Re: 11807E Radio Test Software on PCMCIA Cards for the 8920B
And if you don't want to DIY, I can do you a Flash card for small fee...
DIY requires a copy of Memory card Explorer, a PC with a PCMCIA slot (including 12V supply unless your Flash card is 5V) and a linear Flash card.
PM me if you want one.
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Re: 11807E Radio Test Software on PCMCIA Cards for the 8920B
Yes - I wrote up what I did over on EEVBlog (just an FYI, I don't have an 8920B myself, I got one for my Dad back in Aus and did the RFTools stuff while I had it here so, unfortunately, I can't test anything other than flashing to the card):
TonyG
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Thank you Scott. We are staying with the 8753ES. Better the devil we know that is fast enough. If the need arises for a faster system I think it will have to be something current but it will be expensive and probably not repairable. Peter
On Thu, Nov 30, 2023 at 7:56?AM Scott Vance via <scott_l_vance= [email protected]> wrote: Hi Peter,
A quick search on e-bay revealed the following:
1)??E5071C 6.5 Ghz ENA ($4200 - possible issue with output that you may need to verify or rectify).
2)??E8358A Network Analyzer PNA 300KHz to 9GHz (will require a new hard-drive and image, so this will be a little work, but looks like a good machine).? Currently on bid and will probably go for 4K or less.
3)??Agilent E5061A going for $2300.? Only goes up to 1.5 GHz, but if that's all you need then a reasonable option.
A note of warning:? All of these new machines should be considerably faster with similar or perhaps even better dynamic ranges BUT they use early versions of windows.? You cannot put these on your network for security reasons as they're completely prone to viruses and other attacks.? They boot terribly slow (relative to your HP8753 or any recent machine), but once they're up and running they should be much faster for running your actual tests.
I have repaired only a single Agilent machine - an N5230A PNA.? Plenty fast, but also boots slow.
The normal disclaimers:? do your own research before you buy, look for buyers who accept returns, don't buy anything that you can't fix, etc.
Good luck!
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11807E Radio Test Software on PCMCIA Cards for the 8920B
Is it still possible to acquire this card and software??
Drew
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Re: HP 8640B Attenuator Repair
Great description Don, thanks for sharing.
Bob
On Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 11:31:45 PM CST, Don Brown, N3DEB <dbawatsonville@...> wrote:
For those interested, I have had great results repairing this 8640B output attenuator.? Symptoms were non linear attenuation, and signal drop out on some levels. Drop out could be restored by switching levels back and forth. Looked like typical bad contact at a pad switch, and I excluded the attempt of replacing specialized components of these hand tuned units.
Certainly locating a donor unit might provide an alternative, but I was hoping to reuse this attenuator to avoid potential re-calibration considerations.
Removed bottom cover to view pads, nothing visibly burned. Applied 10ma constant current DC from attenuator input to output and rotated knob through ranges a few times. I found this suggestion somewhere in this group I think and thank that person for the tip. Note that one DC contact point has to be behind the visible capacitor in series at the output. The other just clip to input connector solder point.
Reinstalled - much better but not quite right. Removed, repeated, reinstalled. Result is as perfect of a result as I could expect, or at least as good as my spectrum analyzer can measure.
For long term protection I added two part epoxy to the wiper contacts on the rear vernier assembly. I have seen these fall out and go missing on others.
Inspecting the acrylic cams inside the attenuator found some were cracking. Applied proper "Weld-On #3" acrylic cement with applicator needle to each cracked cam. (On another unit I drove the cams off the shaft, reamed out the shrinking hole to prevent future contraction cracking, and glued back one cam that completely separated. I think this is the best course.)
Probably by now most ALL units have cracking cams from shrinking with age - I am at four out of five that I have worked on. Applied a little silicone grease that is safe for the acrylic / polycarbonate lobes, hoping to minimize rotation stress where the shaft meets the cams. This is the stress point that finally breaks the cam in two.
I am no engineer or repair professional, but I am persistent and mechanically inclined. There is more that can be done to these 8640Bs as other postings discuss, but this fix got the unit back on the bench for use.
Hope this helps someone.
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Re: Looking or HP 4191A "Performance Test Program" disk
I would find that useful too¡ Could be adaptable for the 4192A which we have¡ Regards Nigel ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of vk2bea via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2023 2:22 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] Looking or HP 4191A "Performance Test Program" disk? I'm looking for a copy of the files on the "Performance Test Program" disk that comes with the service kit for the 4191A RF Impedance Analyzer.
If anyone has this disc and can make the files available please let me know.
thanks
? Michael
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Looking for HP 4191A "Performance Test Program" disk files
I'm looking for a copy of the files on the "Performance Test Program" disk that comes with the service kit for the 4191A RF Impedance Analyzer.
If anyone has this disc and can make the files available please let me know.
thanks
? Michael
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Re: HP 8640B Attenuator Repair
On Wed, Nov 29, 2023 at 09:31 PM, Don Brown, N3DEB wrote:
Hope this helps someone.
Hi N3DEB, Don Great! Thanks for the attenuator repair notes! We have some of these 8640B... some need mechanical repair... or attenuator repair...and I'd like to get them working. So very glad to read about your experience. Best regards. Roy
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Re: Help figuring out my 8648C Signal Generator?....
On Thu, Nov 30, 2023 at 11:21 AM, Mark Bielman wrote:
Hmm. 240VAC mains? I'm aware of this problem but never experienced it. (Thank the magic smoke gods!) When I would check, they all used the sealed EMI filter modules. Fingers crossed!
A lot of the HP gear will report (via HP-IB) the installed options. I did NOT see that command in the User Manual but it might be there. Something like OP? or similar.
Step One: GET IT WORKING!
Step Two: Don't worry about it that much. You will figure it out.
Cheers!
This Rifa popped on only 100V (Japan)! So it must have really been in a bad way..... Once I get a new backup battery from Akihabara tomorrow, and a new contrast pot from Mouser next week, I'll have it all back together again. It was running until the Rifa madness, so it should be all good to go again if I don't break anything else in the mean time. On Thu, Nov 30, 2023 at 01:19 PM, Tom Haynes wrote:
Hi Jared,
?
You will need to do a little choose-your-own-adventure hunt through the manual.
?
Your device is 3426A.
?
The manual on keysight's site is for 4037A/U and doesn't contain errata or a back dating reference.
?
XDEVs has a manual for 3847A/U. It mentions your known replacements but not originals. It also doesn't have back dating.
?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Has a manual for 3816A. Newer part numbers and no back dating.
?
And that is the oldest I can find. Your unit is 4 years older. Those modules have a lot of changes over a short time so it makes sense yours are earlier. For the most part these revisions are minor schematic changes. Sometimes reducing part numbers, replacing out of production parts, safety or stability fixes. The newer schematic are probably fairly close to originals.
?
You can check out my 8662A notes for an idea on how assembly history works.
Thanks for the info! The only manuals I have found around the place for my serial number so far are paper ones on ebay that will cost me US$60 to get into my hands.
Not too much really, but a download is free... :D I'll just have to justify it to myself for a few minutes before I can hit that buy button. haha. If I do buy one, It'll be scanned and uploaded for others to use too.
Also, if anyone has a rear foot/handle or two (P/N 08647-40003) and a front panel (I just need the frame not the buttons and display etc) they can sell, I'm interested.
I drew up the rear foot handle in CAD, so I can get some machined in China from aluminium and anodized for a half decent price anyway.
Jared
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Hi Peter,
A quick search on e-bay revealed the following:
1)??E5071C 6.5 Ghz ENA ($4200 - possible issue with output that you may need to verify or rectify).
2)??E8358A Network Analyzer PNA 300KHz to 9GHz (will require a new hard-drive and image, so this will be a little work, but looks like a good machine).? Currently on bid and will probably go for 4K or less.
3)??Agilent E5061A going for $2300.? Only goes up to 1.5 GHz, but if that's all you need then a reasonable option.
A note of warning:? All of these new machines should be considerably faster with similar or perhaps even better dynamic ranges BUT they use early versions of windows.? You cannot put these on your network for security reasons as they're completely prone to viruses and other attacks.? They boot terribly slow (relative to your HP8753 or any recent machine), but once they're up and running they should be much faster for running your actual tests.
I have repaired only a single Agilent machine - an N5230A PNA.? Plenty fast, but also boots slow.
The normal disclaimers:? do your own research before you buy, look for buyers who accept returns, don't buy anything that you can't fix, etc.
Good luck!
|
Re: HP 8640B Attenuator Repair
On Wed, Nov 29, 2023 at 09:31 PM, Don Brown, N3DEB wrote:
he acrylic cams inside the attenuator found some were cracking. Applied proper "Weld-On #3" acrylic cement with applicator needle to each cracked cam. (On another unit I drove the cams off the s
Pictures would be amazing if you have any.?
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Thanks Yves, I will put in a new battery and see how it goes. I am thinking of a rechargeable Li-Ion mounted on the rear panel with the wiring going to the board, ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Regards Brad?
Hi, ???Here is the clip and service manual for the 8590A series. ? ? Regards Yves ? ? I am in the process of repairing a HP8591A spectrum analyser which seems to have a control fault. Apparently the previous owner tried to replace the control board battery, and now the instrument has a control problem. I can get it to work by going into the config menu and resetting the config, when the green Preset button is pressed, it goes into a and less control loop that causes the display to 'jitter'. Can anyone point me to the CLIP and troubleshooting manual? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Regards Brad?
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HP 8640B Attenuator Repair
For those interested, I have had great results repairing this 8640B output attenuator.? Symptoms were non linear attenuation, and signal drop out on some levels. Drop out could be restored by switching levels back and forth. Looked like typical bad contact at a pad switch, and I excluded the attempt of replacing specialized components of these hand tuned units.
Certainly locating a donor unit might provide an alternative, but I was hoping to reuse this attenuator to avoid potential re-calibration considerations.
Removed bottom cover to view pads, nothing visibly burned. Applied 10ma constant current DC from attenuator input to output and rotated knob through ranges a few times. I found this suggestion somewhere in this group I think and thank that person for the tip. Note that one DC contact point has to be behind the visible capacitor in series at the output. The other just clip to input connector solder point.
Reinstalled - much better but not quite right. Removed, repeated, reinstalled. Result is as perfect of a result as I could expect, or at least as good as my spectrum analyzer can measure.
For long term protection I added two part epoxy to the wiper contacts on the rear vernier assembly. I have seen these fall out and go missing on others.
Inspecting the acrylic cams inside the attenuator found some were cracking. Applied proper "Weld-On #3" acrylic cement with applicator needle to each cracked cam. (On another unit I drove the cams off the shaft, reamed out the shrinking hole to prevent future contraction cracking, and glued back one cam that completely separated. I think this is the best course.)
Probably by now most ALL units have cracking cams from shrinking with age - I am at four out of five that I have worked on. Applied a little silicone grease that is safe for the acrylic / polycarbonate lobes, hoping to minimize rotation stress where the shaft meets the cams. This is the stress point that finally breaks the cam in two.
I am no engineer or repair professional, but I am persistent and mechanically inclined. There is more that can be done to these 8640Bs as other postings discuss, but this fix got the unit back on the bench for use.
Hope this helps someone.
|
Re: Help figuring out my 8648C Signal Generator?....
Hi Jared,
You will need to do a little choose-your-own-adventure hunt through the manual.
Your device is 3426A.
The manual on keysight's site is for 4037A/U and doesn't contain errata or a back dating reference.
XDEVs has a manual for 3847A/U. It mentions your known replacements but not originals. It also doesn't have back dating.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Has a manual for 3816A. Newer part numbers and no back dating.
And that is the oldest I can find. Your unit is 4 years older. Those modules have a lot of changes over a short time so it makes sense yours are earlier. For the most part these revisions are minor schematic changes. Sometimes reducing part numbers, replacing out of production parts, safety or stability fixes. The newer schematic are probably fairly close to originals.
You can check out my 8662A notes for an idea on how assembly history works.
Hi all,
I recently picked up a HP 8648C Sig Gen and am trying to figure out exactly what it is...
It had the serial and option stickers removed (A semi-common thing here in Japan when companies liquidate old gear, because reasons) so I'm trying to figure out just what this unit is fitted out with.
Luckily the instrument stores the serial number in its memory, so I was able to use GPIB to read it out: 3426A00711
The three plug-in modules inside are a little strange when checking their part numbers... The part numbers don't seem to exist in the service manuals I have found, but they do exist when checking the Keysight Parts Finder website.
Details as follows:
A4: 'OPT REFERENCE' P/N: 08647-61046 ->?Described in Keysight Parts Finder as 'Replaced by 08648-60042', which is 'MOD Assembly REF - 1E5' so I guess I scored the option 1E5, high stability time base.
A5: 'SIG GEN SYNTH' P/N: 08647-61050 -> Described in Keysight Parts Finder as as 'RF Synthe Assembly For 8648B' (I assume the B designation isn't exclusive to the B model as there are many parts shared between B, C, and D models?)
A6: 'RF OUTPUT' P/N: 08648-60116 -> Described in Keysight Parts Finder as as 'MOD AY-OUTPUT'.
Does anyone know why these part numbers are different to the manuals (Both Agilent and HP branded manuals)? Maybe I have an older unit and they are just older part numbers?
Also, does anyone know what 'Mod AY' is?
Thanks!
Jared
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The following files and folders have been uploaded to the Files area of the [email protected] group.
By: Yves Tardif <yves_tardif@...>
Description:
EYO 5086-7676 PCB interface, Electrical schematic
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Mark, it was the Thermistor and I did replace the 470k resistor also and swapped all RIFA and electrolytic out. Was still having issues and found the on / off switch wasn¡¯t making good contact too I removed and cleaned best I could and it¡¯s all better now.?
Drew
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Re: Help figuring out my 8648C Signal Generator?....
Hmm. 240VAC mains? I'm aware of this problem but never experienced it. (Thank the magic smoke gods!) When I would check, they all used the sealed EMI filter modules. Fingers crossed!
A lot of the HP gear will report (via HP-IB) the installed options. I did NOT see that command in the User Manual but it might be there. Something like OP? or similar.
Step One: GET IT WORKING!
Step Two: Don't worry about it that much. You will figure it out.
Cheers!
|
Re: Help figuring out my 8648C Signal Generator?....
On 11/29/23 20:40, Jared Cabot via groups.io wrote: I'm currently dealing with a fresh-popped Rifa capacitor (the first Rifa that popped on my bench! So exciting, and stinky... :D ) and a few other repairs here and there. Mmmmm, love that Rifa smell. NOT. ;) -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
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Re: Help figuring out my 8648C Signal Generator?....
I'll have to wait until I reassemble the instrument to try...
I'm currently dealing with a fresh-popped Rifa capacitor (the first Rifa that popped on my bench! So exciting, and stinky... :D ) and a few other repairs here and there.
Shouldn't take much longer than Mouser takes to deliver a couple parts.
If anyone happens to have a scanned copy of the earlier service manual they can upload, or can scan their paper copy, that might reveal some info. Manual part number 08648-90001
Thanks,
Jared
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Hi Drew,
I'm curious about the PS fix. Was it the 470k "start up" resistor? I've fixed a couple of these by replacing that. (they were open)
Mark
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Show quoted text
I picked up a non functioning HP 8920B and I¡¯ve been hard at it. It had a no power on issue that I resolved by repairing the power supply, NOT FUN! Next is installing a new LED monitor that I already have as the old one is hardly readable it¡¯s so dim but
all voltages check out so CRT is a dead duck.?
I have the following
Firmware V4.00 M01 ? Checksum 08111C36
Options
1. Tracking Generator
2. Cable Fault
3. Graphics Printout ( will never use )
4. Enhanced Spectrum Analyzer/ Markers
5. Full Test Setups?
My questions is, is V4.00 M01 the latest firmware??
Drew
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KB2LMN
vk2bea
Jared Cabot
Dave McGuire