[time-nuts] Spectrum Analyzers

David VanHorn D.VanHorn at elec-solutions.com
Mon Sep 26 22:37:27 UTC 2011


We use this instrument, as do both of our compliance labs.  The 8566 is a very nice piece of gear for EMI/EMC applications.

________________________________________
From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On Behalf Of Brooke Clarke [brooke at pacific.net]
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 11:07 AM
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
Subject: [time-nuts] Spectrum Analyzers

Hi:

I've used the HP 8566B in a mixer test system where I wrote the software
to control it and the two synthesized microwave signal generators.
The performance was outstanding.  Studied the 70000 series SA system and
it would be faster if you were searching for a non harmonically related
spur.

Of course the modern digital SAs like the HP 4395A and the HP 4396B may
be faster for some searches and have true 1 Hz RBW.
http://www.prc68.com/I/4395A.shtml

Have Fun,

Brooke Clarke
http://www.PRC68.com
http://www.End2PartyGovernment.com/


EWKehren at aol.com wrote:
> As I said before it is even by today's standards an excellent analyzer and
> I am sure there are people out there for that reason willing to pay the
> money  for a LCD display.
> Bert Kehren
>
>
> In a message dated 9/26/2011 10:56:30 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> nerd at verizon.net writes:
>
> The kit costs more than the analyzer.
> If someone finds a good LCD panel and does the mechanical design  for
> mounting I can begin work on an "open source" design for  the
> electronics part.
> That would expand the  market to far more of us.
>
>
> On 09/26/11,  shalimr9 at gmail.com wrote:
> There are aftermarket color LCD  replacement available for the HP 8566
> and HP 8568 analyzers,  either as a do-it-yourself kit, or as a turn-key
> service.
> Didier KO4BB
> Sent from my BlackBerry  Wireless thingy while I do other things...
> -----Original  Message-----
> From: [1]EWKehren at aol.com
> Sender:  [2]time-nuts-bounces at febo.com
> Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2011  07:01:36
> To:<[3]time-nuts at febo.com>
> Reply-To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> <[4]time-nuts at febo.com>
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Any  thoughts on best rubidium?
> Roy,
> for its time  it was the best because of the spectral purity of its Osc.
> The
> big problem with the unit today is its CRT. Limited life  and no
> replacements. As rare as Cs tubes. If you can live with  1.3 GHz an
> excellent choice,
> the 22 GHz  version because of source does not have as good
> specifications.Also repairable, many parts are readily  available.
> Bert Kehren
> In a message dated  9/26/2011 6:27:59 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> [5]phill.r1 at btinternet.com writes:
> Bert
> What's  your opinion of the "old" HP8568B with its max. frequency  range
> of
> 1.3 Ghz and its weight of around 100  lbs. - are the more recent
> instruments
> that  much better ?
> Roy
> --------------------------------------------------
> From:<[6]EWKehren at aol.com>
> Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2011  10:47 AM
> To:<[7]time-nuts at febo.com>
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Any thoughts on best rubidium?
>>   If you want low noise in a spectrum analyzer it all comes down to  the
>> signal quality into the first mixer. Every thing else  with today's
>> technology
>> is down  hill.
>> Bert Kehren
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 9/25/2011 5:32:31 A.M. Eastern  Daylight Time,
>> [8]Robert at delien.nl  writes:
>>
>>> One other thing is that  some spectrum analyzers aren't really
> designed
>>> for low noise performance. Since the noise floor is often  pretty
> high,
>>> the design of the whole  RF chain (e.g. spur levels and such) might
> have
>>> assumed that lots of things would be hidden in  the grass.
>> True, it's one of the  many selection criterions for selecting the
>> instrument  that meets your needs.
>> I've been looking a the luggable  HP series 859x and 856x, preferring
> the
>>   latter because they have a PLL YIG whereas the fist uses a
> free-running
>> oscillator. But these machines are old, 80's  and 90's, pricey, and
> not
>>   really
>> THAT good. Add decent range (up to 9GHz to see  recent 5.8GHz devices)
> and
>>   a
>> tracking generator and before you know it, you'll be  paying $6k or
> more
>> for
>> a 20 year old instrument.
>>
>>>   If the
>>> analyzer is of the recent "bring a band of RF  down to an IF, sample
> and
>>> FFT it for  fine resolution" architecture, such things as the number
> of
>>> bits in the ADC and the "cleanliness" of the  sampling clock might
> have
>>> been chosen  based upon doing 1024 point transforms being displayed
> with
>>> 100dB dynamic range (10dB/div and 10  divisions).
>> Most modern instruments  do that, at least to some degree. My R&S goes
>>   down
>> to a RBW of 10Hz by just mixing. Additionally RBWs  of 5, 3, 2 and 1Hz
> are
>> achieve by  additional FFT. This instrument dates from 2001, but I
> don't
>> think more recent instruments can achieve a  mixing-only RBW of 5Hz or
>> below.
>>
>>> (not to mention the spectrum analyzer actually  generating spurious
>>> signals. I ran across that one  last year and thought I had an
>>> interference source,  but, no, went back and checked the spec sheet
> and
>>> it said spurious are<-80dBc, and sure enough,  there it was at -82
> dBc.
>>> And stories  about the first LO coming back out through the input are
>>> legion.)
>> Gee, I wish I had  consulted this group BEFORE buying my instrument.
> I'm
>> happy with it and I don't regret anything, but you  could have added a
> lot
>> more arguments in  favor or againstA-c-AEURA|
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> References
>
> 1.  mailto:EWKehren at aol.com
> 2.  mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com
> 3.  mailto:time-nuts at febo.com
> 4.  mailto:time-nuts at febo.com
> 5.  mailto:phill.r1 at btinternet.com
> 6.  mailto:EWKehren at aol.com
> 7.  mailto:time-nuts at febo.com
> 8.  mailto:Robert at delien.nl
> 9. mailto:time-nuts at febo.com
> 10. https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> 11.  mailto:time-nuts at febo.com
> 12.  https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> 13.  mailto:time-nuts at febo.com
> 14.  https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> 15.  mailto:time-nuts at febo.com
> 16.  https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> 17.  mailto:time-nuts at febo.com
> 18.  https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
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