Survey: HAM Radio Communications Service Monitors

[Crambone]

Ok I was reading a few posts on EEV about Ham Radio Service Monitors and ran down the rabbit hole. I’m wondering what everyone’s choice repair unit is. I use a Marconi 2995 myself and have great luck with it for what it is.

[Wallace Gasiewicz]

You did not include the HP cell test sets which are good Service Monitors to 1 GHz.
I have two.

[TheSteve]

HP 8920b with the mechanical attenuator option.

[DeepLink]

R&S CMT-52 (CMT-xx many versions)

[dshorthill]

I use the IFR-500A… purchased in the mid 80s for a business I had back then servicing two  way radios.  It still works great !

https://www.testequipmenthq.com/datasheets/Aeroflex-IFR-Marconi-500A-Datasheet.pdf

[pdenisowski]

You forgot the Rohde and Schwarz CMA180.  In fact, our "official" product photos show it hooked up to an Elecraft KX2, etc.

I may or may not have used one to test my own personal radios

[pdenisowski]

A couple of videos I made about using the CMA180 to test sensitivity and CTCSS/DCS

[TheSteve]

If price is no object don't forget the Motorola/General Dynamics/Freedom R8000

[Tony_G]

Hey TheSteve,

Random question and I apologize for doing absolutely no research on this but do you know if anyone has been successful in retrofitting the mechanical attenuator to an 8920B?

I managed to pick up one cheaply for my Dad back in Australia but it didn't have the mechanical attenuator, so I'm just wondering if I can pick up the parts for him and have him do an "upgrade".

TonyG

[TheSteve]

Hey TheSteve,

Random question and I apologize for doing absolutely no research on this but do you know if anyone has been successful in retrofitting the mechanical attenuator to an 8920B?

I managed to pick up one cheaply for my Dad back in Australia but it didn't have the mechanical attenuator, so I'm just wondering if I can pick up the parts for him and have him do an "upgrade".

TonyG

The entire Input/Output module would have to be swapped out.

[mojoe]

Contact Amtronix. He specializes in the HP 8920 series and similar. I have dealt with him a few times.

[Wallace Gasiewicz]

For further information on the HP Service Monitors:

https://groups.io/g/HP8924-Family-Spectrum-Analyzers/messages

I have also dealt with Amtronix, they are quite good, in my experience.