Products > Test Equipment
Suggestions for a good second-hand LA?
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mbalmer:

--- Quote from: Mechatrommer on September 11, 2022, 12:40:14 am ---but if i'm at OP's position i will try to fix the existing modules first. its a surprise all 5 modules fail. do they fail the same test? i'm not familiar but maybe you can open up and switch parts. if all repair attempts fail, only then spend extra money. ymmv.

--- End quote ---

No — each module fails a different set of tests, although there are some that are disturbingly common.

Board A fails the comparators and ZoomChipSel tests.

Board B fails comparators and calibration.

Board C fails VRAM (both serial and parallel) and comparators. 

Board D fails VRAM, all Zoom chip tests, and one of the inter-board tests.

Board E fails every test except for chip registers, comparators, backplane clocks, the ICR test, and the arming test.

So it seems that while the comparators test is a point of failure, it’s definitely not the only one.

I’ve spoken to some others and they seem to believe that anything in the 167XX category is a ticking time bomb — it’s not a matter of if, but when it fails.

Apparently the 165xx line is less prone, but it can still happen, and I was looking at some boards on eBay that had shockingly green-looking vias around their RAM chips. It’s why I’m leery of it. I essentially have a mainframe with a 500MHz 2-channel scope in it and nothing else to show for it.

It’s also why I’m looking at the Tek options — while I like the setup of the HP systems better, if the Tek stuff is more reliable, I’ll take that.
gslick:

--- Quote from: mbalmer on September 11, 2022, 02:15:44 am ---It’s also why I’m looking at the Tek options — while I like the setup of the HP systems better, if the Tek stuff is more reliable, I’ll take that.

--- End quote ---

In the Tektronix TLA7xx logic analyzer modules, there is a soldered down Dallas NVRAM module. When the battery fails, the upgrade options and calibration data is lost. No big deal, just a bit of a hassle to redo the upgrade options and the self-calibration on every power on. It's been a while since I looked at any TLA7xx logic analyzer modules. I know I had one with a dead Dallas NVRAM module. No idea if I have more dead one now since the last time I looked. I didn't bother trying to desolder and replace the dead NVRAM module.

That is less of a complete failure than that which sometimes happens with the newer Agilent logic analyzer modules. It might be something that is more common with the 16700/16900-series logic analyzer modules than the 16500-series logic analyzer modules. My guess is that a 16555A/D, 16556A/D, 16557D module that is still working today is likely to keep working for quite a while.
mbalmer:

--- Quote from: gslick on September 11, 2022, 04:07:24 am ---In the Tektronix TLA7xx logic analyzer modules, there is a soldered down Dallas NVRAM module. When the battery fails, the upgrade options and calibration data is lost. No big deal, just a bit of a hassle to redo the upgrade options and the self-calibration on every power on. It's been a while since I looked at any TLA7xx logic analyzer modules. I know I had one with a dead Dallas NVRAM module. No idea if I have more dead one now since the last time I looked. I didn't bother trying to desolder and replace the dead NVRAM module.
--- End quote ---

As I understand it, these NVRAM modules are also how one essentially unlocks the upgrades on the thing (at least, on the 7AA4 modules), so it might be worth it for that alone.


--- Quote from: gslick on September 11, 2022, 04:07:24 am ---That is less of a complete failure than that which sometimes happens with the newer Agilent logic analyzer modules. It might be something that is more common with the 16700/16900-series logic analyzer modules than the 16500-series logic analyzer modules. My guess is that a 16555A/D, 16556A/D, 16557D module that is still working today is likely to keep working for quite a while.

--- End quote ---

I have another 16717A coming in the next couple of days, as well as a 16557D with cables coming, so I will at least give those two boards (along with some of the troubleshooting from the other thread) a shot before I decide to give up on the 16702B.
mbalmer:

--- Quote from: RomDump on September 10, 2022, 11:35:07 pm ---Mechatrommer already mention this but you can make your own adapter for the P6860. Someone was selling the adapters on ebay, (see attached pictures).
The other option is P6960 with 196-3494-01 adapter but you have to wait to get a good deal, (I paid $100US for both the probe and adapter but I had to wait).

You are in the US so don't just look at E-bay for logic analyzers. I am seeing auction sites way cheaper (under $1000) than E-bay for newer Tektronix logic analyzers, (TLA7012 and TLA6404 etc).  Someone bought a TLA6404 on an auction site for about $500 and was trying to sell it on E-bay for $5000, (he also posted it on this forum).

Be patient.

--- End quote ---

Where else are you looking? I only really know about eBay and a handful of e-waste folks that happen to deal in test equipment to look at.
Halberd:

--- Quote from: mbalmer on September 10, 2022, 04:06:55 am ---
--- Quote from: Halberd on September 09, 2022, 09:04:36 pm ---My 16902A did not fail but to make it run a little faster, I replaced it with a new HDD and completely re-installed it and updated the LA application to the last release for use.

If you have the installation CD(with WindowsXP Key code) and only the HDD is broken, recovery is rather easy.
--- End quote ---

I think I'm throwing in the towel on the 16902 simply because of the cost of the 90-pin flying lead sets (between $400 and $2,000 in varying states of completness?!?! :wtf: ), so as much as I'd like a module like that, it's a bit out of reach.
 in terms of watching data lines.

--- End quote ---

Indeed, 90-pin flying leads are very expensive. I have never seen cheap used ones and I can't afford them either.
However, Samrtec/Mictor connector or soft-touch connectorless type cables can be found on eBay for less money.
I bought mine from the US on eBay. And,Samrtec/Mictor was purchased from DigiKey.
As others have written, we recommend making your own flying leads, etc.

And 169xx modules are for 169xx frames only, but some 167xx modules can be used with 169xx frames.
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