[time-nuts] OT: HP 8590A

[Adrian]

Joseph,

I remember we've had one in the company where I was working back then. 
It was ok for TV and similar stuff.
The frequency stability was not really great, but what can you expect 
from a free running 1st LO?
The drift was specified < 50 kHz / 5 min after 2 hours warmup and 5 
minutes after setting the center frequency.
Also, note the center frequency accuracy of < +/- 5 MHz...
Btw. the drift spec was bumped up to 75 kHz for the B model, so it might 
have been a bit optimistic.
Well, if it costs near nothing, and your applications are not very 
demanding, it might be worth considering.

Adrian


Joseph Gray schrieb:
> Thanks to all for the advice. I agree with Said that a 8560E would be
> much nicer. However, I may be able to get this 8590A very
> inexpensively. Considering the price difference between this unit and
> a newer/better SA, I'm inclined to go with this one. I'm thinking of
> this as "training wheels". Once I gain some hands on with a SA, I'll
> know better what I want in a future purchase.
>
> Joe
> KA5ZEC
>
> On Sat, Feb 20, 2010 at 5:20 PM, Bob Camp <lists at cq.nu> wrote:
>   
>> 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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