Need Tektronix TDS220 firmware file - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: mmaseda
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2016, 11:59:47 pm
content: I need a bin or hex firmware file for a TDS220. Would like V1.17 or later for programming a 27C040 EPROMs.

author: JFJ
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2016, 08:50:57 pm
content: The firmware file in Intel Hex format is too big for this forum (the file is 1.441MB and the limit is 1MB). A binary version of the file is only 512KB, but.binfiles are not accepted by the forum. So, I changed the binary file's extension to.txtbefore uploading it. Please change it back to.binwhen you have saved it.Version 1.19 firmware is Tektronix part number 163-0792-06. The checksum will be 02B9FBC5 or FBC5 (depending on how your programmer displays it).

author: mmaseda
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2016, 02:53:36 am
content: Got it !!! Thanks

author: cardre
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2017, 02:15:44 pm
content: Reviving this old post, wondering if you have or know what the latest firmware is for the accompanying TDS2CM communication model for the TDS210 and TDS220? The unit I'm borrowing from a friend has CMV:v1.02 and if I can upgrade both for him, would be good. Thanks.

author: Nprod
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2017, 11:31:28 am
content: Reviving this post again - does anybody here have TDS220 firmware that's 2.0 and later? I also saw that you can upgrade a TDS2CM module to a TDS2MM one if you swap out the RAM and EPROM and then flash the TDS2MM.hex on it as described here:http://www.edaboard.com/thread8031.htmlSadly that thread is ancient and they only gave out the .hex file for it via PM... If anybody has these it would be greatly appreciated.

author: scopeman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2017, 09:52:59 pm
content: Attached is firmware for the TSD2MM and the TDS2CM modules. To upgrade a CM to a MM you need to upgrade the SRAM and burn the firmware as follows1. Replace 32kx8 RAM memory with 128k x 8/SO32/70ns/5V2. Replace EPROM memory with 27C040 (512k x 8/PLCC32/70ns/5V)Good Luck,SamScopeman

author: Nprod
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2017, 09:50:44 am
content: Oh wow, thank you so much scopeman!

author: scopeman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2017, 08:29:16 pm
content: No problem glad to help. I have a TDS224 that I upgraded the CM module to a MM years ago. I don't have the firmware for the scope itself though. Never had to update that.SamW3OHMScopeman

author: scopeman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2017, 10:38:29 pm
content: Also Nprod let us know how you make out!

author: OH2LIY
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2018, 05:31:19 pm
content: Hello, I did try this with no luck. I replaced SRAM to Sony cxk581000am-70 (standard 128kx8 SRAM, first what I did find in my storage). I didn't have 27C040, instead I used 29F040. Using 29F040 CM (plain communication software) works nicely with bigger memory, but when replaced to MM software, scope just freezes during boot up. 28C040 vs. 29F040 should be similar, if scope don't try to write anytyhing to memory.OH2LIY

author: chronos42
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2018, 12:01:45 pm
content: I did it with a TDS220. I replaced the RAM with a 70nS 128k X 8 Renesas RAM and programmed the MM Firmware in a 27C040 from Atmel.It worked without any problems and makes this 21 years old scope attractive again.BTW:Without changing the RAM the TDS hangs in a bootloop with the MM firmware.@OH2LIY: maybe something is wrong with your RAM.

author: OH2LIY
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2018, 06:17:02 pm
content: SRAM is probably ok, because TDS2CM (plain I/O software) runs on it (also using 29F040). If SRAM size is only difference between CM vs. MM software, I'll probably change it again to some different model...Ramppa, OH2LIY

author: JacquesBBB
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2018, 12:23:07 pm
content: Quote from: chronos42 on January 05, 2018, 12:01:45 pmInteresting. What are the additional features with this change ?As I have not looked precisely to the board, I dont understand precisely the changes to be made.As you say, two chips need to be changed. Do you know their numbers on the board ?What are the original values of these chips ?Thanks

author: Nprod
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2018, 01:36:26 pm
content: Quote from: JacquesBBB on January 06, 2018, 12:23:07 pmYou get an FFT option, that's the only difference compared to the TDS2CM. It's a nice upgrade because actual TDS2MM modules are hard to find and still very expensive.

author: chronos42
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2018, 07:46:10 pm
content: You also get risetime and falltime measurment.And for me it was lot of fun to finally get these options for this old scope.I saved my TDS 220 from the junk, brought it back to life and I like it.I cannot explain why, but I really like this litte scope. I have much better scopes in my lab, but for repair jobs I mostly use the TDS 220.

author: Beerden
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 21, 2018, 09:34:26 pm
content: Quote from: Nprod on December 20, 2017, 11:31:28 amThanks for reviving this post. Any word on the firmware 2.0 and later for the TDS220 (does it exist?)Anyway, I have some additional info to add here:A FLASH memory device can be used in place of the OTP EPROM for the TDS220 main board.The EPROMs are getting harder to find (and they're one-time programmable!), but the FLASH "cousins" in these 32-pin PLCC packages are still available.I was able to change the AM27C040-150JC OTP EPROM at socket U302 on the TDS220 main board to a AM29F040B-90JC (5V) FLASH (AMD/Spansion) already handy from my personal stash.There is a small pin difference between the 27C040 32-pin PLCC and the AM29F040B-90JC 32-pin PLCC:pin 1 is Vpp on the 27C040 OTP EPROM, but is A18 (address bit) on the 29F040Bpin 3 is A18 on the 27C040 OTP EPROM, but is WE# on the 29F040BThis pin difference needs to be corrected to work with the 29F040B; luckily the solution is already provided for by R306 and R307 resistor options for the U302 socket that connects pin 1 to pin 3:Remove the 39.2 Ohm 1206 size resistor at R306Install a 1206 size shunt (0 Ohm, or short length of wire) at the empty pads for R307Insert the 29F040B in the U302 socketMy scope was at v1.16 and now it's v1.19!I'm looking into the TDS2CM upgrade to TDS2MM now...

author: scopeman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2018, 12:46:21 am
content: Bin file for the TDS2MM and instructions to update a TDS2CM to a TDS2MM is attached.SamW3OHM

author: Beerden
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 26, 2018, 08:18:59 pm
content: Quote from: OH2LIY on January 04, 2018, 05:31:19 pmThe difference between the 27C040 and the 29F040 is three pin assignments, Vpp and A18 at pin 1 respectively, and A18 and WE# at pin 31 respectively. So without a bit of PCB modification, the 29F040 is not expected to work as a drop-in replacement.Pin 1 of the 29F040 is A18, the upper address bit, which on the 27C040 is at pin 31. Pin 31 on the 29F040 is the WE# pin. The TDS2MM firmware is likely larger than the CM firmware and may need access to this pin.It is unlikely, as you guessed, that software would try writing to this region of memory, so it should be safe to connect pin 1 to pin 31 on the PCB. This same "trick" is done on the TDS220 motherboard, but is actually provided by a resistor shunt option, and a 29F040B works there!To support this connection, the AM29F040 datasheet says (paraphrased), "Write cycles are inhibited by holding any one of OE# = low, CE# = high or WE# = high. To initiate a write cycle CE# and WE# must be low while OE# is high", so in the case where A18 is attached to WE#, then OE# = low (read cycle) will override the WE# function for any state of A18.I also hope to use a 29F040B on my TDS2CM, but the TDS2CM will require a wiring modification. Unfortunately, pin 1 of the U206 PLCC socket is directly connected to a via to the ground plane (Vpp programming voltage on the 27C040), so this makes modification for a 29F040B tricky for pin 1, but not impossible.As far as I can tell A18 traces from pin 1 of the J101 header to the 20-pin PLD at U104 pin 4 U104 and to pin 31 of the U206 PLCC socket (A18 on 27C040), so access to A18 to pin 1 of the 29F040 might be easiest as a wire from pin 4 of U104.Also, for the 32-pin SRAM option, A18 is left floating on the PCB, so perhaps attaching a wire to ground at U204 pin 1 (A18) would allow larger capacity SRAM chips to work properly (often easier to source these days!); a floating address pin could lead to unexpected behavior.

author: OH2LIY
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2018, 05:54:53 pm
content: Tnx Beerden! I did compare datasheets between 27C040 and 29F040, but probably I was too hurry/lazy and didn't spot that small difference (I did have nagging feeling, that there was something HW differences between proms and flash).Ramppa

author: OH2LIY
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2018, 07:22:57 pm
content: Success! Bend flash pins 1 and 31 up (can be done once). Then use narrow tape strips between flash and socket pins (I used capton, it worked nicely), and just solder flash pin 1 to U104 pin 4 and flash pin 31 to closest VCC (pin 32 is closest, just bridge them).Ramppa

author: Beerden
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 28, 2018, 11:48:48 pm
content: Quote from: OH2LIY on February 27, 2018, 07:22:57 pmThanks! I can also confirm the modification I wrote up also works, I have the MM v1.00 working on what used to be a CM and now have FFT functions!I elected to jumper over pin 31 to pin 1 with a short tiny wire within the socket body. First though I had to remove the pin 1 pad (ground) from beneath the socket: desoldered the socket pin 1, lifted it up, applied heat to the pad until it separated from the PCB and pulled it out with tweezers. I put kapton tape under pin 1 in case the socket pin touched the original ground via. Then I soldered the wire from pin 1 to pin 31.This allows me to remove and re-insert the FLASH chip if needed (well, you never know!)I also replaced the 28-pin SRAM at U204 with a ISSI IS62C1024AL-35QLI which I found on Digi-Key as 706-1041-ND, and there are no problems with using this part.However, U204 SOP-32 footprint A17 (pin 31) is tied to 5V and A18 (pin 1) is floating. I left that unmodified and everything works fine, but I'm thinking I will experiment with actually connecting A17 and A18 to the signals. I'm anticipating either failure or no change in behavior. Apparently the software doesn't need more than A0-A16 (17 bits) anyway. But keeping A18 from floating is probably a good idea.

author: shakalnokturn
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2019, 12:50:08 pm
content: Thanks to scopeman-Sam for sharing the files!I have just done the conversion myself using a M5M51008CFP-70 SRAM and SST28SF040A Flash, both from my scavenged parts stock./WE (31) was kapton isolated and left floating (internal pull-up), A18 (1) was kapton isolated from the socket and wired to U104-(4) as seen on photos above.

author: Vorlon
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 02, 2019, 12:18:48 pm
content: Quote from: Beerden on February 21, 2018, 09:34:26 pmIn my TDS220 that wasn't sufficient to run with a 29F040. I also had to isolate the WE# pin and pull it up.

author: Nprod
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2019, 08:57:13 am
content: Quote from: scopeman on December 26, 2017, 10:38:29 pmSomething a little strange happened, i used an Atmel 27C040 EPROM for the TDS2MM firmware and when i installed the module, the screen of the scope went blank. Looking at it up close i could make out the boot screen text saying all the self-checks passed - turns out the contrast had gone down by quite a bit. If i boot with the old 27C010 EPROM the contrast returns to its old setting, so it appears that the module is causing a change in the LCD's contrast voltage when running in "TDS2MM mode". The LCD itself is not factory original, i got it from some old stock warehouse on aliexpress and it requires a low contrast setting to look correct for some reason, which made the difference with the MM on more noticeable.

author: scopeman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2019, 12:20:50 am
content: That's a new one on me. It has been at least 10 years ago when I converted my units and I would have to do a lot of digging to remember what I did then.All of my units were genuine Tek units with the Tek LCD so I have no clue as to what the problem could be and since schematics for these scopes have been closely guarded by Tek they have never been available AFAIK.So good luck with that and let me know if you find anything.Could it have anything to do with the speed of the rom or any configuration jumpers? I don't know.SamW3OHM

author: Vorlon
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 12, 2019, 12:30:48 am
content: The same happened on my TDS220 with an Aliexpress LCD.It seems they sell defective LCDs as "used ones".

author: Nprod
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2019, 10:42:31 am
content: I'm not sure if you can consider them defective or not, but the one i got certainly looked like it had been rusting away in a warehouse somehwere for a good 20 years. Even though both are labeled "LM32P073" there were differences in their PCBs - the original had about 3 small electrolytic capacitors on it while the aliexpress one has about 9, and they're bigger. There are also some differences in how the backlight bulb is housed. If i had to take a guess i'd say they're different revisions of the same model. Can you say which type the original and replacement screens were?Perhaps these particular versions are designed for slightly lower contrast voltages, so a little resistor between the flex cable and PCB pad could bring it down to a more usable range that doesn't require you to set the contrast to 0% in the menu to make things visible.

author: JFJ
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2019, 11:55:18 am
content: Quote from: Nprod on July 11, 2019, 08:57:13 amIt may be informative to compare the contrast control voltage range of your substitute LCD panel, with that of an original:Quote from: JFJ on January 29, 2017, 08:26:39 pm

author: Nprod
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2019, 05:45:01 pm
content: @JFJHere's what i got:Without a module installed:SettingVoltageAppearance0%-18.8VGood15%-17.77VPoor contrast, display flips50%-16.16VBlank screen100%-13.55VBlank screenWith a module installed (TDS2MM firmware):SettingVoltageAppearance0%-18.5VGood15%-17.71VPoor contrast, display flips50%-15.94VBlank screen100%-13.45VBlank screenAs you can see, the module doesn't affect the contrast voltage by a significant amount and the screen's response is the same. The reason i got a blank screen when first installing the module is because the scope's setting reset itself to 50%, not because of a voltage drop. Changing the EPROM possibly made the scope think it's a different module.About the contrast - the datasheet for the LM32P07 (attached) states in its electrical characteristics (Table 4) that the contrast adjust voltage should be between 17.5V and 25.5V, with a typical setting of 21.5V. That would mean that the LCD is acting as it should, but the voltage the scope provides is too low.

author: clauditaolivia
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 28, 2019, 07:48:17 pm
content: Quote from: OH2LIY on February 27, 2018, 07:22:57 pmHello.This is my first time on the blog. I need to upgrade my tds2cm module to tds2mm, but the speed of my new chip ram is 70 ns and the seller send me an amc27c040 120ns. Can i use them? Does the speed between the ram chip and the memory maters? (I´m not an electronics expert just an amateur) I noticed you( OH2LIY) used an am29f040b -90ns(well i think so because of your photos). I hope you can help me. Cheers from Mexico

author: george.b
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2019, 08:43:12 pm
content: Quote from: clauditaolivia on December 28, 2019, 07:48:17 pmYes, the speed matters. Not between RAM and ROM, but relative to the CPU.I tried a 150ns part and had no luck. 120ns might work. 1/120ns = 8.33MHz, and the CPU clock is 7.something (I can't recall exactly). 150ns translates to 6.67MHz, which would explain why it didn't work for me.

author: clauditaolivia
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 30, 2019, 05:01:46 am
content: Thank you.I will buy a new one AM27C040. By the way, do you have the firmware for tds 220 v1.17 or supperior ? I used it the one uploaded on previous page but it`s for the 210 and mine is 220 also the factory calibration failed (with the original eprom the factory calibration is passed. Cheers from Mexico

author: george.b
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2019, 06:14:15 am
content: Quote from: clauditaolivia on December 30, 2019, 05:01:46 amThe ROM file is the same for both TDS210 and TDS220. An ID variable, stored in flash, is what determines the model. Seehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tds-1000-2000-3000-bw-hack/

author: Nprod
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2020, 09:19:38 pm
content: I have now tried an LCD module from a different seller and don't have the contrast issue anymore. This new screen has the same PCB layout and frame design as the one that originally came with the scope, so it looks like the specific revision of LM32P073 matters. For clarity, the one with the contrast problem looked like this:While thegoodone looks like this:I can't guarantee that this is true for all TDS scopes, so the best thing when replacing would be to look for ones that match the original.

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2022, 01:31:05 pm
content: For those who need it, here is v1.04 firmware for the TDS2MM module

author: ximtou
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 19, 2023, 05:10:07 pm
content: Bonjour.Le plus récent de mes osciloscope, c'est un tds220 .J'ai aussi un tds3034Mon problème c'est que j'ai besoin de FFT et il n'y à pas grand chose de plus sur les appareils comme rigol neufs qui justifie un achat. Mon TDS 3034 vois les oscillateurs de télécommande de porte de garage, pas très net, mais mesurable ! Et ce n'est qu'un 4x300mhz. Les émetteur FM, c'est un jeux d'enfant.Bien sûr mon TDS 220 n'est pas à jour.Donc j'ai trouvé ces circuits intégrés , voir les images , sont ils bon ?https://ibb.co/Xt9Z0x5https://ibb.co/dD7wxvfEt modifier pin 31 sur 1 et 1 sur 5 v?Autre chose , pourquoi ne montez vous pas des led à la place du tube sur vos écrans en panne ?Merci

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2023, 05:29:12 pm
content: You can see the FFT upgrade process in this video. You will need the optional TDS2CM module to do it, but if you can get a TDS2MM module cheaply then you won't need to do the upgrade at all.If you want to upgrade the firmware in the scope, that can be done easily too with the older version scope, but the newer version uses a flash chip instead of a PROM chip and I haven't worked out how to update the flash chip type. I believe it involves using a specially made module that plugs into the option port.If you have the older version scope, the old PROM chip can be simply unplugged and discarded, and a new PROM chip programmed and plugged straight in.https://youtu.be/MKwDZn6nyXo