Where could one find a decent priced spectrum analyzer in EU, am I just unluck ?

[DC1MC]

Sigh .......

Or https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rohde-Schwarz-FSEB-Spectrum-Analyzer-9-kHz-7-GHz-READ-1/372166843430


Ken

Hi Ken, this is indeed a nice device compared with the earlier dinosaurien, assuming it will stay close to the initial bid price (which I doubt, if I'll put it in Gixen, it will go to over 1000, if not, nobody will bid  ).
On the other side, replacing power supply capacitors, OP amps and such, it's work and effort, but doable, not having an original software image to restore it (not to mention the eventual lost feature keys) is another can of worms. Whoever has access to similar devices, either via friends, work colleagues and such, could replace the kaputt HDD or CF card and be done with it. If one doesn't have access to this stuff the repair literally become impossible. But if it says on a reasonable price I'm tempted to try it and pray that he'll pack it really well and the transatlantic trip will not destroy it. For once I'm happy that the customs will intercept it, the local delivery guy don't give a shit about FRAGILE and HANDLE WITH CARE stickers and treat the parcels as sand bags.

 But indeed the device is nice and form óur era, I'm really wondering what hit it  .

 Cheers, DC1MC


 

[DC1MC]

yes shipping can be a minefield, some sellers charge little on one auction, but a lot more on another auction for the same type of unit.


Some just completely take the ****

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Agilent-Keysight-8493C-Coaxial-Fixed-Attenuator-DC-to-26-5-GHz-003dB/371480388041

Ken

Didn't you've heard bout the famous gold padded envelopes  ?!?!?

[cncjerry]

My first was an Advantest R3131a with TG.  Guy had two, one with and one without TG.  He wanted $1500 on Craigslist and I offered
$750.  I hounded him for a year and he finally took my offer.  If you have something like Craigslist locally, try low bids even if they get all pissy, it sets their low boundary and I can't understand why they get upset.  Isn't a low bid better than no bid?

The next three I bought were HP.  HP 8568B with preselector. 8566B and another 8568B.  Yes it is huge but it is very accurate for what I need.  If you keep looking or maybe advertising on your local craigslist analogue, and on here in the WTB section, maybe you'll find one.  Also look at the 8568A models because many have the B upgrades installed and people never put the labels on.  The HP units are easy to fix and if they get to the point where you can't fix it, there are so many RF goodies in them...

You can also do a lot with a dongle as well as an SDR.

[DC1MC]

My first was an Advantest R3131a with TG.  Guy had two, one with and one without TG.  He wanted $1500 on Craigslist and I offered
$750.  I hounded him for a year and he finally took my offer.  If you have something like Craigslist locally, try low bids even if they get all pissy, it sets their low boundary and I can't understand why they get upset.  Isn't a low bid better than no bid?

The next three I bought were HP.  HP 8568B with preselector. 8566B and another 8568B.  Yes it is huge but it is very accurate for what I need.  If you keep looking or maybe advertising on your local craigslist analogue, and on here in the WTB section, maybe you'll find one.  Also look at the 8568A models because many have the B upgrades installed and people never put the labels on.  The HP units are easy to fix and if they get to the point where you can't fix it, there are so many RF goodies in them...

You can also do a lot with a dongle as well as an SDR.

There is just one Craiglist-like that matters in Germany, and even this one was bought by fleabay, compared with the torrent of stuff that you've got in the States, here is almost nothing of interest and when it is, of course everybody jumps on it.

Compare the HP 8568B front on felabay, one single guy in the whole EU, in Belgium, costing 2000EUR and ten+ in the states, not to speak about Canada, starting form 400 something USD, the difference, like in the economic and military power, is so big that it's not even funny to compare:

https://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=HP%208568B&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=3&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

I can of course see some psychedelic waterfall and curves with the RTL sticks, or I  can even load the a SA app in my phone and whistle in the mike, same useless waste of electricity and oxygen. Strangely enough, usually the people suggesting this lame workarounds usually got one of these POS some months ago and then promptly throw them in a drawer where they're collecting dust.

It's practically the same as in my LA Wanted insert Buy/Sell, everybody says the LA I want (and lost a bid for it here in DE) is some kind of obsolete low memory useless POS, then it admits it actually has one for many years, uses it currently,  and no it's not for sale thank you so much, same as with the SA advice, I got suggestions for Chinese LA "exquisite junk de la merde" and because some German company put a label on it is costing in excess of 1000EUR and doing same as the 79EUR thing form Aliexpress, and doesn't hold a candle to the 12+ yrs old US design. Same as with the SA and other test instruments.
SAs are big deal, but LAs should have been a solved thema by now, how can anybody sell this disgusting crap is inconceivable to me.

 Well then, maybe the sun will rise in my valley sometime, so Merry Christmas or your happy favorite winter solstice celebrations.

[cncjerry]

You're smart enough to know that plotting filters and the like is easy with a noise source so maybe skip the TG and get a plain SA first?

[BU508A]

Please help a poor addict with his addiction.

Have you considered to visit HAM Radio in Friedrichshafen? They have a huge flea market with lots of test gear.

http://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de/

I suggest also to have a look at other HAMs with a connected flea market, for example the UKW Tagung in Weinheim:

http://ukw-tagung.org/

Good luck with your search.

Andreas

[nctnico]

Compare the HP 8568B front on felabay, one single guy in the whole EU, in Belgium, costing 2000EUR and ten+ in the states, not to speak about Canada, starting form 400 something USD, the difference, like in the economic and military power, is so big that it's not even funny to compare:

I'd make a sensible offer on the one in Belgium. 2000 euro is way to much for such an old boat anchor. I'd start at 300 euro while pointing towards similar solds items on Ebay. There is a difference between asking price and selling price.

[DC1MC]

Have you considered to visit HAM Radio in Friedrichshafen? They have a huge flea market with lots of test gear.

http://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de/

I suggest also to have a look at other HAMs with a connected flea market, for example the UKW Tagung in Weinheim:

http://ukw-tagung.org/

Good luck with your search.

Andreas

I just missed this year F-hafen, but I most certainly plan to go on the next edition, and Weinheim thingy is interesting, has been saved, but there's a bit of time until September.

 Best regards and a nice sliding in the new year
 

[DC1MC]

Compare the HP 8568B front on felabay, one single guy in the whole EU, in Belgium, costing 2000EUR and ten+ in the states, not to speak about Canada, starting form 400 something USD, the difference, like in the economic and military power, is so big that it's not even funny to compare:

I'd make a sensible offer on the one in Belgium. 2000 euro is way to much for such an old boat anchor. I'd start at 300 euro while pointing towards similar solds items on Ebay. There is a difference between asking price and selling price.

I may do it, but I can't decide yet, should I not buy first this beauty:

https://www.ebay.de/itm/PM-3240X-Philips-OSZILLOSKOP/322403990903

Do you think that the seller will accept 185EUR + shipping for it ?!?!?     

So this is example about prices in DE for used gerr.
 

[Neganur]

what about this one

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HEWLETT-PACKARD-HP-MODEL-8560A-SPECTRUM-ANALYZER-50HZ-2-9GHZ-w-85620A-MEMORY/192372649509

[DC1MC]

what about this one

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HEWLETT-PACKARD-HP-MODEL-8560A-SPECTRUM-ANALYZER-50HZ-2-9GHZ-w-85620A-MEMORY/192372649509

This one is actually nice, and a reasonable price, even if it seem to be totally dead on the RF part, sadly shipping and VAT will kill it for me and the handling will fully kill it, the parcel handlers here most miserably paid and overworked, that attracts not the best and most careful people, and a package so heavy will have no chance to arrive destroyed. This why very few people import form US to EU, even if selection is huge, and prices are good. Anyways, I'll be looking into some US gear, maybe I'll find something useful after the whole shopping spree season.

 Cheers,
 DC1MC

[nctnico]

and the handling will fully kill it, the parcel handlers here most miserably paid and overworked, that attracts not the best and most careful people, and a package so heavy will have no chance to arrive destroyed. This why very few people import form US to EU

Please speak only for yourself. I have received lots of equipment from allover the world. If the seller packs it well then nothing goes wrong with it.

[DC1MC]

and the handling will fully kill it, the parcel handlers here most miserably paid and overworked, that attracts not the best and most careful people, and a package so heavy will have no chance to arrive destroyed. This why very few people import form US to EU

Please speak only for yourself. I have received lots of equipment from allover the world. If the seller packs it well then nothing goes wrong with it.

I do speak only for myself, I don't represent or claim to represent anybody else, and unfortunately my experience with heavy devices, even from around here, not overseas, was most sad. I've do have first hand accounts with friends and neighbors having serious problems with shipping damages.

Consider yourself lucky that you've managed to get both responsible suppliers that pack their wares well, and at the end of a delivery chain that treats its customers packages good, but AFAIK this situation is the exception not the rule.
 

[G0HZU]

The other alternative to an auction is to buy an ex rental analyser from a rental company. This can sometimes be a way to get cheap test gear. Every so often the major rental companies sell off some of their test gear and it can be quite cheap. I've bought several items from Livingston/Microlease over the years. The only spectrum analyser I bought from them was a 22GHz HP8566B and that was about 7 years ago. It cost £1000 which was a bargain back then. However, this is the most I've ever paid for a spectrum analyser.

You can expect them to ship it carefully because they ship out (rental) test gear every day and even if it does get trashed in the post they will presumably give you a refund.

[Yansi]

Hello DC1MC, you're just writing as if I was doing so.  Living in a country next to yours, I very well understand your problem. 

[DC1MC]

Hello DC1MC, you're just writing as if I was doing so.  Living in a country next to yours, I very well understand your problem. 

Finally one who understands , I think that the situation could be so much better with a slight adjustment of the laws, for example not on one, but on 3 companies in 2 countries where I've worked, they were DESTROYING the obsolete instruments instead of auctioning, or just give them for free, due to some stupid accounting laws, and with the "harmonized" EU wide stuff, I will not wonder if the situation is the same allover. And I mean REALLY destroying them, with some kind of committee supervising the process  . The only time when I see something on auction sites it's coming from "Insolvenz", that is bankruptcy sales.
 What the whole EU needs are some politicians that will recognize the problem and adjust the laws a bit to support the people to selftrain and start a small business with less barriers to entry, the benefits to the country if they will allow tax-free entry for used equipment, books and other educational stuff will enormously offset what ever customs tax, VAT they get now from these. But that's a whole other story.

[Yansi]

It is better to stop bitching. Neither you nor me is gonna do anything with that. Laws are not to serve you, but the corporate interests. Old equipment is destroyed so new can be made and the money can move (quicker, into someone's pocket).

Your only option is to get advantage of the situation - that is to become also one of the parasites. It is not nice, it is cruel, but will help you survive. It is set just that way.

And btw, I also do not like equipment hoarders too much. But whatever... as a rather poor guy (in terms of money), I can only bitch and whine as you do (you at least have those €1000, not me at all). Lost any hope already. You gotta work with what you got. I was a one fakin' hell lucky to be able to borrow an old and rusty Advantest SA long term. It does not have the features I would like it to have, in fact it is only a very basic SA with no additional features let alone TG (it can't even save an image of the screen, despite having fully digital UI and a floppy drive), but I got it at no cost so I should rather shut up and be glad.
Now I am at the stage of looking for a RF gen. Or maybe building one myself... As the price of anything barely useful for my purpose is way to expensive - how unexpected!

Another funny joke I usually tell is that engineers are divided into two groups: Those who have equipment and those who do electronics. (But this statement is dangerous, as may also be true in some cases.)   

[DC1MC]

It is better to stop bitching. Neither you nor me is gonna do anything with that. Laws are not to serve you, but the corporate interests. Old equipment is destroyed so new can be made and the money can move (quicker, into someone's pocket).

Your only option is to get advantage of the situation - that is to become also one of the parasites. It is not nice, it is cruel, but will help you survive. It is set just that way.

And btw, I also do not like equipment hoarders too much. But whatever... as a rather poor guy (in terms of money), I can only bitch and whine as you do (you at least have those €1000, not me at all). Lost any hope already. You gotta work with what you got. I was a one fakin' hell lucky to be able to borrow an old and rusty Advantest SA long term. It does not have the features I would like it to have, in fact it is only a very basic SA with no additional features let alone TG (it can't even save an image of the screen, despite having fully digital UI and a floppy drive), but I got it at no cost so I should rather shut up and be glad.
Now I am at the stage of looking for a RF gen. Or maybe building one myself... As the price of anything barely useful for my purpose is way to expensive - how unexpected!

Another funny joke I usually tell is that engineers are divided into two groups: Those who have equipment and those who do electronics. (But this statement is dangerous, as may also be true in some cases.)   

Well then, let's be proactive then, get yourself an FY6600, like I did, locate the two main thread about it, and either start improving it or use it as it is, at less than 100EUR it will not break too much your bank.
the FY6600 owners club will welcome you

  Cheers,
  DC1MC

[Yansi]

60MHz is too low.  I need one that will go at least 150MHz and one at least 1.7GHz. But thanks for a tip.

[DC1MC]

60MHz is too low.  I need one that will go at least 150MHz and one at least 1.7GHz. But thanks for a tip.

Well then, maybe I can interest you in one of these:

https://www.ebay.de/itm/High-speed-AD9854-DDS-signal-generator-modul-development-board-Auswertung/152712012446

(I have one, I did a quick test, it works, my next project after the FY6600 is done)

or one of these:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/AD9910-DDS-module-420M-1MSPS-highest-output-sampling-frequency-signal-generator/322071443844
(I intend to buy one wit the previous it's not enough for what I want)

 Cheers,
 DC1MC

[Yansi]

These are rather poor modules, hence why I stated to try building something myself.  At least with half-decent output stages (using a proper balun for the DDS DAC, ALC and attenuator). I know that making even 100MHz half-decent generator is one hell of a work, but when there is no money to buy half-decent stuff and a bunch of AD9951 are already in my component stockpile... what can go wrong? (  )

I already have some ideas how to utilize the AD9951, maybe I will vent those on the forum some time in the future.

[DC1MC]

you're on the right track, looking forward to see your designs 

[G0HZU]

but on 3 companies in 2 countries where I've worked, they were DESTROYING the obsolete instruments instead of auctioning, or just give them for free, due to some stupid accounting laws

Yes, this applies here as well. These accounting rules have been in place for several years now and I've seen some nice test gear get sent for destruction. It can be very frustrating to witness. Before this, I could buy stuff from a company or it was given to me.

However, In the last couple of years I found that there are legit ways to get around this and save the test gear. It depends on how much 'value' the equipment is seen to have as an asset to the relevant company. I've saved several items in the last couple of years complete with the necessary paperwork transferring the items across to me. The best item was an 8GHz Tek RTSA that had an intermittent fault. I got it for free and it is working fine now

[DC1MC]

but on 3 companies in 2 countries where I've worked, they were DESTROYING the obsolete instruments instead of auctioning, or just give them for free, due to some stupid accounting laws

Yes, this applies here as well. These accounting rules have been in place for several years now and I've seen some nice test gear get sent for destruction. It can be very frustrating to witness. Before this, I could buy stuff from a company or it was given to me.

However, In the last couple of years I found that there are legit ways to get around this and save the test gear. It depends on how much 'value' the equipment is seen to have as an asset to the relevant company. I've saved several items in the last couple of years complete with the necessary paperwork transferring the items across to me. The best item was an 8GHz Tek RTSA that had an intermittent fault. I got it for free and it is working fine now

My good man, do share for us EUpeons how you did it, there is still a slim chance to save a LeCroy scope when the time has come !!!

[G0HZU]

Forgive me for being a bit vague but the loophole we found was if the asset could be proven to have zero (or negative value) as an asset. This could be because the repair costs made it BER or if the maintenance/cal costs were more than the asset was worth. I think it can be transferred with no liability in this case. One fear the accountants have is if they sell the asset for a price. This is because it implies it has value and this implies a 'warranty' and maybe the opportunity to sue etc.