Testing if everything is OK with the XLT and its coils

[Polymer]

I now have some measuring equipment from building stuff with lots of help from this forum.

In the light of Whites appearing to be going by the wayside I thought I might as well
go about learning how to test all XLT parameters. I still love using it, especially with the bigfoot coil.

I would like it to last as long as possible of course.

Some questions:

- What should/can I test to see if everything is up to par?

- Is it known if the microcode in the CPU of the XLT is susceptible to "bit-rot"

- Anything else I might not be asking, cause I just don?t know ...

Cheerio, Polymer

[Carl-NC]

I don't know how you would test it other than the obvious: ferrite for ground balance, various targets for sensitivity. I've never heard of any problems with the micros (there are 2) losing their minds. A common problem is that the displays eventually fizzle. I took my XLT to White's last week and got the display replaced. Repairs are 'no charge' for walk-ins. At least until Friday.

[Cazavor]

I don't know what micros are inside the XLT but while browsing ATmega2560 datasheet the other day I saw an interesting paragraph which said that projected data loss is much less than 1 ppm over 100 years at 25 C. Some STM micro I looked at had similarly insane numbers, making it seem like not an issue to worry about. Have there been cases of MCUs losing their programming making you ask this?

[Polymer]

I don't know how you would test it other than the obvious: ferrite for ground balance, various targets for sensitivity. I've never heard of any problems with the micros (there are 2) losing their minds. A common problem is that the displays eventually fizzle. I took my XLT to White's last week and got the display replaced. Repairs are 'no charge' for walk-ins. At least until Friday.

Thanks for your reply Carl!

I have no experience with testing a VLF IB like the XLT. So even the obvious is more than a mouthful for me.
More to learn - I will see what I can find on the forum about ferrite / ground balance testing.

Alas, Europe is a bit far from Sweet Home ...

You Lucky Ducky - walk-in and repair. My display is still working fine though.
The backlight went funny years ago causing EMI, which I disconnected.

I believe there is enough information here about the lcd to get one may the case arise. Wouldnt mind having a spare in my parts box though.

[Polymer]

I don't know what micros are inside the XLT but while browsing ATmega2560 datasheet the other day I saw an interesting paragraph which said that projected data loss is much less than 1 ppm over 100 years at 25 C. Some STM micro I looked at had similarly insane numbers, making it seem like not an issue to worry about. Have there been cases of MCUs losing their programming making you ask this?

I have experienced it with picture files.

The manufacturers must have a reason for disclosing this. Semiconductor structures are getting smaller all the time.
Perhaps its litigation protection if something serious fails with loss of life.

1 ppm per 100 years sounds sorta neglegible, but one "funny" bit and your application is most likely toast.
Consider say just 1 Gbit and the magnitudes change.
Maybe other parts fail before this happens - in light of faster and faster cycle times (product wise).
Perhaps no one notices that maybe it is this phenomenon and a pcb/product is just binned/replaced.

Yes, I have a penchant for quirky and not so common stuff.

Here two interesting reads if you like, also to wearout:

https://betterembsw.blogspot.com/201...m-wearout.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_degradation

[kt315]

i restore videos now after as ytube destroyed my channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMBd...ature=youtu.be