If you don't mind cranking the tuning knob for the cavity tuner, the 8640B is a good RF generator, not a synthesizer, which I also have one. The synthesizer I have, which you still crank or spin the knob, which in turn turns a digital encoder, is a Racal Dana 9028P, and I enjoy it over it's simplicity, like I do the 8640B. The Boonton is easy to use too, and I think it is set up similar to the Racal, internally, but I'm not sure. I find these easier, and quicker to use, than keyed inputs, and I have a few of these, which to be honest, draw dust. However, some of the keyed input synthesizers generally have a few more options too.
There's just too many different models and makes out there to really say what's best for a situation, without knowing all the features needed, but these are the simplest to use, that I've found, and have a decently clean signal. Best, Will *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** On 7/12/2011 at 6:16 PM J. Forster wrote: >Oops. Must remember to engage brain. It's not phase locked. It's counter >locked. > >Sorry, > >-John > >============== > > >> Bill, >> >> Believe it or not, the HP 8640B is one of the cleanest, as far as signal >> goes, that you can get, and you can get an option that will take it to 1 >> GHz, if I remember. You can pick these up pretty cheap, but they have a >> problem with some plastic gears going out on the tuning assembly. These >> are >> old too, but you can find junkers for parts. >> >> From a report I read on signal purity once, the next best for these >> oldies, >> was a Boonton 102, which outperformed a lot of modern generators >> concerning >> purity. However, it won't go to 1 GHz, I don't think, and I don't think >> there's an option for it. >> >> If you're not too worried about extra clean signal purity, there are >> several others, including ones made by Fluke, and or Wavetek. Don't get me >> wrong, these not are cheap junk, it's just they didn't show as clean an >> output as the HP and Boonton above. Without knowing any other features you >> want, it's hard to tell you anymore than these recommendations. >> >> I forget where I read the test done on several of these RF generators, but >> it's on a website, and others on here may know of the tests I'm speaking >> of. Also, on the HP 8640B, one could get those plastic gears recut in >> brass, if they did break, and they would last forever. >> >> Best, >> >> Will >> >> *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** >> >> On 7/12/2011 at 7:41 PM Bill Dailey wrote: >> >>>Looking for recommendations for a broadband synthesizer with external >> reference connection, at least 1mhz to 1ghz with micro to millihertz >> resolution. Oh yeah under $1000 or so. I found a real nice one from >> holzworth but it is about $5k which is a bit rich for me. I have seen. >> Various hp synthesizer but digging through the specs and the number soup >> is >> tough for a non-electronics guy. >>> >>>Tia, >>> >>>Doc >>> >>>Sent from my iPhone >>>_______________________________________________ >>>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. >>> >>>__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus >> signature database 5851 (20110206) __________ >>> >>>The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. >>> >>>http://www.eset.com >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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. >> >> > > > >__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 5851 (20110206) __________ > >The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. > >http://www.eset.com _______________________________________________ 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.
