|
Re: 70900 modifications available
Hi Dave
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Thank you for all the work you are doing for the 70000 receiver The biggest problem has been to locate the Receiver Personality program Could you please advise me on the make and part number of the replacement capacitors you have used in the 70900A/B power supply as I am just looking at placing an order to recap 3 LO modules How are you using the 70000 receiver and have you put any demodulation on it yet also have you used the I Q outputs Best regards Paul -----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dave McGuire Sent: 27 October 2020 21:32 To: [email protected] Subject: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] 70900 modifications available Hey folks. For some time now I've been working on the innards of the 70900A/B spectrum analyzer LO modules. With the recent recovery of the Receiver Personality program, which is software that gets installed into a 70900 to turn it into a high-performance signal analysis receiver, I decided to kick that work into high gear. I've now successfully reverse-engineered the functions of the address mapping PALs and the memory subsystem on the MEM-PLUS CPU board present in many 70900s, to make it possible to upgrade the RAM chips on the ROM/RAM boards. The Receiver Personality software coexists with the normal spectrum analyzer firmware; you can switch back and forth during operation with a button press. It has no effect on normal spectrum analyzer use. This software, and possibly others, requires that a 70900 have Option 512, which is higher-density memory on the ROM/RAM board. It seems very few 70900 CPU boards were shipped with this option. This software also requires that the 70900 have firmware release B.05.00 or later, and have an MC68020 processor. In this context, I am now prepared to offer, as a paid service, some upgrades to certain 70900 (both A and B) modules. Given a 70900 that has the MEM-PLUS option installed, I can upgrade the RAM to give it Option 512. I can also update the firmware to the last release, B.06.04. While it's here, I can also replace the battery, and the failure-prone capacitors on the power board if required. I can also install the Receiver Personality software, if desired. I am happy to share the information required for anyone to perform these upgrades themselves, however, I thought it reasonable to offer it as a service for those who don't want to risk ruining their expensive 70900. There are several reasons for this. First, these modifications require quite a lot of extraction and soldering of surface-mount components. Then, there's finding/procuring all of the required replacement components, and removing/reprogramming/replacing the PAL chips, which are soldered. If a firmware update is desired, that also involves the extraction, out-of-circuit reprogramming, and replacement of multiple surface-mount flash chips. My company has the proper equipment to perform these tasks correctly; I do this type of work professionally as my full-time job. I will charge for this service; that's to be discussed off-list. I've performed these modifications on three of my own 70900s with flawless results. My company has a substantial stock of the required replacement SRAM chips, PALs, batteries, and capacitors. Again, your 70900, A or B, must have the MEM-PLUS option installed for this to work. I can tell you how to determine that if you don't already know. And before anyone asks, no, I cannot repair failed EYO (YIG) modules. Contact me off-list at mcguire@... if you're interested in this service. Thanks, -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2016.0.8048 / Virus Database: 4793/15886 - Release Date: 08/14/18 Internal Virus Database is out of date. |
|
Re: HP 8006A word generator
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýHi Greg,thats where I got the manual from, indeed. I was wondering about what else I found when searching the internet: mostly musicians using it in their studios, connected to samplers. Funny - making such sequences should be possible with todays equipment, too, I guess. But the 8006 is maybe more fun to handle, with a mechanical switch for every bit and a vernier pot giving one decade of variability. It might have a problem with Auto/Single Cycle, as it always does Auto even when I select Single. And I do not understand what the PRN pushbutton is good for (and the blue "sequence length" data on the sliding switch). Seems to do some kind of X-OR, but the manual is very short on that.? The inside is nice, too. All ICs are socketed in single-pin sockets. I made some pics. The scope screenshot shows the first (red) and last (yellow) bit sync output. Above the A word in green, below the B word in blue. Word length is set to 12. cheers Martin |
|
70900 modifications available
Hey folks. For some time now I've been working on the innards of the 70900A/B spectrum analyzer LO modules. With the recent recovery of the Receiver Personality program, which is software that gets installed into a 70900 to turn it into a high-performance signal analysis receiver, I decided to kick that work into high gear. I've now successfully reverse-engineered the functions of the address mapping PALs and the memory subsystem on the MEM-PLUS CPU board present in many 70900s, to make it possible to upgrade the RAM chips on the ROM/RAM boards.
The Receiver Personality software coexists with the normal spectrum analyzer firmware; you can switch back and forth during operation with a button press. It has no effect on normal spectrum analyzer use. This software, and possibly others, requires that a 70900 have Option 512, which is higher-density memory on the ROM/RAM board. It seems very few 70900 CPU boards were shipped with this option. This software also requires that the 70900 have firmware release B.05.00 or later, and have an MC68020 processor. In this context, I am now prepared to offer, as a paid service, some upgrades to certain 70900 (both A and B) modules. Given a 70900 that has the MEM-PLUS option installed, I can upgrade the RAM to give it Option 512. I can also update the firmware to the last release, B.06.04. While it's here, I can also replace the battery, and the failure-prone capacitors on the power board if required. I can also install the Receiver Personality software, if desired. I am happy to share the information required for anyone to perform these upgrades themselves, however, I thought it reasonable to offer it as a service for those who don't want to risk ruining their expensive 70900. There are several reasons for this. First, these modifications require quite a lot of extraction and soldering of surface-mount components. Then, there's finding/procuring all of the required replacement components, and removing/reprogramming/replacing the PAL chips, which are soldered. If a firmware update is desired, that also involves the extraction, out-of-circuit reprogramming, and replacement of multiple surface-mount flash chips. My company has the proper equipment to perform these tasks correctly; I do this type of work professionally as my full-time job. I will charge for this service; that's to be discussed off-list. I've performed these modifications on three of my own 70900s with flawless results. My company has a substantial stock of the required replacement SRAM chips, PALs, batteries, and capacitors. Again, your 70900, A or B, must have the MEM-PLUS option installed for this to work. I can tell you how to determine that if you don't already know. And before anyone asks, no, I cannot repair failed EYO (YIG) modules. Contact me off-list at mcguire@... if you're interested in this service. Thanks, -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA |
|
Re: Free 2- HP1980B both somewhat working - Local PU in NJ
On 10/27/20 4:08 PM, Paul Amaranth wrote:
There's a very interesting article on the hpmemory site onMy thoughts exactly; I've never used a 1980, and I'll be right near the OP's area soon. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA |
|
Re: Free 2- HP1980B both somewhat working - Local PU in NJ
On 10/27/20 3:04 PM, Watchguard Consulting via groups.io wrote:
Parts Donors or try your hand at fixing them? Exit 135 NJ Pkway. Contact me off-list. Both are scheduled for the dumpster. One has a few chips missing and the other is complete and powers on and displays a trace both channelsOff-list mail sent; please check your spam folder if you don't see it. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA |
|
HP 8006A word generator
Hi all,
I've got an 8006A word generator pulled out (together with a Tek R453) of a larger rack intended for the trash. I have it on the bench right now, generating words without end... Nice piece of equipment, seems well built. Some of the switches required extensive toggling before working correctly. I can't find many information about it, besides the manual on Keysights website. There are musicians using it as a sequencer... anyone else using it? cheers Martin |
Paul Bicknell
Martin
Dave McGuire