Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Cubdriver]

I need to pop the cover off my Tek 784D to see what's up with it - was running it a few weeks ago monitoring something and the display has gone away.  It seems to boot just fine, but no sign of life now from the CRT.  Fingers crossed that it's just a bad connection or something similarly minor, but who knows.  Have only had it for a year or so.

-Pat

[tonyalbus]

I need to pop the cover off my Tek 784D to see what's up with it - was running it a few weeks ago monitoring something and the display has gone away.  It seems to boot just fine, but no sign of life now from the CRT.  Fingers crossed that it's just a bad connection or something similarly minor, but who knows.  Have only had it for a year or so.

-Pat

Oh crap!... maybe you have the VGA in the back, connect an screen there and know if at least the rest of the scope is working.
there are LCD kits but i think are around 350+ ..pfff   hope its just something simple..

[Cubdriver]

I need to pop the cover off my Tek 784D to see what's up with it - was running it a few weeks ago monitoring something and the display has gone away.  It seems to boot just fine, but no sign of life now from the CRT.  Fingers crossed that it's just a bad connection or something similarly minor, but who knows.  Have only had it for a year or so.

-Pat

Oh crap!... maybe you have the VGA in the back, connect an screen there and know if at least the rest of the scope is working.

I think it's working because it goes through what appears to be the normal boot sequence when turned on - lamp test on initial power up, assorted drive noises and relay clicks, then into what looks to be the last state it was left in - channel 1 active, trigger ready, and is responsive if I select the other channels - the indicator lights change as I'd expect.  You just prompted me to move it a bit and look - it does in fact have a VGA output on the back.  I'll excavate it later and dig out my old LCD monitor and plug it in to check things out.  In the back of my head I suspected it might have a monitor output on it, but hadn't been inclined to check because of how it's stacked.  Thanks for the nudge to do so, Tony.

there are LCD kits but i think are around 350+ ..pfff   hope its just something simple..

You and me both!!! And yeah, I've seen the NewScope kits - would love to get one for my HP 3562A DSA, but can't justify the cost to myself given that its display is currently working.

-Pat

[AVGresponding]

Some pics of the HP 8614A:

Ok, let's replace that broken power connector. I'll take the top cover off:



Bugger...  ok, I'll have to get at it from the bottom side:



What the... I'm being mooned!

Taking the sides off didn't help either, though it did reveal just how many cal stickers the last lab had used: lots!

OK, what if I take out these two screws, this board looks hinged at the back...



Ah, success! You can't see from that angle, but the connector is accessible now. Rather than try to work on it while holding the flip-board up and risking a drop and smash, I pushed the remains of the connector through the case to desolder it, after drilling out the rivets (yes, I was careful, no swarf was left behind, nor apprentice marks left on anything) on the broken front part of the connector.

After fitting the new IEC socket it powers up fine, though there's nothing to see apart from the power light on the front panel, and this:



Hmm, maybe it'll look better with the thermal imager:



Cool! Or warm... whatever. I don't know how Med and others stand the smell of hot valves, it's not for me!

[Neomys Sapiens]

On the matter of the Keithley 2400:
German Justice is cheap - for the foreign perps.
They closed the enquiry because THEY JUST DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE ASSHOLE WHICH RIPPED ME OFF is currently located. I will ask for the complete file now via my attorney. We are talking about somewhere in south-eastern Europe.
Then I will have at least nationality, date and place of birth. Then any entertaining rogues from the region are cordially invited to apply.
If I can't have my Sourcemeter, I'll have at least a large photoprint of an asshole in intensive care!

[capt bullshot]

Wow, that's tough, sorry to hear about that !

Ho do you manage to label your drawers and what not then ? You use a (proper) label printer on a computer, so that the printing / alignement is 100% perfect ? But then of course when you spply the stickers BY HAND to the drawers... it's never gonna be perfect ! So it's a lost cause ! 

My sorting system has non-sticky paper labels (the drawers have slots for the label). I used Excel to create perfectly centred text on identically sized squares.

McBryce.

you should cut them to size using a cutting plotter or a laser cutter ...

That's the only way, just use pen, paper, scissor and transparent sticky tape



BTW
The transparent box doesn't need a label, as one clearly can see what's inside

[jonovid]

you got some serious signal gen kit with that HP8614A

[Vince]

@vince
i am a bit late, so catching up.. i am an owner 2be for an TDS744A, it seems easy to hack to TDS784A... (for yours is maybe the same)  but.
if you need calibrating and want to use the original software, you need:

1. NI 8bit ISA or 7210 compatible ISA
 - https://www.ebay.nl/itm/283506706141 (i think)
2. bloody old pc p1 or p2 or below with ISA running DOS, 95 or 98 (the one you prob. trew away years ago, and its now called vintage gameing...so not cheap)
3. DC voltage calibrate will work with powersupply and a proper DMM
3. RF calibratiopn need 505 MHz and +17 dBm .. so you prob need a expensive generator or use an RF-amp behind an other generator (the marconi in my case)

So if you are not good with UNIX and or DOS emulators and tranlation-drivers-stuff to map adresses from PCI/USB to ISA vs-vs (like me),
you need a bunch of old stuff to get it working over GPIB with original Field Alignment Software from Tektronix (FAS)
then a USB-GPIB or PCI-GPIB won't work.

IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECT - from what i have read so-far.
just that you know before you start buying stuff and wast good money on GPIB stuff that then won't work.
cheers mate!

ps. there is an serial console kit for around 20 dollars from an Italian member from here, you find it on ebay.. if it is only for enabling the options.
 - then you just hyperterminal yourself with this and no GPIB is needed. (when having this in place you need to have the PC switched on and connected, for the scope to boot, i have been told)

https://www.ebay.nl/itm/325015924779

[edit1,2,3,4] bunch of typo's as usual

Thanks Tony,

As I said I already have an old Pentium Mk1 computer (old IBM Aptiva first gen) which I used to set up a GPIB station for my old TE. Successfully connected to my TDS544A to paly around and reset the error log file.
It was 5 years ago or so, and I am not too sure what GPIB card is in the computer. IIRC I bought both an ISA and a PCI card.... ISTR that maybe the Windows NI S/W would not work with the old ISA card, so had to use the PCI one instead.

I installed the MS-DOS and Win 95 NI S/W suite. I also have a copy of the MS-DOS S/W you are referring to, to calibrate it... though I remember I failed to gfet it to anything... czn't remember if that was because I lacked the TE to get it going, or if the S/W failed to detect the scope...

As for unlocking options, since I have GPIB I don't need serial... but now you talk about, I do remember forum posts about a guy who successfully fif just that, with minimal R&D efforts... just a serial cable, though might need special wiring of course.

Will definitely resume GPIB fun as soon as the lab is in a state that's compatible with such activity.... in a few months maybe.
For now it's a complete cluster fuck as I dig out and empty all my plastic container to discover what treasures I have, and sort and organize them in a more appropriate way...

[Saskia]

On the matter of the Keithley 2400:
German Justice is cheap - for the foreign perps.
They closed the enquiry because THEY JUST DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE ASSHOLE WHICH RIPPED ME OFF is currently located. I will ask for the complete file now via my attorney. We are talking about somewhere in south-eastern Europe.
Then I will have at least nationality, date and place of birth. Then any entertaining rogues from the region are cordially invited to apply.
If I can't have my Sourcemeter, I'll have at least a large photoprint of an asshole in intensive care!

in a similar case ( not rip off, but severe bodily harm) the da told me that they did not investigate thebperp because his personality rights were to be rated higher than my rights as a victim.

German justice ? forget it.

[mansaxel]

So having a R&S FSH3 now I had  look and there is  software option key generaator "out there"
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/enabling-options-for-rs-test-equipment/275/
I'm not a Linu person and pretty much stopped playing with the inner workings of PCs at Win XP. Howerver I had a linux box (CentOS, not ideal) and managed to install enough bits to compile/build/make? it.
The .EXE seems to run but flashes up a window and closes it so fas ou cn't see anything.

<snip>

  Anyone got any ideas?

I just built it on Linux:

Code: [Select]

treize$ git clone [url]https://github.com/rdelien/fsxx_keygen[/url]
Klonar till "fsxx_keygen"...
remote: Enumerating objects: 75, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (75/75), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (41/41), done.
remote: Total 75 (delta 41), reused 60 (delta 32), pack-reused 0
Tar emot objekt: 100% (75/75), 26,09 KiB | 2,90 MiB/s, klart.
Analyserar delta: 100% (41/41), klart.
treize$
<here I swapped computers who share that file system, cause I hadn't "git" installed on the one I wanted to build on>
yaya$ cd fsxx_keygen/
yaya$ make
yaya$ cd x86_64-linux-gnu/
yaya$ ./keygen -h
yaya$ ./keygen -s 123456/789
Raw keys for instrument with serial number 123456/789 are:
000: 4074151143
001: 3414471008
002: 3623880895
003: 2828872172
004: 1090639528
005: 0505390378
006: 2768494813
007: 1307454390
008: 1066419116
....

You must run it with the serial number as argument; and it will simply calculate the codes for all options for that serial number, and print them out.  You're then supposed to pick the option you want, and use that code in a suitable (service?) menu on the instrument in question.

And, the important part is that it should be run in a terminal. Not by double-clicking the file in some sort of GUI. That's not going to work.

[mansaxel]

Top tip for the "flashing message too fast" issue:   Stab the "Print Screen" key at exactly the right time (while message is flashing).  Then you open Paint, do a Paste, and read the message at leisure.

No, run it in a bloody terminal. It is not a GUI program. I just did it, and it works as designed.

There's things like:

Code: [Select]

fprintf(stdout, "Option keys for %s with serial number %lu/%.3lu are:\n", instrument->name
, serialnr / 1000, serialnr % 1000);
in the code; which is a dead giveaway that it is command line and nothing else.

Tech support people have a special extra-slow on-hold queue for people who report problems by screen-shotting terminals and pasting that into a Word document that they then print out and fax to Helpdesk...   

[Zucca]

On the matter of the Keithley 2400:
German Justice is cheap - for the foreign perps.
They closed the enquiry because THEY JUST DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE ASSHOLE WHICH RIPPED ME OFF is currently located.

Welcome to the sad club, in my case the asshole was in Poland, I had his last name and bank account details.
Die Polizei closed the case too because it is outside Germany. I lost about 1,5 months of my salary.
Contacted the police in poland and no answer as expected.

I think now the bad guys in Europe are making parties to rape germans over and over since they know the Polizei will not move a finger against them.

It is so nice to be in Europe, but sometimes it does not work at all.

[factory]

Somewhat mucky but an interesting sample of a rather odd Keithley DMM with the display in the probe here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115226117944



Never seem one of these before. Not of any interest to me but I'm just pointing it out for general amusement (bemusement?) and for any beige/brown Keithley completists out there.

I'm suprized that evil seller hasn't stuck a lamp on it, they have trashed numerous 60's digital voltmeters & counters in the past. 

David

[mansaxel]

It is so nice to be in Europe, but sometimes it does not work at all.

In our case it was pick-pocketing in Naples. The police so obviously didn't want anything to do with it..

[Neomys Sapiens]

@Saskia, @Zucca: was I unclear with 'any enterprising rogues'? And I'm not cheap, when it comes that far.
(Oh I see, bad typo. Not entertaining, of course)

[factory]

Some pics of the HP 8614A:

Ok, let's replace that broken power connector. I'll take the top cover off:



Bugger...  ok, I'll have to get at it from the bottom side:



What the... I'm being mooned!

Taking the sides off didn't help either, though it did reveal just how many cal stickers the last lab had used: lots!

OK, what if I take out these two screws, this board looks hinged at the back...



Ah, success! You can't see from that angle, but the connector is accessible now. Rather than try to work on it while holding the flip-board up and risking a drop and smash, I pushed the remains of the connector through the case to desolder it, after drilling out the rivets (yes, I was careful, no swarf was left behind, nor apprentice marks left on anything) on the broken front part of the connector.

After fitting the new IEC socket it powers up fine, though there's nothing to see apart from the power light on the front panel, and this:



Hmm, maybe it'll look better with the thermal imager:



Cool! Or warm... whatever. I don't know how Med and others stand the smell of hot valves, it's not for me!

That looks in great nick inside, hardly any discolouration to the boards, my 8614A is quite baked around some of the vacuum bulbs (my 8616A is in better condition), also note the vacuum bulb retaining clips will eventually drop off once the nylon? holding it gets baked & crumbles.
The smell is probably just dust/contamination getting warmed up, from being stored for a long time, soon disappears if used regularly.




Also have the remains of a 60's 8614A rescued from another forum member, sadly missing all the easily removable parts (even the worthless ones) & covers, it was given to me with the lot I bought from him a few years ago, it's a bit corroded from being left outside too, one day I'll see if I how many of the parts I have here (already given it some covers from a parts mule 140 series scope).


David

[Cerebus]

It is so nice to be in Europe, but sometimes it does not work at all.

In our case it was pick-pocketing in Naples. The police so obviously didn't want anything to do with it..

Hardly surprising, in Naples pickpocketing is the 2nd most important industry after tax evasion and you can hardly expect the local police to undermine the local economy. 

[factory]

An impulse buy from a few weeks ago arrived today. 



HP 8052A impulse sound level meter, still need to find appropriate microphone(s) to use with it & the 8050A, 8058A, some have been converted to use more modern mics by the previous owners, but the 8052A looks untouched inside, as far as I can tell from the quick check inside earlier.


Very neat traces underneath. 


Looks like the resident spider was busy in here. 


Also need to relabel the IMP button.


David

[tonyalbus]

Some pics of the HP 8614A:

Ok, let's replace that broken power connector. I'll take the top cover off:



Bugger...  ok, I'll have to get at it from the bottom side:



What the... I'm being mooned!

Taking the sides off didn't help either, though it did reveal just how many cal stickers the last lab had used: lots!

OK, what if I take out these two screws, this board looks hinged at the back...



Ah, success! You can't see from that angle, but the connector is accessible now. Rather than try to work on it while holding the flip-board up and risking a drop and smash, I pushed the remains of the connector through the case to desolder it, after drilling out the rivets (yes, I was careful, no swarf was left behind, nor apprentice marks left on anything) on the broken front part of the connector.

After fitting the new IEC socket it powers up fine, though there's nothing to see apart from the power light on the front panel, and this:



Hmm, maybe it'll look better with the thermal imager:



Cool! Or warm... whatever. I don't know how Med and others stand the smell of hot valves, it's not for me!

That looks in great nick inside, hardly any discolouration to the boards, my 8614A is quite baked around some of the vacuum bulbs (my 8616A is in better condition), also note the vacuum bulb retaining clips will eventually drop off once the nylon? holding it gets baked & crumbles.
The smell is probably just dust/contamination getting warmed up, from being stored for a long time, soon disappears if used regularly.




Also have the remains of a 60's 8614A rescued from another forum member, sadly missing all the easily removable parts (even the worthless ones) & covers, it was given to me with the lot I bought from him a few years ago, it's a bit corroded from being left outside too, one day I'll see if I how many of the parts I have here (already given it some covers from a parts mule 140 series scope).


David

Nice!!

Very cool machine..
i have been told, you need to have the ALC switched on to be more accurate...

[tggzzz]

I'm suprized that evil seller hasn't stuck a lamp on it, they have trashed numerous 60's digital voltmeters & counters in the past. 

Still doing it.

Amazing how awful this result is https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bad-Dog-Designs-Original-Upcycled-AVO-Meter-Nixie-Clock-MK-II/114142386031

[mansaxel]

It is so nice to be in Europe, but sometimes it does not work at all.

In our case it was pick-pocketing in Naples. The police so obviously didn't want anything to do with it..

Hardly surprising, in Naples pickpocketing is the 2nd most important industry after tax evasion and you can hardly expect the local police to undermine the local economy. 

No, we mostly wanted a paper to show the insurance company. But in the end it was not necessary.

[factory]

David

Nice!!

Very cool machine..
i have been told, you need to have the ALC switched on to be more accurate...

It's not far out, the 1200MHz is read directly off the 5254A frequency convertor dial & the display on the 5245L added to it, giving a total of 1221.55MHz, spec of the 8614A is +/- 5MHz. 

David

[factory]

I'm suprized that evil seller hasn't stuck a lamp on it, they have trashed numerous 60's digital voltmeters & counters in the past. 

Still doing it.

Amazing how awful this result is https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bad-Dog-Designs-Original-Upcycled-AVO-Meter-Nixie-Clock-MK-II/114142386031

Not got time to find it now, but don't look on their bookface page, as not even sewing machines are safe from this upcycling upshiteing bullshit, worse still there are people that actually want to pay $$$ for this junk. 

David

[Neomys Sapiens]

I'm suprized that evil seller hasn't stuck a lamp on it, they have trashed numerous 60's digital voltmeters & counters in the past. 

Still doing it.

Amazing how awful this result is https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bad-Dog-Designs-Original-Upcycled-AVO-Meter-Nixie-Clock-MK-II/114142386031

Not got time to find it now, but don't look on their bookface page, as not even sewing machines are safe from this upcycling upshiteing bullshit, worse still there are people that actually want to pay $$$ for this junk. 

David

That would be at least funny if they made the people work the pedal to operate the lamp. or read the time. or whatever. But no.

[Cubdriver]

An impulse buy from a few weeks ago arrived today. 



HP 8052A impulse sound level meter, still need to find appropriate microphone(s) to use with it & the 8050A, 8058A, some have been converted to use more modern mics by the previous owners, but the 8052A looks untouched inside, as far as I can tell from the quick check inside earlier.


Very neat traces underneath. 


Looks like the resident spider was busy in here. 


Also need to relabel the IMP button.


David

That's one I've never seen before - cool piece of kit!

-Pat