Does anyone has a detailed datasheet of the stellex permanent magnet YTOs that are commonly offered on ebay ? im especially interested in the max current the coil can take without frying. Im in the process of building a 32GHz Synthesizer and want to use one of those YIGs to generate a 8GHz Signal that then will be multiplied to 16GHz and then to 32GHz ,im planing on using a SPD from metelics for this task driven by a 100MHz Crystal oscillator, i know theres better stuff around but im trying to utilize stuff in got in my drawer. Anyway i need a datasheet for the YTO to be able to properly design the loop filter and driver circuitry.
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Re: DIY: Repair of HP Step Attenuators
Thanks John! Best George --- In hp_agilent_equipment@..., J Forster <jfor@...> wrote: FWIW, do it over a tray w/ turned up edges. I just spent over an
hour chasing small bits of an assembly because I ignored that precaution.
Best, -John
g47g wrote:
Thanks. I'll try to disassemble the unit, then I hope I'll see the reason of the failure. [snip]
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Re: Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
They are very likely Sealectro or MicroDot. If you email me a (small ) pic of both M and F, off list, I'll see if I can ID them.
If they are gold plated with Teflon insulation between center and outer conductors, Sealectro is the most likely choice.
-John
David C. Hallam wrote:
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I did call them GOOFY because that is what they are. They are goofy because I think the only place in the whole world they were used was the jacks and plugs for the cables of the connections between modules of the 8443A. They are not SMA, SMB, or SMC. I have looked at drawing of each of these types are the are not same as what HP used. I have no idea what they are or where to obtain them. I would certainly appreciate it if anyone could identify them along with a source of supply. As far as I am concerned their official description is "unobtainiun".
David KC2JD/4
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Re: Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
If you can email me photographs, I'll compare them to what's in my 8443A.
But it doesn't really matter. The only important one for your present purpose is A6W1, the one from the RF amp to the counter's INT input. All you have to do is scope it long enough to verify that there's RF there; this can be accomplished without an adaptor.
Dave Wise
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-----Original Message----- From: hp_agilent_equipment@... [mailto:hp_agilent_equipment@...]On Behalf Of David C. Hallam Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 3:19 PM To: hp_agilent_equipment@... Subject: RE: [hp_agilent_equipment] Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
I did call them GOOFY because that is what they are. They are goofy because I think the only place in the whole world they were used was the jacks and plugs for the cables of the connections between modules of the 8443A. They are not SMA, SMB, or SMC. I have looked at drawing of each of these types are the are not same as what HP used. I have no idea what they are or where to obtain them. I would certainly appreciate it if anyone could identify them along with a source of supply. As far as I am concerned their official description is "unobtainiun".
David KC2JD/4 -----Original Message----- From: hp_agilent_equipment@... [mailto:hp_agilent_equipment@...]On Behalf Of David Wise Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 5:03 PM To: hp_agilent_equipment@... Subject: RE: [hp_agilent_equipment] Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
I didn't call them goofy, David Hallam (the OP) did. You and I are referring to what's more commonly called "Hybrid-D" connectors. (From context, I judge that David Hallam is thinking of the SMB (SMC?) plugs on the inter-assembly cables inside the instrument. The hybrid-D of interest in this thread actually has no standard D contacts at all, it's all coaxes. Which by the way are called "Size 8". Not to inundate you with 8's, but the connector pin layout is called "8W8", which predictably means 8 contacts 8 of which are coax.
Regards, Dave Wise
> -----Original Message----- > From: hp_agilent_equipment@... > [mailto:hp_agilent_equipment@...]On Behalf Of J Forster > Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 2:02 PM > To: hp_agilent_equipment@... > Subject: Re: [hp_agilent_equipment] Hp-8443A Tracking > Generator Problems > > > Sealectro is a brand. They made SMA, SMB, SMC, and a number > of other miniature > coax connectors. They ALSO made a number of proprietary types > in addition to the > standards. > > As to 'goofy', do you mean the D connectors w/ the mix of > coax and ordinary > pins? > > -John > > > > David Wise wrote: > > > They did call them by an obsolete name, "selectro" (or was > it "sealectro"?). > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Yahoo! Groups Links
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Re: Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
I did call them GOOFY because that is what they are. They are goofy because I think the only place in the whole world they were used was the jacks and plugs for the cables of the connections between modules of the 8443A. They are not SMA, SMB, or SMC. I have looked at drawing of each of these types are the are not same as what HP used. I have no idea what they are or where to obtain them. I would certainly appreciate it if anyone could identify them along with a source of supply. As far as I am concerned their official description is "unobtainiun".
David KC2JD/4
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-----Original Message----- From: hp_agilent_equipment@... [mailto:hp_agilent_equipment@...]On Behalf Of David Wise Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 5:03 PM To: hp_agilent_equipment@... Subject: RE: [hp_agilent_equipment] Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
I didn't call them goofy, David Hallam (the OP) did. You and I are referring to what's more commonly called "Hybrid-D" connectors. (From context, I judge that David Hallam is thinking of the SMB (SMC?) plugs on the inter-assembly cables inside the instrument. The hybrid-D of interest in this thread actually has no standard D contacts at all, it's all coaxes. Which by the way are called "Size 8". Not to inundate you with 8's, but the connector pin layout is called "8W8", which predictably means 8 contacts 8 of which are coax.
Regards, Dave Wise
> -----Original Message----- > From: hp_agilent_equipment@... > [mailto:hp_agilent_equipment@...]On Behalf Of J Forster > Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 2:02 PM > To: hp_agilent_equipment@... > Subject: Re: [hp_agilent_equipment] Hp-8443A Tracking > Generator Problems > > > Sealectro is a brand. They made SMA, SMB, SMC, and a number > of other miniature > coax connectors. They ALSO made a number of proprietary types > in addition to the > standards. > > As to 'goofy', do you mean the D connectors w/ the mix of > coax and ordinary > pins? > > -John > > > > David Wise wrote: > > > They did call them by an obsolete name, "selectro" (or was > it "sealectro"?). > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >
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Re: Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
I didn't call them goofy, David Hallam (the OP) did. You and I are referring to what's more commonly called "Hybrid-D" connectors. (From context, I judge that David Hallam is thinking of the SMB (SMC?) plugs on the inter-assembly cables inside the instrument. The hybrid-D of interest in this thread actually has no standard D contacts at all, it's all coaxes. Which by the way are called "Size 8". Not to inundate you with 8's, but the connector pin layout is called "8W8", which predictably means 8 contacts 8 of which are coax.
Regards, Dave Wise
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-----Original Message----- From: hp_agilent_equipment@... [mailto:hp_agilent_equipment@...]On Behalf Of J Forster Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 2:02 PM To: hp_agilent_equipment@... Subject: Re: [hp_agilent_equipment] Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
Sealectro is a brand. They made SMA, SMB, SMC, and a number of other miniature coax connectors. They ALSO made a number of proprietary types in addition to the standards.
As to 'goofy', do you mean the D connectors w/ the mix of coax and ordinary pins?
-John
David Wise wrote:
They did call them by an obsolete name, "selectro" (or was it "sealectro"?).
Yahoo! Groups Links
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Re: Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
Sealectro is a brand. They made SMA, SMB, SMC, and a number of other miniature coax connectors. They ALSO made a number of proprietary types in addition to the standards.
As to 'goofy', do you mean the D connectors w/ the mix of coax and ordinary pins?
-John
David Wise wrote:
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They did call them by an obsolete name, "selectro" (or was it "sealectro"?).
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Re: HP-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
I said that two sentences later:
"At narrow RBW settings, you have to fine-tune the TG to be exactly on frequency, that's the screwdriver adjustment on the front panel. Since you don't know that it's spot-on, start with a wide RBW then narrow it down."
Said screwdriver adjustment trims the 3MHz LO which mimics the final I.F. of the 8552. Late versions of the 8443A have a "Restore Signal" mode which uses the actual IF signal from the 8552. In that mode, as long as it's within the SA's RBW, the TG puts out exactly the frequency presented to the SA's RF input. Note: This doesn't work with early 8552's, they don't bring their final IF out to the bulkhead. While the mod is conceptually simple, it's physically difficult due to the location of the contacts, so I haven't done it to my 8552A.
And another note: When the 8553B is in FULL scan mode, it puts out its own marker in addition to the one from the 8443A. Fortunately they are recognisably different: the former is a dip in trace height while the latter is a change in trace intensity. And a note about that. How much brighter it gets depends on the Marker Intensity control, which adjusts the time the scan is paused at the marker position.
Regards, Dave Wise
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-----Original Message----- From: hp_agilent_equipment@... [mailto:hp_agilent_equipment@...]On Behalf Of J Forster Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 1:54 PM To: hp_agilent_equipment@... Subject: Re: [hp_agilent_equipment] Re: HP-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
ONLY, if the TG is actually putting out the same frequency as the SA is tuned to. I have an AIL 757 and TG. If the tracking control is not tuned right, the YIG in the SA's front end will be tuned to a different frequency than the TG and you see little to nothing on the SA.
-John
David Wise wrote:
You don't even have to select zero span. The function and purpose of a TG is to output, at all times, whatever frequency the SA is listening to. As the SA scans, so does the TG. In all scan modes, the SA should show a horizontal line at a height determined by the TG's output amplitude. [snip]
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Re: HP-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
ONLY, if the TG is actually putting out the same frequency as the SA is tuned to. I have an AIL 757 and TG. If the tracking control is not tuned right, the YIG in the SA's front end will be tuned to a different frequency than the TG and you see little to nothing on the SA.
-John
David Wise wrote:
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You don't even have to select zero span. The function and purpose of a TG is to output, at all times, whatever frequency the SA is listening to. As the SA scans, so does the TG. In all scan modes, the SA should show a horizontal line at a height determined by the TG's output amplitude. [snip]
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Re: HP-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
Take a look at the Wiltrons. The advantage is that the marker accuracy is independent of the GHz/Volt calibrations. In fact, I have a little home brew unit in a Tek TM-500 PI that does just that... mixer, LPF, detector, comparator.
-John
lothar baier wrote:
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this is another way but i havent seen anyone using this in centuries, the last time i saw it was on a old jerrold sweeper, everything i had ever since was using the approach i described, problem with the RF method is that its quite expensive to realize, a directional coupler, sampling mixer and the oscillator and frequency counter costs money and space and also takes away from the RF power, another factor is that whenever you use a comb generator you run the risk of finding your peaks "everywhere" even in places you dont want them :) DC or LF stuff is cheap and doesnt take up much space so i think thats why most companies opted for this approach
J Forster <jfor@...> wrote: lothar baier wrote:
ok there are two basic ways to create a marker in a swept system, one is called RF blanking the other one is called intensity modulation, ok usually you have a control voltage thats proportional to your RF frequency, if the analyzer sweeps its basically a ramp, each point of the ramp corresponds to a certain frequency, you feed this signal to a comparator and compare it to a DC voltage thats adjustable (coming from your marker pot) anytime the ramp "hits" this threshold you get a pulse on your comparator output, you route this pulse back into your display and use it to crank up the intensity just a bit at this point and there you have a marker blip on your screen :) There is another way. You sample the RF, mix it with a (frequency settable) oscillator, run the output through a LPF, detector, and comparator and use this output for intensity markers.
This system has the advantage that you can count the oscillator and have accurate digital markers, and, if you replace the oscillator w/ a comb generator, you get nice, calibrated pips.
Best, -John
you could also use this pulse to turn the RF of your TG off for just a moment but then you would end up with a dark spot as a marker for a short time instead of beein brighter. Your statement about you seein a bright blip on your screen as a marker along with the statement about you seen the marker even with the calibator connected to your RF section input makes me certain that your markers are intensity modulated !
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Re: DIY: Repair of HP Step Attenuators
FWIW, do it over a tray w/ turned up edges. I just spent over an hour chasing small bits of an assembly because I ignored that precaution.
Best, -John
g47g wrote:
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Thanks. I'll try to disassemble the unit, then I hope I'll see the reason of the failure. [snip]
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Re: Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
They did call them by an obsolete name, "selectro" (or was it "sealectro"?).
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-----Original Message----- From: hp_agilent_equipment@... [mailto:hp_agilent_equipment@...]On Behalf Of lothar baier Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 1:26 PM To: hp_agilent_equipment@... Subject: Re: [hp_agilent_equipment] Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
usually HP used SMC and SMB on the inside of most instrument, i havent seen anything special in any of the HP Gear
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Re: Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
usually HP used SMC and SMB on the inside of most instrument, i havent seen anything special in any of the HP Gear Dan Rae <danrae@...> wrote: David C. Hallam wrote: I believe it might be more expeditious to find another 8443A I can purchase, only after verification that it is working properly, than to attempt the repair of mine.
David if you do look for another one, try to find a later one with LED displays rather than nixie tubes, they are a little bit more reliable. But they are pretty easy to work on, all in all, given a modicum of test gear. I'd bet it is probably something very minor wrong with yours. And it's probably ten years since I had the lid off mine, but I don't remember anything odd about the coax connectors inside, SMC I think. Good luck, Dan --------------------------------- Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how.
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Re: Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
David C. Hallam wrote: I believe it might be more expeditious to find another 8443A I can purchase, only after verification that it is working properly, than to attempt the repair of mine. David if you do look for another one, try to find a later one with LED displays rather than nixie tubes, they are a little bit more reliable. But they are pretty easy to work on, all in all, given a modicum of test gear. I'd bet it is probably something very minor wrong with yours. And it's probably ten years since I had the lid off mine, but I don't remember anything odd about the coax connectors inside, SMC I think. Good luck, Dan
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Hp-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
Thank you to all who replied to my request for help. I now understand more about the operation of this piece of test gear and also believe the solution to my problem is more complex than I originally thought.
Given the investment in time, money, and effort it will take to acquire and/or fabricate things like circuit board extenders and jumper cables with those goofy (Yes I still think HP used "goofy" connectors, they aren't SMA, SMB, SMC, or SM* anything) connectors on one end and BNC on the other, I believe it might be more expeditious to find another 8443A I can purchase, only after verification that it is working properly, than to attempt the repair of mine.
I will do what trouble shooting I can without those items before writing this one off.
David KC2JD/4
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Re: DIY: Repair of HP Step Attenuators
Thanks. I'll try to disassemble the unit, then I hope I'll see the reason of the failure. --- In hp_agilent_equipment@..., lothar baier <microwaveengineer1968@...> wrote: most likely the cam is worn out or the little ball that locks the
cam in place is missing g47g <g47g@...> wrote: Hi Lothar,
I have a 8495A manual step attenuator, and though it has the correct attenuations on every step(?), but it needs force to switch the attenuator in different positions, and also the well known "click" cannot be heard, when turning (with some force) the knob.
Could you help me with some idea and procedure, as you did with the electronic controlled equivalent ?
Thanks George Galambos
--- In hp_agilent_equipment@..., "microwaveengineer1968" <microwaveengineer1968@> wrote:
Since Agilent continiously ups the spare part prices and discontinues parts it has become more and more important to go past normal repair practices. Step Attenuators for example can be repaired without any special tools or cleanroom enviroment ! Lets take a look at the failure modes first, there are a few:
1.) Blown pads Usually common with spectrum analyzers if a level past the damage level of the attenuator was applied
2.) Cracked pads, pad has developed a hairline crack due to mechanical stress !
3.) Improper contact, the contact in between the attenuator and contact fingers is disturbed.
4.) Stuck solenoid Quite common if attenuator hasnt been used in awhile
After we remove the attenuator from the instrument the first step is to obtain the pinout and build us a little test bench consisting of a powermeter and a signal generator, the good old 8481D or 8484A will do nicely, if you dont have a sig gen use the 50MHz calibrator output of the 435 or 436 or similar model, connect the cal output to the 30dB pad connect the sensor and zero and calibrate meter, the meter will read -30dBm. Disconnect the sensor from the attenuator and insert the Step Attenuator, set step attenuator to 0dB, note the level on the powermeter, now switch in the attenuator sections one by one measure and note the level, 70dB attenuators are comprised of a 10 20 and 40dB Pad while 110dB Attenuators normally comprise of a 10 20 and two 40dB pads ! check every section individually, you should hear a click as you enable each section, if you find a bad section note the value it should have if all sections appear to be good repeat the test at a higher frequency using a sig gen, if everything appears to be ok at low frequency then most likely you have attenuator that just needs cleaning. Now lets take the attenuator apart, looking at the top you will see a nut on each SMA connector, remove this nut this will allow for you to remove the nameplate, under the plate you will see a wealth of allen screws, remove those but note that the screws close to the SMA connector are shorter than the other ones. Now look at the small sideplate, not the one with the ribbon cable but the other side - there are 4 small allen screws, remove those and then remove the sideplate, careful not to lose the little wire mesh here ! now slide out the u shaped cover and remove the top side. You now have two parts, one beein the bottom side containing the solenoids and the other one beein the top part containing the attenuator pads. First lets inspect the pads, you can measure them with a ohm meter, they should measure in the vicinity of 50ohms , except of the 10dB pad which can measure up to 70ohms or more. Inspect the pads visually, are there any burned or cracked pads ? if all pads look ok and check out at DC take a surgical swab and isopropilic alcohol and carefully clean the contacts pads on the attenuators. Next look at the contacts, enable all solenoids and observe the position of the contact tongues, they should be slightly above the surface of the block, carefully clean the contact tongues with alcohol, be careful not to bend them. next put the solenoids back into the 0 position and look at the top of the solenoids, you will see two little white plastic rods where those meet the solenoid you should see little rubber rings , there are 4 of those on each segment, usually over the years they go briddle and then disappear, with those rings gone the attenuator wont make contact anymore, you can buy the rings from watchmakers supply stores as they are beein used for sprocket gaskets ! Now if your gaskets are there put the attenuator back together after you cleaned everything and it should work now. If you have a broken or burned pad dont stress over it the pads are used in all HP attenuators so just find a attenuator on ebay and take the pad you need out of it, you can also buy pads from agilent however be prepared to pay $100-150 per piece
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Re: HP-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
You don't even have to select zero span. The function and purpose of a TG is to output, at all times, whatever frequency the SA is listening to. As the SA scans, so does the TG. In all scan modes, the SA should show a horizontal line at a height determined by the TG's output amplitude. So just route the TG RF out to the SA RF in. If the trace rises, you have RF, if it doesn't, you don't, and either the TG is not outputting or it's off frequency. At narrow RBW settings, you have to fine-tune the TG to be exactly on frequency, that's the screwdriver adjustment on the front panel. Since you don't know that it's spot-on, start with a wide RBW then narrow it down.
You could also view the TG output on your scope, at low frequencies. If the SA is on low band, the TG will be between 100kHz and 11MHz. However, the counter is tapped off at a different point so it's possible for the TG to output RF without counting, even if the counter works in EXT mode. Check the condition of A6W1 (Service Sheet 3) and scope it for RF.
You've received good advice when it comes to checking the connections; with their inadequate brackets, those bulkhead-mounted hybrid-D's are notorious for "signalus interruptus".
A couple of minor corrections to earlier postings:
1. The 8552 47MHz LO is not fixed; it's tuned by the Fine Tuning control, and swept on spans narrower than 50kHz. The 8443A's predecessor, the 8601A Option <mumble>, used with the 8553L, did not input the 47MHz LO. The 8601A generates its marker with RF blanking.
2. The marker is not necessarily at the SA center frequency, it can be moved side-to-side with the Marker Position control.
Regards, Dave Wise
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-----Original Message----- From: hp_agilent_equipment@... [mailto:hp_agilent_equipment@...]On Behalf Of Dan Rae Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 10:36 AM To: hp_agilent_equipment@... Subject: Re: [hp_agilent_equipment] Re: HP-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
The marker is generated as you know by stopping the scan for a period depending on the resolution selected and simultaneously opening the counter gate. The marker will thus appear on the 141 display regardless of whether the TG is outputting anything. You can therefore have a marker and no output easily enough...
So your statemant:
the RF output (of) the 8443A is functional since there is a marker on the CRT display
is not the case at all.
The easiest way to test for TG output is to select zero span on the SA and connect the TG output to the external counter input. With the TG output set above -20 dBm then you should now have a frequency reading identical to that you get normally. No output, no reading. You can also receive the TG output signal in a receiver tuned to the output frequency. Hard to avoid in fact with the full scan :^)
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Re: HP-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
I cant be bothered to look at the manual as it it out of reach, but has it occured that you are assuming that the marker and RF output are connected......they may not be. Check you actually have a RF output on a scope or an RF voltmeter. The marker could be generated from the scan and the RF signal could get lost before the counter take-off and the output terminal. Like all fault finding you need to go round the loop checking for signals with an independent piece of gear. Dont just make assumptions about how it works. Things that "must" be working usually arn't from my experience, until proved otherwise !!
Alan
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----- Original Message ----- From: "David C. Hallam" <dhallam@...> To: <hp_agilent_equipment@...> Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 6:09 PM Subject: RE: [hp_agilent_equipment] Re: HP-8443A Tracking Generator Problems Since I have demonstrated the counter portion of the 8443A is functional as it will count an external signal from my signal generator and the RF output the 8443A is functional NO not necessarily....measure it ! since there is a marker on the CRT display, the problem is in the counting of RF output frequency at the point where the scan is stopped to generate the marker.
If I am still off base, HELP.
David
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Re: DIY: Repair of HP Step Attenuators
most likely the cam is worn out or the little ball that locks the cam in place is missing g47g <g47g@...> wrote: Hi Lothar, I have a 8495A manual step attenuator, and though it has the correct attenuations on every step(?), but it needs force to switch the attenuator in different positions, and also the well known "click" cannot be heard, when turning (with some force) the knob. Could you help me with some idea and procedure, as you did with the electronic controlled equivalent ? Thanks George Galambos --- In hp_agilent_equipment@..., "microwaveengineer1968" <microwaveengineer1968@...> wrote: Since Agilent continiously ups the spare part prices and discontinues parts it has become more and more important to go past normal repair practices. Step Attenuators for example can be repaired without any special tools or cleanroom enviroment ! Lets take a look at the failure modes first, there are a few:
1.) Blown pads Usually common with spectrum analyzers if a level past the damage level of the attenuator was applied
2.) Cracked pads, pad has developed a hairline crack due to mechanical stress !
3.) Improper contact, the contact in between the attenuator and contact fingers is disturbed.
4.) Stuck solenoid Quite common if attenuator hasnt been used in awhile
After we remove the attenuator from the instrument the first step is to obtain the pinout and build us a little test bench consisting of a powermeter and a signal generator, the good old 8481D or 8484A will do nicely, if you dont have a sig gen use the 50MHz calibrator output of the 435 or 436 or similar model, connect the cal output to the 30dB pad connect the sensor and zero and calibrate meter, the meter will read -30dBm. Disconnect the sensor from the attenuator and insert the Step Attenuator, set step attenuator to 0dB, note the level on the powermeter, now switch in the attenuator sections one by one measure and note the level, 70dB attenuators are comprised of a 10 20 and 40dB Pad while 110dB Attenuators normally comprise of a 10 20 and two 40dB pads ! check every section individually, you should hear a click as you enable each section, if you find a bad section note the value it should have if all sections appear to be good repeat the test at a higher frequency using a sig gen, if everything appears to be ok at low frequency then most likely you have attenuator that just needs cleaning. Now lets take the attenuator apart, looking at the top you will see a nut on each SMA connector, remove this nut this will allow for you to remove the nameplate, under the plate you will see a wealth of allen screws, remove those but note that the screws close to the SMA connector are shorter than the other ones. Now look at the small sideplate, not the one with the ribbon cable but the other side - there are 4 small allen screws, remove those and then remove the sideplate, careful not to lose the little wire mesh here ! now slide out the u shaped cover and remove the top side. You now have two parts, one beein the bottom side containing the solenoids and the other one beein the top part containing the attenuator pads. First lets inspect the pads, you can measure them with a ohm meter, they should measure in the vicinity of 50ohms , except of the 10dB pad which can measure up to 70ohms or more. Inspect the pads visually, are there any burned or cracked pads ? if all pads look ok and check out at DC take a surgical swab and isopropilic alcohol and carefully clean the contacts pads on the attenuators. Next look at the contacts, enable all solenoids and observe the position of the contact tongues, they should be slightly above the surface of the block, carefully clean the contact tongues with alcohol, be careful not to bend them. next put the solenoids back into the 0 position and look at the top of the solenoids, you will see two little white plastic rods where those meet the solenoid you should see little rubber rings , there are 4 of those on each segment, usually over the years they go briddle and then disappear, with those rings gone the attenuator wont make contact anymore, you can buy the rings from watchmakers supply stores as they are beein used for sprocket gaskets ! Now if your gaskets are there put the attenuator back together after you cleaned everything and it should work now. If you have a broken or burned pad dont stress over it the pads are used in all HP attenuators so just find a attenuator on ebay and take the pad you need out of it, you can also buy pads from agilent however be prepared to pay $100-150 per piece
--------------------------------- Get easy, one-click access to your favorites. Make Yahoo! your homepage.
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Re: HP-8443A Tracking Generator Problems
yes i think so John Miles <jmiles@...> wrote: Isn't that what the 86222 sweeper plugin with the marker option does? Those are pretty common. -- john, KE5FX this is another way but i havent seen anyone using this in centuries, the last time i saw it was on a old jerrold sweeper, everything i had ever since was using the approach i described, problem with the RF method is that its quite expensive to realize, a directional coupler, sampling mixer and the oscillator and frequency counter costs money and space and also takes away from the RF power, another factor is that whenever you use a comb generator you run the risk of finding your peaks "everywhere" even in places you dont want them :) DC or LF stuff is cheap and doesnt take up much space so i think thats why most companies opted for this approach
J Forster <jfor@...> wrote: lothar baier wrote:
ok there are two basic ways to create a marker in a swept system, one is called RF blanking the other one is called intensity modulation, ok usually you have a control voltage thats proportional to your RF frequency, if the analyzer sweeps its basically a ramp, each point of the ramp corresponds to a certain frequency, you feed this signal to a comparator and compare it to a DC voltage thats adjustable (coming from your marker pot) anytime the ramp "hits" this threshold you get a pulse on your comparator output, you route this pulse back into your display and use it to crank up the intensity just a bit at this point and there you have a marker blip on your screen :)
There is another way. You sample the RF, mix it with a (frequency settable) oscillator, run the output through a LPF, detector, and comparator and use this output for intensity markers.
This system has the advantage that you can count the oscillator and have accurate digital markers, and, if you replace the oscillator w/ a comb generator, you get nice, calibrated pips.
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