RF Signal Generator w/ Sweep for ham radio projects

[Nuno_pt]

One generator that I like is the Marconi 2019A or the HP 8467A or HP 8657B, with advantage for the 8647 because of the dial's, and they could be cheap if you wait, I don't know about performance.
My objective is one above 1.5GHz, but still looking for one at affordable price.

Buying from US will be little harder, since here we pay, Invoice + Shipping + 9€ = total value + 23% VAT

Let´s say $400 for the generator, $100 for shipping, 9€ fix amount at customs for opening the package, the you've the price, now add 23% on top of that, and it's the final price that the generator will cost you.

We don't have Tax in lab equipment, measuring, Ham radio, etc... but we do have 23% VAT.

[cio74]

VAT is of no issue but shipping is killing me when looking to buy from the US, those generators are heavy.

I think I may buy another Anritsu or a Siglent 2000X model, the later may be easy to sell if for whatever reason I don't like it, has 10" screen, font size should be fine:)

[Nuno_pt]

cio74,

Yes the shipment from US is a killer deal's, but the VAT here for final consumer so no way to get out of 23% over everything.

I remembering one guy ask me $100 to send one Keithley 2000 DMM.

Well I'm divided by 2019A, 8647A or 8657B, specs wise I'm lost here.

Any ideas.

[cio74]

cio74,

Yes the shipment from US is a killer deal's, but the VAT here for final consumer so no way to get out of 23% over everything.

I remembering one guy ask me $100 to send one Keithley 2000 DMM.

Well I'm divided by 2019A, 8647A or 8657B, specs wise I'm lost here.

Any ideas.

If you have a  company that is VAT registered and if the company business is related to your purchase you can buy it as company asset and then claim the VAT. When buying within EU but different country you get a better price than the say Ebay listed price, just ask the seller if it's VAT registered and they would be happy to sell for 20% less or whatever the VAT is in their country (you will have to fill some papers for VAT but it's all fine when you fill your VAT return papers, you claim it back). Or maybe you have a friend that can help with a company purchase.

I was looking at all of those, Marconi 2012A, 2022A may do the job but no dial and they look, well, old?

I was about to buy a HP 8647A (8657B also has no dial) but looking at the serial (if talking about the one currently listed on Ebay) it starts with 3414, this means 1960 + 34 = 1994 year of production. The Anritsu is 2003 so I thought it's somehow better.

Now I am seriously considering the Siglent 2042X model, it's low priced and if decent performance I think it would be good to have.

[Nuno_pt]

No VAT register company here, so no route there.

The 8647A was one offer by a friend in Spain, but it's also on the 3414 range, dam I like those knobs, and also heard that there are no schematics for it.

I agree with you, the 2018, 2019, 2022 from Marconi look very old.

The 8657B also doesn't  have any knobs, but goes over 1.5GHz, and maybe will be better in specs then the others, so could be worth, exchange the knobs for specs.

Or maybe get the 8647A and latter sell it and then buy and Marconi 2024 or one R&S.

I´ll wait for the experts to give there ideas.

[cio74]

I have set he output level to -143.0 which is the lowest this generator can do and then started to dial up. Every time it goes into a different range there is a 'click' noise, I won't describe it as a relay but more like a mechanical contactor of some sort? Looking at the oscilloscope signal there are no dead 'zones' but sometimes 'glitches' can be seen when changing a range.

-143.0 to -133.0
-132.9 to -132.0
-131.9 to -131.0
.....
-0.9 to 0.0
0.1 to 1.0
1.1 to 2.0
......
6.1 to 23.0

What is that thing exactly, some sort of mechanical attenuator? Or just some noisy relays?

I don't want to open the generator... yet

[uncle_bob]

I have set he output level to -143.0 which is the lowest this generator can do and then started to dial up. Every time it goes into a different range there is a 'click' noise, I won't describe it as a relay but more like a mechanical contactor of some sort? Looking at the oscilloscope signal there are no dead 'zones' but sometimes 'glitches' can be seen when changing a range.

-143.0 to -133.0
-132.9 to -132.0
-131.9 to -131.0
.....
-0.9 to 0.0
0.1 to 1.0
1.1 to 2.0
......
6.1 to 23.0

What is that thing exactly, some sort of mechanical attenuator? Or just some noisy relays?

I don't want to open the generator... yet

Hi
 
There are a bunch of different ways to do it. It could be relays. It could be something else. A rotary actuator and a bunch of cams is one way to do it...

Bob