Technology at a glance!

I have a SpeedSteam 4100 Ethernet ADSL modem in spare after changing ISP as they didn’t want it back. But it seems like my previous ISP had there own firmware downloaded to the modem as I couldn’t get any contact via telnet or http to it. I guess it has been configured as pass-through.

Natually I opened it up to try to locate a JTAG / 3.3v serial port. I found two unpopulated headers and started to poking around with my new Rigol scope while booting it again and again. I found a data pin after a few tries.

I measured a puls width about 115Khz using the the Cursor function in the scope. A simple baudrate “guess” on 15200N81 proved right.

I connected my Nokia DLR-3 data cable converted into a 3.3V JTAG to the pin an beautiful console data showed up in good old Windows HyperTerminal. The RX pin is next to the TX pin. I couldn’t get it to work and a quick view with the scope showed that the HIGH was only about 1.7v, not enough to leave limboland between 0 and 1. It seems like either it draws to much current or it isn’t a normal RX pin. But I was able to send data to the console, although filled with garbage.

I might return to solve this issue another day, but anyway, it was fun poking around in the SpeedSteam 4100 Ethernet ADSL modem.

The console dump shows that my assumption about the ISP specific firmware were correct. This device was populated with a TDC specific firmware.

Benjamin Sølberg FON

Installation guide

Rigol DS1102E firmware version 2.01 SP1

Benjamin Sølberg Electronics

Trio Dual-Trace Synchroscope CS-1554.

For more than 15 years I have been the happy owner of a 20 MHz Trio Dual-Trace Synchroscope model CS-1554 anno 1972. A complete noob can use it, and i have been pleased with it. It didn’t cost that much (used+old=cheap) and have saved me many timed and served me well. It’s not that it is broke or anything but I wanted a new one with capture.

Note to self: Never ever buy a bitscope again

First I bought a BitScope and a MSIWind. This was NOT a success in any way, not even close, but that’s another story and WAY “off topic”.

Rigol DS1102E 2 Ch, 1 GSa/s, 100 MHz

But today is a fine day. My Rigol DS1102E 100 MHz oscilloscopes has arrived and has been in use for the first time.
Both the build quality and packing alone shows that this is not your ordinary Hong Kong product. This is a professional product to a fraction of the price. So how much is it, you may ask. Only $799 here

I must say that I am very pleased with it.

EDIT: It didn’t take long to get used to, I now use it is as easy as my old one and I am SO pleased with the long mem capture function!

Benjamin Sølberg Electronics