Tektronix TLA7PG2 uphack and logic POD teardown

[nctnico]

One of my long standing wishes was to get a digital pattern generator for my Tektronix TLA715 logic analyser. I almost gave up and started looking for alternatives but then an EEVblog member from Poland put one up for sale including a logic POD and the cable in one complete set.
The TLA7PG2 can have up to 64 channels, 2Mpts of memory and rates up to 250MHz (the latter with half the channels enabled so the datarate and memory double). When I got the module it had the standard length of 64kpts (option STD). The TLA7PG2 module is made by Sony/Tektronix like several other older signal generator products from Tektronix.

This is how the TLA2PG2 module looks like (picture from internet):


And this is the logic POD (picture from internet):


The inside of the P6470 POD:




I didn't expect this many heatsinks and a fan inside the P6470 POD. It has adjustable output levels from 2V to 5V but that shouldn't be so hard to accomplish.

Now for the uphack to get my module from STD (32kpts on 64 channels) to 1M (1Mpts on 64 channels). This works similar to hacking the acquisition modules. However instead of the depth the option is set directly.

The *IDN? command returns:

Code: [Select]

SONY/TEK,TLA7PG2,J0320135,SCPI:93.0 FW:2.01 HW:1.00, build: May 18 2001 14:00:19
The part after the firmware version is used to send the password, then the option setting and then the update command to finalise the setting:

Code: [Select]

SYST:PASS:INST:PASS "FUJIHIKO2.01"

Code: [Select]

SYST:CONF:OPT OPT1M

Code: [Select]

syst:pass:inst:upd 1522422274The number 1522422274 is the current UTC timestamp (google that to get the current number)

[lukier]

Thanks for the teardown. The PODs are truly surprising inside.

You don't mind Pattern Generator support being dropped with TLA V6.0?

How easy it is to generate the patterns and trigger events? I always imagined this to be super tedious.

[nctnico]

Thanks for the teardown. The PODs are truly surprising inside.

You don't mind Pattern Generator support being dropped with TLA V6.0?

How easy it is to generate the patterns and trigger events? I always imagined this to be super tedious.

I'm using Windows XP from a virtual machine (VM) to run the TLA software remotely. So I installed TLA V5.8 with the pattern generator software and then copied the directory which has the pattern generator software to the  TLA V6.1 VM image. It seems to work but I can always go back the V5.8 by starting that VM if I need tighter integration. I think it will also be possible to use the logic analyser's internal signals to make the pattern generator and logic analyser work together if necessary.

The next thing on my todo list is to create some Lua scripts to make it easy to create I2C, SPI and other logic patterns.

[denimdragon]

Thanks for the teardown. The PODs are truly surprising inside.

You don't mind Pattern Generator support being dropped with TLA V6.0?

How easy it is to generate the patterns and trigger events? I always imagined this to be super tedious.

I'm using Windows XP from a virtual machine (VM) to run the TLA software remotely. So I installed TLA V5.8 with the pattern generator software and then copied the directory which has the pattern generator software to the  TLA V6.1 VM image. It seems to work but I can always go back the V5.8 by starting that VM if I need tighter integration. I think it will also be possible to use the logic analyser's internal signals to make the pattern generator and logic analyser work together if necessary.

The next thing on my todo list is to create some Lua scripts to make it easy to create I2C, SPI and other logic patterns.

Can I do this to my 714 TLA7N1 and TLA7N3?

[nctnico]

Yes, you can. The information is in the TLA7AA4 thread. https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tla-hacks-)/msg615388/#msg615388
I don't know whether the password is the same though. You may need to Google that.

[MindBender]

The next thing on my todo list is to create some Lua scripts to make it easy to create I2C, SPI and other logic patterns.

I am super-interested in your adventures with this extraordinary piece of equipment.

After wanting one for a long time, but not being able to find one for the price I'm willing to pay for something I have not much use for, my curiosity got the best of me, I decided to put down the $350 + $150 shipping and get one. I just got it in last weekend. Unfortunately the front panel is a bit bent. That's usually a red flag, and the seller denies to have dropped it, but that's another story.

No damage on the inside. In fact, it is clean as a whistle. I doubt this unit has ever seen a day's work in it's life. I already had two P6470 pods and two P6474 pods, unfortunately with only two cables. But all self tests pass, so I'm happy with it. Unfortunately, the PG software packaged with TLA v5.8 seems to be unable to open the sample patterns. I would have like to use those to test the outputs, reading them back with the LA.

Again, I'm super-interested in your work on making this unit exercise I2C and SPI. Please keep us posted!

[RomDump]

I already had two P6470 pods and two P6474 pods, unfortunately with only two cables.

You could probably build your own cable. "Soldering up your own Tektronix "TLA7PG2" Probe Cables"