Thank eevblog.com user "dxl" for all of this. Good on him! Thank Dave too for making this a fun, friendly, place to meet and share knowledge. Good on you Dave!
This procedure was tested with Tektronix TLA Software versions 5.1, 5.6, and 5.8 on a TLA714.
Modules tested were the TLA7N4 and partially the TLA7AA4 but it is expected that module will work OK with this software hack saving the effort of having to do the hardware hack. No additional software is necessary other than what is default installed by the Tektronix TLA Application software.
Please submit any errata and I will update this post to maintain the most recent and correct procedure.
Thanks to "TiN" and "nctnico" for all their input in this thread. Good on you guys as well.
I have done this procedure, and the instrument was powered down for several hours and still retains the upgrades so it is permanent.
Follow these steps exactly to reproduce my success:
1) Starup the TLA instrument and then connect to it locally or remotely.
2) Launch the TLA Application (this is important on remote connects only) and let it connect to your remote TLA.
3) Use Start menu on Windoze and goto TekVISA folder and select "OpenChoice Talker Listener". If you are doing this remotely, IT IS IMPORTANT you quit the TLA Application once the Openchoice Talker Listener shows your remote modules.
4) Under the upper-leftside pane "Instruments" you will see your various modules listed.
5) Select the module you want to upgrade, if not sure of the slot number just pick one for now.
6) On the upper right side you will see an entry field titled "Enter Command or Script" referred from now on as COMMAND.
7) Enter in the COMMAND field *IDN?
8. Click the "Query" button below the field and note the output in the lowest frame titled "Talker Listener Readout" referred from now on as OUTPUT.
9) Look for the firmware version in OUTPUT and make a verbatim note of it referred to from now on as <VERSION>. Also verify it is the module you want to update, if not, repeat step 5 above and pick the correct one.
10) You now know which module to update and what the firmware version is. You are ready to begin the upgrade.
11) Now you will want to figure out what the Max upgrade you can make. Either you know it already, or you will want to see what maximum your module supports. This document focuses on two things, maximum State acquisition speed, and maximum memory depth.
12) To determine your maximum State speed in Mhz issue this COMMAND then click "Query" and make note of it as <SPEED>:
SYST:CONF:MAX:SPEED?
13) To determine your maximum Memory depth in bytes issue this COMMAND then click "Query" and make note of it as <DEPTH>:
SYST:CONF:MAX:DEPTH?
14) Timestamp is required. For 6/29/2014 you can use 1404025200, if not create a new unix timestamp. Refer to it as <TIME>. Using the exact time may not be important.
15) Make sure the correct module is selected under "Instruments" and enter the following commands into the COMMAND field. After each line, press the Write button under the COMMAND field. An Example of all commands will be shown after all the lines. Note: do not include the < > just the value. Use quotation marks when shown. Commands are case sensitive.
SYST:PASS:INST:PASS "PitBull<VERSION>"
Set Parameters
Code: [Select]
SYST:CONF:DEPTH <DEPTH>
SYST:CONF:SPEED <SPEED>
Save Parameters:
Code: [Select]
SYST:PASS:INST:UPD <TIME>
WORKING EXAMPLE-
SYST:PASS:INST:PASS "PitBull5.5.001"
Set Parameters
Code: [Select]
SYST:CONF:DEPTH 4194304
SYST:CONF:SPEED 200
Save Parameters:
Code: [Select]
SYST:PASS:INST:UPD 1404025200
16) After commands are entered, you can exit OpenChoice Talker Listener and run the TLA Application and note your new upgrades