Keithley 2000 A15 firmware

[ve7xen]

Anyone have a copy of the K2000 A15 image? I know it's on TiN's xdevs.com server but that's been down for a couple days now, and he wasn't able to send it to me directly. I'm impatient and want to make good use of my new programmer. After much web searching I can't find any images online other than A20 posted on Keithley's own forums, but that version requires a recalibration. Once TiN's server is back I'll ask him about mirroring it.

[klaus11]

 I'm also working on a K2000 with some errors and makes me xdevs missing.
Any idea that is modified firmware A20 ?, this on the website of TiN but I have no idea.

[ve7xen]

I'm also working on a K2000 with some errors and makes me xdevs missing.
Any idea that is modified firmware A20 ?, this on the website of TiN but I have no idea.

I don't think any clear changelogs are available... I do know that upgrading to A20 requires a full recalibration, so unless you have the means to do that it's probably best to go only to A15.

[Macbeth]

Who needs A15 when you can have A19 without needing to go through the A20 re-calibration?

(I will mention that a lot of the early 2000 rom dumps on xdevs appear to be bad - they are missing the final CRC checksum byte - easy to spot, if the last byte(s) are 0x00 then they won't work. I guess TiN just took these on face value, or they are not compatible with my meter. Whatever?).

However the A15 is a good 'un.

Important: It is totally worth backing up your calibration EEPROM using the TL866 before proceeding... I have found just removing the ODD/EVEN PROMs and powering on lets you read and write to it with a few clips no problem. The holding RESET line doesn't seem to work like it does with the Keithley 2001/2 models.

I've attached A19 and A20 along with some interesting internal Keithley PDF docs showing the firmwares being from late 2003 and early 2007.

[ve7xen]

Thanks Macbeth!!

I originally remembered an A19 version, but the Google Cache of TiN's page only shows A15, so I figured I was hallucinating. The checksum is just a simple 16-bit checksum, so I guess can be easily re-created if necessary. I have correct dumps of A05 if his are wrong, and will upload when the site comes back online.

I purchased flash to replace the EPROMs so can play with versions at my leisure. Trying to solve problems with the RS-232 interface flaking out.

Thanks for the tip on dumping the cal EEPROM. I don't have the proper clip leads to do this but will bodge something together.

[Macbeth]

I asked Keithley if I could upload to xdevs as it wasn't there and was told no. This seems fair as the Keithley support forums have been really good. But, since the takeover and my subsequent support requests being ignored, what the hell. I wasn't told I couldn't upload to eevblog and if it finds its way onto xdevs that's none of my business?

[Macbeth]

Thanks for the tip on dumping the cal EEPROM. I don't have the proper clip leads to do this but will bodge something together.

Yeah, I actually got a proper 8 pin SOIC clip for my TL866 but found that great big electrolytic got in the way. Also needed the VCC pin shielding. It's easier to attach TL866 GND to the chassis with a croc clip and some micro grabbers to the EEPROM for the rest.

[Smith]

(I will mention that a lot of the early 2000 rom dumps on xdevs appear to be bad - they are missing the final CRC checksum byte - easy to spot, if the last byte(s) are 0x00 then they won't work. I guess TiN just took these on face value, or they are not compatible with my meter. Whatever?).

However the A15 is a good 'un.

Are you sure they don't work? I have uploaded about 4 or 5 FW versions for the K2000 including the A15. They where all read the same way, with the same gear from working units.

I have only used the A19 to upgrade a unit, I haven't used the older ones myself.

[z01z]

Thanks a lot for the A19 firmware, I'll give it a try.
At the moment I'm using the A15 fw, I've noticed that it has some extra steps in the self-test (not documented even in the latest repair manual), compared to A5.
Should someone still need it, A15 is attached (got from TiN's page).

[klaus11]

Who needs A15 when you can have A19 without needing to go through the A20 re-calibration?

(I will mention that a lot of the early 2000 rom dumps on xdevs appear to be bad - they are missing the final CRC checksum byte - easy to spot, if the last byte(s) are 0x00 then they won't work. I guess TiN just took these on face value, or they are not compatible with my meter. Whatever?).

However the A15 is a good 'un.

Important: It is totally worth backing up your calibration EEPROM using the TL866 before proceeding... I have found just removing the ODD/EVEN PROMs and powering on lets you read and write to it with a few clips no problem. The holding RESET line doesn't seem to work like it does with the Keithley 2001/2 models.

I've attached A19 and A20 along with some interesting internal Keithley PDF docs showing the firmwares being from late 2003 and early 2007.

Thank you

[z01z]

At the first power up with the A19 my K2000 threw a bunch of errors but it was so quick I couldn't see them properly. Consequent power ups are fine though and self test is passed.

Thanks again!

[Smith]

Yeah some Keithley gear tends to 'nag' the first time it boots after a FW upgrade. I've seen this with different models.

[klaus11]

I also had a mistake in the first start, but it was safe to use AMD recalculating memory.

[Macbeth]

(I will mention that a lot of the early 2000 rom dumps on xdevs appear to be bad - they are missing the final CRC checksum byte - easy to spot, if the last byte(s) are 0x00 then they won't work. I guess TiN just took these on face value, or they are not compatible with my meter. Whatever?).

However the A15 is a good 'un.

Are you sure they don't work? I have uploaded about 4 or 5 FW versions for the K2000 including the A15. They where all read the same way, with the same gear from working units.

I have only used the A19 to upgrade a unit, I haven't used the older ones myself.

Perhaps not compatible with my hardware?, or something to do with me flashing them to EEPROM's (I would not waste OTPs on such old versions!), but I found some of the images before A15 would leave my meter hanging with blank or corrupt display on power on. I noticed A07 had 2 bytes on the full .bin 0x10 0x10 that were not in the ODD and EVENs and figured something dodgy with the CRC's?

Whatever, A15 worked, and so did my A19 obtained direct from Keithley. However since upgrading from A06 the newly introduced undocumented self tests have some intermittent fails (306.x) which Keithley recommend some PCB cleaning and operating in lower humidity. Perhaps replace the input FETs

[Macbeth]

At the first power up with the A19 my K2000 threw a bunch of errors but it was so quick I couldn't see them properly. Consequent power ups are fine though and self test is passed.

Thanks again!

Most of those nags are to do with stored GPIB addresses and stuff like that. Reboot gets rid. With A20 you will find nags about DC calibration being out, and actually being way out if you try using it!

I highly recommend backing up your EEPROM before upgrading either way!

[z01z]

Whatever, A15 worked, and so did my A19 obtained direct from Keithley. However since upgrading from A06 the newly introduced undocumented self tests have some intermittent fails (306.x) which Keithley recommend some PCB cleaning and operating in lower humidity. Perhaps replace the input FETs

I also had those errors after going to A15. While not documented, on the Keithley forum there was a hint that they are not a concern for the 2000, you probably refer to the same. I did some cleaning nevertheless and also noticed that some time to warm-up also helps.

[TiN]

Everything is back online, ISP changed IP address while I was on business trip out of the country.

Updated 2000 article with all firmwares. Thanks!

they are missing the final CRC checksum byte - easy to spot, if the last byte(s) are 0x00 then they won't work.

Hmm, I did not check all of them, if others can confirm there is a problem, I'll pull the dumps till issues resolved.
My 2000 is way down in the backlog list, so can't help to check that atm. 

[z01z]

A05, A15 and A19 are working for sure.
I'm not sure testing all of them worth the time, now that A19 is available...