low amplitude readings below 10MHz on a 8591E
Hi All,
I came into the possession of a 8591E and after calibration,
I found out that when I connect my marconi 2019A to the SP and set it to 1Mhz and 0dBm
the peak is hardly to see amongst the noise, while around 20Mhz it about 24dBm below the reference level and
50Mhz it is as it should be.?
Does anybody know what is happening here and what to do about it?
Gr. Kees
|
Re: E4407B option AYX Fast Sweep Time Domain
Mark, ? This would mean that my AYX card probably has a problem. I'll look into it further. Thank You. ? Yves ? I'd have to move a bunch of stuff around to do this properly so I rigged up something with my HP8350 sweeper (set to CW) and a 10kHz signal applied to the EXT FM input... I can see "something" at 20us sweep time. Not a full sinusoid but just a piece of it. But there is a trace there. (the sinusoid is visible at 4ms)
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Yves Tardif <yves_tardif@...>
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2023 12:53 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] E4407B option AYX Fast Sweep Time Domain Hi Mark, ? I used a 10 kHz to 182 MHz FM signal here. I put myself in zero span, and the sweep time at 4msec. You can see the modulating signal, because I shifted the frequency of the E4407B to do slope demodulation (I don't have the demod FM option). So, we see a sinusoidal signal. At 4msec of sweep time, the signal is visible, but from 3msec to 20 usec nothing is seen. The range of 3ms to 20usec of sweep time is the range that the AYX option normally gives for 401 points. ? I guess you have different behavior with your AYX option. ? Yves ? My unit has this option, apparently no license required. I can set the sweep time to 20us but I am not sure what test you are doing. Are you saying that 20us sweep time is NOT displayed on the SA screen?
Hi, ? I was lucky enough to find an E4407B, it was defective but I managed to repair it. Currently, I'm doing performance tests to see if everything is working properly. I am at the stage where I have to test the sweep time. This Spectrum has the AYX Fast sweep time domain option. It is written in the Specifications Guide: ? Basic configuration sweep time for span = 0 Hz => (sweep points-1)/100kHz to 4000 sec or 10us to 4000sec for 2 points, and 4msec to 4000sec for 401 points. ? option AYX Fast Time Domain sweep time for span = 0 Hz => (sweep points-1)/20MHz to 4000 sec or 50ns to 4000sec for 2 points, and 20usec to 4000sec for 401 points. ? The AYX card is detected, and it appears in the HARDWARE or SYSTEM menu. Moreover, when I do the sweep time test, the signals appear on the BNC connectors at the back of the unit and are normal, so this card seems to work properly, but the sweep time is functional with a trace displayed on the screen, up to 4msec for 401 point, as if the AYX option was not installed. However, if I remove the card, for 401 points, the sweep time refuses to go lower than 4ms, with the card, the same test shows a minimum sweep time is 20usec as written in the technical document about this AYX option. ? In the installation manual, it seems that just inserting the card, activates this function, there is nothing else to do...there is really little detail. The card is in slot #3, I tried in slot #4 for the same behavior. ? Anyone have an idea, is the card defective? ? -Yves
|
Re: E4407B option AYX Fast Sweep Time Domain
Hi Yves,
I'd have to move a bunch of stuff around to do this properly so I rigged up something with my HP8350 sweeper (set to CW)
and a 10kHz signal applied to the EXT FM input...
I can see "something" at 20us sweep time. Not a full sinusoid but just a piece of it. But there is a trace there.
(the sinusoid is visible at 4ms)
Mark
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hi Mark,
?
I used a 10 kHz to 182 MHz FM signal here.
I put myself in zero span, and the sweep time at 4msec.
You can see the modulating signal, because I shifted the frequency of the E4407B to do slope demodulation (I don't have the demod FM option).
So, we see a sinusoidal signal. At 4msec of sweep time, the signal is visible, but from 3msec to 20 usec nothing is seen.
The range of 3ms to 20usec of sweep time is the range that the AYX option normally gives for 401 points.
?
I guess you have different behavior with your AYX option.
?
Yves
?
My unit has this option, apparently no license required.
I can set the sweep time to 20us but I am not sure what test you are doing.
Are you saying that 20us sweep time is NOT displayed on the SA screen?
Hi,
?
I was lucky enough to find an E4407B, it was defective but I managed to repair it.
Currently, I'm doing performance tests to see if everything is working properly.
I am at the stage where I have to test the sweep time.
This Spectrum has the AYX Fast sweep time domain option.
It is written in the Specifications Guide:
?
Basic configuration
sweep time for span = 0 Hz => (sweep points-1)/100kHz to 4000 sec or 10us to 4000sec for 2 points, and 4msec to 4000sec for 401 points.
?
option AYX Fast Time Domain
sweep time for span = 0 Hz => (sweep points-1)/20MHz to 4000 sec or 50ns to 4000sec for 2 points, and 20usec to 4000sec for 401 points.
?
The AYX card is detected, and it appears in the HARDWARE or SYSTEM menu.
Moreover, when I do the sweep time test, the signals appear on the BNC connectors at the back of the unit and are normal, so this card seems to work properly, but the sweep time is functional with a trace displayed
on the screen, up to 4msec for 401 point, as if the AYX option was not installed. However, if I remove the card, for 401 points, the sweep time refuses to go lower than 4ms, with the card, the same test shows a minimum sweep time is 20usec as written in the
technical document about this AYX option.
?
In the installation manual, it seems that just inserting the card, activates this function, there is nothing else to do...there is really little detail.
The card is in slot #3, I tried in slot #4 for the same behavior.
?
Anyone have an idea, is the card defective?
?
-Yves
|
Re: E4407B option AYX Fast Sweep Time Domain
Hi Mark, ? I used a 10 kHz to 182 MHz FM signal here. I put myself in zero span, and the sweep time at 4msec. You can see the modulating signal, because I shifted the frequency of the E4407B to do slope demodulation (I don't have the demod FM option). So, we see a sinusoidal signal. At 4msec of sweep time, the signal is visible, but from 3msec to 20 usec nothing is seen. The range of 3ms to 20usec of sweep time is the range that the AYX option normally gives for 401 points. ? I guess you have different behavior with your AYX option. ? Yves ? My unit has this option, apparently no license required. I can set the sweep time to 20us but I am not sure what test you are doing. Are you saying that 20us sweep time is NOT displayed on the SA screen?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Yves Tardif <yves_tardif@...>
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2023 10:26 AM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] E4407B option AYX Fast Sweep Time Domain Hi, ? I was lucky enough to find an E4407B, it was defective but I managed to repair it. Currently, I'm doing performance tests to see if everything is working properly. I am at the stage where I have to test the sweep time. This Spectrum has the AYX Fast sweep time domain option. It is written in the Specifications Guide: ? Basic configuration sweep time for span = 0 Hz => (sweep points-1)/100kHz to 4000 sec or 10us to 4000sec for 2 points, and 4msec to 4000sec for 401 points. ? option AYX Fast Time Domain sweep time for span = 0 Hz => (sweep points-1)/20MHz to 4000 sec or 50ns to 4000sec for 2 points, and 20usec to 4000sec for 401 points. ? The AYX card is detected, and it appears in the HARDWARE or SYSTEM menu. Moreover, when I do the sweep time test, the signals appear on the BNC connectors at the back of the unit and are normal, so this card seems to work properly, but the sweep time is functional with a trace displayed on the screen, up to 4msec for 401 point, as if the AYX option was not installed. However, if I remove the card, for 401 points, the sweep time refuses to go lower than 4ms, with the card, the same test shows a minimum sweep time is 20usec as written in the technical document about this AYX option. ? In the installation manual, it seems that just inserting the card, activates this function, there is nothing else to do...there is really little detail. The card is in slot #3, I tried in slot #4 for the same behavior. ? Anyone have an idea, is the card defective? ? -Yves
|
Re: E4407B option AYX Fast Sweep Time Domain
Yves,
My unit has this option, apparently no license required.
I can set the sweep time to 20us but I am not sure what test you are doing.
Are you saying that 20us sweep time is NOT displayed on the SA screen?
Mark
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hi,
?
I was lucky enough to find an E4407B, it was defective but I managed to repair it.
Currently, I'm doing performance tests to see if everything is working properly.
I am at the stage where I have to test the sweep time.
This Spectrum has the AYX Fast sweep time domain option.
It is written in the Specifications Guide:
?
Basic configuration
sweep time for span = 0 Hz => (sweep points-1)/100kHz to 4000 sec or 10us to 4000sec for 2 points, and 4msec to 4000sec for 401 points.
?
option AYX Fast Time Domain
sweep time for span = 0 Hz => (sweep points-1)/20MHz to 4000 sec or 50ns to 4000sec for 2 points, and 20usec to 4000sec for 401 points.
?
The AYX card is detected, and it appears in the HARDWARE or SYSTEM menu.
Moreover, when I do the sweep time test, the signals appear on the BNC connectors at the back of the unit and are normal, so this card seems to work properly, but the sweep time is functional with a trace displayed
on the screen, up to 4msec for 401 point, as if the AYX option was not installed. However, if I remove the card, for 401 points, the sweep time refuses to go lower than 4ms, with the card, the same test shows a minimum sweep time is 20usec as written in the
technical document about this AYX option.
?
In the installation manual, it seems that just inserting the card, activates this function, there is nothing else to do...there is really little detail.
The card is in slot #3, I tried in slot #4 for the same behavior.
?
Anyone have an idea, is the card defective?
?
-Yves
|
E4407B option AYX Fast Sweep Time Domain
Hi, ? I was lucky enough to find an E4407B, it was defective but I managed to repair it. Currently, I'm doing performance tests to see if everything is working properly. I am at the stage where I have to test the sweep time. This Spectrum has the AYX Fast sweep time domain option. It is written in the Specifications Guide: ? Basic configuration sweep time for span = 0 Hz => (sweep points-1)/100kHz to 4000 sec or 10us to 4000sec for 2 points, and 4msec to 4000sec for 401 points. ? option AYX Fast Time Domain sweep time for span = 0 Hz => (sweep points-1)/20MHz to 4000 sec or 50ns to 4000sec for 2 points, and 20usec to 4000sec for 401 points. ? The AYX card is detected, and it appears in the HARDWARE or SYSTEM menu. Moreover, when I do the sweep time test, the signals appear on the BNC connectors at the back of the unit and are normal, so this card seems to work properly, but the sweep time is functional with a trace displayed on the screen, up to 4msec for 401 point, as if the AYX option was not installed. However, if I remove the card, for 401 points, the sweep time refuses to go lower than 4ms, with the card, the same test shows a minimum sweep time is 20usec as written in the technical document about this AYX option. ? In the installation manual, it seems that just inserting the card, activates this function, there is nothing else to do...there is really little detail. The card is in slot #3, I tried in slot #4 for the same behavior. ? Anyone have an idea, is the card defective? ? -Yves
|
Re: HP 312A wave analyser
Some people would dearly love the nixies, if nothing else.? 2N404
are extremely old, but perhaps someone, somewhere, might like to
restore it.
Not surprised about Nightfire.? Turns out that you can get almost
(if not all) that they sell from Amazon, I think.
Harvey
On 3/16/2023 11:07 PM, Michael A.
Terrell wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
After zooming in quite a bit I see that the counter modules
are powered by -15 and +20V rails. They use 2N404 Germanium
transistors.
My HP5233 counter appears to use identical boards.It is
basically worthless, other than as a collector's item but it
has all six boards and the Nixies. It is only a 2MHz counter.
I've never powered it up, it was part of a large lot of old
test equipment that I bought over 20 years ago.I also have a
5223 (300KHz) counter from that same lot. I would need help to
dig them out of storage.
Boards from the 5245L and 5248 use the same basic circuit,
as well.
BTW, Nightfire is planning on closing their store fairly
soon.
On Thu, Mar 16, 2023 at
8:18?PM Harvey White < madyn@...>
wrote:
74 series logic is standard TTL, so 0 to 0.6 volts is a
good logic zero, and anything above 2.4 volts (preferably
3.2 to back bias an internal diode) is a logic one.? IIRC,
7447 outputs are simply saturating transistors to ground,
with the anode of the display switched on or off to enable
the digit if scanning.
Harvey
On 3/16/2023 5:27 PM, Michael A. Terrell wrote:
What about the 7441/74LS41 BCD to decimal decoder
designed to drive Nixies?
I have a 312B, which uses LED displays, with a much
simpler counter design.which uses the 74LS75 Latch and
the 74L47 BCD to seven segment decoders. The 312A
manual that I have is so speckled tht I can't read it
to determine the logic levels.
On Thu, Mar 16, 2023
at 12:57?PM Greg Muir via
<big_sky_explorer= [email protected]>
wrote:
Brad,
?
If
I can recall the neon-photocell approach was
very similar to that used in the HP 5245L
counter series display boards.? If
you can find an old board (base P/N 05212-6016)
you might have some luck in finding similar
photocell devices.? The suffix to
the part number (¡°Series 6xx¡±) changed
reflecting the board functionality.? There
was also changes in the design of these boards
where they either contained an enclosed module
termed ¡°Decoder¡± (One HP part number is
1820-1683¡±)? or a ¡°Photoconductor
Plate¡± where the photocells directly drive the
Nixie tubes.
?
It
appears that HP changed to the ¡°Decoder¡± module
in later model counters.? It is a
black plastic enclosure on the board with a
removable cover but I have never opened one up
to see what is inside.? Given its
construction I am assuming that it, too contains
photocells.
?
Greg
|
Re: HP 312A wave analyser
After zooming in quite a bit I see that the counter modules are powered by -15 and +20V rails. They use 2N404 Germanium transistors. My HP5233 counter appears to use identical boards.It is basically worthless, other than as a collector's item but it has all six boards and the Nixies. It is only a 2MHz counter. I've never powered it up, it was part of a large lot of old test equipment that I bought over 20 years ago.I also have a 5223 (300KHz) counter from that same lot. I would need help to dig them out of storage.
Boards from the 5245L and 5248 use the same basic circuit, as well.
BTW, Nightfire is planning on closing their store fairly soon.
On Thu, Mar 16, 2023 at 8:18?PM Harvey White < madyn@...> wrote:
74 series logic is standard TTL, so 0 to 0.6 volts is a good
logic zero, and anything above 2.4 volts (preferably 3.2 to back
bias an internal diode) is a logic one.? IIRC, 7447 outputs are
simply saturating transistors to ground, with the anode of the
display switched on or off to enable the digit if scanning.
Harvey
On 3/16/2023 5:27 PM, Michael A.
Terrell wrote:
What about the 7441/74LS41 BCD to decimal decoder designed
to drive Nixies?
I have a 312B, which uses LED displays, with a much simpler
counter design.which uses the 74LS75 Latch and the 74L47 BCD
to seven segment decoders. The 312A manual that I have is so
speckled tht I can't read it to determine the logic levels.
On Thu, Mar 16, 2023 at
12:57?PM Greg Muir via <big_sky_explorer= [email protected]>
wrote:
Brad,
?
If
I can recall the neon-photocell approach was very
similar to that used in the HP 5245L counter series
display boards.? If you can find an old
board (base P/N 05212-6016) you might have some luck in
finding similar photocell devices.? The
suffix to the part number (¡°Series 6xx¡±) changed
reflecting the board functionality.? There
was also changes in the design of these boards where
they either contained an enclosed module termed
¡°Decoder¡± (One HP part number is 1820-1683¡±)? or
a ¡°Photoconductor Plate¡± where the photocells directly
drive the Nixie tubes.
?
It
appears that HP changed to the ¡°Decoder¡± module in later
model counters.? It is a black plastic
enclosure on the board with a removable cover but I have
never opened one up to see what is inside.? Given
its construction I am assuming that it, too contains
photocells.
?
Greg
|
Re: HP 312A wave analyser
KI found a clue in the circuit description, par. 4-195, " A lighted photo conductor has a resistance of about 20k ohms, & an unlighted element has a resistance of several megohms." Sounds like a CDS photo cell. Of course, these elements are all driven by neons, which are called "lamps" in the manual. They are saying the firing voltage of the neon lamps around 70v, which means the neons would have had to be matched for this circuit to work.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Regards Brad?
|
Re: 5086-7337 *Yig Oscillator issue*
I believe some of the 2-20GHz had about 1 ampere tuning current at 20GHz¡
|
Re: HP 312A wave analyser
74 series logic is standard TTL, so 0 to 0.6 volts is a good
logic zero, and anything above 2.4 volts (preferably 3.2 to back
bias an internal diode) is a logic one.? IIRC, 7447 outputs are
simply saturating transistors to ground, with the anode of the
display switched on or off to enable the digit if scanning.
Harvey
On 3/16/2023 5:27 PM, Michael A.
Terrell wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
What about the 7441/74LS41 BCD to decimal decoder designed
to drive Nixies?
I have a 312B, which uses LED displays, with a much simpler
counter design.which uses the 74LS75 Latch and the 74L47 BCD
to seven segment decoders. The 312A manual that I have is so
speckled tht I can't read it to determine the logic levels.
On Thu, Mar 16, 2023 at
12:57?PM Greg Muir via <big_sky_explorer= [email protected]>
wrote:
Brad,
?
If
I can recall the neon-photocell approach was very
similar to that used in the HP 5245L counter series
display boards.? If you can find an old
board (base P/N 05212-6016) you might have some luck in
finding similar photocell devices.? The
suffix to the part number (¡°Series 6xx¡±) changed
reflecting the board functionality.? There
was also changes in the design of these boards where
they either contained an enclosed module termed
¡°Decoder¡± (One HP part number is 1820-1683¡±)? or
a ¡°Photoconductor Plate¡± where the photocells directly
drive the Nixie tubes.
?
It
appears that HP changed to the ¡°Decoder¡± module in later
model counters.? It is a black plastic
enclosure on the board with a removable cover but I have
never opened one up to see what is inside.? Given
its construction I am assuming that it, too contains
photocells.
?
Greg
|
Re: HP 312A wave analyser
What about the 7441/74LS41 BCD to decimal decoder designed to drive Nixies?
I have a 312B, which uses LED displays, with a much simpler counter design.which uses the 74LS75 Latch and the 74L47 BCD to seven segment decoders. The 312A manual that I have is so speckled tht I can't read it to determine the logic levels.
On Thu, Mar 16, 2023 at 12:57?PM Greg Muir via <big_sky_explorer= [email protected]> wrote: Brad,
?
If I can recall the neon-photocell approach was very similar to that used in the HP 5245L counter series display boards.? If you can find an old board (base P/N 05212-6016) you might have some luck in finding similar photocell devices.? The suffix to the part number (¡°Series 6xx¡±) changed reflecting the board functionality.? There was also changes in the design of these boards where they either contained an enclosed module termed ¡°Decoder¡± (One HP part number is 1820-1683¡±)? or a ¡°Photoconductor Plate¡± where the photocells directly drive the Nixie tubes.
?
It appears that HP changed to the ¡°Decoder¡± module in later model counters.? It is a black plastic enclosure on the board with a removable cover but I have never opened one up to see what is inside.? Given its construction I am assuming that it, too contains photocells.
?
Greg
|
Config/disassembler files for the HP1000 for the HP1630/1631 logic analysers?
Anyone happen to have those files? I have the disassemblers for HPIB and other stuff, but not HP1000. Docs for the two breakout boards would be nice as well!
|
HP 3335A power supply failure(?)
I had been seeing some phase jumps from my DMTD and after swapping out both the DMTD and the 7350A, I had come to the conclusion that it was probably the 3335A.? I had started another 24 hour run, and the outputs to the 5370A stopped cycling.? Then I noticed the display panel on the 3335A flashing nonsense.? So, after pulling the 3335A apart, I found that U3 on the pass-transistor board must have conducted at high gain for some reason, as J2 pin 5 on the A15 board (pass transistor board) was charred clear through the board.? The back of the board is very dark under U3, as well.? And yet, diode tests on the darlington with a DVM don't look bad.? Other than the burned PCB the only anomaly I've found so far is that this darlington transistor has been previously replaced with an NTE-247.? The other +V darlington has the number PMD12K60 on the case.? The big electrolytics test OK on my little multi-tester, both for capacitance and ESR.
So, before I go any further, I thought I'd ask the group if anyone had run into this type of failure before?? I was thinking of looking at the opamps on A14 next.
Bob - AE6RV
|
Re: HP 312A wave analyser
Brad,
?
If I can recall the neon-photocell approach was very similar to that used in the HP 5245L counter series display boards.? If you can find an old board (base P/N 05212-6016) you might have some luck in finding similar photocell devices.? The suffix to the part number (¡°Series 6xx¡±) changed reflecting the board functionality.? There was also changes in the design of these boards where they either contained an enclosed module termed ¡°Decoder¡± (One HP part number is 1820-1683¡±)? or a ¡°Photoconductor Plate¡± where the photocells directly drive the Nixie tubes.
?
It appears that HP changed to the ¡°Decoder¡± module in later model counters.? It is a black plastic enclosure on the board with a removable cover but I have never opened one up to see what is inside.? Given its construction I am assuming that it, too contains photocells.
?
Greg
|
Re: 5086-7337 *Yig Oscillator issue*
Don -
Thanks - that is what I thought.
Cheers!
Bruce
Quoting "Don Bitters via groups.io" <donbitters@...>:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Most of your assumptions are true, but if the end point voltages are not reasonably close you won¡¯t see output at either end. You might find that if you supplied a tuning voltage to the YIG somewhere in the middle of its tuning range you would possible find output from the YIG but off in frequency by as much as 1GHz or more. If the endpoints are not close and beyond the tune range of the YIG +/-, there will be little to no output from the YIG. Many of HP YIG choice were either 3Vdc/GHz tune voltage, there is also another spec. of mA/GHz, but I cannot recall that now. There also exist 1Vdc/GHz tuning voltage YIG¡¯s.
Don Bitters
|
Re: HP 8595E SA DB-25 RS232 is not functioning.
It used to be that devices with RS-232 had negative supplies available, and +-12V were common levels seen.
Later people started using transceiver chips and a 7660 or similar capacitor charge pump to provide a negative supply.
Later still, people started using MAX232 transceivers with integral charge pumps.
Finally, we have effectively TTL level 5V/0V interfaces that can¡¯t drive a negative voltage at all, but might rely on protection diodes and/or resistors on receive lines. Even those, have sometimes become implementations that are 3.3V logic that
is 5V tolerant.
When mixing new PCs with old equipment, the inability to drive a line negative for a zero from the PC side can certainly create problems. One would hope the implementation at least accepts the full input range with no damage to the port even
if it doesn¡¯t work.
If you¡¯re in a hurry and have a well stocked junk box, I¡¯d suggest building an inline adapter to shift the modern PC levels to a +-12V interface. If time is more precious than money, then buy something already built.
You should be able to connect an oscilloscope to see what¡¯s expected.
I¡¯ve seen devices that just wouldn¡¯t work without driving a line below -3V for a zero and more than +3V for a one.
I¡¯ve also run into things like GPRS modem boards that required 5V TTL levels from an Arduino microcontroller, and using a 5V ¡°1¡± was required and a 5V tolerant 3.3V microcontroller just didn¡¯t work. For that, the fix was easy¡cut a couple traces
and glue a TXS0104 based level shifter to the board ?with the VIO pin supplying whatever voltage was expected on the microcontroller side.
Also noteworthy: some industrial single board computers may have serial ports with buffers built in, or the ones on an optional add-on daughtercard that stacks on top might have them where the onboard ports don¡¯t.
|
Guys I have a HP 8656B that has a lot digit on the display that remains on all the time.?
Example: 10.000 MHz reads ? ? ?.10.000 MHZ?
not sure if it may be a stuck something??
Andrew
|
Re: 5086-7337 *Yig Oscillator issue*
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto: [email protected]] On Behalf Of Don Bitters via groups.io Sent: 16 March 2023 07:54 To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] 5086-7337 *Yig Oscillator issue* Most of your assumptions are true, but if the end point voltages are not reasonably close you won¡¯t see output at either end. You might find that if you supplied a tuning voltage to the YIG somewhere in the middle of its tuning range you would possible find output from the YIG but off in frequency by as much as 1GHz or more. If the endpoints are not close and beyond the tune range of the YIG +/-, there will be little to no output from the YIG. Many of HP YIG choice were either 3Vdc/GHz tune voltage, there is also another spec. of mA/GHz, but I cannot recall that now. There also exist 1Vdc/GHz tuning voltage YIG¡¯s. Don Bitters
|
Re: HP 8595E SA DB-25 RS232 is not functioning.
Hello again Candrian.
Sadly I do not know enough about those hardware options, to say for sure.? But if I had to recommend anything, I'd go for the HPIB(GPIB) interface designed for that analyser, if you can find one, and one of the common USB(or LAN) to GPIB adapters/controllers, there are several to choose from.
If your PC OS is Windows, go for the National Instruments device, and companion drivers.? Very well known, and works very well.
(NOTE!? NI are changing how they support "non current" products, so take care with them.)
Many people like NI's LabView (not me personally) and there is a lot of third party software out there that expects to use a NI interface.?? ? for one.
Or, the HP/Agilent equivalent, but using it's own native software (HP VEE) and drivers.? They might "Look" similar, and perform the same functions.? But, you CANNOT use NI drivers with the Agilent device, or the other way round.
If you use Linux in any flavour, there are ways to graft in the kernel needs for the NI devices, and there is some good code around using Python (in one form or another) to get work done.? The fun bit, is getting the OS to recognise and load drivers for the device itself.? It has even been done on a Raspberry Pi!
Then there are the Prologix devices (or the many look-alikes) as they don't actually have installable "drivers" as such, they appear to the OS as either a virtual serial port (USB connected types) or an address on your home/workshop LAN.
There are many DIY versions of the former, for example the AR488 Arduino based project.? For most people, they work well enough. Just don't expect to get anywhere close to the fabled 1 Mega Byte a second transfer rate, even if your instrument could do that.
The LAN connected GPIB adapters are possibly the most flexible. Both need some software skill's to deploy and make work, though lots of other people have done it.?? The LAN type's, of course can be used by any PC on your LAN if you need (but generally NOT at the same time!)? Of course, if you don't have a wired LAN, not a lot of use without some more kit.? (There are ways, but...)
If you have one instrument only, they are fairly easy to use.? If you have multiple that you need to use together to form a system, there is some more software work to do, to point the controller at the instrument you want to exchange data with.? Some of the documentation is a bit vague on that subject!
If you are not already, you WILL become fluent in whatever programming language you end up using, as well as "GPIB speek". Creating a system to do a job, and making it all work as you wish/need, is very satisfying.? But oh so frustrating at times! Don't assume all instrument (or software) documentation is 100% accurate either!? Also use good quality GPIB/HPIB cables, and take care of them.? (Personal experience from 30 odd years working with GPIB instruments etc for work...)
As we say, "The Devil is in the Detail"?? And there are lots of small details that you have to get correct for things to work.? Any one wrong, and often, nothing will work, or you get bad data or weird instrument behaviour!
(Hint:? ALWAYS check the error flags and status words!? And handle such errors, even if that is just to stop execution of your software, but put a meaningful message up for the luckless user when that happens! ...)
Above all, have fun!.? Instrument control over any interface, can be a deep rabbit hole to get lost in!
??? Dave G8KBV
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Created on and sent from a Unix like PC running and using free and open source software:
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Michael A. Terrell
Anders
KB2LMN
Paul Bicknell