[time-nuts] Problem with HP 83623A 20 GHz sweep generator stepping up/down 100 Hz when not wanted.

[Bob Camp]

Hi


In a country with 50 Hz power lines, figuring out anything at 50, 100 or 150 Hz
is going to be a bit exciting.

Bob

> On Dec 22, 2016, at 4:04 PM, n2lym <n2lym at optonline.net> wrote:
> 
> Dave,
> 
> Look at it with a narrow band SA and see if it's modulated by 100Hz.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Mike N2LYM
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Dec 22, 2016 at 07:39 AM, Dr. David Kirkby (Kirkby Microwave Ltd) wrote:
> 
>> On 22 December 2016 at 03:17, paul swed
> wrote:
>> 
>>> Dave Congratulations on 10 Ghz SSB.
>>> 
>> 
>> This was not a QSO at all. It was simply a one way transmission from a
>> signal generator at my end to a receiver at his end. No QSO was attempted.
>> 
>> 
>>> Now to your question. I will fully believe you are seeing normal behavior
>>> of the generators. Even if its dithering 100 Hz thats pretty amazing. Sweep
>>> gens simply are not stable enough for narrow work like you are trying.
>>> Now I am sure comments will prove me totally wrong.
>>> 
>> 
>> But I find it a bit odd that HP would have a 1 Hz software option on this
>> instrument, if the instrument jumped up/down 100 Hz.
>> 
>> Now I don't yet have the 1 Hz option programmed in, and it might well
>> change the behavior completely, but I'd still like to find a way, if one
>> exists, of checking this with the equipment I have.
>> 
>> The signal generator is no longer supported, but I could try my luck seeing
>> if there are any known problems with this unit, or firmware upgrades
>> available - currently revision 29, May 1991.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> But I don't think so. (Have been on 10G SSB over the years also. Only 60
>>> watts plus. Nothing fancy. ;-)  )
>>> Regards
>>> Paul
>>> WB8TSL
>>> 
>> 
>> 60 W is clearly some setup. I also know a lot of people run portable stuff
>> on 10 GHz, where achieving frequency stability is more of a challenge,
>> although less so with GPS. But this is a laboratory instrument, from a
>> reputable manufacturer. I personally would not expected this behavior. I
>> actually purchased this very cheaply (£650 GBP, which would have been about
>> $900 at the time), but they are not cheap to buy now.
>> 
>> 
>> Dave
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