Reliability of FieldFox portable VNAs, SAs and combination analyzers
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Dr. David Kirkby from Kirkby Microwave Ltd
Some years ago I bought a CertiPrime N9923A from Agilent. It developed a hardware fault within a month or so.
Sometime later, someone I know bought an N9912A combination analyzer. I checked that for him. The performance was poor as a VNA, (dynamic range is typically 49 dB at 5-6 GHz), but I understand the N9912A is only for basic measurements. But the instrument worked okay. Then, despite me knowing that the N9912A is not a good VNA, I got the chance to pick one up cheap and bought it. That was dead on arrival.
A week or so ago I was talking to a customer of mine, who said he had heard reports from several sources about poor reliability of FieldFox instruments I'm just wondering if others have experienced this problem. I guess it is going to be hard to get any hard facts about this, as I doubt Keysight will be publishing MTBF data.
Having handled a couple of N9912As (SA+VNA), and one N9923A (VNA), I'm impressed with the build quality. But now I am starting to wonder how relieable these instruments are. They might be quite risky used purchases.
-- Dr David Kirkby Ph.D C.Eng MIET
Kirkby Microwave Ltd
Registered office: Stokes Hall Lodge, Burnham Rd, Althorne, CHELMSFORD, Essex, CM3 6DT, United Kingdom.
Registered in England and Wales as company number 08914892
Tel 01621-680100 / +44 1621-680100
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