Question about Keysight 33622A arb generator. Is this a fault or FW bug? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: analogRF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2021, 12:17:18 pm
content: I have got a Keysight 33612A that had been upgraded to 120Mhz before. The unit seems to work perfectly fineand as far as I can tell all functions seem to work properly, however, the LED on the ch1 buttonflashes (blinks) every once in a while when that channel is off. To make sure, i set the unit to factory default stateand the LED on ch1 button blinks every once in a while. It's not fastit take several seconds and sometimes I dont think it is even a periodic thing. There is no output signal when the LED flashes and no relay clickOnly the LED flashes.The unit passes self tests.Can somebody confirm if they had seen this bug or where I should be looking at? is this indication of an error?

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 20, 2021, 02:52:06 pm
content: I seem to recall a service note about bad front panels with some gens, it may not have been the 336x2 series though. It may also not be related, but I know I've seen something in the past. I assume you're running the newest firmware, if so I'd report it as a bug to Keysight and see what they say.

author: analogRF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2021, 03:13:56 pm
content: yes it's the last firmwarei am not able to find any service note related to these models

author: analogRF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2021, 05:45:40 pm
content: maybe I should downgrade the FW?

author: analogRF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2021, 08:54:44 pm
content: i can now also confirm that even when ch1 is ON, the occasional blink happens but this time LED on ch1 turns OFF>ON and at the same time LED on ch2 button turns ON>OFFbut when ch1 is off, LED on ch2 never blinks. Looks like a FW bug to me....I cannot find any malfunction with the unit itself. But can it be some hardware issue?

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 20, 2021, 11:24:49 pm
content: I wish I could try to replicate but my 33622A won't enable the output due a stupid FPGA authentication error.

author: analogRF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2021, 06:40:45 pm
content: I downgraded FW to 2.02 and 2.00 but the sporadic blinking of the ch1 LED still occurs.I cannot see a pattern in its blinking if there is any... warming up the unit has no effect either....

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 21, 2021, 07:22:37 pm
content: I bet it is something related to them refreshing the LED status, some glitch or bug. It certainly sounds annoying though and would catch my eye if I had something doing it.

author: analogRF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2021, 07:27:11 pm
content: Quote from: TheSteve on October 21, 2021, 07:22:37 pmyes it is just annoying...but does not seem to have any effect on the operation...my only concern other than being irritated every time it does this, is that could it be due to some hardware fault (a driver chip or something...) that I can fix.

author: hpw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2021, 04:50:43 pm
content: Quote from: analogRF on October 21, 2021, 07:27:11 pmI would ask Keysight support about or even post in the Keysight Forum...Annoying is also:- the screen saver that works after 8 HOURS (no other selection possible)- always on outputs after restart- random noisy fan- PLL synchronization to external oscillator (unknown PN added as not in the specification noted)- save to file, file name & selecting simple chars

author: analogRF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2021, 05:52:13 pm
content: Quote from: hpw on October 22, 2021, 04:50:43 pm#2 is most probably because you power on in the Last state. You can change it to power on in Default state.However, I agree that even in Last state they should have turned the output off like my Tektronix AFG does. The FW still needs some workbut it looks like they have stopped producing FW for theseFan is ebm papst but yes it is noisybut on the other hand, the signal purity blows my mind... THD and harmonic way better than specs in datasheet

author: hpw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2021, 09:50:09 am
content: @analogRF: but it looks like they have stopped producing FW for theseYes, over time SW/FW requires some maintenance! As the stupid 8h screen saver@analogRF: Fan is ebm papst but yes it is noisySo, as knowing about Papst fan, you may opened the box and could tell about the possible OXCO slot or it is already build in?@analogRF: but on the other hand, the signal purity blows my mind... THD and harmonic way better than specs in datasheetI mean, this gear game out 2014, never would have touch screen and more than 16bit's