Re: HP Semiconductor Analyzers
"Sven Schnelle" <svens@...> writes: The HP4145A + B are likely easy repairs, on one the 1345 XY display
sometimes only shows a vertical line, pointing to a problem in the X
deflection. The X/Y outputs at the back of the unit are showing the
proper signal. The tube isn't getting any signal, so it must be the
output amplifier. Might be just the gain pot - it says 1k, but i measure 1.6k. I put a fixed 270Ohm resistor now because i don't have the right pot, lets see whether that helps. Crossing fingers... /Sven
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HP Semiconductor Analyzers
Hi List,
i couldn't resist and bought a lot of HP Semiconductor Analyzers.
In particular:
HP4145A
HP4145B
HP4155B
HP4156A
The HP4145A + B are likely easy repairs, on one the 1345 XY display
sometimes only shows a vertical line, pointing to a problem in the X
deflection. The X/Y outputs at the back of the unit are showing the
proper signal. The tube isn't getting any signal, so it must be the
output amplifier.
The other one is missing the boot floppy. Everything else seems to work,
i confirmed this by taking the HxC emulator which is already present in
the other unit to boot. So i'll likely remove the floppy drive and just
put in a HxC emulator and be done. Although i don't need two analyzers,
i mainly bought them to make sure i have one if i need some unobtainable
parts.
The HP4155/56 seem to be a bit more problematic - both have broken power
supplies. One is not starting at all, the other one is starting for a
second and shuts down afterwards.
I haven't found a schematic/service guide for them - does anyone know
any details about the power supplies? One is a Voltex D2160, the other
one i don't know yet. But they look quite sophisticated, with a lot of
different voltages and several PCBs.
Thanks
Sven
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"Sven Schnelle" <svens@...> writes: So if the YTM current is not parked correctly the YIG sphere will interfere with the Band 0 passband. This should be
fairly straightforward to check by measuring the coil voltage around 4GHz and confirming it parks at a similar location
when a Band 0 frequency is selected. I think i measured ~2.3V above the coil, but don't know what the voltage
required to tune it to 4GHz is. I'll check this evening, thanks!
A mismatched YTF interfering would also explain why the dip is at ~2.2Ghz,
and after that the output level increases again...
I did another test now: unsolder the tuning coils from the PCB and connect it to voltage source. Moving current from 0 to 50mA (i think i've read 15mA/GHz in the Service manual) didn't change the level of the output. I've found the SYTM now used and ordered two. Lets see whether at least one of them works. If it works, i'm selling the other one - guess i'll find someone who needs one. /Sven
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"Bruce" <bruce@...> writes: I'd toa bit more investigation:
1) Test YIG output (rar of 8340)
2) Test input to the YTM from the low band amp
Things to suspect: Low band AMP, heterodyne mixer and 3.8GHz oscillator.
SRD is not involved in band 0 - PIN switch is involved in band 0 I think i checked both a while ago, but will check again this evening. Thanks!
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Hi Wayne, "Wayne ZL2BKC" <w.knowles@...> writes: Sven,
The graph you included showing the insertion loss for band 0 now has me thinking. The slope you measure is almost
identical to what I witness against my faulty unit (with a falloff from ~1 to ~2.3GHz).
Digging into the 8340A service manual page 8-827 states:
When the instrument is in the Band 0 the SYTM magnet is tuned to about 4 GHz to keep the YIG sphere from
interferring with the output. |Tuning the SYTM to 4 GHz is accomplished by closing Q17. R109, Q21, | and Q25 will be
discussed in the Block J description (kick pulses).
So if the YTM current is not parked correctly the YIG sphere will interfere with the Band 0 passband. This should be
fairly straightforward to check by measuring the coil voltage around 4GHz and confirming it parks at a similar location
when a Band 0 frequency is selected. I think i measured ~2.3V above the coil, but don't know what the voltage required to tune it to 4GHz is. I'll check this evening, thanks! A mismatched YTF interfering would also explain why the dip is at ~2.2Ghz, and after that the output level increases again... Thanks Sven
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Re: HP 3580A Spectrum Analyzer - broken frequency display
Hi Peter,
I humbly apologize for my silence but I had no time to attend the group and accordingly, I completely missed your message.
Thank you so much for your offer!!
I live in Italy: do you think you can manage shipping (cost on my side of course)?
I over and over saw your video and I'd like to ask you how you managed to draw out the frequency meter block.
Il looks stuck by the scope bezel I can't remove.
I'm afraid to crack something applying force.
Thank you
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...and the discussion gets just about as heated! On 08/09/2022 00:44, Dr. David Kirkby, Kirkby Microwave Ltd wrote: As much as I prefer bottom-posting on public mailing lists, arguing about the merits of one way or the other is as pointless as arguing about religion.
oops, I mean ...and the discussion gets just about as heated!
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Re: Hp 8590a eeprom problem.
On Thu, Sep 8, 2022 at 03:42 AM, Richard Cook wrote:
t's indicating eeprom u21
What others have said. Please check the type of EEPROM. They can be programmed in different ways.
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Hi all,
Thanks again for great advice on my thread about spectrum analyzers.
I'm looking to expand my capabilities with one or more signal generators. I'm mostly interested in pulse modulation and highly accurate control of pulse timing and signal phase for experiments in the MIMO/phased array space.
I have been thinking about picking up an 8341B and/or an 8673B. Anyone who wants to share an opinion is welcome! If you have different ideas about what equipment I should be consifering, I'd love to hear it.
I will start somewhere in the S-K bands but I'd like to work my way all the way up to around 100GHz.
I've also seen screw-type waveguide phase adjusters that I believe will be useful as I push into the mmwave range, but I don't know a lot about what to look for.
Good support in HP-IB and Linux GPIB specifically is a plus since that should help me automate my tests.
I believe I will also need to consider an external clock source, so advice about that is also welcome!
Thank you in advance!
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Sven, The graph you included showing the insertion loss for band 0 now has me thinking.?? The slope you measure is almost identical to what I witness against my faulty unit (with a falloff from ~1 to ~2.3GHz). Digging into the 8340A service manual page 8-827 states:
?When the instrument is in the Band 0 the SYTM magnet is tuned to about 4 GHz to keep the YIG sphere from interferring with the output. |Tuning the SYTM to 4 GHz is accomplished by closing Q17. R109, Q21, |? and Q25 will be discussed in the Block J description (kick pulses).
So if the YTM current is not parked correctly the YIG sphere will interfere with the Band 0 passband.?? This should be fairly straightforward to check by measuring the coil voltage around 4GHz and confirming it parks at a similar location when a Band 0 frequency is selected. -- Wayne
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Re: Hp 8590a eeprom problem.
I did recap the PS with high grade caps . I'll double check those rails and dig into it and see if I can get a part number for U21.?
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Re: Hp 8590a eeprom problem.
On 9/7/22 20:42, Richard Cook wrote: I'm getting a error code of 1310 upon turning the SA on. It's indicating eeprom u21. There is some hand writing in the manual (looks like corrections to the manual) that if you get that error code replace corresponding EEPROM. Which is U21.
?Now that code doesn't appear everything I turn it on. Maybe about 75% of the time , and it didn't start giving me that code until I had ran it about 5 hours over 3 days. I got it off ebay and it may have been sitting for a while. .any ideas would be helpful, I have very little knowledge on SA's . It's interesting that it's so intermittent. Have you verified that the instrument's power supplies are stable? What type of EEPROM is U21? (chip part number) Do you know offhand what's stored in it? -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
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Re: Hp 8590a eeprom problem.
I'm getting a error code of 1310 upon turning the SA on. It's indicating eeprom u21. There is some hand writing in the manual (looks like corrections to the manual) that if you get that error code replace corresponding EEPROM. Which is U21.?
?Now that code doesn't appear everything I turn it on. Maybe about 75% of the time , and it didn't start giving me that code until I had ran it about 5 hours over 3 days. I got it off ebay and it may have been sitting for a while. .any ideas would be helpful, I have very little knowledge on SA's .
Thanks
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Hi Sven,
My 8340A experiences exactly the same issue as yours.?? Moreover it thinks the level is OK when its not (ie. no UNLEVEL error like I would expect)
A few years ago I took my unit apart and confirmed the level was OK into the SYTM and the switching voltages were OK.?? At that point I was reluctant to open the SYTM module as it would change the YTM tracking.
Since then I have acquired a SYTM from a 8341A which is only spec'd to 20GHz but have not desired the low band enough to warrant the time consuming repair and realignment.
Gut feeling is similar to your analysis that the PIN switch is not functioning as expected.
--Wayne
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Re: Hp 8590a eeprom problem.
On 9/7/22 19:54, Richard Cook wrote: Does anyone know anything about programing a eeprom ? I have looking at a eeprom programmer. I was thinking if I could read the old one and transfer that data to the new eeprom. Would I be transferring bad data to a new device? The data is there, I'm wondering if it's a construction breakdown and the data is still good , anyone with any knowledge would be appreciated. Many of us know a great deal about programming EEPROMs. I think with more specific information someone here should be able to provide some guidance. But based on what you said above, if something is misbehaving due to issues reading an EEPROM, reading it out in an EEPROM programmer isn't likely to yield much benefit, as such devices access the chips in the same way they're accessed when in their operational device. There are other ways to get at that data, but would generally be considered impractical unless a great deal of time and money are available. (decapsulating chips, etc) -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
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Sometimes to universe shines its light at the right time. I just started refurbing an 8558B and low-and-behold...?
I found the key to the puzzle in the form of a picture of a switch wiper stuck in the carpet. (Read the blog and you'll understand.)
:-)
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Re: Hp 8590a eeprom problem.
Does anyone know anything about programing a eeprom ? I have looking at a eeprom programmer. I was thinking if I could read the old one and transfer that data to the new eeprom. Would I be transferring bad data to a new device? The data is there, I'm wondering if it's a construction breakdown and the data is still good , anyone with any knowledge would be appreciated.??
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On Wed, 7 Sep 2022 at 22:03, Dave McGuire < mcguire@...> wrote:
? ?This is what happens when people don't quote what they're replying
to, which is common when treating this mailing list as if it were a web
forum.? It really makes a mess of things.
? ? ? ? ? ? -Dave
To be fair both?
1) Not quoting what one is replying to OR 2) Quoting vast amounts of irrelevant previous posts
are common on all mailing lists.? That problem is not unique to a forum, with email facilities like .
Likewise some people top-posting, and others bottom-posting is not unique to forums.?
As much as I prefer bottom-posting on public mailing lists, arguing about the merits of one way or the other is as pointless as arguing about religion.?
Dave -- Dr. David Kirkby, Kirkby Microwave Ltd, drkirkby@...Telephone 01621-680100./ +44 1621 680100 Registered in England & Wales, company number 08914892. Registered office: Stokes Hall Lodge, Burnham Rd, Althorne, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 6DT, United Kingdom
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Re: 3458A Schaffner Mains Filter
On 2022-09-07, at 23:10, Sven Schnelle <svens@...> wrote:
I'm started to exchange these filters immediately before even connecting
devices to power. I'm often buying TE in the US, and what happend
several times now is that i thought "lets connect it for a short time
and see whether it works¡±.
If I need to do such a check, I run the device from a 110 V source (*). Smaller chance of blowing up, and 1/4 the energy if it does. Interesting discussion, but we are not much further along pinning down any manufacturing date from which on Schaffner filters can be considered reasonably safe. Somewhere in the 1990s, apparently... Gr¨¹?e, Carsten (*) A Variac will do; but I can¡¯t really imagine a lab without some 110 V devices, so I usually have a dedicated autotransformer around (which just needs to be connected the right way to phase/neutral).
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I'd toa bit more investigation:
1) Test YIG output (rar of 8340)
2) Test input to the YTM from the low band amp
Things to suspect: Low band AMP, heterodyne mixer and 3.8GHz oscillator.
SRD is not involved in band 0 - PIN switch is involved in band 0
Cheers!
Bruce
Quoting Sven Schnelle <svens@...>:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hi List,
i noticed that my HP8340A output level is low in Band 0. Probably since
i bought the unit one or two years ago, i just never noticed because i'm
usually using this generator only when i need frequencies > 4GHz. This
time i wanted to calibrate the flatness on my 8563E and used the low
band. At 10 MHz level is ok, but there's a steady decrease in output
level until it finally reaches a loss of about 25dB. (See attached image)
Note that the vertical scale description is wrong, it's the absolute
level, not the loss/gain. I put in -20dBm.
I disconnected the SYTM input and outputs in the 8340A, and measured the
frequency response. See the attached image. The PIN Diode Bias is -1V
when in the high bands, +5.5V when in the low band. The Service manual
states +12/-11V, but carefully increasing that voltage with a power
supply didn't had an effect on the output level. I guess the PIN switch
is just toast, and there's nothing i can do except changing the SYTM?
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Anders
Dave McGuire
Grant - W7GTM | WRKH263 | DMR: 3204339
Dr. David Kirkby, Kirkby Microwave Ltd