EEVblog #145 - Agilent LAN/VGA Module Teardown

What's inside the Agilent 2000/3000 Infiniivision X Series LAN/VGA module?
What do you get for your $400?

[EEVblog]

@usunoro No need for software, the scope has it's on web sever inside, just type in the IP address into any browser and you can access the scope. Whether or not the scope firmware detects the module first before enabling the web server capability I don't know. Worth trying if you had one! Maybe there is an enable pin on the module, in which case you could just do your own board to get Ethernet capability.

[ObviousSchism]

Theatre ticket numbers often begin at No. 1000 in order to make it appear that at least some tickets have been sold already. Likewise, REV numbers are artificially inflated in order to make it appear that the manufacturer is actively developing a product

[anakinseviltwin]

The reason they probably didn't use HDMI is that it is a copyrighted interface, and you have to pay a licensing fee to use it. If they had put on a DVI interface, that would have made a bit more sense...

[eldenchang]

I just got one of those adapters for my DSO-X2002A
Thanks for the review

[Greegor]

Is there anything in Agilent's warranty etc. to prevent some small company
from selling a cheap LAN card for this with no components, just the Mag jack?

Do you think it's likely the FPGA provides a recognition/lockout function
to prevent that?

[pigpenpete]

You're probably right, the LXI interface is probably locked out unless you have the right board to tell the 'scope that the interface can be used. I've seen a fair bit of agilent gear where some interfaces and features are already installed but you need to pay for a software upgrade key before you can actually use them.

[hansonsux]

I can't wait to see the price of the hdmi upgrade card.

[mitpatterson]

@Johceti i agree, as dave said, part cost(even at one off digikey prices) is only like $30. What other expansions might they have?(i can't think of any right now)

[EEVblog]

@mitpatterson Just an AD9889 or equivalent HDMI transmitter chip plus the same FPGA.

[yoyomin]

Great teardown, keep them coming please!!

[EEVblog]

@hmpeter Yes, I forgot to mention that!

[Zagroseckt]

i wonder if that lan jack has some kind of lockout on the main board that looks for the VGA or if it's just the jack extended.

[usunoro]

The magicjack requires software to be running on the host machine as well, so I highly doubt that it would work.

[EEVblog]

@Johceti The GPIB module is more expensive again.

[mitpatterson]

@usunoro From daves teardown of the module, he shows the traces for the Magjack just go straight to the connector that goes to the main board, as in any "software" must be on the main board and if you mean software on like another machine to view it... i'm not sure if thats part of the $400 or not or if you can like download it seperate(free)

[mortishe]

"..these little big black square isolation transformers..." :)

[mitpatterson]

Dave, Quick question, you mentioned you thought they should have done DVI/HDMI out instead of VGA, now i don't know the first thing about that stuff, but mabey you do, what type of circuity would you need to do the DVI/HDMI? would it be less parts? or more than VGA?

[hmpeter]

There is not even platform flash / eeprom on the board, hm? they really make sure not to spend an unnecessary cent.

[mitpatterson]

@EEVblog so just replace the current chip that isuued as the interface with that HDMI one? keep the FPGA and frame buffer?(ditch the DAC)(

[hp]

I'm wondering, will network work if just to connect MagJack to the main board, or network functionality blocked on a software level until you connect the FPGA responsible for VGA output?