Tektronix THS7xxx Scope Hack/Teardown/Discussion - FW 1.16 found

[Zucca]

I am out of office until middle May. I will then try to do that. My plan is still to desolder the chip and read it out.

Even if we give you the FW dump now, how can you be sure it will work on your unit?
Moreover I assume you know how to de/solder SMD components.

Z

[superman13]

I have two pieces of ts720A and one is working with 1.08 anotherone is dead (was with newer firmware)...
I desoldered both flash and soldered working flash with (1.08) to dead scope... And it is working. Memory from dead scope is alive... But I will try to clone it next week...

Will be very good if you can get newer firmware.
Next week I will post dump of 1.08.

[Zucca]

Next week I will post dump of 1.08.

If it works please post all the process details, and then let the hunt for the FW 1.16 begin. I have only the 1.14.

[BravoV]

Mine still at 1.11. 

[superman13]

I will try to describe how to read flash... Problem is that dump will do one my friend who has socket, programmer and big experience with a lot of kinds of flash memory...

Will ask him to do some screenshots or photos.

[superman13]

Hi!
I have been cloned flash memory from old scope (1.08). And its working 

Flash was cloned using TL866.

I attached dump.

Will be perfect if someone can get dump of newer firmware 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1yST43Pc7M_PxNIg4uqZ_9FiX2KKyKmao

Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/VDiYyJWrB1dgEPtp2

[Zucca]

superman13

Thanks, as soon I go back in my Lab in May I will unleash the 1.14 FW.
The FW 1.16 hunt is officially open, I will updated the thread title and first post.

Did you recalibrated the unit? As far as I now in that chip there are also the calibrations parameters.

[superman13]

superman13

Thanks, as soon I go back in my Lab in May I will unleash the 1.14 FW.
The FW 1.16 hunt is officially open, I will update the thread title and first post.

Did you recalibrated the unit? As far as I now in that chip there are also the calibrations parameters.

I have to calibrate it but now I have to buy another display, because one of my THS720 has broken LCD. But these lcd's are still expensive 

PS. Tried someone to replace LCD with another one more accessible, newer, cheaper?

[BravoV]

Did you recalibrated the unit? As far as I now in that chip there are also the calibrations parameters.

Really wish there is a way to copy the calibration values ...

[jal1234]

superman13

Thanks, as soon I go back in my Lab in May I will unleash the 1.14 FW.
The FW 1.16 hunt is officially open, I will update the thread title and first post.

Did you recalibrated the unit? As far as I now in that chip there are also the calibrations parameters.

I have to calibrate it but now I have to buy another display, because one of my THS720 has broken LCD. But these lcd's are still expensive 

PS. Tried someone to replace LCD with another one more accessible, newer, cheaper?

Is the LCD dead, or are the polarizers bad?  I successfully replaced both polarizers on mine with no prior experience. Time consuming, but not that difficult.

[superman13]

Is the LCD dead, or are the polarizers bad?  I successfully replaced both polarizers on mine with no prior experience. Time consuming, but not that difficult.

It's broken 

[jal1234]

Is the LCD dead, or are the polarizers bad?  I successfully replaced both polarizers on mine with no prior experience. Time consuming, but not that difficult.

It's broken 

Oh well. Yeah, with new LCDs selling for $150 US on eBay, and whole 720s with accessories selling (I'm talking what units actually sold for, not the insane prices some people ask) for $300-350 or so, it's tough to justify.

[Zucca]

Really wish there is a way to copy the calibration values ...

My unit needs to be calibrated anyway and the calibration procedure it is not so difficoult... Actually it's not so bad to recalibrate the unit after a while...

Anyway I will readout the FW before and after the calibration so we can see what does it change.
I am sure there is a CRC somewhere too...

[BravoV]

My unit needs to be calibrated anyway and the calibration procedure it is not so difficoult... Actually it's not so bad to recalibrate the unit after a while...

Really, if its not troubling you too much, please, share the recalibration process here.

Anyway I will readout the FW before and after the calibration so we can see what does it changed.
I am sure there is a CRC somewhere too...

Thank you  , looking forward to see the results.

[Zucca]

share the recalibration process here.

See the service manual:

https://doc.xdevs.com/doc/Tektronix/TEK%20THS%20710A%2C%20720A%2C%20730A%2C%20720P%20Service.pdf

Chapter 5.

[BravoV]

I'm aware of that document, its just I don't have the supporting equipments as the minimum requirements to do that.

[Zucca]

156--6553--00 U1 IC, MEMORY; CMOS, FLASH;1MEG X 8,
120NS;E28F008SA, TSOP40

Flash memory which contains instrument
firmware, current setup, saved setups, saved
waveforms, saved data, waveforms, and
calibration constants.

We need to find out where the serial number and the calibrations parameters are... and then save them out.

 

It`s just a matter of time if some guys are playing with us here.

[Zucca]

I don't have the supporting equipments as the minimum requirements to do that.

Me neither... It would be an home made calibration... better than nothing.

[Zucca]

I got 10 of these puppies

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F141832195710

I am sure they will be useful...

Z

[z01z]

We need to find out where the serial number and the calibrations parameters are... and then save them out.

Well, it should be easy to locate the calibration parameters if one can dump the contents of the flash before and after calibration.

[superman13]

I want to buy this scope from ebay to take DUMP of 1.16 (as I see from photos) and for display, one of mine scope have broken lcd... but this lot is too expensive and I have made an offer for 150$...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tektronix-THS730A-200MHz-Scope-DMM-Digital-Real-Time-1GS-s/163006175519?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055359.m2763.l2649

So, who can and want dump of firmware, please make offer for less than ~100$, hoping that seller will accept my 150$ offer 

In that case I will get DUMP from this scope and i'm that THS730 has the same firmware as THS710, 720
If anyone knows if there are different firmwares, please let us know about this.

[PA0PBZ]

In that case I will get DUMP from this scope and i'm that THS730 has the same firmware as THS710, 720
If anyone knows if there are different firmwares, please let us know about this.

I found this in the firmware:

TDS 320
TDS 350
TDS 310
TDS 340
TDS 360
TDS 380
THS710A
THS720A
THS720P
THS730A

[HighVoltage]

I have a THS720P with FW 1.16

What is involved in reading out the FW?

[superman13]

I have a THS720P with FW 1.16

What is involved in reading out the FW?

You have to unsolder  U1 (AM29F080) and using an external programmer with corresponding adapter to read it...

I don't know exactly how to make dump because it was done by one friend who has TL866, but I think there should be some info how to make dump of that kind of mem.

[Zucca]

Moreover you need the TSOP-40 adapter for the TL866, and I have a TSOP-40 hot air nozzle to disolder that chip properly.
I just need to go back at my lab.