyist oscilloscope under $500 in 2026, and I say that having used the DS1054Z for years before switching. The 7-inch IPS touchscreen transforms the experience — pinch to zoom, tap to place cursors, swipe to scroll through captures — in a way that button-based scopes simply can't match. Add 250MHz bandwidth, 4 channels, 50Mpt memory, a function generator, WiFi, and CAN/LIN protocol decoding at $449, and it obsoletes the DS1054Z in every spec column except community documentation and proven long-term reliability. If you're buying a scope in 2026 and can spend $449, this is the one to get. The only reasons to look elsewhere: you need deeper memory (Siglent SDS2104X Plus), you want proven track record over specs (DS1054Z), or you need CAN/LIN included free and can save $30 (Siglent SDS1104X-U at $419).

Buy on Amazon · $449Read Full Review
Pick #3

Rigol

Rigol DHO814

$549

7.5/ 5
100 MHz4 ch25 Mptsbenchtop

Why we like it

The Rigol DHO814 is the mid-tier entry in Rigol's 12-bit DHO800 lineup, offering 100MHz bandwidth and 4 channels in a compact, USB-C-powered package. The 12-bit ADC is the real story here — the Reddit community has essentially made 12-bit resolution the new baseline for oscilloscope recommendations, and the DHO814 delivers. The compact form factor and power bank compatibility are genuine advantages over the larger DHO900 series. The uncomfortable truth is pricing: at ~$549, you're within striking distance of the DHO924S at $449 which gives you 250MHz bandwidth and 50Mpt memory. The DHO814 only makes sense if you specifically value the smaller size or find it on sale significantly below MSRP.

Buy on Amazon · $549Read Full Review

Frequently Asked Questions

**Will Rigol ban or blacklist my scope if I unlock it?** There are no reports of Rigol remotely disabling or blacklisting unlocked scopes. However, firmware updates can re-lock features. If you unlock, many users recommend staying on the current firmware rather than updating. **Can I unlock the Siglent SDS804X HD too?** Yes, the Siglent SDS804X HD also has an active unlock community. The SDS804X HD can potentially be unlocked to 200MHz bandwidth. The Siglent unlock scene is smaller than Rigol's but functional. **Does the unlock affect measurement accuracy?** No. Since the hardware supports the higher bandwidth natively, accuracy is the same as a factory-configured higher-bandwidth model. The analog front end, ADC, and calibration data are identical. **What if a firmware update bricks my scope?** The community has documented recovery procedures for most failure scenarios. In the worst case, Rigol service can restore the firmware. However, bringing a clearly hacked scope to Rigol service may be an uncomfortable conversation. **Should a beginner attempt the unlock?** If you're not comfortable following technical instructions involving firmware modification and USB debugging tools, skip it. The DHO804 is an excellent scope at its stock 70MHz bandwidth. The unlock is a bonus for tinkerers, not a requirement for getting value from the scope.

Our Top Pick

Rigol DHO804

70MHz · 4ch · 25 Mpts · $439

Buy on Amazon · $439

Prices may change · Free shipping with Prime

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