Should I sell my 54645D for a new Rigol?

[eurofox]

the pods are not rare.

part number 54620-61601

they are the pods that were originally made for the 54620. that was a pure logic analyser ( like a 645 but without the analog inputs. ) the 620C even had a color lcd display ( 20 years ago !) and not those crappy 320x240 like in the rigol. this was a real 640x480 lcd !

the pods are still in production today. if you buy a 5xxx 6xxx or 7xxx series scope they use those pods.

the pods are active ! it is not just a passive thing.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/agilent-54620-61601-probe/

[oPossum]

250 (or 249) ohm in series with 90.9 k ohm in parallel with 8.2 pF as described here: http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5968-4632E.pdf (page 9)

Your 'scope has Bugs (Centipede). After the splash screen has disappeared and the trace grid has been displayed, press the [Print|Utility] key, then release. When the print menu is displayed, press and hold the second and third keys (from the left) directly below the CRT display, simultaneously. This will bring up the game.

[Carrington]

I think it's something like this, I don't know the value of C2, but it is not necessary to know its value, is just curiosity.
http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5962-8620E.pdf (page 3)



Edit: New values.
@oPossum: LOL ... that's synchronicity. 

[Tohmas]

Thanks oPossum, that's awesome!

As for the pods, I'm going to do some experimentation today, I'll try using hookup cable to directly wire to the 1.2KHz output and see what I get. According to an owner I have met on another site, the top row of the socket is mainly grounds while the bottom contains the signal pins.

[Tohmas]

I went ahead and put a hookup wire directly between the 1.2khz signal and one of the bottom pins, and as expected, I got a signal. Noisy and poorly trigged, but mainly because of my method of connecting it. I'm about to get some female-male jumpers for a more secure connection.

[Tohmas]

Alright, I got it hooked up. I'm guessing the reason that some other channels are picking up on it is due to lack of isolation, yes? I'm happy to see the analyzer working. Now I guess it is just a matter of designing and calibrating home-made probes should I decide to make some.

[reagle]

I have 54645 in my lab as well, and as tempting as it is to get a DS2xxx Rigol instead, I can't yet justify that.
My HP is probably 20+ years old and works fine, so chances are it will last even longer and I am yet to find a task it can't handle.
Mine came from Ebay around 2008 for $300,  thanks to some SRAM error message it kept showing. A quick NVRAM/battery swap and self calibration, and the unit was as good as new. This is still my only scope at home

The logic pods/cables are a pain - they typically go for as much as the scope itself these days. I'd almost suggest getting Saelea Logic analyzer instead.
With the 20% off codes floating around the forums, the 8 channel one is very inexpensive and knows how to decode all kinds of protocols.

[Tohmas]

I was thinking of that too. I have a programming PC at my bench anyhow, so I could just plug that analyzer right in and likely use the software it comes with to greatly assist in interpretation of signals.

[EEVblog]

I went ahead and put a hookup wire directly between the 1.2khz signal and one of the bottom pins, and as expected, I got a signal. Noisy and poorly trigged, but mainly because of my method of connecting it. I'm about to get some female-male jumpers for a more secure connection.

Hang on, I'll ship you a genuine pod!

[Tohmas]

Alright, I'll wait up. Thanks!

[free_electron]

Alright, I'll wait up. Thanks!

send me your info. ill send grabbers

[hamster_nz]

FWIW, I have recently got a Rigol 1102D if you want to ask any questions about it. Here's my inital impressions

The one thing I wish it had was protocol decoding on the Logic Analyser functions.

Having used it for a couple of weeks I wouldn't recommend the LA side of things over a Saleae Logic16 unless you want to do do true mixed signal work (e.g. trigger the LA from an Analoge domain signal). The LA triggers are a bit simple (H or L and a holdoff), and something with a more advanced mouse or touch interface would be far more useful when looking through large logic captures.

With 8 active channels the LA seems to capture at about 2.5ns, so looks to be 'good enough' for up to 100MHz or maybe 200MHz at a stretch, but I haven't verified that other than by watching a few signals at max zoom and watch a few edges jump around.

Also in a quiet room it sounds very noisy - like an old noisy PC noisy.

Mike

[Tohmas]

Alright, I'll wait up. Thanks!

send me your info. ill send grabbers

Thanks, I sent you an E-Mail yesterday, check your inbox/trash folder.

[reagle]

This is exactly what makes this forum so great

[echen1024]

This is exactly what makes this forum so great

Brings a tear to the eye

Group hug?

[VK5RC]

I have a sneaking suspicion its not the person, but the fear of some great piece of T&M equipment going down that brought out the cavalry!

[Mark_O]

FWIW, I have recently got a Rigol 1102D...

The LA triggers are a bit simple (H or L and a holdoff),

That's true.  But that's good enough to be able to trigger on packet starts.  Which packet is another matter.    But you've got a million samples with only 8 channels active, which helps

With 8 active channels the LA seems to capture at about 2.5ns,

Also correct.  400 MSa/s is the max rate of the LA.

so looks to be 'good enough' for up to 100MHz or maybe 200MHz at a stretch, but I haven't verified that other than by watching a few signals at max zoom and watch a few edges jump around.

Eh, not really.  Remember that the BW of the scope is only 100 MHz.  And the logic thresholds are going to be problematic anywhere near 50 MHz.  I'd recommend it up to about 20 MHz clocks.  Beyond that, you're on really thin ice.

Also in a quiet room it sounds very noisy - like an old noisy PC noisy.

Yes, that's an unfortunate characteristic, which I find annoying over the long term as well.  I always feel a sense of relief when I shut mine off.  OTOH, I've heard (and use) lots worse.  I find a set of circumaural headphones and some decent music to be a good accessory for these scopes. 

[hamster_nz]

I find a set of circumaural headphones and some decent music to be a good accessory for these scopes. 

I didn't realize it until you pointed it out, but that is exactly my solution too!

[EGDima]

Rigol? Egh! You should either keep your 54645D or save up for a modern agilent!

[EEVblog]

BTW, did the probes arrive?

[EGDima]

Speaking about logic pods/probes, they come with female connectors. What's the proper way to make male pin connectors? I know I can just stick 22 wire inside but that doesn't feel right.

[Tohmas]

BTW, did the probes arrive?

Ah yes, they have arrived and are working spectacularly! Many thanks, Dave!   

[Tohmas]

Speaking about logic pods/probes, they come with female connectors. What's the proper way to make male pin connectors? I know I can just stick 22 wire inside but that doesn't feel right.

Are you talking about the connector between the pod and scope, or between the pod and grabbers? Or the grabbers themselves?

[EGDima]

Speaking about logic pods/probes, they come with female connectors. What's the proper way to make male pin connectors? I know I can just stick 22 wire inside but that doesn't feel right.

Are you talking about the connector between the pod and scope, or between the pod and grabbers? Or the grabbers themselves?

The connector between pod and grabbers in case I don't use grabbers, but just want to plug the pod in the breadboard (the way it's possible with regular oscilloscope probes).

[Tohmas]

Speaking about logic pods/probes, they come with female connectors. What's the proper way to make male pin connectors? I know I can just stick 22 wire inside but that doesn't feel right.

Are you talking about the connector between the pod and scope, or between the pod and grabbers? Or the grabbers themselves?

The connector between pod and grabbers in case I don't use grabbers, but just want to plug the pod in the breadboard (the way it's possible with regular oscilloscope probes).

Ah, I'm guessing the pod has female jumpers that connect to the grabbers. You can try using a solid-core jumper wire. It shouldn't cause any problems in digital probing.
When I probe breadboard circuits in hard-to-grab areas, I usually just put a scrap lead into the row and grab that.