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#31
November 14th 03, 11:37 PM
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"RP Jones" wrote in message . ..
With out doubt, most new hardware looks like its built to be thrown away and crushed. "Built in absolesance" Its a dam shame ! Id agree on Tek for scopes and HP for analyzers, if you look on Ebay HP "as is" scopes with problems must out number the Tek's 10-1. (Many developed push button/switchpad related problems) "gw" wrote in message isn't it true that the older stuff is built like a battleship and isn't as proprietary and can be repaired with user obtainable parts? I always heard tek for scopes and hp for analyzers. Any thoughts on that? what is a good spectrum analyzer to have for a home shop in your opinion, and also what is a good scope to have and do you have to break the bank on this stuff? thanks. |
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#32
November 14th 03, 11:37 PM
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"RP Jones" wrote in message . ..
With out doubt, most new hardware looks like its built to be thrown away and crushed. "Built in absolesance" Its a dam shame ! Id agree on Tek for scopes and HP for analyzers, if you look on Ebay HP "as is" scopes with problems must out number the Tek's 10-1. (Many developed push button/switchpad related problems) "gw" wrote in message isn't it true that the older stuff is built like a battleship and isn't as proprietary and can be repaired with user obtainable parts? I always heard tek for scopes and hp for analyzers. Any thoughts on that? what is a good spectrum analyzer to have for a home shop in your opinion, and also what is a good scope to have and do you have to break the bank on this stuff? thanks. |
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#33
November 14th 03, 11:56 PM
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what is a good spectrum analyzer to have for a home shop in your opinion, and also what is a good scope to have and do you have to break the bank on this stuff? thanks. What specs do you want, and how much do you want to spend? The HP 141T series is great for technically-inclined hams. Very maintainable, very reliable once you understand its quirks, very competitive performance... and very big and heavy. Typically $1K or less on eBay for a working outfit. Tek's 492-497 series are also excellent analyzers. Newer and much more portable than the 141T series, but still easily maintainable (via parts units and aftermarket suppliers, not through Tek). Quite a bit more expensive in most cases. $2K - $7K depending on model and options. HP 8560-series analyzers are also very nice; I have no personal experience with these, though. Stay away from the cheaper (8557/8/9) HP units. Tek's older 491 is probably also best avoided in favor of the 141T line (this is probably where the saying "HP for analyzers" came from.) Tek analyzers from the 2780 series should also be avoided by most users. They are still extremely expensive ($7K and up), and like the older 490/2750 analyzers no parts or manuals can be ordered from Tek anymore. However, unlike the 490/2750 units, they can be calibrated only with special PC-based configurations connected to specific test sources via GPIB and running obsolete software. Worse, Tek supported them only via module exchange, never releasing any component-level schematics. These are very powerful instruments, but keeping a 2782 or 2784 running nowadays would be a serious, ongoing research project in itself. These were symptomatic of the "bean-counter" generation at Tek, where customer needs were considered secondary to high-priced, proprietary product support and finite market lifetime. -- jm ------------------------------------------------------ http://www.qsl.net/ke5fx Note: My E-mail address has been altered to avoid spam ------------------------------------------------------ |
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#34
November 14th 03, 11:56 PM
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what is a good spectrum analyzer to have for a home shop in your opinion, and also what is a good scope to have and do you have to break the bank on this stuff? thanks. What specs do you want, and how much do you want to spend? The HP 141T series is great for technically-inclined hams. Very maintainable, very reliable once you understand its quirks, very competitive performance... and very big and heavy. Typically $1K or less on eBay for a working outfit. Tek's 492-497 series are also excellent analyzers. Newer and much more portable than the 141T series, but still easily maintainable (via parts units and aftermarket suppliers, not through Tek). Quite a bit more expensive in most cases. $2K - $7K depending on model and options. HP 8560-series analyzers are also very nice; I have no personal experience with these, though. Stay away from the cheaper (8557/8/9) HP units. Tek's older 491 is probably also best avoided in favor of the 141T line (this is probably where the saying "HP for analyzers" came from.) Tek analyzers from the 2780 series should also be avoided by most users. They are still extremely expensive ($7K and up), and like the older 490/2750 analyzers no parts or manuals can be ordered from Tek anymore. However, unlike the 490/2750 units, they can be calibrated only with special PC-based configurations connected to specific test sources via GPIB and running obsolete software. Worse, Tek supported them only via module exchange, never releasing any component-level schematics. These are very powerful instruments, but keeping a 2782 or 2784 running nowadays would be a serious, ongoing research project in itself. These were symptomatic of the "bean-counter" generation at Tek, where customer needs were considered secondary to high-priced, proprietary product support and finite market lifetime. -- jm ------------------------------------------------------ http://www.qsl.net/ke5fx Note: My E-mail address has been altered to avoid spam ------------------------------------------------------ |
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#35
November 15th 03, 03:17 AM
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johnm wrote in message ...
what is a good spectrum analyzer to have for a home shop in your opinion, and also what is a good scope to have and do you have to break the bank on this stuff? thanks. What specs do you want, and how much do you want to spend? The HP 141T series is great for technically-inclined hams. Very maintainable, very reliable once you understand its quirks, very competitive performance... and very big and heavy. Typically $1K or less on eBay for a working outfit. Tek's 492-497 series are also excellent analyzers. Newer and much more portable than the 141T series, but still easily maintainable (via parts units and aftermarket suppliers, not through Tek). Quite a bit more expensive in most cases. $2K - $7K depending on model and options. HP 8560-series analyzers are also very nice; I have no personal experience with these, though. Stay away from the cheaper (8557/8/9) HP units. Tek's older 491 is probably also best avoided in favor of the 141T line (this is probably where the saying "HP for analyzers" came from.) Tek analyzers from the 2780 series should also be avoided by most users. They are still extremely expensive ($7K and up), and like the older 490/2750 analyzers no parts or manuals can be ordered from Tek anymore. However, unlike the 490/2750 units, they can be calibrated only with special PC-based configurations connected to specific test sources via GPIB and running obsolete software. Worse, Tek supported them only via module exchange, never releasing any component-level schematics. These are very powerful instruments, but keeping a 2782 or 2784 running nowadays would be a serious, ongoing research project in itself. These were symptomatic of the "bean-counter" generation at Tek, where customer needs were considered secondary to high-priced, proprietary product support and finite market lifetime. -- jm ------------------------------------------------------ http://www.qsl.net/ke5fx Note: My E-mail address has been altered to avoid spam ------------------------------------------------------ how about a 8569b ? some guy has one on ebay now for about $3,000.00......i might pull the trigger on that one.....I would be using it for hf work. I was considering a 141t from tucker . it cost more but at least you know it works. i was going to get the 8552b and 8553b plugins with it. then you have to round up the connecting cables and manuals for them. comments? oh by the way i have read good things about the hp 8569b's. if they work. |
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#36
November 15th 03, 03:17 AM
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johnm wrote in message ...
what is a good spectrum analyzer to have for a home shop in your opinion, and also what is a good scope to have and do you have to break the bank on this stuff? thanks. What specs do you want, and how much do you want to spend? The HP 141T series is great for technically-inclined hams. Very maintainable, very reliable once you understand its quirks, very competitive performance... and very big and heavy. Typically $1K or less on eBay for a working outfit. Tek's 492-497 series are also excellent analyzers. Newer and much more portable than the 141T series, but still easily maintainable (via parts units and aftermarket suppliers, not through Tek). Quite a bit more expensive in most cases. $2K - $7K depending on model and options. HP 8560-series analyzers are also very nice; I have no personal experience with these, though. Stay away from the cheaper (8557/8/9) HP units. Tek's older 491 is probably also best avoided in favor of the 141T line (this is probably where the saying "HP for analyzers" came from.) Tek analyzers from the 2780 series should also be avoided by most users. They are still extremely expensive ($7K and up), and like the older 490/2750 analyzers no parts or manuals can be ordered from Tek anymore. However, unlike the 490/2750 units, they can be calibrated only with special PC-based configurations connected to specific test sources via GPIB and running obsolete software. Worse, Tek supported them only via module exchange, never releasing any component-level schematics. These are very powerful instruments, but keeping a 2782 or 2784 running nowadays would be a serious, ongoing research project in itself. These were symptomatic of the "bean-counter" generation at Tek, where customer needs were considered secondary to high-priced, proprietary product support and finite market lifetime. -- jm ------------------------------------------------------ http://www.qsl.net/ke5fx Note: My E-mail address has been altered to avoid spam ------------------------------------------------------ how about a 8569b ? some guy has one on ebay now for about $3,000.00......i might pull the trigger on that one.....I would be using it for hf work. I was considering a 141t from tucker . it cost more but at least you know it works. i was going to get the 8552b and 8553b plugins with it. then you have to round up the connecting cables and manuals for them. comments? oh by the way i have read good things about the hp 8569b's. if they work. |
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#37
November 15th 03, 03:46 AM
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what is a good spectrum analyzer to have for a home shop in your opinion, and also what is a good scope to have and do you have to break the bank on this stuff? thanks. A tek 7000 mainframe is my spectrum analyzer, and backup scope. I have a 7L5 plugin for 0-5MHz, and 7L13 for 0.1 to 1800 MHz I also have the companion tracking generator. This stuff was all aquired piecemeal at hamfests, and in total, probably set me back $1k. I've had it for (eek!) 13 years! The 7000 series is getting long in the tooth, but there's a ton of plugins out there cheap, and they are very nice instruments. Generally, get the best scope you can afford, and "give till it hurts".  My current scope is a TDS-420 4 channel DSO. It wasn't cheap, except in relative terms, but it's my main tool for earning a living, and I wouldn't want to work with less. Depending on what you want to do with it, you might be ok with a 100 or even 60 MHz non-storage analog scope. You want the bandwidth to be the frequency you'll be working at. Assuming 11M applications, I'd say 60 would be marginal, 100 definitely better. Also, GET GOOD PROBES! I just re-probed at Dayton this year, I think I spent $800 or so on probes. I got two sets of very nice probes (8 probes total) plus a set of lesser quality "everyday" probes that I use when I'm not really pushing the limits. Save the good ones for when it matters. Some old BNC cable with clipleads will work at audio, but you wouldn't want to debug a switching power supply with it! |
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#38
November 15th 03, 03:46 AM
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what is a good spectrum analyzer to have for a home shop in your opinion, and also what is a good scope to have and do you have to break the bank on this stuff? thanks. A tek 7000 mainframe is my spectrum analyzer, and backup scope. I have a 7L5 plugin for 0-5MHz, and 7L13 for 0.1 to 1800 MHz I also have the companion tracking generator. This stuff was all aquired piecemeal at hamfests, and in total, probably set me back $1k. I've had it for (eek!) 13 years! The 7000 series is getting long in the tooth, but there's a ton of plugins out there cheap, and they are very nice instruments. Generally, get the best scope you can afford, and "give till it hurts". My current scope is a TDS-420 4 channel DSO. It wasn't cheap, except in relative terms, but it's my main tool for earning a living, and I wouldn't want to work with less. Depending on what you want to do with it, you might be ok with a 100 or even 60 MHz non-storage analog scope. You want the bandwidth to be the frequency you'll be working at. Assuming 11M applications, I'd say 60 would be marginal, 100 definitely better. Also, GET GOOD PROBES! I just re-probed at Dayton this year, I think I spent $800 or so on probes. I got two sets of very nice probes (8 probes total) plus a set of lesser quality "everyday" probes that I use when I'm not really pushing the limits. Save the good ones for when it matters. Some old BNC cable with clipleads will work at audio, but you wouldn't want to debug a switching power supply with it! |
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#40
November 15th 03, 07:02 AM
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In article ,
says... johnm wrote in message ... what is a good spectrum analyzer to have for a home shop in your opinion, and also what is a good scope to have and do you have to break the bank on this stuff? thanks. What specs do you want, and how much do you want to spend? The HP 141T series is great for technically-inclined hams. Very maintainable, very reliable once you understand its quirks, very competitive performance... and very big and heavy. Typically $1K or less on eBay for a working outfit. Tek's 492-497 series are also excellent analyzers. Newer and much more portable than the 141T series, but still easily maintainable (via parts units and aftermarket suppliers, not through Tek). Quite a bit more expensive in most cases. $2K - $7K depending on model and options. HP 8560-series analyzers are also very nice; I have no personal experience with these, though. Stay away from the cheaper (8557/8/9) HP units. Tek's older 491 is probably also best avoided in favor of the 141T line (this is probably where the saying "HP for analyzers" came from.) Tek analyzers from the 2780 series should also be avoided by most users. They are still extremely expensive ($7K and up), and like the older 490/2750 analyzers no parts or manuals can be ordered from Tek anymore. However, unlike the 490/2750 units, they can be calibrated only with special PC-based configurations connected to specific test sources via GPIB and running obsolete software. Worse, Tek supported them only via module exchange, never releasing any component-level schematics. These are very powerful instruments, but keeping a 2782 or 2784 running nowadays would be a serious, ongoing research project in itself. These were symptomatic of the "bean-counter" generation at Tek, where customer needs were considered secondary to high-priced, proprietary product support and finite market lifetime. -- jm ------------------------------------------------------ http://www.qsl.net/ke5fx Note: My E-mail address has been altered to avoid spam ------------------------------------------------------ how about a 8569b ? some guy has one on ebay now for about $3,000.00......i might pull the trigger on that one.....I would be using it for hf work. I was considering a 141t from tucker . it cost more but at least you know it works. i was going to get the 8552b and 8553b plugins with it. then you have to round up the connecting cables and manuals for them. comments? oh by the way i have read good things about the hp 8569b's. if they work. My guess is that the 8569b would be a very passable unit. Its specs seem competitive with an optioned-out Tek 492 in most respects, except that it only goes down to 10 MHz (perhaps there's an underrange capability that lets it see lower frequencies?) That might be a concern if you're going to be using it mostly for HF work. I see that there's some modern GPIB software for it at www.febo.com, which is VERY good to have. (I've written my own for the Tek 49x analyzers, but it's never been tested on the HP jobs.) But since I've never actually played with an 8560-series model, I can't speak with any authority. Maybe someone who owns one will pipe up. The 141Ts at Tucker seem like a pretty good deal. I believe they all come with new CRTs. I personally like to buy broken models on eBay and fix them up. It's cheaper, you get really familiar with the gear inside and out, and you always have spare parts on hand. But that strategy isn't for everybody. -- jm ------------------------------------------------------ http://www.qsl.net/ke5fx Note: My E-mail address has been altered to avoid spam ------------------------------------------------------ |
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