[time-nuts] Test Equipment

Didier Juges didier at cox.net
Thu Jan 21 21:31:35 UTC 2010


Another advantage, they don't take 6 feet of bench space and weight 600#

Didier

------------------------ Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless thingy while I do other things... 

-----Original Message-----
From: John Ackermann N8UR <jra at febo.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:13:46 
To: <john.foege at gmail.com>; Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement<time-nuts at febo.com>
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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