Mike,
I believe I have an 853A/8559A system, but I have not touched it in years.
To get back to the problem, you said that you have no display - no display as in a totally blank display with no freq., span, sweep time, etc. indications - then check the supplies in the mainframe, or no display as in no signals displayed, just the displayed noise floor. In the 3MHz bw, 10MHz span, 10dB/div, 10dB atten. settings you should see the noise floor about -50, -60dB down from top 0dB reference. Tune the freq. down through 0Hz in >10MHz span/div or in full span. You should see the L.O. feed through signal at about -25 to -35dBm level, if it is significantly higher than that, probable zapped first mixer. If noise floor but no signal of any kind then there are RF or IF path signal problems. You can check 1st, 2nd, 3rd L.O. power levels and freq. with another SA or power meter. You can also signal inject the 3rd IF (21.4MHz) via the jumpers or smb connectors on the top of the 8559A. Tuning around the IF freq. of 21.4MHz will get you baseline lift to the ref line of the display. You can then check the atten., ref level per div and linear scaling and steps. This is best done with the manual and block diagrams in front of you.
I have repaired, aligned, calibrated over 100 of this series SA¡¯s over the last 40yrs.
If you need further assistance you may text me back using the forum or my email.
Don Bitters
donbitters@...
