Activate options for TDS5xx,6xx,7xx C/D, using floppy!! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: silence00
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 28, 2019, 10:32:24 am
content: Many posts have talked using GPIB to activate the options for Tektronix TDS500/600/700 scopes. But playing with GPIB is not very easy (the right card, driver, old computer, settings, and cost) for me.Recently, during using the 'TDS500/600/700 NVRAM floppy backup and restore tool' to backup the NVRAM for my TDS540C, I found a way to activate the options by using this tool to write the revised backup to NVRAM through floppy. Quite easy! So, post it here, hope can help the TDS owners who is interest in this.Note: The 'TDS500/600/700 NVRAM floppy backup and restore tool' is developed by flyte, posted at 'https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tektronix-tds500600700-nvram-floppy-dump-tool/'.Thanks flyte for developed this great tool!How to activate the option by floppy:When the NVRAM was dumped, use a hex editor to open it. Then refer to below table, to change the related bit from 00 to 01, save. Use floppy to write it back, restart the TDS, the option will be enabled.NVRAM Addr Addr in Hex Editor Value Option on/off Option0400081D 0000081D 00 Off TV Trigger0400081F 0000081F 01 On Option 1M04000821 00000821 00 Off N/A04000823 00000823 01 On Option 1304000825 00000825 01 On Option 1F04000827 00000827 01 On Option 2F04000829 00000829 00 Off N/A0400082B 0000082B 01 On Option 2C0400082D 0000082D 00 Off Option 3C0400082F 0000082F 00 Off Option 4C04000831 00000831 00 Off Option 2MPlease note, some option need hardware to be installed (TV trig, 13, 3C, 4C, 2M). Option will not appear if you not install them.Much more easy than GPIB process, right? Have fun!

author: Tantratron
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2019, 09:16:22 am
content: Two topics in response to the initial post.To activate options seems not too difficult now, in my case using a NI-GPIB-USB-HS interface connected to my Macintosh and TDS540Chttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/gpib-usb-control-between-macbook-air-(macintosh)-and-tds540c/However I'm still on my learning curve to see if possible to dump and reload the NVRAM via GPIB.In the meantime, would it be possible to know exact steps to copy one TDS540C nvram content to another TDS540C nvram (I've two of these) only through the floppy disk drive - 1.44Meg diskHappy New Year

author: grabdexter
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 17, 2020, 07:54:27 am
content: I have the NVRAM image from a TDS544A with options 1M and 2F. I'm not sure what FW version, or how close the options bits are to the TDS540.shareit appvidmateVidmate apk

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2020, 06:00:18 pm
content: I used this method the other day to add option 2C to my TDS754D, worked just fine. I did need to flip the NVRAM protect switch to get it to write correctly. Check the other thread if you have any confusion about how to read and write to the NVRAM via floppy. It's all laid out in there and the info file in the ZIP from flyte (who is awesome!)

author: flistereight
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 12, 2021, 02:01:48 pm
content: I have the NVRAM image from a TDS544A with options 1M and 2F. I'm not sure what FW version, or how close the options bits are to the TDS540.

author: noxplayer
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 17, 2021, 05:14:25 am
content: However I'm still on my learning curve to see if possible to dump and reload the NVRAM via GPIB.

author: ajakvid
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 26, 2022, 08:04:35 am
content: Check the other thread if you have any confusion about how to read and write to the NVRAM via floppy.