$200 reward for information regarding Tek TDS5000B debug

[DC1MC]

I've also seen serial terminal programs behaving like this, when they are not configured to wrap the line, minicom is one of the offenders. It's worth having a look into this as well.

Agree. 

But, @abyrvalg nuked this particular case.   

It depends, what if the particular terminal window is even smaller  ?

[tv84]

I've also seen serial terminal programs behaving like this, when they are not configured to wrap the line, minicom is one of the offenders. It's worth having a look into this as well.

Agree. 

But, @abyrvalg nuked this particular case.   

It depends, what if the particular terminal window is even smaller  ?

How so? Unless the scope has more than several million channels, with the change that @abyrvalg did, the channel number will be visible. 

[abyrvalg]

As far as I understood this log goes to a file on the scope, not serial port. But lines cut to 80 chars (a typical number for terminal width) look suspicious anyway.
In any case, I'm not hunting for additional reward, the subject doesn't feel like a "find the right single bit" task anymore, the final solution will be a combination of many smaller ideas I guess.

[DC1MC]

As far as I understood this log goes to a file on the scope, not serial port. But lines cut to 80 chars (a typical number for terminal width) look suspicious anyway.
In any case, I'm not hunting for additional reward, the subject doesn't feel like a "find the right single bit" task anymore, the final solution will be a combination of many smaller ideas I guess.

Thanks for your work, I may get a non-starting DSO9000 next week, maybe we'll be able to use your expertise there as well  .

 Cheers,
 DC1MC

[Jwalling]

Done! It will say "is <" instead of "is under".

That worked. Many thanks for that!

So I did some testing and rework. 21 passes of SPC. I removed all the extra output in the log and just concentrated on the failures.

Code: [Select]

Jan 05 04:35:41 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 04:35:52 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 04:36:22 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:41
Jan 05 04:36:43 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:21
Jan 05 04:37:55 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:12
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.388271) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 05:24:28 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 05:24:39 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 05:25:09 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:41
Jan 05 05:25:29 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 05 05:26:40 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:11
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (0.899248 : -1.069323) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 05:49:55 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 05:50:26 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:42
Jan 05 05:50:47 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:21
Jan 05 05:51:59 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:12
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 0.878797) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 05:58:33 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 05:58:44 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 05:59:13 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:40
Jan 05 05:59:33 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 05 06:00:45 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:12
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (0.903158 : -1.073383) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 05 06:16:34 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 06:16:47 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 06:17:20 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:46
Jan 05 06:17:44 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 05 06:19:07 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:23
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 0.906090) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 06:25:44 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 06:25:57 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 06:26:31 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 05 06:26:54 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 05 06:28:15 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:21
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.496541 : -1.594211) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 06:35:40 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 06:35:53 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 06:36:28 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 05 06:36:51 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 05 06:38:16 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:25
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.518271) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 06:47:33 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 06:47:45 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 06:48:21 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 05 06:48:44 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 05 06:50:05 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:21
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 0.898196) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 07:01:18 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 07:01:30 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 07:02:05 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 05 07:02:28 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 05 07:03:52 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.305113) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 08:42:55 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 08:43:07 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 08:43:37 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:42
Jan 05 08:43:57 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 05 08:45:08 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:11
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.417218) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 08:51:09 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 08:51:20 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 08:51:50 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:41
Jan 05 08:52:09 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:19
Jan 05 08:53:21 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:12
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 0.752105) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 08:59:10 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 08:59:21 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 08:59:50 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:40
Jan 05 09:00:10 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 05 09:01:21 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:11
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (0.940827 : -1.103083) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 09:14:36 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 09:14:47 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 09:15:18 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:42
Jan 05 09:15:38 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 05 09:16:48 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:10
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.211353 : -2.640000) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 09:23:51 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 09:24:04 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 09:24:40 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:49
Jan 05 09:25:04 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 05 09:26:26 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:22
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.736241 : -1.793985) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 11:22:35 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 11:22:49 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 11:23:24 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:49
Jan 05 11:23:48 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 05 11:24:19 - findDacValue: failed to find good DAC value after 20 tries.
CAL: Offset error in hfd117 10mv Fine dac value on channel 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 offset
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 12:44:37 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 12:44:51 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 12:45:25 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 05 12:45:49 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 05 12:47:14 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:25
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 0.388571) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 12:55:10 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 12:55:23 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 12:55:58 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 05 12:56:23 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:25
Jan 05 12:57:47 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.613008) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 13:09:16 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 13:09:29 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 13:10:04 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 05 13:10:28 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 05 13:11:53 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:25
CAL: Gain error samples (4.231654 : -5.113316) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 14:05:38 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : M859 offset 00:01:56
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : -2.490827) OOR  on ch 2
CAL: Gain error samples  for M859 1mV channel 2 failed.
CAL: SPC returned an error in step M859 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 14:25:46 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 14:26:00 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 14:26:36 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:50
Jan 05 14:27:00 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 05 14:28:24 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.631880 : -2.031955) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 14:45:26 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 14:45:40 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 14:46:16 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:50
Jan 05 14:46:41 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:25
Jan 05 14:48:07 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:26
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 2.060000) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


13 failures on CH2, 8 failures on CH1. Ugh, why couldn't it just be one channel? 

Since there were more failures on Ch2, I replaced that attenuator.

21 more passes:

Code: [Select]

Jan 06 05:55:54 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 05:56:06 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 05:56:35 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:41
Jan 06 05:56:55 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 06 05:58:07 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:12
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (0.999774 : -1.135940) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 06 06:06:07 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 06:06:19 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 06:06:48 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:41
Jan 06 06:07:07 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:19
Jan 06 06:08:21 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:14
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 0.887444) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 06 06:21:24 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 06:21:37 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 06:22:10 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:46
Jan 06 06:22:34 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 06:23:59 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:25
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.519098 : -2.956617) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 06:39:46 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 06:39:59 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 06:40:34 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 06 06:40:58 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 06:42:20 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:22
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.608496) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 06 06:49:54 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 06:50:07 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 06:50:42 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 06 06:51:05 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 06 06:52:29 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.338421 : -2.741128) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 06 07:03:03 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 07:03:16 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 07:03:50 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 06 07:04:14 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 07:05:38 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.264962) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 06 07:12:35 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 07:12:47 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 07:13:22 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 06 07:13:45 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 06 07:15:09 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (0.974060 : -1.127368) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 06 07:24:15 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 07:24:28 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 07:25:02 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 06 07:25:26 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 07:26:49 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:23
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.639549 : -2.052256) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

 
Jan 06 07:33:50 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 07:34:03 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 07:34:39 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:49
Jan 06 07:35:02 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 06 07:36:25 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:23
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.395038 : -1.494511) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 07:43:41 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 07:43:54 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 07:44:28 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 06 07:44:51 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 06 07:46:16 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:25
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.530075 : -2.965564) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 07:59:08 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 07:59:22 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 07:59:56 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 06 08:00:20 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 08:00:57 - findDacValue: failed to find good DAC value after 20 tries.
CAL: Offset error in hfd117 10mv Fine dac value on channel 4
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 offset
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 08:08:23 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 08:08:37 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 08:09:11 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 06 08:09:34 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 06 08:10:57 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:23
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.632707 : -3.078947) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 08:22:42 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 08:22:55 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 08:23:31 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:49
Jan 06 08:23:54 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 06 08:25:20 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:26
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (0.911128 : -1.067444) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 08:37:11 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 08:37:25 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 08:38:01 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:50
Jan 06 08:38:25 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 08:39:47 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:22
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.092406 : -2.495940) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 08:56:57 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 08:57:10 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 08:57:44 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 06 08:58:08 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 08:59:32 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.431504 : -1.530602) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 09:27:58 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 09:28:12 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 09:28:47 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:49
Jan 06 09:29:11 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 09:30:33 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:22
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.120902) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 09:49:07 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 09:49:20 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 09:49:54 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 06 09:50:19 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:25
Jan 06 09:51:42 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:23
CAL: Gain error samples (4.223684 : -5.113691) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 09:59:29 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 09:59:40 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 10:00:09 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:40
Jan 06 10:00:30 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:21
Jan 06 10:01:39 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:09
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.846090 : -2.258120) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 10:17:13 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 10:17:24 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 10:17:54 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:41
Jan 06 10:18:14 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 06 10:18:46 - findDacValue: failed to find good DAC value after 20 tries.
CAL: Offset error in hfd117 10mv Fine dac value on channel 4
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 offset
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 10:58:36 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 10:58:50 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 10:59:25 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:49
Jan 06 10:59:49 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 11:01:14 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:25
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.055789 : -2.482556) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 11:13:45 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 11:13:58 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 11:14:33 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 06 11:14:57 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 11:16:20 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:23
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.144511) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

21 passes, 5 failures on CH2, 14 failures on CH1, 2 failures on CH4. Ch4 now too, eh? 
Not very conclusive, but the bulk of the failures shifted to CH1.

I'm beginning to think that one of the DACs may be at fault. The one thing that sticks out are the

findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH

Which pretty much happens on every SPC run. They are 74 ball AD5516 16 channel DAC BGA devices, which I don't have the capability to replace.

The non-B suffix TDS5104 used IMP I10412-01 gull-wing DACs (Tek referred to them as daculators) which were also used in the TDS700 series scopes.

That would have been easy...

I'm debating about whether to replace the attenuator on CH1 now. I don't think it will fix the scope, but it might be interesting to see how the failures distribute themselves on a 3rd run. If it were an easy replacement, I'd do it. But these things are a bitch to remove without breaking them. The ground and power planes are tough to clear. Also, on the component side of the board, the pins flare out and get soldered on the top of the pad itself. I had to use a small probe to break the pins free of the solder after clearing the hole with my Pace.

F*ck me...

I'll think about doing CH1 for a day or two.

Some pics:

[abyrvalg]

"OOR" in the other kind of error is my edit too, that's "out of range".

[Jwalling]

I'll think about doing CH1 for a day or two.

I did it. Not much change, 14 failures on CH1, 7 on CH2, 1 on CH4 (22 passes this time). Not a complete loss I suppose, I have two attenuators that I think are OK should I ever need them. I'll use this scope as a parts unit.

[Jwalling]

"OOR" in the other kind of error is my edit too, that's "out of range".

I knew that.  Thanks for your help once again.

EDIT: I never heard back from yearz so I couldn't pay him. yearz, where are youz!?

[jbruneaux]

Hi,

Thank you all for the debug help given here. Although this didn't solve my problem, at least now I can get some logs from this scope.
Just a note for others DPO5000/DPO7000 users (mine is a DPO7104, but the software seems the same), if the application crashed during startup (the tektronix application TekScope.exe starts, the startup-logo is displayed, then after a few clicks from the relays (but not the tons of furious clicks that should normally be heard at each boot), the application crashes and wan't to send a report to microsoft), then check the date. Mine was somehow (probably a dead rtc battery) set to 2040, and it seems like it make the application crash. I found this thanks to the log messages in the hidden c:\tekscope\calibration folder. The scope was able to boot one time during my attemps to make it work, and by looking at the logs, I saw it was crashing when trying to output the date after the serial number of the product.
Setting back the date to the current date has fixed it.

Regards,

[smaultre]

Hello, can anybody post a picture of rear side of DAC board (near of interconnector) i need some missed details on 5104B.

[smaultre]

Maybe the not "B" version is interested too?