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 | [email protected] 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 <[email protected]> > Reply-To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement > <[email protected]> > To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement > <[email protected]> > 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: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On > > Behalf Of John Ackermann N8UR > > Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 4:14 PM > > To: [email protected]; 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 > > ---- > > [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.
