I recently bought an HP/Agilent/Keysight 8714C network analyzer. There were three optional features that needed keys to be enabled.
-LAN(network) port
-Ibasic control
-SRL fault detection
Software only features just beg to be enabled right?
Now I have no idea how to generate the keys but instead found some information on changing an HP 8711 to an HP8712, in that document they detail how to enable the extra features. You can find that document here:
http://www.ko4bb.com/manuals/216.113.200.6/HP_HP871x_network_analyzer_Other-howtoconvertanhp8711atoanhp8712a.pdfThe 8714C is very similar but not quite the same, I decided to experiment a little and wanted to share the values to change for others who may wish to do the same.
My 8714C has an AMD 28F020 flash memory which stores the bootloader as well as the option features. It is a socketed PLCC 32 chip on the main CPU.
If you remove the chip and read it you will see the bootloader at the beginning and the programmed features, your serial # etc at the end. When a feature is enabled a new entry is programmed/added to the flash. The first entry starts at the end of the flash and each new entry is above it. It seems they do this so no data ever needs to be erased. It is also why on the option entry menu screen they document how many more changes you can make. When you run out flash space you can't enable any more features. The number seems to be above 200 - there are only a few options so I doubt anyone has ever run out of space.
The entry that needs to be modified is it the newest one which will be furthest from the end of the flash. My machine had no options enabled by default but still had a few entries. Each entry had additional information added such as serial #, mac address, etc and was clearly the factory programming each feature - one at a time.
The mod is so simple I don't think I need to include an actual screen shot from my hex editor.
The entry further from the end of the flash should look like this(in decimal):
!\C87*C.........US38060349. ..0060B08785C2.
In my case US38060349 is my serial #.
You simply want to change the 4 bytes before your serial # to all zeroes. Once that is done program the flash memory and put it back in your 8714C and you will have every possible software option enabled. This will not enable the options that also require hardware such as the attenuator and AM delay. It will also not suddenly convert your 50 ohm unit to a 75 ohm unit.
Have fun - these machines are ~20 years old but were built to last.
Variations of this mod should work for the entire 8711, 8712, 8714 family.
edit - added some pics of a 2.4 GHz skew planar antenna I made to experiment with the analyzer. My target frequency was 2440 MHz, I got pretty darn close.
Further edit - here is a different link to k04bb's website which has very useful service information for this series of analyzers:
http://www.ko4bb.com/manuals/index.php?dir=HP_Agilent/HP_871x_Network_Analyzer