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E4433B firmware issue

Question asked by RFMWDude on Feb 5, 2018
Latest reply on Feb 14, 2018 by RFMWDude

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Hi all,

My E4433B came with an ancient firmware version B.02.24, so I decided to upgrade it to the latest version (via the 2-step process, with B.03.20 as an intermediate version).

That didn't work out as planned, and the generator now throws up a number of errors:

ERROR: 617, Configuration Error
Installed option board not supported
RF OUPUT
REFERENCE BOARD
Illegal combination of installed option boards.

The "Installed board Information" shows:

RF OUTPUT E4400-60003 EOF CONFIG ERROR
REFERENCE BOARD E4400-60009 EOF CONFIG ERROR

(other boards are OK)

My guess is I'm dealing with an early version of the ESG "B", with 2 boards derived from the "A" version.

The information screen originally showed:

Model:                        ESG-D4000B
Options:                  1E5,UN8,UND,UN5,H97
Serial Number:          US3723xxxx
Firmware Revision: B.02.24 (ARB ver 1.2.05)

The question is: since it was working fine with firmware version B.02.24, how can I go back to that?

The oldest downloadable version is B.03.02, which doesn't work for my generator.

Thanks in advance and best regards,

Rick

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EricBaker

Feb 9, 2018 9:36 AM

Hi Rick,

Those configuration errors you see have nothing to do with the firmware revision. Either something went wrong with the firmware load, or you just got a coincidental failure such as dirty board connections or header corruption in the two boards. I've never seen headers become corrupted as a result of a firmware load. You options and board part numbers are fully compatible with that firmware revision. I suggest upgrading to the latest (B.03.86).

Regards,

Eric

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RFMWDude @ EricBaker on Feb 9, 2018 10:28 AM

Hi Jonathan and Eric,

Thanks for your responses!

I did already try some different firmware versions, including B.03.86. They all give the same error messages.
I also tried the suggested hard reset, but to no avail.
Reseating the boards also didn’t help.

I did, however, overlook one thing at first: this generator was born as an E4433A, and was later upgraded to the “B” version, and thus became an E4433BU. Judging by the labels, this modification was done by Hewlett-Packard in 1998.

I think this must be the clue to the problem. Maybe the (very) early E4400-60003 and E4400-60009 boards had a slightly different EEPROM structure and/or content? The B.02.24 firmware didn’t complain about that, but the B.03.xx does.

So I guess there are the following options, ordered by my preference:

Updating the EEPROM contents. Either by using a dedicated programmer, or via HPIB commands (SERVice:PRODuction:CARD). That way, I can still use the latest firmware.
Get hold of an older firmware version (B.02.xx).
Replace the boards with newer revisions.
Send the device in for repair.

The last two options are not particularly cost-effective for a device of this age.

Best regards,

Rick

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EricBaker

@ RFMWDude on Feb 14, 2018 12:44 PM

Hi Rick,

The E4400-60003 and E4400-60009 boards aren't "early" boards. They were used up until the ESG-B's went out of production.

Regards,

Eric

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RFMWDude Feb 14, 2018 2:17 PM

Hi Eric,

Thanks again for your help. You seem to have a lot of knowledge about these generators.

The thing still puzzles me.

Let's have a look at the "Installed board Information" again:

Name                               Part Number   Serial Number   Version   Status
RF OUTPUT                   E4400-60003 00033                 EOF      CONFIG ERROR
REFERENCE BOARD    E4400-60009 1962403536      EOF      CONFIG ERROR

The serial number of the 60009 board seems to be in the expected format. The 60003 board's serial looks a bit suspicious.

I took a look under the hood, and this is what I found on the labels:

Output Board: SAIAAA00033(003-PRTO)
Reference Board: e4400-60009-02-01-9624-03536

So the output board actually looks to be some sort of prototype (if that is what 'PRTO' means).

The serial numbers are reported correctly, but the version number is absent or somehow corrupted.

The question remains: how can I recover from this condition, without sending the unit in for repair?

I don't mind some tinkering/soldering/programming at all.

Best regards,

Rick

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4 Replies

EricBaker Feb 9, 2018 9:36 AM
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Hi Rick,

Those configuration errors you see have nothing to do with the firmware revision. Either something went wrong with the firmware load, or you just got a coincidental failure such as dirty board connections or header corruption in the two boards. I've never seen headers become corrupted as a result of a firmware load. You options and board part numbers are fully compatible with that firmware revision. I suggest upgrading to the latest (B.03.86).
Regards,

Eric
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- RFMWDude @ EricBaker on Feb 9, 2018 10:28 AM
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  Hi Jonathan and Eric,
  
  Thanks for your responses!
  
  I did already try some different firmware versions, including B.03.86. They all give the same error messages.
  I also tried the suggested hard reset, but to no avail.
  Reseating the boards also didn’t help.
  I did, however, overlook one thing at first: this generator was born as an E4433A, and was later upgraded to the “B” version, and thus became an E4433BU. Judging by the labels, this modification was done by Hewlett-Packard in 1998.
  I think this must be the clue to the problem. Maybe the (very) early E4400-60003 and E4400-60009 boards had a slightly different EEPROM structure and/or content? The B.02.24 firmware didn’t complain about that, but the B.03.xx does.
  
  So I guess there are the following options, ordered by my preference:
  Updating the EEPROM contents. Either by using a dedicated programmer, or via HPIB commands (SERVice:PRODuction:CARD). That way, I can still use the latest firmware.
  Get hold of an older firmware version (B.02.xx).
  Replace the boards with newer revisions.
  Send the device in for repair.
  The last two options are not particularly cost-effective for a device of this age.
  
  Best regards,
  Rick
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  - EricBaker @ RFMWDude on Feb 14, 2018 12:44 PM
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    Hi Rick,
    
    The E4400-60003 and E4400-60009 boards aren't "early" boards. They were used up until the ESG-B's went out of production.
    
    Regards,
    
    Eric
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RFMWDude Feb 14, 2018 2:17 PM
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Hi Eric,

Thanks again for your help. You seem to have a lot of knowledge about these generators.
The thing still puzzles me.
Let's have a look at the "Installed board Information" again:
Name                               Part Number   Serial Number   Version   Status
RF OUTPUT                   E4400-60003 00033                 EOF      CONFIG ERROR
REFERENCE BOARD    E4400-60009 1962403536      EOF      CONFIG ERROR
The serial number of the 60009 board seems to be in the expected format. The 60003 board's serial looks a bit suspicious.
I took a look under the hood, and this is what I found on the labels:
Output Board:         SAIAAA00033(003-PRTO)
Reference Board:   e4400-60009-02-01-9624-03536
So the output board actually looks to be some sort of prototype (if that is what 'PRTO' means).
The serial numbers are reported correctly, but the version number is absent or somehow corrupted.

The question remains: how can I recover from this condition, without sending the unit in for repair?
I don't mind some tinkering/soldering/programming at all.

Best regards,
Rick
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