[time-nuts] OT: HP 8590A

Bob Camp lists at cq.nu
Sun Feb 21 00:20:11 UTC 2010


Hi

There are "drop in" replacement video sections for some of the older instruments. It's not a duplicate of the original, but a form / fit / function sort of thing. I have no idea if there is one for the 8590. 

They still cost more than most of these gizmos sell for used.

Bob


On Feb 20, 2010, at 5:53 PM, Rick Karlquist wrote:

> The CRT's went out of production something like 20 years ago.
> The factory stock was exhausted long ago.  Of course there
> could be NOS forgotten somewhere, like in a barn with a
> 1957 Chevy with 50 miles on it :-)
> 
> Rick N6RK
> 
> 
> Lux, Jim (337C) wrote:
>> And make sure the CRT has life left.  On a lot of older units, either the
>> faceplate is burned with the graticule and noise floor, or they're so dim
>> that you have a hard time reading it.  I suspect that replacement CRTs
>> cost
>> more than the whole used analyzer.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 2/20/10 11:27 AM, "life speed" <life_speed at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:38:50 -0700
>>> Subject: [time-nuts] OT: HP 8590A
>>> 
>>> Since the list members are familiar with lots of test equipment, I'd
>>> like to ask what the folks here think about the HP 8590A Spectrum
>>> Analyzer. Is this model ok? Are there any particular failures I should
>>> be aware of in this 20+ year old equipment?
>>> 
>>> I have a chance to buy one locally. The only option is has is GPIB. I
>>> took a preliminary look at it and it passes the simple test/cal
>>> procedure from chapter 1 of the Ops manual. This model only goes to
>>> 1.5GHz, but would still be useful for Amateur use. I do wish it would
>>> go up to 3GHz, however. I have never owned a spec an, but am somewhat
>>> familiar with their usage.
>>> 
>>> Thanks for the input.
>>> 
>>> Joe
>>> KA5ZEC
>>> 
>>> I personally do not like these low-end spectrum analyzers.  They have
>>> poor
>>> dynamic range and phase noise performance.  However, I design microwave
>>> circuits for a living and can be a test equipment snob.
>>> 
>>> If you think it is adequate for your purposes, I would at least connect
>>> it to
>>> a calibrated signal generator and verify amplitude accuracy is within 3
>>> dB. 
>>> Most old spec ans I have seen are way off, even broken.  Still show a
>>> signal
>>> on the display, but not very helpful.  Also check for spurious across
>>> many
>>> frequencies.
>>> 
>>> Clay
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
> 
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