Is it possible to "upgrade" an HP 1670A to HP 1670D? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: ghpicard
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2018, 12:12:37 am
content: Hi guys,I got an almost mint HP 1670A (136 channels, 70MHz State/250 MHz Timing) with cables but no pods (I got 3 of them separately) and was wondering if any of the resistor configuration tricks were used to select models. HP 1670D has also 136 channels, but 100MHz State/250 MHz timing).Option 030 (deep memory option) is 512Kb/channel for the 1670A and 1Mb/channel for the 1670D, which is kind of strange as the differences are not only cosmetic, but not too much strange after almost 20 years.I know that the 1670A was available for a short period of time, and Agilent only carries information for the 1670D.Any information or pointers will be appreciated.RegardsGaston

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 10, 2018, 02:28:25 pm
content: I don't know the answer to your question, and if no one else chimes in here, the first thing to do is determine if the hardware is even capable of an easy upgrade via a resistor or similar mechanism.I would start by identifying and counting the number of acquisition memory chips. Then look at the datasheet for it and tally up the total the number of storage bits in the unit. Divide by the number of channels, including qualifiers if it captures them too, and that should give you the maximum capture depth for the hardware.At least it will tell you if it's worth digging deeper.

author: gslick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 02:43:36 am
content: I have a 1670D with the 1M sample depth option and a 1670E, which as far as I know was only available as a 1M sample depth model. I haven't opened them up yet to do a comparison. I assume the logic acquisition boards would be identical, but the CPU boards would have some differences as the 1670D has a monochrome CRT while the 1670E has a color LCD. The 1670E probably has the same CPU board as the 1660E, but different logic acquisition boards.I don't have a 1670D without the 1M sample depth option to compare one of those.Given the 70MHz State vs the 100MHz State state difference along with the max sample depth difference between the 1670A and 1670D/E I would assume that there are differences between those logic acquisition boards beyond simple configuration jumpers. I don't have a 1670A to compare one of those.I also have a 1670G. The logic acquisition boards for those cannot be the same as for the 1670D/E since the POD connector spacing on the back panel is different between the 1670D/E and the 1670G, along with the 2M sample depth option being available for the 1670G.

author: ghpicard
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2018, 01:46:48 pm
content: Well, I finally opened the LA out and confirmed that the acquisition board is specific to the instrument. This means there is no easy way to change any of its characteristics.There are several boards for the mainframe style instruments that can be changed through physical "switch" configuration, but not this one.Quote from: gslick on April 13, 2018, 02:43:36 amNot necessarily true. One can always make a 1 Mbit/channel memory board to show and work as if it had only 512Kbit/channel, and also to have a lower sample speed. What is not possible is the opposite. That was what I was hoping for (that the 1670As were capped 1670Ds), but it was not so.

author: TK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2018, 02:58:42 pm
content: Quote from: ghpicard on April 16, 2018, 01:46:48 pmUsually the letter in the model indicate different version of the product (different release dates, new generation), not different configurations. The later is usually indicated by changing the model number... like 1670G, 1671G, 1672G.