[time-nuts] Test Equipment

James C Cotton jim.cotton at wmich.edu
Tue Feb 2 03:35:04 UTC 2010


Don,

Funny thing I bought a HP E8285A non-SA from Amtronix for $250 +
shipping as a RF source and spare parts for my $1200 HP 8935A...

Do you by any chance have a HP 8620A/B/C (or HP 8350B/11869A) and
HP 8709A/H10 and some 862xx RF plug-ins...(poor man's TG from .01 Mhz to
18 Ghz with the right plug-ins with 3 kHz RBW, and a 21.4 Mhz IF SA)?

I have some Cisco cards I need to try floating around my desk
somewhere...  I will let you know what I find.

Jim Cotton, N8QOH            |  jim.cotton at wmich.edu
Western Michigan University  |  Phone: (269) 387-6421
Network Systems Group        |  Fax: (269) 387-5473

On Feb 1, 2010 at 15:34 -0700, Don Latham wrote:

> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:34:57 -0700 (MST)
> From: Don Latham <djl at montana.com>
> Reply-To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
>     <time-nuts at febo.com>
> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
>     <time-nuts at febo.com>
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment
>
> 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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> >>> and follow the instructions there.
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >
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>
>




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