Thanks to all for the advice. I agree with Said that a 8560E would be much nicer. However, I may be able to get this 8590A very inexpensively. Considering the price difference between this unit and a newer/better SA, I'm inclined to go with this one. I'm thinking of this as "training wheels". Once I gain some hands on with a SA, I'll know better what I want in a future purchase.
Joe KA5ZEC On Sat, Feb 20, 2010 at 5:20 PM, Bob Camp <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi > > There are "drop in" replacement video sections for some of the older > instruments. It's not a duplicate of the original, but a form / fit / > function sort of thing. I have no idea if there is one for the 8590. > > They still cost more than most of these gizmos sell for used. > > Bob > > > On Feb 20, 2010, at 5:53 PM, Rick Karlquist wrote: > >> The CRT's went out of production something like 20 years ago. >> The factory stock was exhausted long ago. Of course there >> could be NOS forgotten somewhere, like in a barn with a >> 1957 Chevy with 50 miles on it :-) >> >> Rick N6RK >> >> >> Lux, Jim (337C) wrote: >>> And make sure the CRT has life left. On a lot of older units, either the >>> faceplate is burned with the graticule and noise floor, or they're so dim >>> that you have a hard time reading it. I suspect that replacement CRTs >>> cost >>> more than the whole used analyzer. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 2/20/10 11:27 AM, "life speed" <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:38:50 -0700 >>>> Subject: [time-nuts] OT: HP 8590A >>>> >>>> Since the list members are familiar with lots of test equipment, I'd >>>> like to ask what the folks here think about the HP 8590A Spectrum >>>> Analyzer. Is this model ok? Are there any particular failures I should >>>> be aware of in this 20+ year old equipment? >>>> >>>> I have a chance to buy one locally. The only option is has is GPIB. I >>>> took a preliminary look at it and it passes the simple test/cal >>>> procedure from chapter 1 of the Ops manual. This model only goes to >>>> 1.5GHz, but would still be useful for Amateur use. I do wish it would >>>> go up to 3GHz, however. I have never owned a spec an, but am somewhat >>>> familiar with their usage. >>>> >>>> Thanks for the input. >>>> >>>> Joe >>>> KA5ZEC >>>> >>>> I personally do not like these low-end spectrum analyzers. They have >>>> poor >>>> dynamic range and phase noise performance. However, I design microwave >>>> circuits for a living and can be a test equipment snob. >>>> >>>> If you think it is adequate for your purposes, I would at least connect >>>> it to >>>> a calibrated signal generator and verify amplitude accuracy is within 3 >>>> dB. >>>> Most old spec ans I have seen are way off, even broken. Still show a >>>> signal >>>> on the display, but not very helpful. Also check for spurious across >>>> many >>>> frequencies. >>>> >>>> Clay >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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.
