$200 reward for information regarding Tek TDS5000B debug

[tv84]

I've also seen serial terminal programs behaving like this, when they are not configured to wrap the line, minicom is one of the offenders. It's worth having a look into this as well.

Agree. 

But, @abyrvalg nuked this particular case.   

It depends, what if the particular terminal window is even smaller  ?

How so? Unless the scope has more than several million channels, with the change that @abyrvalg did, the channel number will be visible. 

[abyrvalg]

As far as I understood this log goes to a file on the scope, not serial port. But lines cut to 80 chars (a typical number for terminal width) look suspicious anyway.
In any case, I'm not hunting for additional reward, the subject doesn't feel like a "find the right single bit" task anymore, the final solution will be a combination of many smaller ideas I guess.

[DC1MC]

As far as I understood this log goes to a file on the scope, not serial port. But lines cut to 80 chars (a typical number for terminal width) look suspicious anyway.
In any case, I'm not hunting for additional reward, the subject doesn't feel like a "find the right single bit" task anymore, the final solution will be a combination of many smaller ideas I guess.

Thanks for your work, I may get a non-starting DSO9000 next week, maybe we'll be able to use your expertise there as well  .

 Cheers,
 DC1MC

[Jwalling]

Done! It will say "is <" instead of "is under".

That worked. Many thanks for that!

So I did some testing and rework. 21 passes of SPC. I removed all the extra output in the log and just concentrated on the failures.

Code: [Select]

Jan 05 04:35:41 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 04:35:52 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 04:36:22 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:41
Jan 05 04:36:43 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:21
Jan 05 04:37:55 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:12
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.388271) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 05:24:28 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 05:24:39 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 05:25:09 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:41
Jan 05 05:25:29 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 05 05:26:40 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:11
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (0.899248 : -1.069323) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 05:49:55 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 05:50:26 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:42
Jan 05 05:50:47 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:21
Jan 05 05:51:59 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:12
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 0.878797) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 05:58:33 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 05:58:44 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 05:59:13 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:40
Jan 05 05:59:33 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 05 06:00:45 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:12
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (0.903158 : -1.073383) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 05 06:16:34 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 06:16:47 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 06:17:20 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:46
Jan 05 06:17:44 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 05 06:19:07 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:23
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 0.906090) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 06:25:44 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 06:25:57 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 06:26:31 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 05 06:26:54 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 05 06:28:15 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:21
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.496541 : -1.594211) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 06:35:40 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 06:35:53 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 06:36:28 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 05 06:36:51 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 05 06:38:16 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:25
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.518271) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 06:47:33 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 06:47:45 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 06:48:21 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 05 06:48:44 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 05 06:50:05 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:21
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 0.898196) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 07:01:18 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 07:01:30 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 07:02:05 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 05 07:02:28 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 05 07:03:52 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.305113) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 08:42:55 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 08:43:07 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 08:43:37 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:42
Jan 05 08:43:57 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 05 08:45:08 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:11
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.417218) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 08:51:09 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 08:51:20 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 08:51:50 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:41
Jan 05 08:52:09 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:19
Jan 05 08:53:21 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:12
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 0.752105) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 08:59:10 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 08:59:21 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 08:59:50 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:40
Jan 05 09:00:10 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 05 09:01:21 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:11
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (0.940827 : -1.103083) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 09:14:36 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 09:14:47 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 09:15:18 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:42
Jan 05 09:15:38 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 05 09:16:48 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:10
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.211353 : -2.640000) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 09:23:51 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 09:24:04 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 09:24:40 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:49
Jan 05 09:25:04 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 05 09:26:26 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:22
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.736241 : -1.793985) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 11:22:35 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 11:22:49 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 11:23:24 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:49
Jan 05 11:23:48 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 05 11:24:19 - findDacValue: failed to find good DAC value after 20 tries.
CAL: Offset error in hfd117 10mv Fine dac value on channel 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 offset
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 12:44:37 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 12:44:51 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 12:45:25 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 05 12:45:49 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 05 12:47:14 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:25
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 0.388571) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 12:55:10 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 12:55:23 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 12:55:58 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 05 12:56:23 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:25
Jan 05 12:57:47 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.613008) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 13:09:16 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 13:09:29 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 13:10:04 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 05 13:10:28 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 05 13:11:53 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:25
CAL: Gain error samples (4.231654 : -5.113316) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 14:05:38 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : M859 offset 00:01:56
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : -2.490827) OOR  on ch 2
CAL: Gain error samples  for M859 1mV channel 2 failed.
CAL: SPC returned an error in step M859 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 14:25:46 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 14:26:00 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 14:26:36 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:50
Jan 05 14:27:00 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 05 14:28:24 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.631880 : -2.031955) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 05 14:45:26 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 05 14:45:40 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 05 14:46:16 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:50
Jan 05 14:46:41 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:25
Jan 05 14:48:07 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:26
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 2.060000) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


13 failures on CH2, 8 failures on CH1. Ugh, why couldn't it just be one channel? 

Since there were more failures on Ch2, I replaced that attenuator.

21 more passes:

Code: [Select]

Jan 06 05:55:54 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 05:56:06 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 05:56:35 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:41
Jan 06 05:56:55 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 06 05:58:07 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:12
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (0.999774 : -1.135940) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 06 06:06:07 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 06:06:19 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 06:06:48 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:41
Jan 06 06:07:07 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:19
Jan 06 06:08:21 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:14
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 0.887444) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 06 06:21:24 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 06:21:37 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 06:22:10 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:46
Jan 06 06:22:34 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 06:23:59 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:25
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.519098 : -2.956617) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 06:39:46 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 06:39:59 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 06:40:34 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 06 06:40:58 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 06:42:20 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:22
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.608496) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 06 06:49:54 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 06:50:07 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 06:50:42 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 06 06:51:05 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 06 06:52:29 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.338421 : -2.741128) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 06 07:03:03 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 07:03:16 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 07:03:50 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 06 07:04:14 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 07:05:38 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.264962) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 06 07:12:35 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 07:12:47 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 07:13:22 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 06 07:13:45 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 06 07:15:09 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (0.974060 : -1.127368) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

Jan 06 07:24:15 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 07:24:28 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 07:25:02 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 06 07:25:26 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 07:26:49 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:23
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.639549 : -2.052256) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

 
Jan 06 07:33:50 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 07:34:03 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 07:34:39 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:49
Jan 06 07:35:02 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 06 07:36:25 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:23
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.395038 : -1.494511) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 07:43:41 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 07:43:54 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 07:44:28 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 06 07:44:51 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 06 07:46:16 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:25
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.530075 : -2.965564) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 07:59:08 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 07:59:22 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 07:59:56 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 06 08:00:20 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 08:00:57 - findDacValue: failed to find good DAC value after 20 tries.
CAL: Offset error in hfd117 10mv Fine dac value on channel 4
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 offset
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 08:08:23 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 08:08:37 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 08:09:11 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 06 08:09:34 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 06 08:10:57 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:23
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.632707 : -3.078947) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 08:22:42 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 08:22:55 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 08:23:31 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:49
Jan 06 08:23:54 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:23
Jan 06 08:25:20 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:26
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (0.911128 : -1.067444) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 08:37:11 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 08:37:25 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 08:38:01 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:50
Jan 06 08:38:25 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 08:39:47 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:22
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.092406 : -2.495940) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 08:56:57 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 08:57:10 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 08:57:44 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 06 08:58:08 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 08:59:32 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:24
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.431504 : -1.530602) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 09:27:58 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 09:28:12 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 09:28:47 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:49
Jan 06 09:29:11 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 09:30:33 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:22
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.120902) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 09:49:07 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 09:49:20 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 09:49:54 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:47
Jan 06 09:50:19 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:25
Jan 06 09:51:42 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:23
CAL: Gain error samples (4.223684 : -5.113691) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 09:59:29 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 09:59:40 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 10:00:09 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:40
Jan 06 10:00:30 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:21
Jan 06 10:01:39 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:09
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (1.846090 : -2.258120) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 10:17:13 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 10:17:24 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 10:17:54 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:41
Jan 06 10:18:14 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:20
Jan 06 10:18:46 - findDacValue: failed to find good DAC value after 20 tries.
CAL: Offset error in hfd117 10mv Fine dac value on channel 4
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 offset
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 10:58:36 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 10:58:50 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 10:59:25 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:49
Jan 06 10:59:49 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 11:01:14 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:25
CAL: Gain error samples for hfd at 2mV : (2.055789 : -2.482556) is < 6 on ch 1
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed


Jan 06 11:13:45 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Jan 06 11:13:58 - findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH
Jan 06 11:14:33 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:48
Jan 06 11:14:57 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:24
Jan 06 11:16:20 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:01:23
CAL: Gain error samples (5.119844 : 1.144511) OOR for hfd at 2mV  on ch 2
CAL: SPC returned an error in step Hfd117 stepgain
CAL: SPC failed

21 passes, 5 failures on CH2, 14 failures on CH1, 2 failures on CH4. Ch4 now too, eh? 
Not very conclusive, but the bulk of the failures shifted to CH1.

I'm beginning to think that one of the DACs may be at fault. The one thing that sticks out are the

findVibnullDac: failed to find good DAC value for HIGH

Which pretty much happens on every SPC run. They are 74 ball AD5516 16 channel DAC BGA devices, which I don't have the capability to replace.

The non-B suffix TDS5104 used IMP I10412-01 gull-wing DACs (Tek referred to them as daculators) which were also used in the TDS700 series scopes.

That would have been easy...

I'm debating about whether to replace the attenuator on CH1 now. I don't think it will fix the scope, but it might be interesting to see how the failures distribute themselves on a 3rd run. If it were an easy replacement, I'd do it. But these things are a bitch to remove without breaking them. The ground and power planes are tough to clear. Also, on the component side of the board, the pins flare out and get soldered on the top of the pad itself. I had to use a small probe to break the pins free of the solder after clearing the hole with my Pace.

F*ck me...

I'll think about doing CH1 for a day or two.

Some pics:

[abyrvalg]

"OOR" in the other kind of error is my edit too, that's "out of range".

[Jwalling]

I'll think about doing CH1 for a day or two.

I did it. Not much change, 14 failures on CH1, 7 on CH2, 1 on CH4 (22 passes this time). Not a complete loss I suppose, I have two attenuators that I think are OK should I ever need them. I'll use this scope as a parts unit.

[Jwalling]

"OOR" in the other kind of error is my edit too, that's "out of range".

I knew that.  Thanks for your help once again.

EDIT: I never heard back from yearz so I couldn't pay him. yearz, where are youz!?

[jbruneaux]

Hi,

Thank you all for the debug help given here. Although this didn't solve my problem, at least now I can get some logs from this scope.
Just a note for others DPO5000/DPO7000 users (mine is a DPO7104, but the software seems the same), if the application crashed during startup (the tektronix application TekScope.exe starts, the startup-logo is displayed, then after a few clicks from the relays (but not the tons of furious clicks that should normally be heard at each boot), the application crashes and wan't to send a report to microsoft), then check the date. Mine was somehow (probably a dead rtc battery) set to 2040, and it seems like it make the application crash. I found this thanks to the log messages in the hidden c:\tekscope\calibration folder. The scope was able to boot one time during my attemps to make it work, and by looking at the logs, I saw it was crashing when trying to output the date after the serial number of the product.
Setting back the date to the current date has fixed it.

Regards,

[madao]

I wanna make notice.

U1320 on PC-IO Interface card.
 163-1584-00.zip (5.98 kB - downloaded 47 times.)

They store also failure message,  my  TDS5104B has issuses with SPC EPROM error  and SPC failed..
Excatly same as like

Could you tell the exact spelling of that error message? I'll try to look for it's source and inspect the surroundings.

Here's two screen captures.

My case: Error 372

EPROM on U1320 told me.  U814 is not OK.  (SRAM )

[harrimansat]

Working non B 5054  log



***************************************

File opened:  Mon Oct 06 10:46:23 2025



***************************************

Oct 06 10:46:33 - EnablePowerupDiags = 1, puMode=0
Oct 06 10:46:33 - DiagPowerUpDiagsEnabled = 1
Oct 06 10:46:33 - Executing Powerup diags ...
Oct 06 10:46:33 - Test "111" - Processor-->Memory-->DRAMWalk1
Oct 06 10:46:33 - Test "112" - Processor-->Memory-->DRAMCell
Oct 06 10:46:33 - Test "113" - Processor-->Memory-->DRAMMarch
Oct 06 10:46:33 - Test "131" - Processor-->Registers-->PAI
Oct 06 10:46:33 - Test "211" - Display-->Register-->Display
Oct 06 10:46:33 - Test "311" - Acquisition-->Registers-->DAC
Oct 06 10:46:34 - Test "312" - Acquisition-->Registers-->Demux
Oct 06 10:46:34 - Test "313" - Acquisition-->Registers-->Preamp
Oct 06 10:46:35 - Test "314" - Acquisition-->Registers-->PLL
Oct 06 10:46:35 - Test "315" - Acquisition-->Registers-->ADC
Oct 06 10:46:35 - Test "321" - Acquisition-->Memory-->MemData
Oct 06 10:46:35 - Test "322" - Acquisition-->Memory-->MemAddr
Oct 06 10:46:35 - Test "323" - Acquisition-->Memory-->DataFormat
Oct 06 10:46:35 - Test "331" - Acquisition-->Acq Modes-->SubSample
Oct 06 10:46:35 - Test "332" - Acquisition-->Acq Modes-->PeakDetect
Oct 06 10:46:35 - Test "333" - Acquisition-->Acq Modes-->HiRes
Oct 06 10:46:35 - Test "341" - Acquisition-->Interrupt-->Bit Tests
Oct 06 10:46:35 - Test "371" - Acquisition-->Vertical-->50OhmOvld
Oct 06 10:46:35 - Test "372" - Acquisition-->Vertical-->ADC Connects
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "381" - Acquisition-->PLL-->Clock Freq
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "411" - Trigger-->Registers-->GTL
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "412" - Trigger-->Registers-->HITL
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "413" - Trigger-->Registers-->ExtTvTrg
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "421" - Trigger-->TrgLvlComp-->LogicComp1
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "422" - Trigger-->TrgLvlComp-->LogicComp2
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "423" - Trigger-->TrgLvlComp-->LogicComp3
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "424" - Trigger-->TrgLvlComp-->LogicComp4
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "431" - Trigger-->GTL-->TICounters
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "432" - Trigger-->GTL-->GTLBigCntrs
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "441" - Trigger-->HITL-->Ch1Edge
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "442" - Trigger-->HITL-->AfterDBE
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "443" - Trigger-->HITL-->AfterDBT
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "444" - Trigger-->HITL-->Slewrate
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "445" - Trigger-->HITL-->LineTrig
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "446" - Trigger-->HITL-->HITL
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "451" - Trigger-->Extended-->Glitch
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "452" - Trigger-->Extended-->PulseWidth
Oct 06 10:46:36 - Test "461" - Trigger-->Nibble-->Bus
Oct 06 10:46:37 - Test "511" - Misc-->GPIB-->Interface
Oct 06 10:46:37 - POWERUP DIAGNOSTICS RESULTS:  ALL TESTS PASSED
Oct 06 10:46:37 - Powerup diags finished in 00:04 minutes:seconds
Oct 06 10:46:37 - << POWERUP DIAGS FINISHED >>

[Smile2016]

Hello, I know this is an older topic, but this place seems to have the highest concentration of Tek scope specialists. I am working on a TDS5104 (Non-B) scope. Overall functionally, the unit appears to be healthy, there is no "noticeable" waveform jitter, and it passes standard signals fine. However, Signal Path Compensation (SPC) consistently fails. I am having a hard time isolating the cause just by digging through the logs. The debug files point to a failure during the High-Frequency (HF) step, specifically stating:
goal = -54<-19/-19<+5ps min<xer_ps[0]/xer_ps[1]<max, 0/16 fail/total ratio. There is a visible "0" offset on each channel, p-p amplitude readout being very close to applied signal. SPC fails about 5 min from cal start, cold or 5h warm. Interestingly it says Status pass at 1st power on. All other tests pass. Attached full log.


================================================================
Oct 01 14:29:14 - Found Windows ME
Oct 01 14:29:31 - <IOP>  Fan Control Initialization Complete.
Oct 01 15:05:29 - DIAGNOSTIC EXECUTION starting ...
Oct 01 15:05:29 - Test "111" - Processor-->Memory-->DRAMWalk1
Oct 01 15:05:29 - Test "112" - Processor-->Memory-->DRAMCell
Oct 01 15:05:29 -        *** TEST SKIPPED ***
Oct 01 15:05:29 - Test "113" - Processor-->Memory-->DRAMMarch
Oct 01 15:05:29 -        *** TEST SKIPPED ***
Oct 01 15:05:29 - Test "114" - Processor-->Memory-->NVRAM
Oct 01 15:05:37 - Test "121" - Processor-->PCI Bus-->Scan Test
Oct 01 15:05:37 - Test "131" - Processor-->Registers-->PAI
Oct 01 15:05:37 - Test "211" - Display-->Register-->Display
Oct 01 15:05:37 - Test "311" - Acquisition-->Registers-->DAC
Oct 01 15:05:38 - Test "312" - Acquisition-->Registers-->Demux
Oct 01 15:05:38 - Test "313" - Acquisition-->Registers-->Preamp
Oct 01 15:05:38 - Test "314" - Acquisition-->Registers-->PLL
Oct 01 15:05:38 - Test "315" - Acquisition-->Registers-->ADC
Oct 01 15:05:38 - Test "321" - Acquisition-->Memory-->MemData
Oct 01 15:05:38 - Test "322" - Acquisition-->Memory-->MemAddr
Oct 01 15:05:38 - Test "323" - Acquisition-->Memory-->DataFormat
Oct 01 15:05:38 - Test "324" - Acquisition-->Memory-->MemSpeed
Oct 01 15:05:49 - Test "331" - Acquisition-->Acq Modes-->SubSample
Oct 01 15:05:49 - Test "332" - Acquisition-->Acq Modes-->PeakDetect
Oct 01 15:05:49 - Test "333" - Acquisition-->Acq Modes-->HiRes
Oct 01 15:05:49 - Test "341" - Acquisition-->Interrupt-->Bit Tests
Oct 01 15:05:49 - Test "351" - Acquisition-->HFStep-->PhaseCal
Oct 01 15:05:49 - HF step - goal = -47<-34/-28<+5ps min<xer_ps[0]/xer_ps[1]<max, 0/8 fail/total ratio
Oct 01 15:05:49 - Test "361" - Acquisition-->Demuxes-->InstaVuXY
Oct 01 15:05:49 - Test "371" - Acquisition-->Vertical-->50OhmOvld
Oct 01 15:05:50 - Test "372" - Acquisition-->Vertical-->ADC Connects
Oct 01 15:05:52 - Test "381" - Acquisition-->PLL-->Clock Freq
Oct 01 15:05:52 - Test "411" - Trigger-->Registers-->GTL
Oct 01 15:05:52 - Test "412" - Trigger-->Registers-->HITL
Oct 01 15:05:52 - Test "413" - Trigger-->Registers-->ExtTvTrg
Oct 01 15:05:52 - Test "421" - Trigger-->TrgLvlComp-->LogicComp1
Oct 01 15:05:52 - Test "422" - Trigger-->TrgLvlComp-->LogicComp2
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "423" - Trigger-->TrgLvlComp-->LogicComp3
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "424" - Trigger-->TrgLvlComp-->LogicComp4
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "431" - Trigger-->GTL-->TICounters
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "432" - Trigger-->GTL-->GTLBigCntrs
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "441" - Trigger-->HITL-->Ch1Edge
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "442" - Trigger-->HITL-->AfterDBE
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "443" - Trigger-->HITL-->AfterDBT
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "444" - Trigger-->HITL-->Slewrate
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "445" - Trigger-->HITL-->LineTrig
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "446" - Trigger-->HITL-->HITL
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "451" - Trigger-->Extended-->Glitch
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "452" - Trigger-->Extended-->PulseWidth
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "461" - Trigger-->Nibble-->Bus
Oct 01 15:05:53 - Test "511" - Misc-->GPIB-->Interface
Oct 01 15:05:53 -        *** TEST SKIPPED ***
Oct 01 15:05:53 - DIAGNOSTIC EXECUTION finished in 00:24 minutes:seconds
Oct 01 15:05:53 - HF step - goal = -47<-31/-31<+5ps min<xer_ps[0]/xer_ps[1]<max, 0/12 fail/total ratio
Oct 01 15:06:58 - <IOP>  deUpdatePlaneState: TIMEOUT WAITING FOR RASTER DONE
Oct 01 15:09:39 - SHOWTIME: SPC: starting 15:09:39
Oct 01 15:09:45 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Signal test 00:00:06
Oct 01 15:09:45 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Et Cal 00:00:00
Oct 01 15:09:51 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : A2D offset and gain 00:00:06
Oct 01 15:10:12 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : A2D interleave 00:00:21
Oct 01 15:10:18 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : A2D pass two offset and gain 00:00:06
Oct 01 15:10:26 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : cfRatio computation 00:00:08
Oct 01 15:10:52 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : M859 offset 00:00:26
Oct 01 15:10:57 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : M859 stepgain 00:00:05
Oct 01 15:11:09 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : M859 coarse/fine offset DACs 00:00:12
Oct 01 15:11:40 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : M859 varigain DAC 00:00:31
Oct 01 15:11:40 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : M859 Bandwidth limit gain 00:00:00
Oct 01 15:11:52 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : M859 Ground offset 00:00:12
Oct 01 15:11:52 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Get Temperature 00:00:00
Oct 01 15:12:17 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 Null input current 00:00:25
Oct 01 15:12:30 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain DAC 00:00:13
Oct 01 15:12:54 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 offset 00:00:24
Oct 01 15:12:57 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 stepgain 00:00:03
Oct 01 15:13:40 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 coarse/fine offset DACs 00:00:43
Oct 01 15:14:53 - SHOWTIME: SPC step : Hfd117 varigain offset correction 00:01:13
Oct 01 15:14:56 - CAL: SPC returned an error in step Trigger Hysteresis
Oct 01 15:14:56 - CAL: SPC failed
Oct 01 15:14:56 - HF step - goal = -54<-19/-19<+5ps min<xer_ps[0]/xer_ps[1]<max, 0/16 fail/total ratio

[Smile2016]

I found that the trigger was also not working in AC, HF Reject, or LF Reject modes. I replaced several suspected analog switches on the acquisition board, and have fixed the issue. I can’t point to the exact IC , I changed a few of them, and access to the PCB is not easy.
After that, SPC was still failing, and this time had diagnostic error 372, again pointing to the acquisition board and suspect the vertical section. It turned out that one differential signal pair from the custom U700 ASIC was internally damaged.Marked diff. data pins area in red... see pics
Rather than trying to reconstruct the missing differential signal from the remaining single-ended output with no idea what that would do to timing, propagation delay, etc. I got a donor U700 from another TDS5104, non-B version.
There is a difference between the two chips, which may also explain how the Maxim device failed. The original TDS5104B U700, TEK 156809001, has a metal heat spreader/slug on top, while the older non-B U700, TEK 156809000, does not. With years of continuous thermal cycling, the package could potentially develop cracks or internal damage to bond wires/connections.
The donor U700 worked and SPC now passes successfully!     

[Smile2016]

I think I rushed into swapping U700 instead of trying to bodge the failed output first.

To clarify the failure: this is a vertical-data LSB differential output from custom Maxim U700. PCB traces and downstream receiver are OK. One P/N output leg is internally open inside U700, complementary output is still alive and carrying the data. Other healthy pairs on U700 measure about 220 Ω P-to-N with power off.

Since one side still contains the data, I’m thinking the missing complement can be reconstructed externally, either with a very fast inverter/buffer, or using the good output to regenerate both P and N with a low-skew differential driver.

Tonight --> Soldering the defective U700 back to donor

Any thoughts on whether this is practical, or suggestions for a high-speed differential buffer? I’m now thinking about trying it to repair the donor scope.