Agilent 600MHz 54831B hack for 1GHz 54832B possible? YES! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 16, 2016, 04:29:33 pm
content: So I've just successfully repaired an Agilent 54832B.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/agilent-54832b-ch1-vertical-errors-(flatness)/(would love to get some opinions from you folks on a fair refund amount from the seller)And since I have some 54831B ACQ parts board, I thought I'd take a look around for strapping resistors, since they seem to share the same base board.A very likely area is shown in the attached pictures. I'm going to attempt to upgrade the 600MHz 54831B on my bench to the 54832B 1GHz model when I get some time (hopefully in the next few days)EDIT: changed subject line.Jay

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 03:09:33 pm
content: The answer is yes!After removing a single 1K resistor, the 54831B now identifies itself as a 1GHz 54832B.Jay

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 03:16:51 pm
content: Vertical amplitude is well within specification. On this particular scope, CH1 had the lowest measured amplitude of the 4 channels. I used a Rhode & Schwarz SMT03 set to 1GHz @600mV amplitude. The second picture highlights the 1K resistor that must be removed.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 04:38:24 pm
content: Awesome! Got to love a nice simple hack that gives free bandwidth.

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 05:35:55 pm
content: An over-all picture of the ACQ board. Also, a close-up of the memory used. Each chip is 2MB in size and there's 8 on each side, so 32Mpts is possible. This one only has option 080 which I believe is 16Mpts. Hmmm...?Jay

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 05:40:36 pm
content: Quote from: TheSteve on August 17, 2016, 04:38:24 pmThanks. It is a very simple mod to do. Technically, the 1GHz scope cost Agilent (very) slightly less $ to make.Jay

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 18, 2016, 03:04:15 pm
content: Final bandwidth test. This time using a high quality low-loss RF cable.1.26GHz!Jay

author: Nuno_pt
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2016, 03:13:23 pm
content: Nice one, now it's just a matter of finding one on the cheap side.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2016, 03:58:29 pm
content: Awesome!!! I have a 54831D, in equivalent time bizarrely it has a bandwidth in excess of 1GHz, but it's ITRO 800MHz in real time. I'll give this modification a go.Furthermore, what is the fastest timebase since the mod? The kosher 1GHz editions go down to 200ps/div.

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 18, 2016, 04:15:13 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on August 18, 2016, 03:58:29 pmGood question - I hadn't even thought to check before/after.This one goes down to 200ps/div. Does the 831B/D only go to 500ps/div.?EDIT: When you have your scope open, can you tell me what the ACQ memory chips are? Thanks.Jay

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2016, 04:58:38 pm
content: Quote from: Jwalling on August 18, 2016, 04:15:13 pmIt might be a day or two before I get time, I have the wife's family staying with us at the moment.

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 18, 2016, 07:21:01 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on August 18, 2016, 04:58:38 pmHey now, what's more important!?We could have a bandwidth contest. Pick the channel with the best performance, and in 1MHz increments (no sense in splitting hairs finer than that), post your results here.EDIT: screwed up quoting. Doh.Jay

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2016, 07:21:19 pm
content: Family can wait ;-)Needless to say, scope is now a 54832D, rise time is about 320ps on real time sin(x)/x, and a smidge under 300ps on equivalent time.Bandwidth is 1230MHz on real time, 1310MHz equivalent time.

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 18, 2016, 07:30:10 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on August 18, 2016, 07:21:19 pmNice.It looks like we both just posted at about the same time. What are the odds?So, your board has 128MB of ram. What is the memory option (if any) on yours?Edit: And did the 831B/D only go to 500ps/div. before the mod?Jay

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 18, 2016, 07:44:04 pm
content: Quote from: Jwalling on August 18, 2016, 07:30:10 pmNever mind on the timebase question, just looked it up in the manual. 500ps/div.Note to self, stop being lazy...Jay

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2016, 09:35:55 pm
content: Quote from: Jwalling on August 18, 2016, 07:30:10 pmThe option I have is MEMORY_64M.Yes, 500ps is the fastest timebase as a 54831.Is your trigger jittery at fast rise times in realtime? And for fast sine waves, is the trigger point offset?

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 19, 2016, 02:00:58 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on August 18, 2016, 09:35:55 pmAt 1GHz with a 600mV RMS sine wave, the scope will trigger fine without jitter from about +546mV to -434mV. On the second question, I didn't see any problem like that, unless you mean what I just wrote. Maybe running the calibration routine will correct?The legitimate 54832B behaves the same way, though.There's an interesting thread about triggering on a sine wave on the Keysight forum about this:https://community.keysight.com/thread/23229Regarding the PM question about how I figured it out, I had a legitimate 54832B that I documented a repair thread about. Comparing the two ACQ boards side by side made it easy.Jay

author: Mrt12
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2017, 07:25:41 pm
content: Awesome! it worked, I have a 54832B now :-)

author: Noody
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2017, 07:53:40 pm
content: Can you see it?http://www.ebay.com/itm/Agilent-HP-Infinium-54832B-1Ghz-4GS-s-4ch-Digital-Oscilloscope-/281890103837

author: tonykara
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2019, 06:58:45 pm
content: I just stumbled onto this in 2019, and I'm so glad because it worked on my 54831!Jay, I initially looked at your two photos here, and it looks like you took one resistor off in the dual row area, but also installed one in the single row below it. I tried that initially and windows crashed sometime after launching. Then I took off the resistor I added, (so the overall mod was just removing the 1 resistor in the dual row area), and it now comes up as a 54832! So cool!!!! Thanks. Now I need to figure out the changes needed to open up the memory. (I think that sorta documented here somewhere)

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 06, 2019, 09:32:39 pm
content: Quote from: tonykara on October 06, 2019, 06:58:45 pmYou mean the one that looks like a resistor was there, and now is not? Not sure what I was doing there, I can't remember.But yes, just the removal of the single resistor is needed.EDIT: And Howard's config is slightly different in that area. I didn't notice that back then...

author: analogRF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2020, 03:27:25 pm
content: Did anybody figure how to enable higher memory options?Low serial numbers (like mine) do have up to 16Mpts already on board but mine does not have any memory option and only has 4Mpts enabled.A software key enables 04 and 08 memory options which I really need . Has anybody figured how to do that?higher serial numbers have the highest memory already installed and need software key to enable them

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2021, 02:44:07 am
content: I saw the oscilloscope "now identifies itself as 1GHz BW", however, I didn't see where to find this. I'm considering removing the resistor on mine.From what I can tell, when the scope identifies itself as a 54832, that indicates it's a 1GHz BW due to the model number change, is this correct?Mine is a 54831M (although, in the 'about' menu, it shows as 54831B), so I assume after I remove the resistor, it will show as 54832B or M?Reading this thread, it seems this is a true 1GHz BW scope since tests have been done. Do any risks to over driving circuits exist by doing this conversion?QuoteI had read about this upon buying the scope, and I think an option exists in one of the menus to enter some key. I'll have to look into this.

author: luckystew
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 04, 2023, 04:29:07 pm
content: I have a problem because after performing the upgrade, during calibration i get all channels fail on both vertical and trigger.Hope that someone can help me with that.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2023, 01:43:53 am
content: Sure you removed the correct resistor?

author: sergej
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2024, 07:43:15 am
content: Quote from: analogRF on February 13, 2020, 03:27:25 pmAny new information about this ?I have 54831M with only 2Mpts memory :-(

author: ua4yhz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2024, 11:27:06 am
content: Quote from: sergej on August 15, 2024, 07:43:15 amThe option is enabled with a license key. The maximum I could enable was 64 MPts on 54833A.

author: sergej
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 06:54:21 pm
content: Yes, I know it. But how I obtain the license code :-)

author: sergej
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2025, 03:36:28 pm
content: Confirmed. My 54831B (M) is now 54832B (M). But must be recalibrated, in my case.

author: Karnathe
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2025, 02:51:43 am
content: Just did this incredibly difficult mod to my 54830B, can confirm it now thinks its a 1ghz model! Running self test currently, thank you so much for publishing this!! Now I just have to figure out how to get more licenses for it, does anyone here have any experience on that? I can start a new thread if needed, not sure how that should be done.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2025, 02:25:14 am
content: I'm slightly confused about the this thread. Is the modification for increasing BW to 1GHz (i.e. removing the resistor - which I've already done) or increasing memory?If it's increasing memory, which steps are needed? I'm always interested in improving my scope.

author: ua4yhz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2025, 09:44:39 am
content: Quote from: bostonman on April 10, 2025, 02:25:14 amThe memory on this oscilloscope can be expanded with a license key.The license key is generated according to the oscilloscope's option ID.Circled in blue.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2025, 12:46:14 pm
content: How is the key generated? Not sure I have a "license key generator". The OS on my scope was an image someone on here provided which already had several options enabled.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2025, 12:12:11 pm
content: I got your PM but it won’t allow me to attach photos in a PM.For some reason one of my two scopes has garbled characters.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2025, 04:28:42 pm
content: What is the voice option?I don’t know why the numbers are garbled. They were fine before when I installed the image; and I used the same image on bitg scopes.Maybe I’ll have to reinstalled the whole image again when I won’t look forward to.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2025, 09:42:27 pm
content: Unfortunately the keys didn't work on either scope.The message was: License installation failed. The license is not compatible with this product. Please contact Agilent technical support.

author: ua4yhz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2025, 05:43:51 am
content: Quote from: bostonman on April 28, 2025, 09:42:27 pmCan you send me a file from your oscilloscope license.dat for study?

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2025, 02:35:49 am
content: Attached are the license files I found. They look very plain, so not sure what you'll see in them.I made two directories. One is named 'Corrupt Number' and that's the scope with the garbled characters and the other 'Good Number' is the scope with the good characters.

author: ua4yhz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2025, 06:35:34 am
content: Quote from: bostonman on April 30, 2025, 02:35:49 amMy key generator doesn't work for "B" model oscilloscope, it works only for model "A".Apparently model "B" is newer and uses a different algorithm.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2025, 01:15:10 pm
content: Ah okay.It was an 'M' version before I removed the resistor to increase the BW.Also, I noticed the option ID number was garbled before too (I had taken a picture of the screen and saved it). The image used was the same for both oscilloscopes, and both got the resistor removed, however, one has garbled numbers and the other doesn't.How do I know what rate my scope is viewing at (32MPts or 64MPts)?

author: ua4yhz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2025, 02:46:09 pm
content: You have the 8 MPts option installed.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2025, 01:03:37 am
content: Looking through my notes and files, it looks like I can edit the license file to add the 64MPts.What is the advantage/disadvantage of increase it?I'm afraid that the scope will run slower due to its limited RAM. This is why I didn't install additional options; and resulted in forgetting I had notes on it. Will one disadvantage be a slower scope and may mess up measurements?

author: ua4yhz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2025, 05:41:07 am
content: Quote from: bostonman on May 01, 2025, 01:03:37 amThe oscilloscope will not work slower, don't worry. How and what do you want to change?

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2025, 12:45:06 pm
content: Going through my notes, I have a text document with numerous options. If I remember correctly, it was a dump from a ROM or whatever and the names aren't obvious as to what the option does.Since we are on the topic of MPts (I assume mega points), and mine is only at 8MPts, I'm guessing increasing this will provide better resolution.To answer your question, I guess this would be on option to change, but not sure what advantages it has.From reading, someone added every option and it caused slow boot time for the scope. If every option is added, or many options added, how does this not slow down the scope?I'd assume it uses RAM to have the options enabled.

author: baldengineer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2025, 01:55:31 pm
content: Quote from: bostonman on May 05, 2025, 12:45:06 pmIt depends on what you mean by "resolution."The acquisition memory depth for storing samples. Sometimes called the acquisition buffer. It enables the sample rate to stay higher at longer time bases. Or to capture longer time bases with lower sample rate.At the time when this class of Infiniium was launched, it had the "MegaZoom ASIC." It is a memory controller that helps manage deep acquisition memory. Its primary feature was that the screen stayed responsive and the update rate stayed fast when capturing longer buffer lengths. Other oscilloscopes at the time would always transfer the entire acquisition buffer to the CPU which took a long time. If no measurements are turned on, MegaZoom only transfers enough data for a reasonable display. Essentially, it was a very intelligent decimator.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2025, 03:03:35 am
content: Makes a bit more sense. I was thinking it was "resolution" in the sense of samples it collects.Attached is the list of "upgrades" that can possibly be added; I mentioned this file a message or two ago.They are not defined, so I'm uncertain about the function of each one. At the end is something called '64MPts' which I assume is the upgrade in discussion now.I'm really not in need of making my scopes have more bells and whistles, but any performance upgrades/enhancements would be nice.Why is it that enabling features will not slow the scope? Believe I asked this in either this thread or another, but not sure I understood the answer. Seems to me the more features enabled results in eating more RAM.

author: ua4yhz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2025, 05:31:21 pm
content: This is a list of all the options that can be installed on your oscilloscope.

author: bostonman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2025, 09:47:56 pm
content: Yes, I assumed, however, nothing defines what they mean.Also, why would the scope not run slower with additional options?

author: Russ@CTF
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 30, 2025, 09:28:16 am
content: So been reading and yet to come across an answer, hoping to get guidance for my scope. I just purchased two 54831M with win98se and would like add the options but also would like to know what options are installed. I would like to keep one with 98se and upgrade the options and play with changing the OS to XP and upgrade the options on the other. Help with this would be much appreciated.Found that I search 54831 vs 54831b mor pops up to read. Time for more digging.

author: nardo53
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 27, 2025, 12:06:29 am
content: Hello thanks for all the help. where do you put this file (license.dat), and can I edit out some of the options?