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HP 8594E Spectrum Analyzer. At last I own a decent Spec An.

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TerraHertz:

--- Quote from: MarkL on January 22, 2019, 05:32:55 pm ---One thing you should do is backup the calibration constants.  They are stored in battery powered SRAM and if the battery dies unexpectedly you will need to regenerate the constants via the calibration procedure.  If you have a copy of the constants you can just reload them if the battery dies.

The backup procedure is in the Assembly Level Repair manual, chapter 3.  It's a manual procedure which involves stepping through the constants and writing them down in a chart.
--- End quote ---

Thanks for the manual ref. I knew about the battery issue, and had struggled to decipher that obscured label date. Looks like 199-something. Anyway, new battery time.  I wonder if there's a way to read them out via the GP-IB?


--- Quote ---In case you didn't buy the Assembly Repair manual from Artek:
  http://www.keysight.com/upload/cmc_upload/All/08590-90316.pdf
And the Calibration Guide, in your hated PDF format, FYI:
  http://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/08594-90106.pdf
--- End quote ---

Thanks. I had found the first one, not the 2nd.
My PDF hatred is layered. There are things I don't like about 'electronic documents' in general (GUI awkwardness, and untrusted nature), about  the fundamental format (long list), and about specific typical flaws in example PDF documents.
The ones you linked above are about as good as PDF can get. Created in PDF, not scans, with working indexing and internal links.
You know what PDFs of crappy scans are like. But then there are abortions like this:
https://www.naic.edu/~phil/hardware/spectrumAnalyzer/hp8590_SpecAnal_UsersGuide.pdf
Another ghastly JBIG2 encoding dog's vomit. Hint: look at the right hand page numbers in the Index. This one has been encoded with fairly high patch matching threshold, but it's still utter crap. Complete waste of bits, and dangerous because it's not immediately obvious how bad it is, but there _are_ actual factual errors introduced by the patch encoding.


--- Quote ---There's lots of documentation on this series still available from Keysight including the user manual and a manual on how to use your gated analysis option 105:

  https://www.keysight.com/en/pc-1000000308%3Aepsg%3Apgr/discontinued-859x-series-portable-spectrum-analyzers?pm=LB&nid=-32440.0&c=204590.i.1&to=79830.g.0&cc=US&lc=eng

The CLIP with schematics is definitely worth getting from Artek.  There are versions of the CLIP floating around for the 8590A, which is close in design to the 859xE series, but the scans are poor quality.

--- End quote ---

I definitely will be getting the Artek docs. But I am soooo broke right now, and needing to scrape up cash for the US to Oz shipping of the 8594E, that $25 will have to wait. (I just paid for shipping on two other things from the reshipper in CA, which didn't help.)



--- Quote from: MarkL on January 22, 2019, 09:52:23 pm ---
--- Quote from: 0culus on January 22, 2019, 08:30:54 pm ---Oh yeah, I'm sure you know this, but many SAs (including this one) cannot tolerate any DC level on the RF input. DC blocks are your friend to ensure the signal is AC coupled and prevent an expensive repair.

--- End quote ---
In general that's very sage advice.

But on the 8594E (and 94L/95E/96E), the attenuator has a built-in DC block which is always in-line by default.  It is rated 50V, and also limits the lower range to 100kHz when in-line.

You can see the DC block in the block diagram in the Assembly Level Repair manual, and it also appears in the specifications in the Calibration Guide for those models.

They all have warnings on the front panel of "0VDC MAX", but that is only true if you manually change the coupling to DC in the AMPLITUDE menu (3rd page).

--- End quote ---

Hmm, interesting. I knew in general 'avoid DC inputs.' I have a 20GHz scope that has +/-2V absolute max input rating, which requires all kinds of cable discharge and anti-static incantations. I haven't blown it up YET.  But it would have taken me ages to come across the existence of a switchable (default in-circuit) isolating cap in the 8594e input. I'd probably have been wondering why it couldn't see signal between 9Khz and 100Khz.
I suppose even with the cap in-circuit, one should avoid DC voltage steps on the input. Will bear in mind to check how sensitive it is to damage of that kind.

Bud:

--- Quote from: TerraHertz on January 23, 2019, 01:59:48 am ---
--- Quote from: Bud on January 22, 2019, 06:43:39 pm ---Also keep in mind the close to the carrier phase noise of the device is about 80 dBc/Hz if i remember correctly, so you can't measure external signal near phase noise better than that, the analyzer will dsplay its own phase noise.

--- End quote ---

 :D And once I have this thing to play with, I will be able to teach myself what the hell that all means. (I get it a *little* bit.)
Is the unit's Option 140  "Narrow bandwidth and precision freq ref" relevant to that?

--- End quote ---
Yes, relevant, But that is fine, if you do not know at the moment what it means then you did not have a need to measure phase noise.

MarkL:


--- Quote from: TerraHertz on January 23, 2019, 02:42:15 am ---
--- Quote from: MarkL on January 22, 2019, 05:32:55 pm ---One thing you should do is backup the calibration constants.  They are stored in battery powered SRAM and if the battery dies unexpectedly you will need to regenerate the constants via the calibration procedure.  If you have a copy of the constants you can just reload them if the battery dies.

The backup procedure is in the Assembly Level Repair manual, chapter 3.  It's a manual procedure which involves stepping through the constants and writing them down in a chart.
--- End quote ---

Thanks for the manual ref. I knew about the battery issue, and had struggled to decipher that obscured label date. Looks like 199-something. Anyway, new battery time.  I wonder if there's a way to read them out via the GP-IB?

--- End quote ---
In short, no, not in a way that I would rely on.

There is a GPIB command called "CAL DUMP" which contains most, but not all, of the needed cal constants for backup along with a pile of other data which I don't see any documentation for.  I also don't see a GPIB command to restore the data to the SA from this dump format.

I would stick with the filling-in-the-chart method, since that's also used in the procedure to restore the constants.  It doesn't take very long, otherwise you're in uncharted territory with your cal backup.

You could do CAL DUMP as a secondary method to make sure you have the numbers written down right, since most of the numbers are embedded in there, or the time-tested method of taking a video of the screen while you step through the constants if you're feeling lazy.

8590E Series Programmer Guide:

  http://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/08590-90235.pdf

rastro:

--- Quote from: MarkL on January 23, 2019, 05:23:55 pm ---I would stick with the filling-in-the-chart method, since that's also used in the procedure to restore the constants.  It doesn't take very long, otherwise you're in uncharted territory with your cal backup.

--- End quote ---

This is the first thing I would do after power up.  If you lose the back-up battery you lose the last RF level calibration information.  Put it on paper - you'll be glad you did.

rastro

TerraHertz:

--- Quote from: MarkL on January 23, 2019, 05:23:55 pm ---

--- Quote from: TerraHertz on January 23, 2019, 02:42:15 am --- I wonder if there's a way to read them out via the GP-IB?

--- End quote ---
In short, no, not in a way that I would rely on.

There is a GPIB command called "CAL DUMP" which contains most, but not all, of the needed cal constants for backup along with a pile of other data which I don't see any documentation for.  I also don't see a GPIB command to restore the data to the SA from this dump format.

I would stick with the filling-in-the-chart method, since that's also used in the procedure to restore the constants.  It doesn't take very long, otherwise you're in uncharted territory with your cal backup.
--- End quote ---

The pun, it burns!
Or I could just change the battery quickly, hoping nothing goes wrong.  :) Just kidding. Charts it is.

Re incomplete GPIB 'CAL DUMP'. Gee, it's almost like they deliberately laid a trap, knowing some users would assume CAL DUMP did something useful. Then would end up sending the instrument back for some very expensive HP attention, after they found they didn't actually have a workable calibration backup. But no, I can't imagine a corporation doing something sneaky and profit motivated like that. (Yes I can.)


--- Quote ---You could do CAL DUMP as a secondary method to make sure you have the numbers written down right, since most of the numbers are embedded in there, or the time-tested method of taking a video of the screen while you step through the constants if you're feeling lazy.
--- End quote ---
I'm a big fan of reliable, never-fail paper records.


--- Quote ---8590E Series Programmer Guide:
  http://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/08590-90235.pdf

--- End quote ---

Yesterday I spent over an hour downloading almost everything on the keysight pages for the 8590. Even ones with no relevance to my interests. They are a trove of RF practice. 
And so I already have that pdf, thanks. Plus joyfully, an original paper manual among those coming with the instrument. Ha, it's still in the original shrink-wrap.
All currently in a truck driving over the Rockies, I gather. Am praying to the gods of foam-in-place.

Speaking of phase noise, here's a list of the HP Application notes I have. In paper originals. Anyone with a stack of them they were about to downsize, please let me know.
Some are relevant to spectrum analyzers (and phase noise.) Now I have (touch wood) something to play with, it'll be worth reading them.

Can anyone recommend other good reads on care & use of spectrum analyzers?

Hewlett Packard application notes
---------------------------------
H prefix = 'I have physical copy'
> prefix = 'ordered physical copy'
p prefix = I have a pdf copy

  #4      The PIN diode
  #52     Frequency and time standards

H #57     Noise Figure Primer  1965
  #57-1   Fundamentals of RF and Microwave Noise Figure Measurements    1983  8970A
  #57-1   Agilent Fundamentals of RF and Microwave Noise Figure Measurements 2000   859X-NFA
  #57-2   Noise Figure Measurement Accuracy     1988   8970B   
  #57-2   Noise Figure Measurement Accuracy - The Y-Factor Method 2001 8590X-346X   
  #57-3   10 Hints for Making Successful Noise Figure Measurements 2000

H #63     Spectrum Analysis  1968
  #63A    More on Spectrum Analysis
  #64     Microwave Power Measurement
H #64-1   Fundamentals of RF and microwave power measurements
> #64-2   Extended application of automatic power meters   380442352194
H #64-3   Accurate and automatic Noise Figure Measurements  1980
  #65     Swept Frequency Techniques, printed Aug. 1965
H #73     Calibration of a Gamma Ray Spectrometer
H #77-1   Transistor Parameter Measurements
  #77-2   Precision Frequency Comparison
H #77-3   Measurement of Complex Impedance
  #77-4   Swept Frequency Group Delay measurement
  #83     Increased Output Resistance for DC Regulated Power Supplies
  #84     Swept SWR Measurements in Coax
  #86     Using Vector Impedance meters
H #89     Magnetic tape recording handbook
  #90     DC POWER SUPPLY HANDBOOK
H #90B    DC Power supply handbook (book)
H #91     How vector measurements expand design capabilities
H #92     Network Analysis at Microwave Freq    !!!! uses 8410.
  #94     Connector design employing TDR techniques
  #95     S-Parameters - circuit analysis and design
  #95-1   S Parameters Techniques for faster design
  #99     8541A Automatic Network Analyzer Measurements capabilities
  #102    Program controllers
  #107    Guard Circuits
  #112-2  Using 675/675A Network analyz as an education tool
  #114    A2A Video Transmission System Alignment  1969
  #116    Precision Frequency Measurements
H #117-1  Microwave network analyzer applications (book) (uses 8410) x3
  #117-2  Stripline component measurement with 8410a
  #122    EMI Measurement Procedure. Calibration & Operation of the HP 851/ 8551B
          Spectrum Analyzer to Measure Electromagnetic Interference
H #123    Floating Measurements and Guarding, published June 1970.
H #124    True RMS measurements
H #126    Theory and Applications of Wave Analyzers, published November 1970.   x2
H #136    Understanding & Operating the 8555A Spectrum Analyzer and 8445A Preselector. 1971
H #139    Stabilizing Gamma-Ray Spectrometer Systems     260571717091
  #140-0  Fourier Analyzer Training Manual
H #144    Understanding Microwave Frequency Measurements
H #150    Spectrum Analysis... Spectrum Analyzer Basics   (Uses HP 141T)
  #150B   Spectrum Analysis... Using the 8557A and 8558B Spectrum Analyzers. pub Feb 1975.
H #150-1  Spectrum Analysis... Amplitude and Frequency Modulation. Nov 1971
H #150-2  Spectrum Analysis... Pulsed RF.  (uses 141T) (slide rule in back pocket)
H #150-3  Swept frequency measurements and selective frequency counting with a tracking generator.  (uses 141T)
  #150-4  Spectrum analysis... Noise measurements Apr 1974
H #150-5  Spectrum Analysis... CRT Photography and X-Y Recording Techniques
  #150-6  Spectrum Analysis... CATV Proof of Performance
  #150-7  Spectrum Analysis... Signal Enhancement
  #150-8  Spectrum Analysis... Accuracy Improvement
  #150-9  Spectrum Analysis... Noise Figure Measurement
  #150-9  Spectrum Analysis... Field Strength Measurement
  #150-10 Spectrum Analysis... Distortion Measurement
  #150-11 Spectrum Analysis... Distortion measurements (uses 141T)
H #150-12 Spectrum Analysis... Using the HP 11517A External Mixer to 40GHz   Nov 1977.
H #150-13 Spectrum Analysis... Using the HP 8565A Spectrum Analyzer from 2-18GHz  Aug 1978.
  #150-14 Spectrum Analysis... Using External Waveguide Mixers Above 40 GHz
  #155-1  Active Device Measurements with the HP 8755 Frequency Response Test Set, printed Aug. 1978
  #155-2  100 dB Dynamic Range Measurements Using the HP 8755 Frequency Response Test Set, printed Sept. 1977
  #155-3  Automating the HP 8755 Scalar Network Analyzer, printed Jan. 1981
  #158    Selecting The Right DVM
H #162-1  Time interval averaging
H #163-1  techniques of digital troubleshooting
H #163-2  The IC troubleshooters - New techniques of digital troubleshooting
H #167-5  Trouble shooting in the data domain is simplified by logic analyzers
H #167-6  Mapping, a dynamic display of digital system operation
H #167-7  Supplementary data from map displays without changing probes
  #167-9  Functional analysis of the Motorola M6800 uP system
H #171-1  HP 8640A/B & HP 8405A Application note - crystal testing  (1923820255)
H #173    Recent advances in pulsed RF and microwave frequency measurements
  #173-1  Dynamic measurement of microwave voltage controled oscillators with the 5345A
  #174-1  Transfer Characteristic of a VCO
H #174-3  5345 counter. Measuring Integral Nonlinearity of a VCO
  #174-4  5345 counter. Measuring dual VCO tracking error.
H #174-6  5345 counter. Measuring the Stability of a Freq Source
  #174-8  5345 Measuring FM Peak-to-Peak deviation
H #174-10 5345 Electronic counter - meas. electrical length of cables
  #174-12 5345 Measuring frequency sweep linearity of sweep generators
H #175-1  Differential phase and gain at work
H #183    High freq swept measurements.
  #185    Waveform Parameter Measurements using the Mircoprocessor Controlled
          Oscilloscope Model 1722A. Dec 1974
  #185-2  Transmission line matching and length measurements using
          dual delayed sweep in the uP controlled scope Model 1722A
  #185-4  Elimination of computation on analog measurements by using the
          direct reading oscilloscope model 1722A
  #187-3  Three HP-IB Configurations for Making Microwave Scalar Measurements
H #191-6  Precision time interval generation & measurement apps library
H #196    Automated measurements using the 436A pwer meter
  #200    Fundamentals of the electronic counters
H #200-1  Fundamentals of microwave frequency counters
H #200-2  Fundamentals of Quartz oscillators
  #200-4  Understanding frequency counter specifications
  #201-2  Differential Non-Linearity of a VCO
  #205-1  Low Freq Amp Considerations of 3042A
H #207    Understanding and measuring phase noise in the freq domain
  #216    HP Digital Network and Spectrum Analysis primer
          A guide to the use of the HP3570A/71A Analyzers
H #221A   Automating the 8410B Microwave Network Analyzer (won 2527060511) in 8409B binder
H #222    A designer's guide to signature analysis
H #225    Measuring phase spectral density of synthesized signal sources ...
          with the 5390A frequency stability analyzer
H #240-0  Digital signal analysis - time & freq domain measurements
H #243    The Fundamentals of Signal Analysis
H #243-1  Dynamic signal analyzer applications
H #243-2  Control system development using dynamic signal analyzers
H #243-3  The fundamentals of modal testing
  #246-1  Optimizing the dynamic range of the HP 3585A spectrum analyzer
H #262    Eliminating time-base errors from oscilloscope measurements (HP 1725A/1727A)
H #286-1  Applications and operation of the 8901A modulation analyzer
  #286-2  Accurate Mixer/Amplifier compression measurement using the 8901A modulation analyzer
H #292    Minicomputer analysis techniques using logic analyzers
H #297-1  8161A programmable pulse generator
p #319    Parametric characterization of digital circuits up to 50MHz
           with the 8180A/8182A stimulus.response system.
H #358-1  HP 5371A frequency and Time interval analyzer
H #372-1  Power supply testing

  #401-2  Programming Guide for the 59307A
  #401-3  5345A/1000 Programming Example
H #401-13 HP 3325A Synthesizer/Function Generator and 1000 Computer Programmnig Guide  1979
  #916    HPA GaSa Sources
  #920    HARMONIC GENERATION USING STEP RECOVERY DIODES &SRD MODULES
  #1304-2 Time Domain Reflectometry Theory for use with HP 54750A and HP 83480A Mainframes, printed 1988



Misc
-----
H 1987    Tutorial description of the HP-IB interface

HP Slide rule calculators (cardboard)
-------------------------------------
H   HP REFLECTOMETER CALCULATOR dB to VSWR error limits
    A Hewlett-Packard reflectometer calculator / mismatch error limits calculator.
    It is used to convert return loss (in dB) to (VSWR) Voltage Standing Wave Ratio
    and also calculates mismatch error limits. For more information reference
    HP Application Note 183 "High Frequency Swept Measurements".
    Especially useful for microwave work when using directional couplers for return
    loss. This calculator has been out of print for many years and is hard to find.

H   HP Vector Impedance calculator / Capacitance - Inductance - Reactance calculator.
    For use with HP 4815A Vector Impedance Meter.

H   Pulsed RF Calculator. 1971.
    In pocket at back of HP App Note 150-2, Spectrum Analysis... Pulsed RF.



BOOKS
-----
H  Microwave Theory and Measurements
    Hewlett-Packard Company Engineering Staff of the Microwave Division
    Bought 20120419 via abebooks.com  $10 + $15 postage

H   Phase noise. RF & Microwave Phase noise Measureent Seminar HP.
    (A photocopy in blue ring spine w peach covers. 118 pages.)

Others
------
H   Feeling comfortable with Logic Analyzers. 5954-2686  Printed April 1988.


References & sources
--------------------
http://www.hpmemory.org/news/an150/an150_page_00.htm
http://www.hparchive.com/Application_Notes/HP-App-Note-Index-1967-Revised.pdf
http://mmhewpack.free.fr/ressources/resrc_an_01.htm
http://www.hpmemory.org/ressources/resrc_an_01.htm

I'd like to expand this to a complete listing of all HP app notes ever published.
Actually collecting all these old App Notes is probably an unachievable ambition. But I'd like to.
The ultimate goal being to scan them all in the high visual quality and display technology they deserve,
as opposed to the often very poor quality scans as pdf that can be found on the net now.

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