Hi Dan,
I saw the pictures and love the unit. If I had the space I would take it.
Unfortunately, my electronics bench is in a corner of my living room, and I
have learned it is not good to test the limits of the wife.
Mike
On Friday, December 28, 2012 09:44:17 you wrote:
Hi folks,
Is there really ZERO interest in an HP 8551 spectrum analyzer? Given
that I didn't even get any comments from this usually vocal group, and
having found some replies to older posts that went into my spam folder, I
figured I'd just ask again (copied below). Perhaps a few more people are
back from the holidays as well.
Please do let me know if the group consensus is that this thing is really
just a useless boat anchor even by vintage instrument standards.
Thanks and have a happy new year!
Dan
________________________________
From: kaboomdk <kaboomdk@...>
To: hp_agilent_equipment@...
Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2012 12:48 PM
Subject: [hp_agilent_equipment] HP 8551 Spectrum Analyzer FS or trade?
Hello all,
I have an HP 8551 spectrum analyzer I would like to offer for sale or
trade. It works reasonably well, as I describe in more detail below, but
I am starting to upgrade my home shop with more "modern" equipment.
Cosmetically, the unit is clean, with some sticker residue on the display
units. It comes complete with all the necessary interconnecting cables
and the oval power cords. It weighs a TON. The RF unit alone is 90 lbs,
so I can't really ship it, even in parts. However, I live in
Charlottesville, VA, and I frequently travel up the north-east corridor,
so if you live anywhere between here and Burlington, VT, I am willing to
deliver if you can wait until March or so. Otherwise, perhaps we can make
arrangements.
Some photos are posted here:
/pic/list
851_1.jpg A screen shot of the analyzer showing the FM band with a
dangling
wire antenna and the input attenuator at 0 dB. Harmonic n=1. LO signal
on left. 851_2.jpg A 1 dBm, 2.4 GHz signal at the input with RF
attenuation set to 30 dB. n=2. 851_3.jpg Same signal displayed on band
4, which uses the 200 MHz IF, n=1. 851_4.jpg The FM band again, displayed
on the orange-screened 851B.
I would prefer not to part this instrument out, and to send all of it to a
good, loving home. Please make me an offer. I don't have a good feel for
price of this instrument particularly since shipping would normally be a
dominant part of the cost. Alternatively I am willing to trade for any of
the instruments below, in working or *repairable* condition. Of the
highest interest are any of the 141T SA plug-ins listed.
Any 8554/8555/8556 SA plug-ins for a 141T based spectrum analyzer,
preferably in grey paint. 182T mainframe
any 11664 A or B detectors
a 8755C swept amplitude analyzer
a sweeper covering ~MHz to ~2.5 GHz.
So, if interested, please contact me off-list and let's discuss. Thanks
and Happy Holidays!
Dan
851B/8551B Spectrum analyzer.
----------------------------
8551B: SN 625-00695 (RF unit)
851B: SN 526-00805 (Orange screen)
851B: SN 526-00339 (spare unit)
What works:
Mixer, at least at n=1, n=2 and n=3. I don't have sources to test higher
harmonics. RF input attenuator
Stabilized fine tune - with some care
Trace centering is fine at or below 1 mc/cm, alowing one to quickly zoom in
on a signal. Both 851B display units, with sharp and bright traces.
Fine and course tuning
Frequency vernier
What doesn't work:
Trace centering on the 3-300 MC/cm scales.
The signal jumps around when switching scales, though it can still be
tuned. I can't follow the manual procedure in section 3-34 to set the
spectrum centering adjustment on the front panel. The tracking meter does
not respond as it should. As a result, LO scale pointer is ~100 MC off on
scales at or below the 1 mc/cm sweep and varies on the 3-300 mc/cm scales.
May need to reglue the scale drum at some point, but it's ok for now
The orange plastic filter in one of the 851s has cracks in it in the lower
left corner just off scale. The tune knob had it's handle broken off, but
I kept the original parts and was able to epoxy together a decent looking
reconstruction, so it works now and looks ok. I can't figure out if the
signal identifier works. It's supposed to shift the signal by n cm at 100
KC/cm, which it does, but when you press the "reference" knob, it should
revert to the n=1 state. But instead the trace keeps moving off screen. I
suspect this is related to the issues at large spans.
What you get:
A functional piece of history - the first calibrated spectrum analyzer from
HP. A basic, working spectrum analyzer
All interconnecting cables and oval power cords
One ORIGINAL PAPER MANUAL for the 851B display section
A spare 851B display unit (the orange one was originally paired with the
8551, judging from the stickers) Satisfaction of working with a wonderful
instrument
Herniated disks
What you don't get:
Any of the sources shown in the pictures
The instrument rack, though that can be negotiated separately
The 50 Ohm terminator on the back at the LO output. I only have a few of
these and I need them, however it seems to work ok without it at the few
frequencies I looked at. Paper manuals for the 8551B section - but these
are available on-line. The right to return the instrument
Medical insurance
--
Mike McGinn KD2CNU
Ex Uno Plurima
No electrons were harmed in sending this message, some were inconvenienced.
** Registered Linux User 377849
