Products > Test Equipment
HP 53131A vs 53132A hardware differences
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james_s:
I noticed my 53131A actually has a 12 digit display and indeed it appears that the entire front panel board is the same as that used for the 53132A. I don't suppose it's possible to hack it to get those extra digits? The 53132A seems to use a whole different mainboard but I haven't been able to find out whether it's actually a whole different PCB or the same board with some of the missing components populated and different firmware. I assume somebody here must have compared the two? I was surprised I didn't see any discussion of this either here or elsewhere around the web. I don't really need the extra precision, I just quite like hacking gear to unlock latent capabilities.
TheSteve:
It has been discussed here before(somewhere), just add the missing parts and update the firmware and you should be good to go. I don't think anyone has ever actually done it though.
eliocor:
Several years ago I compared the two schematics: the '132A has some different values and some more ICs. It can be done except for one SMALL problem: the required ADC (AD7580JP) is UNOBTAINIUM* !
The PCB are the same, just differently populated.
 
*) if someone of you are able to find some AD7580JP, I would be grateful if you will sell me 1 or 2 pieces of them: all of the ones available on Chinese market are fake. Please do not ask me how I know! Maybe via some brokers, but....
coromonadalix:
reply #12   gives some infos

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/my-ocxo-purchase/
CalMachine:

--- Quote from: james_s on March 25, 2020, 03:04:57 am ---I noticed my 53131A actually has a 12 digit display and indeed it appears that the entire front panel board is the same as that used for the 53132A. I don't suppose it's possible to hack it to get those extra digits? The 53132A seems to use a whole different mainboard but I haven't been able to find out whether it's actually a whole different PCB or the same board with some of the missing components populated and different firmware. I assume somebody here must have compared the two? I was surprised I didn't see any discussion of this either here or elsewhere around the web. I don't really need the extra precision, I just quite like hacking gear to unlock latent capabilities.

--- End quote ---

I believe you can get those extra 2 digits with a longer gate time.  If I recall correctly, a 10 second gate time yielded the full 12 digits
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