"I know that HP will (gladly?) take your sick 3458 and bring it up to current specs, followed by a calibration. Since my sick one is at engineering level 2 or 3.something, it must be like it was built in 1989 - the dates on some components."

Should I try to do any troubleshooting, or just send it to HP?"

Hi,

agilent simply replaces boards, but will not desolder and replace components.
Therefore, they will definitely replace the processor board completely (several hundred $), but then the latest firmware 9 will be inside. Additionally, a new calibration will have to be paid (+ several hundred $).

Alternatively, simply replace the 3 NVRAMs (DALLAS/maxim or digikey, <50$), and the 6 EPROMs for firmware 9 (agilent, 180$), if you are able to copy the CAL RAM and/or to recalibrate on your own.
And on the old processor board you can upgrade opt. 01 by DIY (<10$), instead of agilent (+ several 100 $).
Another fellow volt-nuts did that on a 1989 unit, came up fresh like a daisy. I.e. no need for further replacement of any other boards.

@Tom Knox: Would you mind sharing your knowledge about error 202 here on that list, instead?
THX.

Frank

Hi,
 
What do you mean by " DIY " about the upgrade to opt 01 ?
thanks

From: Frank Stellmach frank.stellmach@freenet.de
To: volt-nuts@febo.com
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 8:54 PM
Subject: [volt-nuts] 3458a with 202: Slave Test Convergence (sigh)

"I know that HP will (gladly?) take your sick 3458 and bring it up to current specs, followed by a calibration. Since my sick one is at engineering level 2 or 3.something, it must be like it was built in 1989 - the dates on some components."

Should I try to do any troubleshooting, or just send it to HP?"

Hi,

agilent simply replaces boards, but will not desolder and replace components.
Therefore, they will definitely replace the processor board completely (several hundred $), but then the latest firmware 9 will be inside. Additionally, a new calibration will have to be paid (+ several hundred $).

Alternatively, simply replace the 3 NVRAMs (DALLAS/maxim or digikey, <50$), and the 6 EPROMs for firmware 9 (agilent, 180$), if you are able to copy the CAL RAM and/or to recalibrate on your own.
And on the old processor board you can upgrade opt. 01 by DIY (<10$), instead of agilent (+ several 100 $).
Another fellow volt-nuts did that on a 1989 unit, came up fresh like a daisy. I.e. no need for further replacement of any other boards.

@Tom Knox: Would you mind sharing your knowledge about error 202 here on that list, instead?
THX.

Frank

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.

Not sure about the specifics, but I did it to my three 3458A's with the
'single EPROM' version of the A5 board by simply plugging in a couple of
chips.

I can find the specifics if needed.

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com [mailto:volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On
Behalf Of JF PICARD
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 5:33 PM
To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement
Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] 3458a with 202: Slave Test Convergence (sigh)

Hi,
 
What do you mean by " DIY " about the upgrade to opt 01 ?
thanks

From: Frank Stellmach frank.stellmach@freenet.de
To: volt-nuts@febo.com
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 8:54 PM
Subject: [volt-nuts] 3458a with 202: Slave Test Convergence (sigh)

"I know that HP will (gladly?) take your sick 3458 and bring it up to
current specs, followed by a calibration. Since my sick one is at
engineering level 2 or 3.something, it must be like it was built in 1989 -
the dates on some components."

Should I try to do any troubleshooting, or just send it to HP?"

Hi,

agilent simply replaces boards, but will not desolder and replace
components.
Therefore, they will definitely replace the processor board completely
(several hundred $), but then the latest firmware 9 will be inside.
Additionally, a new calibration will have to be paid (+ several hundred $).

Alternatively, simply replace the 3 NVRAMs (DALLAS/maxim or digikey, <50$),
and the 6 EPROMs for firmware 9 (agilent, 180$), if you are able to copy the
CAL RAM and/or to recalibrate on your own.
And on the old processor board you can upgrade opt. 01 by DIY (<10$),
instead of agilent (+ several 100 $).
Another fellow volt-nuts did that on a 1989 unit, came up fresh like a
daisy. I.e. no need for further replacement of any other boards.

@Tom Knox: Would you mind sharing your knowledge about error 202 here on
that list, instead?
THX.

Frank

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.

Hi,

I hate to jump into the middle of this as I haven't been following it but I have had about twenty 3458As go thru my ham shack. (a real sickness)

Seven had the error 202 Slave Convergence and all were bad A3 boards. (A/D Converter & I ngua rd Logic ) Not saying this is always the case but swapping in a good A3 fixed all seven of my 202 errs.

Jeff   

----- Original Message -----

From: "Frank Stellmach" frank.stellmach@freenet.de
To: volt-nuts@febo.com
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 12:54:36 PM
Subject: [volt-nuts] 3458a with 202: Slave Test Convergence (sigh)

"I know that HP will (gladly?) take your sick 3458 and bring it up to current specs, followed by a calibration. Since my sick one is at engineering level 2 or 3.something, it must be like it was built in 1989 - the dates on some components."

Should I try to do any troubleshooting, or just send it to HP?"

Hi,

agilent simply replaces boards, but will not desolder and replace components.
Therefore, they will definitely replace the processor board completely (several hundred $), but then the latest firmware 9 will be inside. Additionally, a new calibration will have to be paid (+ several hundred $).

Alternatively, simply replace the 3 NVRAMs (DALLAS/maxim or digikey, <50$), and the 6 EPROMs for firmware 9 (agilent, 180$), if you are able to copy the CAL RAM and/or to recalibrate on your own.
And on the old processor board you can upgrade opt. 01 by DIY (<10$), instead of agilent (+ several 100 $).
Another fellow volt-nuts did that on a 1989 unit, came up fresh like a daisy. I.e. no need for further replacement of any other boards.

@Tom Knox: Would you mind sharing your knowledge about error 202 here on that list, instead?
THX.

Frank

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.