Buy a E7495b or 8594e?

[Sbampato12]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking in to buy a used spectrum analyzer (locally). I've found two options, same price:
A 8594e, proper spectrum analyzer and a E7495b (there is the A version, at same price) with some licenses (200, 210, 220, 510, 600 and 710).

Anyone used the E7495b, a base station test set, as spectrum analyzer option?
I'm looking for the carachteristics on Keysight website, but I tought that was a good ideia to ask here too.

These E7495A and E7495B must have been upgraded by some company here, because they are popping at second hand stores, not a common thing...
Other thing, the base station are closer, I could trip myself to buy, maybe a good option, to look carefully the item before pay.

Thanks!

[Wuerstchenhund]

I'm looking in to buy a used spectrum analyzer (locally). I've found two options, same price:
A 8594e, proper spectrum analyzer and a E7495b (there is the A version, at same price) with some licenses (200, 210, 220, 510, 600 and 710).

The licenses don't matter much as the E7495 can be hacked pretty easily (there's a thread in this forum).

Anyone used the E7495b, a base station test set, as spectrum analyzer option?
I'm looking for the carachteristics on Keysight website, but I tought that was a good ideia to ask here too.

Yes, I have. I had an E7495B which now serves for some company doing EMC pre-compliance checks.The difference between E7495A and B are small (if I remember right the 'B' has lower bandwidth, plus lacks a few hardware improvements), but if you have a chance I'd get a 'B' variant instead.

As to performance, well, it's a portable rugged Vector Spectrum Analyzer (i.e. it doesn't "sweep" like the 8594E). Sensitivity is pretty good, however phase noise is relatively high (in similar regions of what you'd find for a modern entry level standalone SAs). However, RBW can be set in 1Hz increments, and with settings (i.e. wide span, low RBW) where a conventional swept analyzer takes a long time to sweep through the E7495 is still pretty fast. It also offers a few measurements like OBW and ACP, Waterfall display, plus you also get an RF generator and a simple Network Analyzer and cable tester, all in a package that doesn't take up much space on the bench. Oh, and it comes with a built-in GPS frequency reference, too.

If that is better than the 8594E (which offers better RF performance but is pretty old,by now very likely much closer to the end of its useful service life than the E7495, and lacks many of the features the E7495 offers) really depends on what you want to do. In short, if you could live with something like a Rigol DSA815 then the E7495 should be fine, if you care for RF performance and nothing else then I'd say the 8594E.

[PA0PBZ]

...it's a portable rugged Vector Spectrum Analyzer (i.e. it doesn't "sweep" like the 8594E).

Are you sure? Max span = 2.7Ghz, the full bandwidth of the instrument.

[Wuerstchenhund]

...it's a portable rugged Vector Spectrum Analyzer (i.e. it doesn't "sweep" like the 8594E).

Are you sure? Max span = 2.7Ghz, the full bandwidth of the instrument.

Well, at least that is what Agilent told me (and if I remember right its also in some system description somewhere). The E7495 is not very fast at small spans and large RBW settings (100us or so min refresh rate) but at large spans and small RBW settings its a lot faster than my swept SA (which isn't exactly slow) using the same settings.

Also, the trace on the screen is not "swept" from left to right like on other SAs, it suddenly appears as complete trace after the analysis phase, and is refreshed completely after each analysis update. That's typical for a VSA.

[Sbampato12]

It also offers a few measurements like OBW and ACP, Waterfall display, plus you also get an RF generator and a simple Network Analyzer and cable tester, all in a package that doesn't take up much space on the bench. Oh, and it comes with a built-in GPS frequency reference, too.

This, with the all other points you made, make me think much more prone to the E7495.

When you told the 'B' version lack some hardware, did you mean B or A?
The later version ('B') has less hardware?

[KJDS]

There is a service manual available for the 8594E, but not for the E7495b

[TheSteve]

There is a service manual available for the 8594E, but not for the E7495b

No schematics but there is service guide which has tons of good info:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/agilent-e7495-linux-root-account/msg680745/#msg680745