[time-nuts] Test Equipment -Memory cards

Tue Feb 2 17:36:04 UTC 2010

Hi

The memory in the E8285A has a lithium cell associated with it. One of my
big questions is weather the firmware goes away when the coin cell dies
(battery backed SRAM) or if the firmware is in something a bit more robust.

Hopefully it's sitting on the porch when I get home tonight....

------

141T ... how many do you need in addition to an E8285 ... all sorts of
questions to be answered.

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
Behalf Of Robert Atkinson
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 8:42 AM
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment -Memory cards

Hi Don,
Congratulations on the E8285A. I've an 8924C that does me nicely  and came
with a bunch of other stuff including two 10811A's and a crystal impedance
meter (gotta keep on-topic) for £300 (~$500). Another useful instrument in
the range that can sometimes be picked up cheaply is the 8922X if you get
the 06 or 106 option you get a nice 1GHz digital SA with TG, a CW RF
generator and low frequency scope. The GSM test stuff is an unwanted extra.
A bit big, but better than a 141T setup.  I think you will find that the
E8285A is the same as the 8924C and uses non-volatile RAM cards, not flash.
These cards are rare now and have CMOS ram and a lithium coin cell. You
MIGHT be able to read a flash card, but I'm pretty certain you can't write
to them.

Robert G8RPI.

--- On Mon, 1/2/10, Don Latham <djl at montana.com> wrote:

From: Don Latham <djl at montana.com>
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment
To: "Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement"
<time-nuts at febo.com>
Date: Monday, 1 February, 2010, 22:34

Just bought one last week. As advertised, came with a cal and checkout
sheet.  BTW, cost another $150 to have manuals printed out. But, I'm old
fashioned and have a hard time using manuals onscreen...
I also got the feeling (phone order) that I can call Amtronix and at least
reach a Real Person who will talk to me.
I think the E8285A will replace at least three present instruments with
better, once I master Instrument Basic :-).
Does anyone know which low-cost PCMCIA memory card will work? They're on
Epay for as little as $10
Don

Bob Camp
> Hi
>
> I do believe the last (or maybe next to last) of the Amtronix E8285A's is
> now on it's way to a basement in Pennsylvania. If anybody else here is
> looking for one, I'd sure call Rick pretty quick.
>
> Bob
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
> Behalf Of John Ackermann N8UR
> Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 4:14 PM
> To: john.foege at gmail.com; Discussion of precise time and frequency
> measurement
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment
>
> If RF measurement is your bag, and you're able to spend a couple of $K
> (actually, <$2K if what I've seen recently holds), consider a
> communications service monitor like the HP
> 8920A/8920B/8921/8924/8935/E8285 (all pretty much the same thing).
>
> You get an RF generator, RF power meter, RX frequency meter and
> modulation analyzer, audio generator, audio analyzer, digital o'scope,
> and in most units a spectrum analyzer (many have a tracking generator,
> too) in one box.  And I've probably forgotten a few things.  If you get
> one with spec analyzer and tracking generator, there's software that
> lets you do swept insertion/return loss and cable fault finding.
>
> None of its capabilities are as good as those of a dedicated box
> performing a single function, but they're good enough for the vast
> majority of uses.  An 8920 was the first significant piece of test gear
> I bought, and if I ever have to sell out, it'll be the last one to go.
>
> The prices came down a lot when Lucent surplused hundreds (thousands?)
> of them from their portable and cell phone production lines.  I saw an
> 8935 with spec an, fully functional (as far as I could tell) for about
> $1500 this summer.
>
> A guy who sells and services a lot of these boxes is Rick at
> http://www.amtronix.com -- that web site will give you lots of info
> about the various versions and options.  (I just noticed he has some
> Agilent 8285As as a "hobbyist special" with spec an and tracking
> generator for $650.  That looks like a deal.)
>
> John
> ----
> john.foege at gmail.com said the following on 01/21/2010 03:43 PM:
>> Just that John, I'm looking to setup a general purpose lab. I'd lean
> towards RF type stuff since I'm a HAM.
>> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: "J. Forster" <jfor at quik.com>
>> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:22:11
>> To: <didier at cox.net>; Discussion of precise time and frequency
> measurement<time-nuts at febo.com>
>> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment
>>
>> I made the mistake of setting up a purpose-built lab once, and soon
>> discovered to do most things, you really need at least a basic general
>> purpose lab.
>>
>> The only exception is, I suppose, if you are going to repair a specific
>> instrument and do nothing else.
>>
>> Also, as others have pointed out, you really need to define what are
>> your
>> area(s) of interest. Specialized gear gets $$$ pretty quickly.
>>
>> -John
>>
>> ====================
>>
>>> John,
>>>
>>> That sounds like asking what is the best vehicle for you to buy. If you
> do
>>> not know what you want to do with it, I am not sure we can help you all
>>> that much. However, if you have a specific objective, I am sure you
>>> will
>>> get a lot of valuable information here.
>>>
>>> You have a (good) analog scope, you may want a power supply or two, a
>>> soldering iron and maybe a desoldering station if you do surface mount.
>>> You also want a good hand-held multimeter. Some sort of signal or
> function
>>> generator may be useful too. These vary widely depending on frequency
>>> range and features. There is no good single answer to any of these
>>> questions without knowing more about what you do with it.
>>>
>>> Many of us on this list have more than one of pretty much everything (I
> am
>>> guilty of that too) to reflect the fact that no single instrument is
>>> universal, with possibly one exception: my favorite hand held DMM is a
>>> Fluke 8060A, but I am sure some people will have another favorite :)
>>>
>>> Don't start spending what little money you have until you know what you
>>> need. If you just need to spend money, may I interest you in a
>>> wonderful
>>> business opportunity in Nigeria?
>>>
>>> Didier KO4BB
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------ Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless thingy while
>>> I
>>> do other things...
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: John Foege <john.foege at gmail.com>
>>> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:35:22
>>> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency
>>> measurement<time-nuts at febo.com>
>>> Subject: [time-nuts] Test Equipment
>>>
>>> I realize that this e-mail is somewhat off topic, however, I also
>>> believe that I will get some of the best answers from the members of
>>> this list:
>>>
>>> I have recently started to build an electronics lab, and am currently
>>> trying to acquire test and general equipment for my little basement
>>> workshop of horrors. So far, being on a limited budget, I have
>>> acquired a Tek 2465A in good working order, a Fluke 1953A counter, and
>>> my little gem (ok not quite so little) HP5345A with the 4-ghz freq
>>> converter plugin w/ opt 11 & 12.
>>>
>>> I'd just like to ask everyone what they would be, if they were in my
>>> shoes, attempting to acquire. Unforunately, however, I am just out of
>>> engineering school and not working with much of a budget here. I'd
>>> kill to have all the fancy gear some of you nuts have.
>>>
>>> I'd really love a DSO instead of the Tek 2465A I have. I'd kill for a
>>> good spectrum analyzer or VNA etc.
>>>
>>> Any suggestions on what I should acquire and/or suggestions for
>>> economical equipment that I should make that is a must have? I am a
>>> good DIYer when it comes to building equipment, so often I attempt to
>>> build that which I cannot afford.
>>>
>>> I appreciate everyone's' opinions in advance. Thank you.
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>>
>>> John Foege
>>> KB1FSX
>>> starving-engineer!
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
>>> To unsubscribe, go to
>>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>>> and follow the instructions there.
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
>>> To unsubscribe, go to
>>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>>> and follow the instructions there.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
>> To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>> and follow the instructions there.
>> _______________________________________________
>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
>> To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>> and follow the instructions there.
>
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
>

-- 
Dr. Don Latham AJ7LL
Six Mile Systems LLP
17850 Six Mile Road
POB 134
Huson, MT, 59846
VOX 406-626-4304
www.lightningforensics.com
www.sixmilesystems.com

_______________________________________________
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.