Tek 2710 spectrum analiser - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: G6EZG
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 09, 2017, 06:47:39 pm
content: HII have just acquired a 2710 with a fault , hopefully an easy repairthe display has no horizontal scan it looks ok vertically but all i see is a linebefore i start to investigate as anyone come across this fault beforeIvan

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2017, 07:36:59 pm
content: Welcome to the forum.Quick Google found the manuals:http://w140.com/tekwiki/wiki/2710There's a few other 2710 repair threads on various forums, use this search: "tek 2710 service manual"

author: guido
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2017, 09:09:51 pm
content: Think it contains Signetics PLS chips. Programmable logic like PALs. With the anoying habit of loosing their content...Unfortunately they are SMD, no sockets iirc.I have some dumps of the ROMS, PLS etc (from the internet). If you need them, mail me.In case it is a PLS and you are sure which one, i can decompile the JED file into the equations, so you know what it is supposed to do.

author: G6EZG
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 08:10:12 pm
content: Thanks for the welcome and the informationIvan

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 08:33:08 pm
content: Quote from: G6EZG on March 10, 2017, 08:10:12 pmFeel free to use this thread as a running documentary of your repair, this kind of record can help others immensely.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 09:32:51 pm
content: I have a TEK 2710 Spectrum Analyser in nice condition with a power supply fault that I have never got around to repairing. Happy to sell it for someone else to repair or use as a parts donor. I think £100 + postage is a fair price for it if anyone uses interested.I suspect this will be UK only due to shipping challenges for overseas.Fraser

author: G6EZG
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 05:51:56 pm
content: Hi Fraserwhere about in the country are youI May be interestedIvan

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 07:11:12 pm
content: Ivan,Milton KeynesFraser

author: G6EZG
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 07:39:38 pm
content: Fraseris the unit dead hence psu fault ?what will the carriage to hull likely to be ?Ivan

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 10:38:23 pm
content: History is as follows:Switching transistors blewNew switching controller fittedNew switching transistors fittedNew Electrolytic capacitors fittedNew memory Lithium Battery fitted (darned expensive !)Switched on and the inverter stage transistors blew ! They were likely already damaged in the first failure.The SA was put to one side in disgrace as i have several others that I use. This was soe years ago but it has been stored carefully. I just have no need of it.Shipping to Hull should not be too bad. Less than £25 with UPS I suspect. I will need to check.Fraser

author: G6EZG
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 14, 2017, 06:13:28 am
content: Thanks for that information FraserI will have a good look at mine over the next couple off weeks , and get back to you ,i just need to decide if mine is worth spending the money on .regardsIvan

author: Marcel G
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2017, 12:16:25 pm
content: http://www.pa4tim.nl/?p=4522Link to repair Tek 2710 spectrum analyzer-service manual.

author: Marcel G
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2017, 08:11:08 pm
content: G6EZGMore Info about screen problems Tek 2710 spectrum analyzer.http://www.edaboard.com/thread158959.htmlRegards,Marcel

author: G6EZG
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 08:28:17 pm
content: Thanks MarcelRegardsIvan

author: grumss
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2020, 08:25:06 pm
content: Hi all,Yes very old post but i thought i would add my findings to hopefully be helpful to others..My screen also has gone into the dreaded displaying garbage symptoms. After spending a lot of frustrating time playing around i think i can put my finger on the problem (mine anyway), digital is certainly not one of my strong points but here goes..It seems the SA's display pages are changed by pin 7 of U260 (PLS159), this chip is supposed to send a negative pulse to a binary counter (U326). The binary counter counts until the correct page/s is displayed then is suppose to stop.The binary counter also sends signals to other chips including U308 which controls blanking and "dotenable"! (one of the classic things we all see with the fault)...What seems to be happening (in mine anyway) is that U260's pin 7 is caught in a near mid state, around 4V in mine- any noise in the circuit is +- on the 4v and sending the page select counter into near constant counting- this seems to be why we see all of these unusual displays....Now to prove the point, i pulled the pin 7 output up to 5v with a high value resistor- the SA now always boots to a spectrum display which i assume must be default with the initial (000?) binary output from the counter.. no other screen data is displayed but at least i can see a working spectrum..I experimented with mosfet switching on pin7 to lighten its load but had no success.. I dont think it pulls down at all...Now all i have to do is find a PLS159, the code and try to program it! GEEZ!! (id very very thankful if one of you guys can help)I dont think the PLS is doing very much looking at its clock, but for me the code would be very difficult to invent..Hope i have been of help.cheers, Graham VK3XDK (grumss@yahoo.com.au)

author: giosif
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2020, 01:21:00 pm
content: Hi,I too am having trouble locating replacement ICs for the different PLS models on the display board of my 2710.However, specifically for the PLS159, I see someone based in Poland is selling some -https://ebay.us/b4NeOAWith regards to the code, you can find the full list of dump files in a few places: TekScopes@groups.io and KO4BB web site.This list includes the JED files for the PLS ICs.Hope this helps!

author: grumss
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2020, 09:42:13 am
content: Thanks giosif- i will have a look... programming these devices may be an issue too for us non digital guys,,, I hate to see a great SA going to waste though!One thing that i will mention is that mine had a lot of use here ( for years), it was on for hours during testing when it first started playing up... I heard an electrical "arcing" sound and from that moment on things started to misbehave.. So i suspect many of "our issues" originate from the power supply and damage the sensitive PLS devices... I have looked carefully at the power supply on mine and still havnt found any issues but i think it may be an intermittent thing..If the PLS damage is due to power supply "spikes" (as i suspect) it may be worthwhile to put some protection on the most venerable boards (digital storage board No.1)...