Agilent MSO 5000/6000/7000 - anyone hacked these scopes?

[alex.forencich]

Well, that sucks.  I have an MSO7104A that needs a new mainboard too, but the reason is more subtle: it will not run the self cal due to some sort of digitizer issue.  However, I have not noticed any aberrations during normal operation, so I am sitting on it right now because I can't afford the repair cost of a mainboard swap.  This is the main problem of these monolithic designs; it's not possible to replace the failed part individually since the LRU is the whole damn board. 

[cjpilot]

I know just what your saying, AND agree fully.  I am 'Pretty' sure that the only problem with mine is the booting process.  It has become corrupted very badly for some reason or another, but the problem could very well be something else.  I do wish there was a way to monitor/watch the booting process to see what is actually going on and/or where it is stopping.  Those two plugs on the main board have to in some way have some information available on them and I just wish I knew what/how to hook up to them and see what information may be available there that could tell me something about the issue with these Oscopes.  Probably in the 'END' they will have to be returned for repair.  The so very very strange thing is that the Second one that failed 'Finally' came back up after trying it several times over several days, AND I updated all files, AND it worked everytime I tried it for about 2 weeks, and then all of the sudden just two days ago it failed again and will not boot up.  It only Loops over and over.  Thanks again for your post...

[tonykara]

I just found this thread this week and tried it on my DSO6034A. Total success!! MSO, 8M, etc!! So fun.
It would be great if Agilent provided this officially after they decide to obsolete the scope and the selling of the features. I just checked any they won't even sell you the 8M option, so why not just enable it??
Anyway, thanks to all the people who figured this out. Now if you have something for the 54833D and the 54831M, I'd be really happy!!

[alex.forencich]

I just found this thread this week and tried it on my DSO6034A. Total success!! MSO, 8M, etc!! So fun.
It would be great if Agilent provided this officially after they decide to obsolete the scope and the selling of the features. I just checked any they won't even sell you the 8M option, so why not just enable it??
Anyway, thanks to all the people who figured this out. Now if you have something for the 54833D and the 54831M, I'd be really happy!!

I believe that's exactly what they do.  They don't sell the memory upgrade options because if you update the firmware, it will be enabled automatically.  I think mem8M, E00, and MST are all enabled by default on new firmware. 

[HighVoltage]

I believe that's exactly what they do.  They don't sell the memory upgrade options because if you update the firmware, it will be enabled automatically.  I think mem8M, E00, and MST are all enabled by default on new firmware.

I updated my MSO7000 series to the latest firmware and it did not enable anything.
And I think the 7000 series is internally the same as the 6000 series.

[mikeselectricstuff]

I just found this thread this week and tried it on my DSO6034A. Total success!! MSO, 8M, etc!! So fun.
It would be great if Agilent provided this officially after they decide to obsolete the scope and the selling of the features. I just checked any they won't even sell you the 8M option, so why not just enable it??

The 8M (at least on the 6000) became standard fairly early on - not sure if this was also the case with the 5000, but that may be why it's not a listed purchase option

[alex.forencich]

I believe that's exactly what they do.  They don't sell the memory upgrade options because if you update the firmware, it will be enabled automatically.  I think mem8M, E00, and MST are all enabled by default on new firmware.

I updated my MSO7000 series to the latest firmware and it did not enable anything.
And I think the 7000 series is internally the same as the 6000 series.

Interesting.  The release notes for release 5.26 state that:

Option E00 and Option MST (N5466A) are now standard

So I am presuming that these are automatically enabled in that firmware version.  However, they may never have done this for the memory size option as I cannot find any reference to that in the release notes.  Then again, the scope I have had these options enabled when I received it, so I'm not entirely sure how it works for scopes that don't already have these enabled. 

[blacknoise]

Now if you have something for the 54833D and the 54831M, I'd be really happy!!

If you are searching for the firmware 05.71.0000 for the 5483x with unleashed options, feel free to visit my ftp. Please send me a personal message, to get it's address and access data.



Kind regards

[bitrat]

Looks like the link is outdated

[blacknoise]

Looks like the link is outdated

I sent yo a personal message...

Kind regards

[kloss]

I cannot get the unjzp and packjzp applications to run, i've tried on 4 different computers with Win7, Win 8.1 and Win XP. The version I have is from the download folder JZP_0.2 Does anyone have the sys6000.jzp already modified correctly? Even if I had the binary file available to work on, I wouldn't be able to repack it 

[abyrvalg]

kloss, jzp tools are console apps, you need to run them in a shell and supply correct params. Works fine on Win8.1 machine.

[lokamber]

Prompt how to use the tool jzp. to unpack a file.
How correctly to start unjzp.exe and with what parametres?
Excuse for bad English.

[abyrvalg]

Unpack:
unjzp sys6000.jzp sys6000.bin rev.txt

Apply patches to sys6000.bin, don't touch rev.txt

Pack:
packjzp sys6000.bin sys6000.jzp rev.txt

[Howardlong]

As if I didn't have enough scopes already, I'm quite tempted by a second hand 6104A or 7104A/B, primarily for the higher resolution screen, but also because the UI responsiveness looks superb in the many videos Mike's done. I already have a 54642D which has now become my main work scope on the bench, I just love the UI's design and responsiveness: the UI for the 6000/7000 series looks like it's based on the same platform. For decoding serial stuff I tend to use a 54831D which has a massive 128Mpt deep memory but the decode is done in software so you need to be smart about how you set up the acquisition and selectively turn on and off the decode or the scope becomes very sluggish.

So I have a couple of questions...

o Although the resolution on both the 6000 and 7000 is 1024x768, the 6104A LCD is only 6.3". You could add an external monitor, but I was wondering how well the remote web interface works as an alternative?

o What is the boot time like? I think I'm quite spoiled by the 54642D's five seconds, it's not even enough time to properly attach a probe.

o I see that 06.17.0001 is current on newer 7000B units, and possibly others too, is it possible to downgrade firmware to previous versions, and if so does 06.16.0001 (for example!) work on the 7000B series?

Many thanks in advance!

[mikeselectricstuff]

So I have a couple of questions...
o Although the resolution on both the 6000 and 7000 is 1024x768, the 6104A LCD is only 6.3". You could add an external monitor, but I was wondering how well the remote web interface works as an alternative?

The screen res is fine, the small size isn't a big issue most of the time.
The web interface isn't a realistic alternative to using the front panel - no knobs.
It uses Java, which I've always had problems running

o What is the boot time like? I think I'm quite spoiled by the 54642D's five seconds, it's not even enough time to properly attach a probe.

12 seconds

o I see that 06.17.0001 is current on newer 7000B units, and possibly others too, is it possible to downgrade firmware to previous versions, and if so does 06.16.0001 (for example!) work on the 7000B series?

Many thanks in advance!

No idea, but check the release notes for functionality differences. AIUI you can get most or all the options by enabling service mode, so you don't need to use hacked FW

[Howardlong]

So I have a couple of questions...
o Although the resolution on both the 6000 and 7000 is 1024x768, the 6104A LCD is only 6.3". You could add an external monitor, but I was wondering how well the remote web interface works as an alternative?

The screen res is fine, the small size isn't a big issue most of the time.
The web interface isn't a realistic alternative to using the front panel - no knobs.
It uses Java, which I've always had problems running

I noticed that it was Java, certainly I'd rather not have Java enabled on a web browser but if it was reasonably responsive as a remote screen I might make an exception. I wasn't really thinking of using it as a replacement for the knobs, more as a way of having a bigger telly particularly if there's a lot going on on the screen, such as when the digital channels are on.

o What is the boot time like? I think I'm quite spoiled by the 54642D's five seconds, it's not even enough time to properly attach a probe.

12 seconds

Excellent.

o I see that 06.17.0001 is current on newer 7000B units, and possibly others too, is it possible to downgrade firmware to previous versions, and if so does 06.16.0001 (for example!) work on the 7000B series?

Many thanks in advance!

No idea, but check the release notes for functionality differences. AIUI you can get most or all the options by enabling service mode, so you don't need to use hacked FW

OK, I hadn't realised that, I guess I need to re-read this thread... again!

Thanks for your input.

[HighVoltage]

I have the MSO7104B and just love it and it has become my main scope.


Boot time is 15-16 Seconds
All options enabled
FW 01.16.0001


The only thing I am missing is a reference (REF) button to store a reference waveform for easy comparison. And it does not make sense that Agilent left it out, since the space for the button is free. But besides this little thing, it is an amazing scope.

Make sure to get the B Version, if you get a 7000 series.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Make sure to get the B Version, if you get a 7000 series.

what's the difference?

[HighVoltage]

Make sure to get the B Version, if you get a 7000 series.

what's the difference?

The front panel was re-arranged, the search button was added and on the lower left of the scope the little round "back" button was added. As far as I know, the main board was not changed.

However, I first bought a 7014A very cheap on ebay Germany and I was not able to get the service mode enabled, not even with a fw update. I sold that one and got the MSO7104B and turned the service mode on and enabled ALL options.

Just an amazing scope, if you don't need a REF waveform in the background.

[Howardlong]

Right hand panel of 7000A on left, 7000B on right. It looks a lot busier on the 7000B, quite a substantial rearrangement. Nice to see a dedicated default setup button for example on the 7000B.

[Howardlong]

More here https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/agilent-mso7000-series-opinions-wanted/msg408932/#msg408932

It appears there are also several more knobs with push functions on the 7000B.

[HighVoltage]

It appears there are also several more knobs with push functions on the 7000B.

That is true.
It becomes second nature to use these push buttons ... I had forgotten about the lag of these on the A series.
Nice side by side comparison picture you posted of the panel.

[Howardlong]

I can report success on a DSO 7104B with no options other than the standard mem8M, E00 and MST, using the service menu method.

The scope was supplied with 06.17.0001, but the service menu instructions are for 06.16.0001, and I chose to boot 06.16.0001 from USB to set the service mode rather than try to figure out where the magic location is on 06.17.0001.

I first booted from the USB stick (256MB formatted as basic FAT with 4096 bytes sectors) following the instructions here (Troubleshooting 5000/6000/7000 Series Oscilloscope Software Downloads). The only file on the USB stick was the unadulterated 06.16.0001A sys7000A.jzp file.

Once the scope had booted off the USB stick (I found it took not much longer than a normal boot), I did the tweak in the service menu procedure.

I removed the USB stick, rebooted to 06.17.0001B and the settings were maintained, including MSO and the other options.

[HighVoltage]

Congratulations on your new scope and your "upgrade"
Isn't it amazing when you use the big screen for the first time.