I just got this 54501a off eBay. The self diagnostics are all successful but the self calibration (vertical and delay) always fail. I have a generic bnc to bnc cable and a 20ohm load resistor. I have tried with and without the resistor and always comes back with "check bnc cable connections". Do I really need a 90$ hp bnc cable for this? If I do, does anyone have the part number, I can't find it.
I did read somewhere on the web the if it comes back with this error I need to call tech support.
I have read other posts that say as long as its a hobbie scope( which mine is) don't worry about calibration as long as its close. Here's the problem. It's not, on a fairly stable .5 v square wave input, it's registering like .02v.
It would be nice to get it somewhere in the ballpark lol
Thanks I. Advance
Mike
I did read somewhere on the web the if it comes back with this error I need to call tech support.
I have read other posts that say as long as its a hobbie scope( which mine is) don't worry about calibration as long as its close. Here's the problem. It's not, on a fairly stable .5 v square wave input, it's registering like .02v.
It would be nice to get it somewhere in the ballpark lol
Thanks I. Advance
Mike
http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/red ... 6883544.00
It's an obsolete model, harder to get support.
I skimmed the manual, and it didn't mention a need for a load terminator. I know you've tried both with and without, but how about trying 50-ohm?
Based on my experience in trying to call a 6000 series, an old worn-out bnc cable fails the calibration most of the time, so I do believe you need at least decent cables. On the other hand, it's from eBay and it's old, so the problem could lie elsewhere.
Also, refer to Figure 6.9 in page 6-16 of the link above. It says it's either a cable problem, or system board assembly problem.