Aww... come on. Almost ALL SAs are 19" wide or less. -John
================ > 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 <[email protected]> > Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:13:46 > To: <[email protected]>; Discussion of precise time and frequency > measurement<[email protected]> > 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 > ---- > [email protected] 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" <[email protected]> >> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:22:11 >> To: <[email protected]>; Discussion of precise time and frequency >> measurement<[email protected]> >> 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 <[email protected]> >>> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:35:22 >>> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency >>> measurement<[email protected]> >>> 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! >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe, go to >>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >>> and follow the instructions there. >>> _______________________________________________ >>> time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe, go to >>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >>> and follow the instructions there. >>> >>> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe, go to >> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >> and follow the instructions there. >> _______________________________________________ >> time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe, go to >> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >> and follow the instructions there. > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > > _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
