Author Topic: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs  (Read 32336 times)

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Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #25 on: March 27, 2017, 11:05:48 pm »
I think that might be overkill, and I think I have found the right formula to make this happen.

Yea but my middle name is Overkill, that's what I'm known for LOL.  ;)

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If Keysight had the parts I would consider ordering them.

I bet you would be horrified at the cost though, even for that small part. I got an Agilent E4411B Spectrum Analyzer last year - great unit. It's B&W, but it actually can display colors if you go into the right menu and change all the assignments for traces and this and that different colors. Takes a while. 'Cept the problem is it won't store all those colors and next time you turn it on - it's back to B&W. I looked at what it would take to make it remember the colors. It takes a firmware upgrade - but to do that you have to get the software from Keysight, and then before that, you must upgrade the memory, and to do that would cost somewhere between $1k and $2k. All to make it display colors. The thing didn't even cost me that much. Grrrr.
I love overkill, I just don't have the money for this project...

I am sure their parts carry a high degree of pride, therefore they most likely sell $5.00 panel screws...

I have penetrating oil in the set screws of two knobs....
Hopefully tomorrow they will break free.
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline Radio Tech

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #26 on: March 28, 2017, 02:12:05 am »
Looks like a lot of mechanical repairs are in the process Sue.  :-+
I hate those hot stakes the HP uses in their older equipment. My HP 8640B had the same issue but was on a set of gears that were clear on color. Since I have been into RC planes for 30 years and had a supply of micro hardware I was able to drill mine and use a nut and tap to hold the fingers in place.

But there was a major problem. I had no fingers left to bolt on. So I made them from scratch by using the contacts arms from a relay. Was a lot of work.
Will be keeping an eye on your project.

Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #27 on: March 28, 2017, 02:58:42 am »
I think I have enough parts to make two of them work.
If not I will improvise.
I'm going to have to see if I can talk Pat into a trip to Apex...
You may have seen Dave's video on that place....
It's Disneyland for our kind of folk. :)
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #28 on: April 09, 2017, 05:31:06 pm »
Time to get back to work...


The removal of the reference level and attenuator switches are well explained in the manual.

The 0-11DB fine level control leads are unsoldered.

This stop mounted on the IF gain shaft stays in place.

From here on out the disassembly is straight forward.

Input Attenuator contacts.

IF gain contacts

Okay parts to clean up and time to start gluing contacts in place.
More to follow in the upcoming days.
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #29 on: April 09, 2017, 05:52:09 pm »
Work can continue, we have two usable rotors, this analyzer can be assembled without any major component level rework.

The old dowel pin was removed and installed in the attenuator rotor

They are ready for installation....
Time for a break and later today clean up will begin on the old parts.
The PCB has some contact cleaner residue that will be removed with denatured alcohol.
The only items that need grease are the detent ball and spring.
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline Radio Tech

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #30 on: April 10, 2017, 01:31:59 am »
Looking good Sue.  :-+ HP sure loved to use those fingers on stake pins.
 
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Online xrunner

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #31 on: April 10, 2017, 01:34:52 am »
Looking good Sue.  :-+ HP sure loved to use those fingers on stake pins.

Ditto. Can't wait to see it working.  :-+
I told my friends I could teach them to be funny, but they all just laughed at me.
 

Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #32 on: April 10, 2017, 04:02:58 am »
We are getting there....
Found another fingerstock on the bench today...
I hope it didn't fall out of the switch rotors I have replaced.
The two I am installing in the IF gain and input atten... are tacked in place with a little CA glue to give them some extra holding power.
I have radio club paperwork to take care for the first three days of this week so it will possibly be Thursday when I get back on this.
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #33 on: April 10, 2017, 04:09:26 am »
Looking good Sue.  :-+ HP sure loved to use those fingers on stake pins.

It is a good way to build a switch, and the labor is minimal.
No lugs to attach wires to, no switches to mount in to a PCB where alignment between the panel and the switch could be a bit too critical....
And the hot stakes lend the rotor assembly to automation.

Watched your Apache video today...
I might have tried a piece of braid and secured it with those screws and flat washers.
What you did was good.  :-+ :-+
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline Radio Tech

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #34 on: April 10, 2017, 09:07:46 pm »
Cool deal  :-+

Hmm, I did not think of braid. You could also solder the two ends together.
Just may be something to play with.
I am pretty excited about this old rig.
 
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Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #35 on: April 10, 2017, 11:10:58 pm »
Cool deal  :-+

Hmm, I did not think of braid. You could also solder the two ends together.
Just may be something to play with.
I am pretty excited about this old rig.
I would avoid soldering it, except at the very end to keep it from coming unbraded.
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #36 on: April 19, 2017, 11:37:01 pm »
Just finished putting the attenuator switch back together, took two attempts to get it right.
This is one time where following the HP assembly instructions were not the easy way to get the job done.
Allergies today, I have a splitting headache, pictures tomorrow.
Stay tuned.
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #37 on: April 27, 2017, 09:34:09 pm »
I was rather far along on completing the assembly of the front panel manual when I discovered the frequency span switch was two positions short.
So from this point....



I get to remove a few parts and re align the frequency span switch rotor with the detent.
It's not really a big deal, but it does involve some work.
Fixing it shouldn't be a big problem, we shall see.

Stay tuned.

Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #38 on: April 27, 2017, 09:35:50 pm »
Oh and before I forget...
I will be doing a somewhat in depth teardown...
I need to do a good inspection and make sure there are no floating washers or switch contacts in the unit that could not be shaken out.
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline Radio Tech

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #39 on: April 28, 2017, 12:10:46 am »
Will be waiting on the next task Sue.
I know what you mean about a good tear down inspection.  So many things could be in there waiting to ruin your day!

Online xrunner

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #40 on: April 28, 2017, 12:25:26 am »
Cool! I remember having one of these in the lab at work, looking forward to many pics.  :-+
I told my friends I could teach them to be funny, but they all just laughed at me.
 

Offline bitseeker

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #41 on: April 28, 2017, 12:33:15 am »
I missed this back in March. Onboard now for the rest of the saga. Go Sue! :-/O
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Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #42 on: April 28, 2017, 12:34:00 pm »
Plenty of pictures to come.
A comment on the manual.
It does a fairly good job of guiding you though assembly and dissambly, there are parts in the manual that have you with your hands really full...

There will be little to no consequence to swapping around front panel parts, the only adjustment on the front panel that is not adjusted from the front is the external mixer bias zero adjust pot.
I haven't looked up the procedure but this analyzer won't be used with an external mixer for the foreseeable future. I'll do it anyway according to the book.

The manual is easy enough reading for someone of intermediate skill level, it is actually pleasurable to read.

Stay Tuned.............
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline tautech

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #43 on: April 28, 2017, 01:07:43 pm »
Since the freely available manuals online were garbage, to put it nicely, I want to Artek Manuals http://artekmanuals.com/ and picked up the three volume set for a very reasonable price (under $20.00USD) and received a wonderfully scanned manual set.
These guys are great and the price is so reasonable....
Yep you can't beat a hardcopy for a job like this.

Remember you talking about these coming up and don't know how I missed it.  ::)
Following.....
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Offline KD0CAC John

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #44 on: April 28, 2017, 01:19:24 pm »
Hay Sue ,
I have 3 of the HP 8640B's and have the stake type sw. also and plan on touching up with a little epoxy to prevent loss .
Thats aside from buying used / supposed working , no output - just another project added to pile .
Nice repair post .

John
KD0CAC
 

Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #45 on: April 28, 2017, 07:06:37 pm »
Since the freely available manuals online were garbage, to put it nicely, I want to Artek Manuals http://artekmanuals.com/ and picked up the three volume set for a very reasonable price (under $20.00USD) and received a wonderfully scanned manual set.
These guys are great and the price is so reasonable....
Yep you can't beat a hardcopy for a job like this.

Remember you talking about these coming up and don't know how I missed it.  ::)
Following.....
I wish I had a hard copy, I bought a good scan of all three manuals, and it is almost as good with the benifit I don't have to figure out where to lay the manual while I work on the thing.
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #46 on: April 28, 2017, 07:11:15 pm »
Hay Sue ,
I have 3 of the HP 8640B's and have the stake type sw. also and plan on touching up with a little epoxy to prevent loss .
Thats aside from buying used / supposed working , no output - just another project added to pile .
Nice repair post .

John
KD0CAC
My goal is to have two of these 8640s there are good reasons to have two...
Then again, one of my favorite boat anchor HP sig gens.......
And it really is a Boat Anchor is the HP-8660, a real classic in the synthesized signal generator category, and most likely a career keeping one running. :D
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline KD0CAC John

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #47 on: April 28, 2017, 07:28:53 pm »
Forgot to mention , 2 of the 8460's were parts units , the 3rd was sold a good but no RF output , in the 1st page of testing the meter shows voltage , but once the manual switches to RF AM , FM then there is no meter movement .
Thanks for the link to manuals , was able to find one I need - IFR A7550 , that was also sold as working & is not , so have the manual coming .
 
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Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #48 on: May 03, 2017, 11:05:30 pm »
The resolution bandwidth / frequency span switch issue is fixed, moving on to attaching the knobs and with any luck tomorrow I will have a working spectrum analyzer on my bench....
Then I will move on to the tear down and inspection before power up.
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline AF6LJTopic starter

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Re: HP-8569 Spectrum Analyzer Repairs
« Reply #49 on: May 03, 2017, 11:07:50 pm »
Forgot to mention , 2 of the 8460's were parts units , the 3rd was sold a good but no RF output , in the 1st page of testing the meter shows voltage , but once the manual switches to RF AM , FM then there is no meter movement .
Thanks for the link to manuals , was able to find one I need - IFR A7550 , that was also sold as working & is not , so have the manual coming .
I think having an HP-8640 parts mule or two is a good idea.
Sue AF6LJ
 


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