Hi Hank,

I was thinking of just an HPIB external drive emulator, not a universal GPIB interface. By the way the Prologix one you linked to actually works very well, I've used one.

I agree a "40 pin" memory card is easier to do, it's just some CMOS RAM and a bit of logic,. It does not however solve the other half of your problem, reading that card in a PC. This would require a connector, microprocessor and USB interface plus application software/drivers for the PC.

A lot depends on where one's skill set lies, but it seems to me that just one set of hardware and code on a microcontroller (or Arduino etc) is less work than controller and PC hardware and software. It was just a suggestion.

I no longer have a test set with a 40 pin card socket so can do little to help with the development other than work I did in the past.

Robert G8RPI.

To begin with a controller would be more expensive and much more complicated.? There has been little success doing DIY GPIB translation, and even some commercial units only partially implement GPIB functionality.


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The cards are electronically simple, cheap, and easy to use and move around.

Hank

Ran across some r/d regarding the failures of the Epson type card and other work by U Conn.
including schematic of a novram solution that was tested.


What was wanted was the speed of ram, but the problem of battery.? I don't know what patent problem there is,
but something new might get around our problems.

A bit off topic, but what precipitated the study...


I just happen to have a couple of 32K 85700A cards and wanted to make them more useful, not send a man to mars.
I have no HPIB hardware, but I see the need.? SD cards also have so many writes and cost goes up for the
"Industrial strength" long-life and critical models, but they DO work.? My old 486 Toshiba laptop Hard drive went out
and there wasnt a 300mb EIDE replacement available in the same form factor, so I got one of those? EIDE-SD adapters
and dual-boot FAT16 formatted one for DOS 6.22 and Win95a.? It isn't in daily use, but so far-so good.? A lot easier to
swap drives since there is no USB and the Floppy died.

If we want a common design, would a controller and SD card slot in a HPIB connector that simulated a HPIB HDD e.g. 9134D, not be a better solution? This could be common for many other instruments. With the possible exception of Firmware updates, and most machines that have flash firmware have PCMCA, it does not matter if you are writing to a front panel card or a external "disk"

Robert G8RPI

The quick setup document in the files section will get you started, but the 8920A-B-Application-Handbook-08920-90126.pdf
is more devoted to AM/FM/SSB tests, It also shows the block diagrams which helps to understand the setups.?
These tests are mostly the same for the 8924.? Get to know it.? The 8924 manuals go more into cell testing.

The 60 watt N connector port goes to a very small internal 30db power pad to the antenna port.
For the bench, I generally use an external 300w 30 or 40 db pad rather than heat up the instrument.
Also a good idea to use external 10-20 db attenuation for any antenna hooked up to the antenna port.

I have often noted that first thing a newbie will do is hook up an antenna to the antenna port at a site and
immediately fry the input.? Anyone who has been around will have PTSD about it.

Ok Thank Ralph I though it would be OK as long as I stay on then 60 watt port but I wanted to make sure before I did something stupid.?

Jim sorry I meant to say output to the 60 watt port. Thanks for the info in the oscilloscope being a audio only I did read where that the 8920 is like a 17khz scope so guess the 8924 is the same. I have put an antenna on the other input port and used it like a radio and it worked very well, I would never put any RF on that I put.?

Anyway thanks Guys for taking the time to straighten me out,
73 Bill N7OQ

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Spectrum analyzer is used on the? RF I/O port, or over the air spectrum analyzer in the antenna port, DO NOT connect transmitter to the ANTENNA PORT!

When you say "output" what do you mean? The built in scope is for AUDIO/DC. NOT transmitter RF.

This project notice was sent out as a special message.? That just means that our members that read postings using the Groups.io web?interface will receive this announcement in their email.

Sometimes web users may not check for postings very often.

I'd like to get an idea of interest in building a DIY card for our HP RF test sets.? Mine takes a regular PCMCIA card, but it might work out that a PCB design for the Epson will be available first.

If you email me directly I can report back to the entire group what the response is (mention if Epson or PCMCIA).? If you have general comments to make please post here as usual.

This will free us from paying the high bucks for the cards, and it might also lead to a companion device that will provide for reading cards free from the tyranny of having to get old PCs with PCMCIA slots and the problems with the attendant, often flakey software.? This reader would use a USB connection (or plain RS-232).

Hank

Reading some comments on the net regarding homemade HP48 cards, it seems that tinned fingers are degraded by being in direct?contact with gold sockets.

Tin and lead are far from gold in the galvanic series.? In fact, because gold is at one end of that series, gold bothers everything except more gold.? I would expect that simply not leaving a DIY tin plated card inserted in the HP for long periods will prevent any significant deterioration.? The PCB houses do, though, provide for gold plating; it's just a bit more expensive, but probably a good idea once a design is finalized.

I appreciate that jb is on track to upgrade the capacity of his card rather than make a new complete DIY card, but there will still be strong synergy between doing an upgrade and doing a DIY card.

?jb: Others have complained that tin plate goes flaky.?

Hi group, first forgive my ignorances but on my hp8924c I have been using it to align my transceivers, in transmit mode on the 60 watt port I can look at power, frequency etc, but I want to also look at the spectrum and output on the build in O scope. Can I safely do this via the 60 watt port without damaging anything? If so is there anything I need to do when I go to SA or Oscope mode??

Thanks,
Bill

Hank-? Others have complained that tin plate goes flaky.?

I found where someone was trying to use nonvolatile serial ram with a bunch of support/glue/translation chips in an effort to do away with the battery problem?
with voting machines.? Scary hairy and stuck out in the way, but it was a proof of a concept.? They had a high rate of dead batteries and lost votes.

There are 4 more Address lines not used on this board - we need to use compatible ram.? It is CMOS.? I would rather upgrade a card that fits my instrument.
There are errors on my notes, pads for SOP vs TSOP others.? Doing some more ringing out and will share.?

Still wondering if ANYONE has verified the simpler 48gx cards actually work??????

The edge connector is the same as a PCI card. I did some trials years ago using a PCI riser cable intended for low profile rack mount PD case.

Robert G8RPI.

I was trying to ring out the lines from the instrument to the card, and compare my 32k card with the 48 project.
This one has a little more to it but not much. Memory is one HY628100b, but the board is pinned out to
accept different options and different jumpers select what to do with lines not used in the 32k.?
The smaller chip is DS1312 for battery backup management. The hp48 projects just use a dual diode to
isolate the battery from external battery from the instrument.? I was looking into this last year and my notes are crap.
This one maybe a newer version and has no shutter.? I have another with shutter that is HP branded rather than
Agilent.? I was going to build one of these but the problem of making gold plate on the edge conn. put it off.
It came apart OK by pulling the battery and 20min in 90% Isopropyl and a single edged razor blade.
Has anyone actually tried a 48sx/gx card in a 8920A?

I understand the Photos now, you have just lifted the "skin"? of the card and the frame is in place.
You will need to identify the IC's used.

Robert G8RPI

I don't understand the PCB photos, they appear to be masked or cut-off, but yes a lot of memory cards can be expanded by adding additional chips. Link changes may be required for correct addressing.

I've never tried one in a 892x, but as far as I can tell from published information the RAM extension cards used in the 48SX and 48GX have the same connector and pinout as the "Epson" card for the 892x (and some other HP instruments) and should be compatible

Robert G8RPI.