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Still trying to figure how to load a 8920A DOS card from those files.? I assume they are DOS files?
I can drip a text file into it from Hyperterminal via serial 9 into the HPIB cntrl console and save to
Internal,4 but how to I/O the lib and prc and save/recall binaries???
Was hoping to back up stuff I/O 8920A (or B) <---> the PC via rs232.
I can see how programming would have been a full time job for someone.? Another alternative
would be a firmware upgrade via ROM to replace all the useless Cellular apps with the TOOLS.

I notice the thread? "Loading RFTOOLS files into an 8920A"? didn't go far.? The doc 08920-90220
tells about file naming conventions and nuances from p334 but getting binaries I/O the card the
way the instrument likes hasn't been found yet.? I notice crumbs of info are all over a whole bunch
of documents out there.? Maybe someone has figured it out by now...

Not going to dump a wad of cash for HPIB port hardware.? I can go for coffee if RS232 will work.

Not saying you can trust any download but this is where I found MCE:


Another thread implies not all PCMCIA ports can program your cards.? A lot of PCs had problems
running MCE too.

On 03/05/2022 9:18 AM, Robert G8RPI via groups.io wrote:

The files are in the files secion of this group. If you don't want to copy them to a PCMCA card I can supply? pre-rprgrammed PCMCIA FLASH card with the programs on it.

Can you, or someone in the group, provide the Epson cards that the HP 8920A used with RF Tools installed?

Or, would it be "better" to upgrade the 8920A to 8920B spec with the PCMCIA card reader?

Bob...

Thanks, Ralph & Robert,

I pulled out my old IBM T20 (haven't used this since the late 90's and only kept it because of the PCMCIA slots and that it would run an old NI GPIB-232 adapter I needed for some R&S gear)?that I can use with the card I bought Dad - Man, I wish I'd read your comment Robert before I started trying to get this working again, would have asked you for a card...

Anyway, I have it up and running now - However, I'm having trouble finding a download for Media Card Explorer that I trust - I didn't see the app in the files section so if you'd be kind enough to point me to a proper download I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,

TonyG

While I don't have mine at hand, and could well be mistaken, it is my recollection that the microphones from some of the vintage Regency transceivers will work with the HP 8924c and likely the 8920 as well. These were used on radios with the sloping front panels like the Polaris marine series, the TR200, RH606B, etc., and typically plugged into the side of the radio.

While these microphones use five pins, (less than the 8924c) if my memory is correct, the pattern is such that the two connectors mate properly and the pin-out is compatible.

I don't encourage folks to go out and buy a 30 year-old microphone just to try it but if someone happens to have one around perhaps they can verify that my recollection is correct.

KE6CD

Hi Tony,
The RF tools is useful. The main advantage is the ability to do calibrated sweep measurements. This makes the 8920x a basic scalar network analyser. The only issue is the slow sweep speed. The scanning receive function is good too.?

The files are in the files section of this group. If you don't want to copy them to a PCMCA card I can supply pre-programmed PCMCIA FLASH card with the programs on it. Send me a personal message.

Robert G8RPI.

Hey All,

I stumbled across an 8920B at a reasonable price so I bought it for my Dad (he's a big ham guy) - I'm heading back down to Aus in July and will hand it off to him then.

I thought however I might ask if people here have any suggestions for software that I should load onto it for him - Right now the RAM is empty and the ROM seems to only have diagnostic software on it. I see references to the?11807E RFTools software so I'm wondering if something like that would be useful to him (For example, I have an 8563E but I only use the?85672A?Spurious utility and not the?85671A? Phase Noise one as I find KE5FX's version easier to use).

Any suggestions on what might be useful to him would be appreciated and any guidance on where I might procure it would also be great.

Thanks,

TonyG

any high impedance microphone wired into the correct circular connector ...believe there are posts on the correct 8 pin DIN part number

they are available from the typical online parts sources but not all that cheap.

same connector that was used on later IFR's ( COM-120 vintage )

The factory version was small enough to fit in the front lid but pretty rare ...only saw one or two over the time I have worked on the 892X

the original SA module only had 10db and 1db scales

The later 102 version had 1, 2 and 10 db scales and later versions added adjacent power measurement capability

believe there were other updates but those are the major ones I recall

Anyone come up with a suitable replacement or modification for a mic to use with the 8920A ?

Thanks,

-Steve WA6OXN

The 102 is a later hardware design of the spectrum analyser module. Slightly better performance, but basically the same.

Interestingly the SA module from a 8922x will fit in a 8920x. It throws a configuration error on boot but if you ignore that it seems to work. The modules are basically the same but these use a configurable / programmable IC (Motorola IIRC in a PLCC package) for which there is no available data even though it has a non HP part number. It is used in a number of the other modules.

Robert G8RPI.

Are options 002 and 102 the same thing? Spectrum Analyzer + Tracking Generator?

What, if any, are the differences and why the (2) Options #'s ?

Thanks,

-Steve / WA6OXN

The RF I/O is the most difficult assembly? ?to repair in the 892X? series .? ?The other parts are easy to swap and usually not that bad to repair and often can be easily swapped with a used part ( which for the 892X series are plentiful )

There are some easy fixes like replacing the protection diodes? ( common part? actually used on a number of service monitors )on the BNC ports? but from there it can get challenging due to the complexity of the part and the components used.? Relay failures are my least favorite? due to the effort in getting the old one out .

The failure described may have started out as a simple port overload but it sounds like there were some underlying issues that did not show until the full RF diags were run .Looks like there may be multiple failures in that assembly.

Fairly typically scenario .? These units will often appear to run correctly but the diagnostics will fail or it will not pass verification/ calibration without repair.

The 8920 power supply should be re-capped proactively as well ....the PCB can be damaged if not caught in time.

On Mon, Feb 21, 2022 at 08:00 PM, Bob Burns AK9R wrote:

I'd vote for Amtronix. Rick Bowman at Amtronix knows the 8920/8921/8924/8935 family very well and has many spare parts on-hand. The 8920B that I bought from him developed a problem, so I shipped it back to him. I think shipping with insurance was around $250. Rick diagnosed the problem, replaced a module, recalibrated the unit, and shipped it back to me for about $400.

I second Rick at Amtronics.? He repaired my 8921 twice over the last 5 years or so (for different problems) and also did a full factory cal on it. I was extremely pleased with his service and the quick turn around time!? If you haven't had the power supply caps changed, you should do it (not an easy job) or have it done before the electrolytics start leaking and damage the PWB. He is a pro at doing this. This will happen to all of the 8920/21/24 units after 20 plus years and it will happen without warning. I also had some "user error" that smoked the rx front end. He fixed that as well. I would NOT recommend you try this repair. It is a major mess to get it apart and then there is the issue of finding what's wrong down to the component level, and trying to find suitable replacement parts. He has a standard repair he does for this problem. Recal after this is a must!?

best regards,

Chuck Adams N5UN