834: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:12, 25 January 2023

Tektronix 834
Programmable data communications tester Tek 834 Produced from 1980 to (?) Manuals Tektronix 834 Service Manual Tektronix 834 Instruction Manual Tektronix 834 Workbook (All manuals in PDF format unless noted otherwise)

Manuals – Specifications – Links – Pictures

The Tektronix 834 is a portable "programmable data communications tester" (serial protocol analyzer) for RS-232 (V.24) circuits, introduced in 1980.

The 835 and 836 are sister models with extra features, introduced in 1986.

John Light was the software lead on the 834 and wrote some of the key parts of the software. Other software team members included Jeff McMeekin, Randy Deitrich and Bill Randle. On the hardware side was Pete J, and Lynn Saunders. Wendell Damm was the enginering project manager.

It can be used as a serial transmission monitor, modem or terminal simulator, or as a bit and block error rate tester (BERT). It supports ASCII, EBCDIC and hexadecimal displays on its 12-character alphanumeric display, for data formats with 5 to 9 bits/ character (including parity), asynchronous or synchronous (including HDLC), from 50 to 19200 bits/s.

ROM packs were available to extend the 834's functions for specific protocols.

In simulation mode, operation is user-programmable with up to 99 program steps that can reference up to 50 "parameter buffers" (registers). Some standard tests like all-character tests or "quick brown fox" tests are predefined.

Links

Pete Janowitz and John Light, A Programmable Data Communications Tester for First-Line Technicians. In TekScope Vol. 12 No. 4, Dec 1980.
Tektronix 834 / 835 / 836 in 1986 catalog (OCR)

Accessories

Option 02 - Current Loop (20/60 mA) Interface (015-0361-00 adapter)
Option 03 - RS-449 (RS-422/RS-423) Interface (A6741 adapter)
Option 04 - MIL-STD-188C Interface
Option 05 - Two Wire Direct Interface (A6742 adapter)
Option 06 - V.35 Interface (A6744 adapter)
A6741 − RS-232 / V.24 Tri-state break-out box

834R01 - Asynchronous ROM Pack
834R02 - Bisync ROM Pack
834R02A - Bisynchronous (EBCDIC) ROM Pack
834R03A - Link Test ROM Pack
834R04 - HDLC/X.25 ROM Pack
834R05 - Extended Instruction ROM Pack
834R06 - Bisynchronous (ASCII) ROM Pack
834R07 - PARS/IPARS ROM Pack
834R10 - SDLC/SNA (RD2) ROM Pack
834R11 - Extended Monitor ROM Pack
834R13 - SDLC/SNA (RD3) ROM Pack
830R13 - SDLC/SNA (RD3) ROM Pack

Internals

The 834 is built around a Zilog Z-80 CPU, helped by a 6802 handling the display/keyboard processing.

Pictures

Shell closed, front
Rear view
Shell closed, side
Bottom view
Bottom view with cover open, ROM slot visible
834R05 Extended Instruction Set ROM
834R06 Extended Instruction Set ROM

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 The [[835]] and [[836]] are sister models with extra features, introduced in 1986.
-The software for the 834 was written by [[John Light]].
+[[John Light]] was the software lead on the 834 and wrote some of the key parts of the software.
+Other software team members included [[Jeff McMeekin]], [[Randy Deitrich]] and [[Bill Randle]].
+On the hardware side was Pete J, and [[Lynn Saunders]].
+[[Wendell Damm]] was the enginering project manager.
 It can be used as a serial transmission monitor, modem or terminal simulator, or as a bit and block error rate tester (BERT).