[time-nuts] Test Equipment
Bob Camp
lists at cq.nu
Tue Feb 2 03:34:19 UTC 2010
HI
I agree. The 800 MHz spec was all I could find. That's the only spec that Google seems to know about.
Back before some point like mid 2001, there was a different spec on these boxes. They went down to much lower frequencies. That information is still preserved in the repair manual. Unfortunately, it does not give a full detail set of specifications for the earlier box. The boxes Amtronix is / was selling have the "old" firmware and modules in them. They will go to the old wider frequency range.
Bob
On Feb 1, 2010, at 10:18 PM, K3WRY at aol.com wrote:
> If goggle HP 8285a spec, you will get HP spec which say this unit is 800
> Mhz up. The 8920, 8921, 8025 will go down to ham freq.
>
> Regards,
>
> Dr. Joseph G. Palsa P.E.
> Director, Sales & Marketing
> Clary Corporation
> Phone: 888-442-5279
> Phone: 804-674-0364
> Fax: 804-674-0714
> Cell: 804-350-2665
> jpalsa at clary.com
> djpalsa at yahoo.com
> k3wry at aol.com
> k3wry at arrl.net
>
> This e-mail (including any attachments) is intended only for the use of
> the
> individual or entity named above and may contain privileged, proprietary,
> or
> confidential information. The information may also contain technical data
> subject to export control laws.
>
>
> In a message dated 2/1/2010 8:42:56 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, lists at cq.nu
> writes:
>
> Hi
>
> The big question in my mind about these is how well they do below 30 MHz.
> Until I know I can trust them it down there, I'm not selling very much
> stuff.
>
> I have yet to find a data sheet from before 2000 when they shipped with
> the sub-800 MHz stuff enabled. I get the impression that the E8285's never
> quite did as well below 30 MHz as the 8920's do.
>
> Bob
>
>
> On Feb 1, 2010, at 7:29 PM, Don Latham wrote:
>
>> Hi Bob. Display shows use, definitely, but I can see info over the whole
>> tube. I have a couple of things to do before I can start the learning
>> curve, but am looking forward to using it.
>> I'll have a bunch of test stuff for sale if this thing works out ;-)
>> Don
>>
>> Bob Camp
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> I *suspect* that any size that was common in 2003 will be ok. I have no
>>> basis for that claim. That likely will limit you to 2 gig and down.
>>>
>>> Each time I called Amtronix, Rick answered on the first ring. It's
>>> definitely someplace I would recommend dealing with.
>>>
>>> How's the display on your unit? That sees to be the weakness of a lot of
>>> test gear these days.
>>>
>>> Can't wait to measure -100 dbc/Hz phase noise with mine :) ....
>>>
>>> Bob
>>>
>>>
>>> On Feb 1, 2010, at 5:34 PM, Don Latham wrote:
>>>
>>>> Just bought one last week. As advertised, came with a cal and checkout
>>>> sheet. BTW, cost another $150 to have manuals printed out. But, I'm
> old
>>>> fashioned and have a hard time using manuals onscreen...
>>>> I also got the feeling (phone order) that I can call Amtronix and at
>>>> least
>>>> reach a Real Person who will talk to me.
>>>> I think the E8285A will replace at least three present instruments with
>>>> better, once I master Instrument Basic :-).
>>>> Does anyone know which low-cost PCMCIA memory card will work? They're
> on
>>>> Epay for as little as $10
>>>> Don
>>>>
>>>> Bob Camp
>>>>> Hi
>>>>>
>>>>> I do believe the last (or maybe next to last) of the Amtronix
> E8285A's
>>>>> is
>>>>> now on it's way to a basement in Pennsylvania. If anybody else here is
>>>>> looking for one, I'd sure call Rick pretty quick.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bob
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com]
> On
>>>>> Behalf Of John Ackermann N8UR
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 4:14 PM
>>>>> To: john.foege at gmail.com; Discussion of precise time and frequency
>>>>> measurement
>>>>> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment
>>>>>
>>>>> If RF measurement is your bag, and you're able to spend a couple of
> $K
>>>>> (actually, <$2K if what I've seen recently holds), consider a
>>>>> communications service monitor like the HP
>>>>> 8920A/8920B/8921/8924/8935/E8285 (all pretty much the same thing).
>>>>>
>>>>> You get an RF generator, RF power meter, RX frequency meter and
>>>>> modulation analyzer, audio generator, audio analyzer, digital
> o'scope,
>>>>> and in most units a spectrum analyzer (many have a tracking generator,
>>>>> too) in one box. And I've probably forgotten a few things. If you
> get
>>>>> one with spec analyzer and tracking generator, there's software that
>>>>> lets you do swept insertion/return loss and cable fault finding.
>>>>>
>>>>> None of its capabilities are as good as those of a dedicated box
>>>>> performing a single function, but they're good enough for the vast
>>>>> majority of uses. An 8920 was the first significant piece of test
> gear
>>>>> I bought, and if I ever have to sell out, it'll be the last one to go.
>>>>>
>>>>> The prices came down a lot when Lucent surplused hundreds (thousands?)
>>>>> of them from their portable and cell phone production lines. I saw an
>>>>> 8935 with spec an, fully functional (as far as I could tell) for about
>>>>> $1500 this summer.
>>>>>
>>>>> A guy who sells and services a lot of these boxes is Rick at
>>>>> http://www.amtronix.com -- that web site will give you lots of info
>>>>> about the various versions and options. (I just noticed he has some
>>>>> Agilent 8285As as a "hobbyist special" with spec an and tracking
>>>>> generator for $650. That looks like a deal.)
>>>>>
>>>>> John
>>>>> ----
>>>>> john.foege at gmail.com said the following on 01/21/2010 03:43 PM:
>>>>>> Just that John, I'm looking to setup a general purpose lab. I'd lean
>>>>> towards RF type stuff since I'm a HAM.
>>>>>> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: "J. Forster" <jfor at quik.com>
>>>>>> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:22:11
>>>>>> To: <didier at cox.net>; Discussion of precise time and frequency
>>>>> measurement<time-nuts at febo.com>
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I made the mistake of setting up a purpose-built lab once, and soon
>>>>>> discovered to do most things, you really need at least a basic
> general
>>>>>> purpose lab.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The only exception is, I suppose, if you are going to repair a
>>>>>> specific
>>>>>> instrument and do nothing else.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Also, as others have pointed out, you really need to define what are
>>>>>> your
>>>>>> area(s) of interest. Specialized gear gets $$$ pretty quickly.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -John
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ====================
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> John,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> That sounds like asking what is the best vehicle for you to buy. If
>>>>>>> you
>>>>> do
>>>>>>> not know what you want to do with it, I am not sure we can help you
>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>> that much. However, if you have a specific objective, I am sure you
>>>>>>> will
>>>>>>> get a lot of valuable information here.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> You have a (good) analog scope, you may want a power supply or two,
> a
>>>>>>> soldering iron and maybe a desoldering station if you do surface
>>>>>>> mount.
>>>>>>> You also want a good hand-held multimeter. Some sort of signal or
>>>>> function
>>>>>>> generator may be useful too. These vary widely depending on
> frequency
>>>>>>> range and features. There is no good single answer to any of these
>>>>>>> questions without knowing more about what you do with it.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Many of us on this list have more than one of pretty much
> everything
>>>>>>> (I
>>>>> am
>>>>>>> guilty of that too) to reflect the fact that no single instrument is
>>>>>>> universal, with possibly one exception: my favorite hand held DMM is
>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>> Fluke 8060A, but I am sure some people will have another favorite :)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Don't start spending what little money you have until you know what
>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> need. If you just need to spend money, may I interest you in a
>>>>>>> wonderful
>>>>>>> business opportunity in Nigeria?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Didier KO4BB
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ------------------------ Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless thingy
>>>>>>> while
>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>> do other things...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>> From: John Foege <john.foege at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:35:22
>>>>>>> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency
>>>>>>> measurement<time-nuts at febo.com>
>>>>>>> Subject: [time-nuts] Test Equipment
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I realize that this e-mail is somewhat off topic, however, I also
>>>>>>> believe that I will get some of the best answers from the members of
>>>>>>> this list:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I have recently started to build an electronics lab, and am
> currently
>>>>>>> trying to acquire test and general equipment for my little basement
>>>>>>> workshop of horrors. So far, being on a limited budget, I have
>>>>>>> acquired a Tek 2465A in good working order, a Fluke 1953A counter,
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> my little gem (ok not quite so little) HP5345A with the 4-ghz freq
>>>>>>> converter plugin w/ opt 11 & 12.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'd just like to ask everyone what they would be, if they were in
> my
>>>>>>> shoes, attempting to acquire. Unforunately, however, I am just out
> of
>>>>>>> engineering school and not working with much of a budget here. I'd
>>>>>>> kill to have all the fancy gear some of you nuts have.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'd really love a DSO instead of the Tek 2465A I have. I'd kill for
> a
>>>>>>> good spectrum analyzer or VNA etc.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Any suggestions on what I should acquire and/or suggestions for
>>>>>>> economical equipment that I should make that is a must have? I am a
>>>>>>> good DIYer when it comes to building equipment, so often I attempt
> to
>>>>>>> build that which I cannot afford.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I appreciate everyone's' opinions in advance. Thank you.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> John Foege
>>>>>>> KB1FSX
>>>>>>> starving-engineer!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Dr. Don Latham AJ7LL
>>>> Six Mile Systems LLP
>>>> 17850 Six Mile Road
>>>> POB 134
>>>> Huson, MT, 59846
>>>> VOX 406-626-4304
>>>> www.lightningforensics.com
>>>> www.sixmilesystems.com
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Dr. Don Latham AJ7LL
>> Six Mile Systems LLP
>> 17850 Six Mile Road
>> POB 134
>> Huson, MT, 59846
>> VOX 406-626-4304
>> www.lightningforensics.com
>> www.sixmilesystems.com
>>
>>
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