[volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do you read 32K memory chips?
I'm porting over my HP3458A NVRAM data dumper program to use John Miles GPIBKIT routines. It should make it usable with most GPIB interfaces out there and be able to run under more modern versions of Windoze. My first crack at it is working, but it is quite a bit slower than my original program. Not sure if anything can be done about that... BTW, my program does verify the checksum bytes in the CAL ram so there is a check that the dump went OK. Without Poul-Henning's work none of this would be possible. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do you read 32K memory chips?
Mark, Would love to try it. I think the main reason to hang onto the calibration data is to be able to send the meter to Keysight and find out if the meter was 'in spec' when it arrived for calibration. If so, gives great confidence that the meter is a 'good one'. Joe -Original Message- From: volt-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:volt-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Mark Sims Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2014 1:53 AM To: volt-nuts@febo.com Subject: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do you read 32K memory chips? I'm porting over my HP3458A NVRAM data dumper program to use John Miles GPIBKIT routines. It should make it usable with most GPIB interfaces out there and be able to run under more modern versions of Windoze. My first crack at it is working, but it is quite a bit slower than my original program. Not sure if anything can be done about that... BTW, my program does verify the checksum bytes in the CAL ram so there is a check that the dump went OK. Without Poul-Henning's work none of this would be possible. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do you read 32K memory chips?
Mark, I just ordered the ProLogix USB-GPIB converter specifically to read the contents of my 3458A. Would it be possible to get a copy of your program that you wrote to read the memory contents. It would be greatly appreciated and save me a lot of work and frustration. thanks, Randy On Wed, Aug 20, 2014 at 5:33 PM, Mark Sims hol...@hotmail.com wrote: You REALLY don't want to mess with that 24 pin NVRAM chip... it contains the calibration memory. If you bugger the data in it, you get to spend a couple of grand getting the meter back into working order. I know a couple of people that did just that. The solution is to first make a backup copy of the memory contents using the (undocumented) MREAD command over the GPIB bus. Poul-Henning Kamp figured out how to do it... buy the man a beer... even better a case of beer... Search the archives for details. I just backed up all the memory in my 3 HP3458A's for when the inevitable BIG BAD DAY comes and the backup batteries go bye-bye. If you happen to have a NI GPIB-232CV-A (or possibly a Prologix) RS-232 to GPIB converter and can run a DOS or WIN98 program, I have a program that dumps the memory chips. It has code for the Prologix in it, but I've only used it with my a Prologix compatible unit I built... I don't have a real Prologix to test it with. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do you read 32K memorychips?
When I removed the original NVRAM devices and then put in sockets, I plugged the original devices back in just to see if everything worked. Apparently some cal data was lost just desoldering the devices as I got error messages. It really didn't concern me as I intended to completely recal the meter with my local standards anyhow. It was hours before I plugged the original devices back in so they were completely at room temp. My guess was that since the date codes were 1992 and I did this in 2010 the batteries were almost dead after 18 years and just the shock of desoldering caused the end. Bill - Original Message - From: Mark Sims hol...@hotmail.com To: volt-nuts@febo.com Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2014 7:20 PM Subject: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do you read 32K memorychips? The problem with removing the chip and copying it is the very real chance of glitching the contents in the process. Much better to make a backup copy first. The 32Kx8 NVRAMS are used for system memory and things like storage of user programs and data. Note that the two 32Kx8 devices are form a 16-bit word. The 2kx8 cal ram is only on the high byte of the data bus. MREAD returns memory contents as a signed integer value (-32768..32767) in ASCII. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do you read 32K memorychips?
Bill, Thanks for the insight. I always thought that I lost my CALRAM data by trying to read the chip in my programmer while the chip was still warm. What you are saying is that you did not try to read your chip, just unsoldered, installed a socket, plugged it back in and the data was corrupted. Very interesting. I have done this to three 3458A's and only lost the data on one of the units. This further supports the need to be able to read the contents before unsoldering and have that data be able to be used to program a new chip. Thanks for the insight and I would love to try some programs to do that. I only have Windows systems but I have several USB to GPIB adapter choices, PCI to HPIB adapter choices, and RS232 to GPIB adapter choices. Joe -Original Message- From: volt-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:volt-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Bill Gold Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2014 9:33 AM To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do you read 32K memorychips? When I removed the original NVRAM devices and then put in sockets, I plugged the original devices back in just to see if everything worked. Apparently some cal data was lost just desoldering the devices as I got error messages. It really didn't concern me as I intended to completely recal the meter with my local standards anyhow. It was hours before I plugged the original devices back in so they were completely at room temp. My guess was that since the date codes were 1992 and I did this in 2010 the batteries were almost dead after 18 years and just the shock of desoldering caused the end. Bill - Original Message - From: Mark Sims hol...@hotmail.com To: volt-nuts@febo.com Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2014 7:20 PM Subject: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do you read 32K memorychips? The problem with removing the chip and copying it is the very real chance of glitching the contents in the process. Much better to make a backup copy first. The 32Kx8 NVRAMS are used for system memory and things like storage of user programs and data. Note that the two 32Kx8 devices are form a 16-bit word. The 2kx8 cal ram is only on the high byte of the data bus. MREAD returns memory contents as a signed integer value (-32768..32767) in ASCII. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do youread 32K memorychips?
Correct, I didn't read the NVRAMS. I didn't have a prom reader/writer that would handle these devices anyhow and no GPIB interface that worked anymore. Actually I have two 3458A. Once I was completely done with the first one including the cal I didn't even try to put the original NVRAMS removed from the second meter, just put in the new ones and proceeded to the cal procedure. Bill - Original Message - From: J. L. Trantham jlt...@att.net To: 'Discussion of precise voltage measurement' volt-nuts@febo.com Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2014 7:53 AM Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do youread 32K memorychips? Bill, Thanks for the insight. I always thought that I lost my CALRAM data by trying to read the chip in my programmer while the chip was still warm. What you are saying is that you did not try to read your chip, just unsoldered, installed a socket, plugged it back in and the data was corrupted. Very interesting. I have done this to three 3458A's and only lost the data on one of the units. This further supports the need to be able to read the contents before unsoldering and have that data be able to be used to program a new chip. Thanks for the insight and I would love to try some programs to do that. I only have Windows systems but I have several USB to GPIB adapter choices, PCI to HPIB adapter choices, and RS232 to GPIB adapter choices. Joe -Original Message- From: volt-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:volt-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Bill Gold Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2014 9:33 AM To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do you read 32K memorychips? When I removed the original NVRAM devices and then put in sockets, I plugged the original devices back in just to see if everything worked. Apparently some cal data was lost just desoldering the devices as I got error messages. It really didn't concern me as I intended to completely recal the meter with my local standards anyhow. It was hours before I plugged the original devices back in so they were completely at room temp. My guess was that since the date codes were 1992 and I did this in 2010 the batteries were almost dead after 18 years and just the shock of desoldering caused the end. Bill - Original Message - From: Mark Sims hol...@hotmail.com To: volt-nuts@febo.com Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2014 7:20 PM Subject: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do you read 32K memorychips? The problem with removing the chip and copying it is the very real chance of glitching the contents in the process. Much better to make a backup copy first. The 32Kx8 NVRAMS are used for system memory and things like storage of user programs and data. Note that the two 32Kx8 devices are form a 16-bit word. The 2kx8 cal ram is only on the high byte of the data bus. MREAD returns memory contents as a signed integer value (-32768..32767) in ASCII. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do you read 32K memory chips?
Mark, What language/development environment are you using to read 3458A memory? On Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 6:27 AM, J. L. Trantham jlt...@att.net wrote: Mark, Would love to try it. I think the main reason to hang onto the calibration data is to be able to send the meter to Keysight and find out if the meter was 'in spec' when it arrived for calibration. If so, gives great confidence that the meter is a 'good one'. Joe -Original Message- From: volt-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:volt-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Mark Sims Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2014 1:53 AM To: volt-nuts@febo.com Subject: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A Mem test 1 hight. How do you read 32K memory chips? I'm porting over my HP3458A NVRAM data dumper program to use John Miles GPIBKIT routines. It should make it usable with most GPIB interfaces out there and be able to run under more modern versions of Windoze. My first crack at it is working, but it is quite a bit slower than my original program. Not sure if anything can be done about that... BTW, my program does verify the checksum bytes in the CAL ram so there is a check that the dump went OK. Without Poul-Henning's work none of this would be possible. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there. -- *John Phillips* ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there.
[volt-nuts] HP3458A CAL ram data dumper program
I have the GPIBKIT version of my HP3458A cal ram data dumper program available. If you want to try a copy shoot me an email. If it works out, I'll see if John wants to include it in the standard toolkit distribution. You will need to download GPIB tool kit from the KE5FX.COM web site, run the tool kit configuration program (PROLOGIX.EXE) to setup it up for your interface (it works with Prologix and NI compatible interfaces), copy my HP3458.EXE program to the GPIBKIT directory and run it. Check the comments at the start of HP3458.CPP for some info. Run HP3458.EXE without any command line arguments for program usage help. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [volt-nuts] HP3458A CAL ram data dumper program
Hi Mark, Is it possible the program could create a .bin or .hex file that could be used to burn a backup NVRAM on an external programmer? I would love to have a copy if possible. While I don't yet have a 3458A, it is on my wish list awaiting the necessary funds to build up and for that once in a while good deal. Regards, Tom - Original Message - From: Mark Sims hol...@hotmail.com To: volt-nuts@febo.com Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2014 9:33 PM Subject: [volt-nuts] HP3458A CAL ram data dumper program I have the GPIBKIT version of my HP3458A cal ram data dumper program available. If you want to try a copy shoot me an email. If it works out, I'll see if John wants to include it in the standard toolkit distribution. You will need to download GPIB tool kit from the KE5FX.COM web site, run the tool kit configuration program (PROLOGIX.EXE) to setup it up for your interface (it works with Prologix and NI compatible interfaces), copy my HP3458.EXE program to the GPIBKIT directory and run it. Check the comments at the start of HP3458.CPP for some info. Run HP3458.EXE without any command line arguments for program usage help. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there.
[volt-nuts] HP3458A CAL ram data dumper program
The program outputs a 2kB (or 2 x 32kB) binary ROM image files files along with a couple of ASCII format files of the data. 2kb for CAL ram and 32kb for DATA ram (probably not needed, but it can dump the data RAM chips). The binary files have the extension .hi and .lo (CAL ram data is only in the high byte of the memory space). ___ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there.
