Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment -Memory cards
Hi The memory in the E8285A has a lithium cell associated with it. One of my big questions is weather the firmware goes away when the coin cell dies (battery backed SRAM) or if the firmware is in something a bit more robust. Hopefully it's sitting on the porch when I get home tonight -- 141T ... how many do you need in addition to an E8285 ... all sorts of questions to be answered. Bob -Original Message- From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Robert Atkinson Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 8:42 AM To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment -Memory cards Hi Don, Congratulations on the E8285A. I've an 8924C that does me nicely and came with a bunch of other stuff including two 10811A's and a crystal impedance meter (gotta keep on-topic) for £300 (~$500). Another useful instrument in the range that can sometimes be picked up cheaply is the 8922X if you get the 06 or 106 option you get a nice 1GHz digital SA with TG, a CW RF generator and low frequency scope. The GSM test stuff is an unwanted extra. A bit big, but better than a 141T setup. I think you will find that the E8285A is the same as the 8924C and uses non-volatile RAM cards, not flash. These cards are rare now and have CMOS ram and a lithium coin cell. You MIGHT be able to read a flash card, but I'm pretty certain you can't write to them. Robert G8RPI. --- On Mon, 1/2/10, Don Latham wrote: From: Don Latham Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment To: "Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement" Date: Monday, 1 February, 2010, 22:34 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-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On > Behalf Of John Ackermann N8UR > Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 4:14 PM > To: john.fo...@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.fo...@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" >> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:22:11 >> To: ; Discussion of precise time and frequency > measurement >> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Tes
Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment -Memory cards
At 07:42 AM 2/2/2010 , Robert Atkinson wrote: >than a 141T setup. I think you will find that the E8285A is the same as the >8924C and uses non-volatile RAM cards, not flash. These cards are rare now and >have CMOS ram and a lithium coin cell. You MIGHT be able to read a flash card, >but I'm pretty certain you can't write to them. If you're looking for PCMCIA SRAM cards, they're also used with vintage Fanuc CNC controls. You might end up paying a premium, but they are out there. (On the other side, I'm using an el-cheapo PCMCIA / PCI adapter in a desktop PC, with the stock XP drivers. No problems yet.) -- newell N5TNL ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment -Memory cards
Hi Don, Congratulations on the E8285A. I've an 8924C that does me nicely and came with a bunch of other stuff including two 10811A's and a crystal impedance meter (gotta keep on-topic) for £300 (~$500). Another useful instrument in the range that can sometimes be picked up cheaply is the 8922X if you get the 06 or 106 option you get a nice 1GHz digital SA with TG, a CW RF generator and low frequency scope. The GSM test stuff is an unwanted extra. A bit big, but better than a 141T setup. I think you will find that the E8285A is the same as the 8924C and uses non-volatile RAM cards, not flash. These cards are rare now and have CMOS ram and a lithium coin cell. You MIGHT be able to read a flash card, but I'm pretty certain you can't write to them. Robert G8RPI. --- On Mon, 1/2/10, Don Latham wrote: From: Don Latham Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment To: "Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement" Date: Monday, 1 February, 2010, 22:34 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-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On > Behalf Of John Ackermann N8UR > Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 4:14 PM > To: john.fo...@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.fo...@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" >> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:22:11 >> To: ; Discussion of precise time and frequency > measurement >> 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
