FS: HP E4431B ESG-D 2GHz RF Signal Generator US/MD -SOLD

[DaJMasta]

Selling my HP E4431B ESG-D Series RF Generator which has 250kHz to 2GHz bandwidth as I've recently got an SMIQ06 and don't have need of two generators.  The unit is in great functional condition and reasonable cosmetic condition. It has a couple of extra options (high stability oven, EDGE radio personality, extra memory: 1E5, UN8, UN9, 202), has comprehensive modulation and external input options, and was in calibration until March 1st of 2017. The calibration seals are still intact and everything to seems to be in great working order, well within the specification of the unit given the uncertainty of the spectrum analyzer's spec for measuring power level and with near perfect attenuation step changes.

Some features:
250kHz - 2GHz signal generator
AM and FM modulation from internal or external sources
External trigger and sync inputs
-136 to 20dBm output range settings (I believe datasheet specifies something like 13dB max output level, unlevel error shows up past 14.4dB)
High stability oven option

Datasheet and other info available on Keysight's website: http://www.keysight.com/en/pd-1000002814%3Aepsg%3Apro-pn-E4431B/esg-d-series-digital-rf-signal-generator-2-ghz?nid=-32463.536880923&cc=US&lc=eng

I'm asking $500 plus shipping if it's not picked up locally.  I've taken a glance at shipping fees and they have certainly gone up... so if at all possible, I'd like to sell to someone local.  I live in Maryland a little to the northeast of Washington DC.  If you're willing to pay some extra for shipping (the estimate from FedEx is $90 to California, but it may be lower closer, I can give you a quote), I do have a suitably large box to ship it in.

I'm also in the market for a good triple-output, triple display bench power supply (Rigol DP800 and Siglent SPD3000X are examples) as well as a Gigatronics 8651 or 8652 power meter, and I'd be interested in either for a partial trade.


Pictures:




And some more with modulation:
http://www.medpants.com/pics/e4431b/FM.jpg
http://www.medpants.com/pics/e4431b/AM.jpg

And some attenuation steps of the 2GHz (10dB output level is above):
9dB: http://www.medpants.com/pics/e4431b/1dB%20down.jpg
0dB: http://www.medpants.com/pics/e4431b/-10dB.jpg

If you've got any questions, just ask!

The generator has been sold

[DaJMasta]

The sig gen is still available, if you're interested but have questions, just ask.

[Asmyldof]

Just as a note, shipping with UPS and/or DHL may be reasonable internationally, still.
While I know shipping costs depend on the country of origin, I also know the Netherlands is very far from a cheap country in that respect and I have sent a lot of very differing big and small boxes across the world using those two companies.

Certainly something interesting to have in a lab,
However I think I can count the times I need more than 100MHz but not at least 2.4GHz on a single hand with the work I get now. So from an investment standpoint it'd be weighed against the value of having the eye-candy and toy-factor when prospective customers come by. And my lab is very far from under-stocked in that regard ;-) (I like toys with lots of useful buttons). So I could not possibly offer any kind of reasonable price.

[PA0PBZ]

I paid $160 2 years ago to ship one from the US to the Netherlands, it was worth it

[DaJMasta]

Interesting that international shipping is potentially reasonable, shipped a couple of scope probes to overseas just a few weeks back and it was $22 for the only reasonable place.  There's also a risk that it will be caught and you'll have to pay a customs fee, but I don't necessarily have a problem shipping it that far if there was interest - it's only a little more work on my end to fill out the customs forms.

That all said, selling locally would be ideal because I could power it up to show and the shipping time and expense is nonexistent.  I'm also working on getting a hold of a good RF power meter sensor (already have a suitable meter), so hopefully I'll be able to show that it's a little closer to the cal target than my analyzer shows too   

[Asmyldof]

I'll check back when I have a running customer again. When I'm between them I'm more stingy about my purchases.
;-)

[DaJMasta]

The generator is still available, though there's been a bit of interest, nothing's set in stone yet.


In the mean time, I finally got a working power sensor for my power meter, so I took some quick measurements.  The sensor and meter are not in cal (the sensor still lists it's last cal date as 1997, when it was manufactured), but they read slightly under level - much closer than the limited ability of the analyzer in the original post.  I don't have any intention of calibrating the generator with the meter as I don't know which one would need it more (probably the sensor), but the measured error is well within the fairly broad spec of the generator.  Pics of the measurements:
100MHz: http://www.medpants.com/pics/e4431b/100m0dbm.jpg
1GHz: http://www.medpants.com/pics/e4431b/1g0dbm.jpg
1Ghz -40dBm: http://www.medpants.com/pics/e4431b/1g-40dbm.jpg
2GHz: http://www.medpants.com/pics/e4431b/2g0dbm.jpg

Though I didn't take a picture, playing around with FM and AM options to fairly broad frequencies allowed by the instrument made effectively no change in level (a modulation power sensor was used).

[DaJMasta]

A bump to the top, I'm also willing to consider partial trades for a triple output, triple display power supply or a Gigatronics 865X power meter, and I've updated the first post to reflect that.

[DaJMasta]

Dropped the price a bit (550 -> 500), maybe makes the shipping a bit easier to swallow, and of course if you're local you don't have to deal with that.