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Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: jadam on August 20, 2020, 04:39:09 pm

Title: 8753C GPIB freezing and FW update
Post by: jadam on August 20, 2020, 04:39:09 pm
I have a HP 8753C running 04.02 FW.

I have a few issues where if I try to download S parameters of more than 200 points, or logarithmic sweep, I can crash the GPIB interface on the instrument.
It continues working fine from the front panel, but no longer responds to commands via the GPIB interface.  This happens both with my custom python scripts, and with the KE5FX VNA tools, so I think it is an instrument problem.

I was contemplating trying to upgrade the FW to 4.12, (with files from http://ftb.ko4bb.com/getsimple/index.php?id=manuals&dir=HP_Agilent/HP_8753_Network_Analyzer (http://ftb.ko4bb.com/getsimple/index.php?id=manuals&dir=HP_Agilent/HP_8753_Network_Analyzer)) however I was made nervous by this post on the Agilent/Keysight forum https://community.keysight.com/message/1539 (https://community.keysight.com/message/1539) which suggests that I can't do that without upgrading the HW.

However the official FW bug list (http://na.support.keysight.com/8753/firmware/history.htm#53c413 (http://na.support.keysight.com/8753/firmware/history.htm#53c413))  reads (to me) as if the newer FW will work with the old LO boards, but the newer LO board requires the newer FW.  Does anyone have any insight?

Are there any issues with loosing calibration if I try upgrading?
Are there any guides to a FW upgrade that I've missed?

Thanks!


Title: Re: 8753C GPIB freezing and FW update
Post by: hendorog on August 20, 2020, 08:45:39 pm
I think you want to first determine which version of the phase lock board you have in your unit.

According to the bug list 4.02 is the version the new board was introduced. Since you have that FW already then I guess you have the new phase lock board too.

Should be as simple as whipping the top off and looking for 08753-60207 on one of the boards.
Title: Re: 8753C GPIB freezing and FW update
Post by: jadam on August 24, 2020, 08:58:36 am
Oop - I actually have the 4.01 FW at the moment, so I'm relatively sure I have the old phase lock board.
Title: Re: 8753C GPIB freezing and FW update
Post by: justin010306 on February 04, 2021, 02:58:30 am
I just got an 8753C, the firmware version is 4.01, but I found that the phase lock board is 08753-60207, I don’t know if I can upgrade to 4.13