Tektronix TDS540 Calibration Procedure???
 

I picked up two non-working Tek Scopes a TDS540 and a TDS520.
Previous owner swapped the processor boards, unprotected the
calibration ram and let 'er rip. Apparently there was all manner
of complaining from the scope before it locked up.
Not sure which board that happened to. I'd like to learn as much
as I can before I go poking around and make things wose

I'm guessing from the original symptoms that I need to change all the
electrolytic caps. But what to do about the calibration constants?
The processor boards have the same part number and EPROM revision,
so I'm assuming the board can figure out which acquisition system
it's hooked to???
Did he just mess up the factory cal? Will the self-test/cal
set things back so it works ok? Is there any reasonable way to
get factory cal constants stuck back into nvram?

There's mention of a magic diskette for a PC that controls the
calibration over GPIB, but I can't find any documentation on it.

The programmer manual mentions a cal command that steps thru the cal
procedure, but not clear whether the user instructions come from the
instrument ROM or the program running on the PC.

Anybody used such a thing and can give me some idea of what to expect?
I can write a GPIB program to do the setup if I knew how to
get it into the right mode to accept same. Jim??

I do have a working TDS540 for comparison, but I'm afraid to mess with it.

Thanks, mike
--
Return address is VALID.
Wanted, 12.1" LCD for Gateway Solo 5300. Samsung LT121SU-121
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
Compaq Aero floppy,ram,battery.
MINT HP-41CV, 2-METER AMPS, 200CH SCANNER
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/

mike wrote in message ...
I picked up two non-working Tek Scopes a TDS540 and a TDS520.
Previous owner swapped the processor boards, unprotected the
calibration ram and let 'er rip. Apparently there was all manner
of complaining from the scope before it locked up.
Not sure which board that happened to. I'd like to learn as much
as I can before I go poking around and make things wose

I'm guessing from the original symptoms that I need to change all the
electrolytic caps. But what to do about the calibration constants?
The processor boards have the same part number and EPROM revision,
so I'm assuming the board can figure out which acquisition system
it's hooked to???
Did he just mess up the factory cal? Will the self-test/cal
set things back so it works ok? Is there any reasonable way to
get factory cal constants stuck back into nvram?

..snippety.


I'd recommend you download a Servicemanual (www.tektronix.com or from
www.teknetelectronics.com == www.datasouthmanuals.com) for free,
or download the calibration procedure for tds540 (www.logsa.army.mil).

The TDS 540 is nice scope, but I guess the cal.'procedure takes you a
while ;-)

hth,
Andreas

TekMan wrote:
mike wrote in message ...

I picked up two non-working Tek Scopes a TDS540 and a TDS520.
Previous owner swapped the processor boards, unprotected the
calibration ram and let 'er rip. Apparently there was all manner
of complaining from the scope before it locked up.
Not sure which board that happened to. I'd like to learn as much
as I can before I go poking around and make things wose

I'm guessing from the original symptoms that I need to change all the
electrolytic caps. But what to do about the calibration constants?
The processor boards have the same part number and EPROM revision,
so I'm assuming the board can figure out which acquisition system
it's hooked to???
Did he just mess up the factory cal? Will the self-test/cal
set things back so it works ok? Is there any reasonable way to
get factory cal constants stuck back into nvram?

..snippety.



I'd recommend you download a Servicemanual (www.tektronix.com or from
www.teknetelectronics.com == www.datasouthmanuals.com) for free,
or download the calibration procedure for tds540 (www.logsa.army.mil).

Been there, done that. Both the logsa and the Tek manuals give a slew
of performance check info. The cal procedure consists of, "Insert the
super secret calibration floppy in your gpib computer and follow
directions."
Not much help.
mike


The TDS 540 is nice scope, but I guess the cal.'procedure takes you a
while ;-)

hth,
Andreas



--
Return address is VALID.
Wanted, 12.1" LCD for Gateway Solo 5300. Samsung LT121SU-121
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
Compaq Aero floppy,ram,battery.
MINT HP-41CV, 2-METER AMPS, 200CH SCANNER
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/

mike wrote in message ...
TekMan wrote:
mike wrote in message ...


..snippety.



I'd recommend you download a Servicemanual (www.tektronix.com or from
www.teknetelectronics.com == www.datasouthmanuals.com) for free,
or download the calibration procedure for tds540 (www.logsa.army.mil).

Been there, done that. Both the logsa and the Tek manuals give a slew
of performance check info. The cal procedure consists of, "Insert the
super secret calibration floppy in your gpib computer and follow
directions."
Not much help.
mike

If you have been there, then the point is as above, then the help is :

The "supersecretfloppy": you have to contact tektronix. Try to get via
phone to one of the technicians, and with a little luck (maybe you
need more then one try) these people are very helpful and will provide
you a copy after having listend to your case.

Of course, this takes some time and effort.

Good luck!

Andreas




The TDS 540 is nice scope, but I guess the cal.'procedure takes you a
while ;-)

hth,
Andreas