Agilent N1996A software unlock

[rogersstuart]

You can even see this 'wobble' at 2.7GHz in the product brochure so I consider it as normal.

I have a keygen which unfortunately I can't share for undisclosed reasons, but if you tell me what options you still need I will generate the keys for you.
Here's what I think you need:

AFM               D8031F9C907E
N8996A-1FP   D146D7D42F30

I got those installed. The only other option that I'd like to try to enable is TG6. From what I can tell the tracking generator is, for the most part, only meant to be used with the Stimulus/Response suite. That works, but in spectrum analyzer mode the tracking generator does nothing and there's a suspiciously empty menu when I press the source button.

[TheSteve]

The TG works pretty good for antenna swr measurements. The source function can be made to work but was never officially sold and has limited use.

[PA0PBZ]

TG6 - 3758B5467118

[gslick]

I have a keygen which unfortunately I can't share for undisclosed reasons, but if you tell me what options you still need I will generate the keys for you.

Is the "Generic FlexLM Crypt Generator v0.5 by Haldir" shown in the keygen.png image attached to reply #9 available somewhere on the net? I haven't found any exact references to that tool anywhere else yet.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/agilent-n1996a-software-unlock/msg3251066/#msg3251066

Does that tool generate a signature generator given the encryption seed1 and seed2 values, vendor name, and FlexLM version?

I have a different product for which I found a manual process to observe the correct signature value so I don't need a standalone signature generator for it, although the manual process is time consuming and it would be nice to have a standalone signature generator.

[rogersstuart]

It did accept the code but nothing changed. Well, there are more on the list (like GPS), but I'm satisfied with the way it is now. I won't be transmitting (noticeably) and I do have an OCXO here.

My highest frequency signal generator is 2.4 GHz, and personally I haven't worked with anything past 1 GHz so far. I do intend to move on to learning about and attempting to design microstrip filters. The stimulus/response suite combined with my 3 GHz USB VNA and signal generators should let me somewhat comfortably work at around 2 GHz, which is enough for now. The ability to test something at up to 6 GHz is just a bonus.

My only gripe about this SA is the fact that it's quite obviously meant for older technologies. Basic 3G tests and AM/FM modulation. I was originally looking at the SSA3021X Plus but wanted that extra range past what the hack would offer. I'm actually upgrading from a Spectran HF6065, so dropping below 6 GHz felt like a downgrade. After making an offer I got this thing for $1600 with free shipping. At first glance the Siglent looked better, but upon closer inspection the Agilent takes the lead despite being a 2003-2006 vintage machine. Also, the TestEquity label says 20 AUG 12. So there's even a chance that it was recently calibrated!

Thanks for all the help with this! I appreciate it!

[tv84]

With this picture, you don't need patching... 

this is not for N9320B, is it?

No, N9320B uses a MD5 hash licensing method similar to N9340B.

[nixie_tube]

Hi PA0PBZ!

Would you be so kind as to also help me unlock the options on my old Agilent 1996a spectrum analyzer? I have this beautiful 6 GHz-enabled unit, but with all other options inactive and this makes me very sad (

My hardware details are:
Model #: N1996A
Serial #: MY47053252
Host ID: 3079A480

The options available are as follows:
271 -- Spectrogram;
N8995A-SR6 -- Stimulus/Response Measurement Suite, 6 GHz
P06 Preamplifier, 6 GHz;
AFM -- AM/FM Tune & Listen;
N8996A-1FP -- AM/FM Modulation Analyzer

Thank you so very much!

[PA0PBZ]

Hi, try this:


271               7F8560783A8A
N8995A-SR6        D0CD3F4411F0
P06               50C7BF6C5F6A
AFM               7B448F54463E
N8996-1FP         4617E83A4C7E

[QH54]

Hi PA0PBZ!

Yesterday i happened to find this Community Forum and was very suprised to find posts from a few days ago.
After finishing my registration i hope you can help me to activate missing options of my old N1996A.
Would you please be so kind as to do me this favour?

My hardware details are:
Model #: N1996A
Serial #: US45310402
Host ID: 30795D4F

The options available are as follows:

AFM -- AM/FM Tune & Listen;
N8996A-1FP -- AM/FM Modulation Analyzer

Thank you so very much!

[PA0PBZ]

Hi QH54

Try this:

AFM               EDF7F7D8C332
N8996A-1FP   D494828277D8

[QH54]

Dear PA0PBZ ,

Thank you very much for your prompt reply. Everything works fine and i am very grateful.
Hope i can help you some day.

Stay well!

[broadcast33]

Dear friends, I am new in forum. Can you help me?
I need to activate the options:

271
N8995A
P06
TG6

Model#N1996
Serial#MY45371214
Host Id 3079ED59
Thanks in advance
Regards

[ghikasir]

Hi there and happy new year.
Can anybody help me to install these followinq options?



My hardware details are:
Model #: N1996A
Serial #: US45310316
Host ID: 3079CFFE

- 271--Spectrogram
- N895A-SR6 -- Stimulus/Responce Measurement Suite, 6 GHz
- P06  Preamplifier, ^ GHz
- N8996A-1FP -- AM/FM Modulation Analyzer

[PA0PBZ]

Can anybody help me to install these followinq options?

Taken care of already

[wd5jfr]

I bought  a nice one couple of weeks ago and still trying to get used to it, big  upgrade from HP 141 and  HP 8935.
I'd like to add AFM and N8996A-1FP but the codes listed fail instali so I'm guessing they're unit specific.
My specifics are:
Model # N1996A
Serial # MY47052808
Host ID 30790D22
Can someone please help me unlock the 2 locked features?
Thanks
Hank

[PA0PBZ]

Here you go:

AFM          89F8A90CCDD4
N8996A-1FP   1390EE4ADE22

[wd5jfr]

Both installed with little effort, thanks. I tried  to listen to local AM and FM stations  but I only get a second or so of sound interupted by static and repeating, no luck in chaining timing.  I checked the instructions and found that it states "allows the detection of audio", so I wonder if I can set it so I can listen without interruption, if not seems like a waste of a speaker.  My HP 8935 allows listening to AM, FM, as well as SSB.
Hank

[TheSteve]

You will only get audio demodulated during the sweep. You can increase the sweep time to something really long which will decrease the cutouts. End of the day though most SA's are not intended to be used as an AM or FM general purpose receiver.

[duplexer]

Hello,

I also have an N1996A that is new to me that I would like to activate the additional software items.

Model# N1996A
Serial# US45310391
Host ID 3079CDB8

Available options shown are:

271 -- Spectrogram
P06 -- Preamplifier, 6 GHz
AFM -- AM/FM Tune & Listen
N8996A-1FP -- AM/FM Modulation Analyzer

Thank you so much for helping....

[PA0PBZ]

AFM         33ADCD5E129C
271         3A953242A578
P06         E0577BEE5294
N8996A-1FP  1677E356FBEC

[ktgun]

Some fun stuff for those of you with a 3 GHz N1996A:

***All done at your own risk***

Login via telnet and go to:

/flash/toroServer/Dragonfly/Receivers

Make a backup of the original 3 GHz profile:

cp  N1996A-503  N1996A-503-orig


Copy the 6 GHz profile to the 3 GHz profile:

cp  N1996A-506  N1996A-503

Reboot and your N1996A will now go to 6 GHz instead of 3 GHz!
The amplitude will not be at the proper calibrated level from 3 to 6 GHz as there is no cal data beyond 3 GHz. It is still very useful for relative measurements.
The tracking gen also works to 6 GHz and will normalize fine.

And while you're messing about how about changing the start frequency of the tracking generator from 10 MHz to 1 MHz:

Edit "Start  10e6^M" to "Start  1e6^M" in the file "N1996A-503" you just copied. This is very useful for checking out antennas in the amateur radio HF spectrum.

One other thing I found useful at times was enabling permanent ftp root login, to do this add the file /flash/linux/etc/shells with contents "/bin/bash".

Silly situation: i can't login into SA, because it ask's me login and password
Can somebody tell, where i can find them? maybe some default values? i was read programming manual for N1996A, but no any default login or password Or my telnet connection is wrong?

[PA0PBZ]

Silly situation: i can't login into SA, because it ask's me login and password

You have mail.

[TylerH53]

Would anyone happen to have access to a Service manual for the N1996A? I'm trying to perform a performance verification on one but have been unable to locate a good manual.

[PA0PBZ]

Hi Tyler,

I just responded to your PM, see the link there. That's all there is for the instrument afaik.

[TrazorGr]

Good morning.

Can anybody help me to install these followinq options?
My hardware details are:
Model #: N1996A
Serial #: MY47052822
Host ID: 30796AA3

- N8995A-SR6 -- Stimulus/Responce Measurement Suite, 6 GHz

Thanks.