[geeks] HP equipment, call for documentation

Arno Kletzander Arno_1983 at gmx.de
Sun Dec 28 09:18:57 CST 2014


Hello everybody,

Santa brought me two fine pieces of HP measurement equipment (o.k., I had to
order and pay for them up front...) and I'm now looking for documentation on
those.

1: HP 8016A Word Generator
(http://www.decadecounter.com/vta/articleview.php?item=35). This basically is
a 256 bit memory with control logic and drivers that can be configured to spit
out its front panel programmed contents through 1, 2, 4 or 8 outputs (with a
respective word length of 256, 128, 64 or 32 bits). Trigger can be applied
externally or via pushbutton, bit clock (up to 50 MC) can be internally
generated or externally connected. Output levels can be set to TTL or ECL with
adjustable offset,  RZ or NRZ operation selected. Each output is also
available negated on a separate connector, four channels have separately
adjustable delays. The real surprise with this one was that it came with the
IEEE-488 (HP-IB) data load option installed. I have found datasheets and the
User section of the manual (Chapter 1-3) here, but this contains neither the
HPIB instruction set (which I'd like to have anyway) nor the schematic and
service instructions (in case I should need them - couldn't try the device out
yet because I'll have to replace a broken IEC receptacle first).

2: HP 11835A Serial Data Buffer
(http://www.hpmuseum.net/display_item.php?hw=665). Contains two banks of 64k x
16 bit parallel-input, serial-output data RAM, 128k x 16 bit control RAM
feeding the frame control state machine, and 64k x 8 bit frequency RAM driving
a parallel control output. Originally intended to provide continuous serial
data streams at up to 4 MHz and control a frequency agile synthesizer (HP
8662A) for testing mobile communication devices; mine was in use at a Nokia
R&D facility in Oulu, Finland, according to a sticker. This unit is usually
controlled and fed with data from a microcomputer (HP 9000 Series 300 or
Vectra series) through a HP 82306 GPIO interface, which I don't have. Found no
documentation except for a four-page data sheet with a simplified block
diagram (https://www.valuetronics.com/Manuals/HP_11835A.PDF) yet and would
need at least the specification for the GPIO connector and its protocol to get
anything working, plus preferably said interface card plus documentation
and/or driver software.

Thanks in advance for any assistance offered.

Yours sincerly,
Arno Kletzander


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