Products > Test Equipment
Beehive vs. Tekbox EMC probes and amplifier
matthuszagh:
I'm looking for an EMC probe set with an accompanying preamp. Both the Beehive (probes: https://beehive-electronics.com/probes.html, amplifier: https://beehive-electronics.com/Amplifiers.html) and Tekbox (https://www.tekbox.com/product/tekbox-tbps01-emc-near-field-probes/) look nice.
From a quick read-through of the datasheets, the specs look pretty similar. But, the total price for all probes + amplifier is much less for the Tekbox than for the Beehive set. The Tekbox set also comes in a wooden box, which is nice.
Any opinions on either of these products, including thoughts on one vs. the other? Or, are there other products that people prefer?
nctnico:
Why do you need a preamp? I never use a preamp with near field probes together with a spectrum analyser for EMC work.
This cheap amplifier likely performs better compared to the amplifiers you linked to as it is build around one of the lowest noise MMICs out there:
https://www.amazon.com/Jadeshay-Noise-Amplifier-50M-4Ghz-Amateur/dp/B0BTBZXHN4/
Cut a USB cable and solder the power wires to the amplifier and there you have your universal preamp.
matthuszagh:
I'd like the increased sensitivity without needing to go to smaller resolution bandwidths. The DANL of the 8566 I'm using is probably higher than many modern SAs (though admittedly I haven't looked much at the modern options). Additionally, it doesn't have a built-in preamp and the sweep times for smaller RBWs is pretty slow in comparison to modern SAs that process the IF signal digitally, rather than with analog filters as is done in the 8566.
Thanks for that recommendation. Do you happen to know the IC it uses?
nctnico:
Some pictures in this post:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/diy-emc-test-cage/msg4394122
The amplifier is the SPF5189
pdenisowski:
--- Quote from: nctnico on May 09, 2023, 04:54:19 pm ---Why do you need a preamp? I never use a preamp with near field probes together with a spectrum analyser for EMC work.
--- End quote ---
As someone else stated, a spec an with poor DANL can benefit from a preamp. Also, many people use scopes for EMC work and (in my experience) this is a case where a preamp often goes from a "nice to have" to a "must have"
I also address the preamp question in my video on near field probes (beginning at 7:52)
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