Ok,
many thanks to all for the help.
1) No battery. Ok, a thing not to worry about. So far, problem never happened again
2) Filters. Good to have especially the 400Hz for radio use as I read around. Not sure what to do with CCITT tough.
2) I executed the test described in the manual and most of the stuff is within specified values so it seems okay with the exception of the point 9:
Following the procedure of the Preliminary Check in the Basic Functional checks? (Page 3-12 onwards) I noticed the following:
??? - At point 9. there is no drop in the ratio when Keying 47.0 SPCL:
"Point 9:
Key in 5.0 SPCL to measure ac level again with the rms-responding detector. Set impedance by 600Ohm by keying in 47.0 then pressing the SPCL button. The SPCL key light should extinguish. The right display should drop by approximately .6% (down to approximately 99.4%)"
Now, at the beginning of point 9 the display is 100.1% and after point 9 is 100.0%. I assume this is okay.
3) I still need to open it to visually inspect for leakage and so on. Will report any progress. It seems that the only caps that "should" proactively changed are C2 and C3 on A3 board, everything else only following inspection or deviation from specs. Any suggestion here?
4) I would like to use Peter Millett's software but I am stuck with which GPIB card to buy. I would like to use USB one, but they are pricey and it seems that not all of them works. Could someone point me to something reasonably priced, USB and possibly not requiring XP style laptops? I have other HPIB gear, but this should mainly serve the purpose to automate the 8903B.
Thanks in advance.
Giuseppe Marullo
IW2JWW - JN45RQ
