[NLRS] Test equipment for a newbie?

[Scott]

A spectrum analyzer is my personal favorite.  It shows frequency and 
power level at the same time.  Power meters are fine, but if the signal 
looks like the output of a comb generator, you will be lead down the 
merry path thinking you have "lots" of power and will assume it's all at 
the frequency you think it should be at.  I found a 915 MHz oscillation 
in my 902 transverter with a spectrum analyzer.  Wouldn't have found it 
so easily without the spectrum analyzer....freq counters can go bananas 
trying to count the output of said comb generator ;)

I use both a spectrum analyzer and a power meter here.  For a signal 
source (2304-10368), I use the 1152 MHz oscillator from my W1GHZ 1296 
transverter and (over)drive MMICs and feed through a pipe cap filter of 
appropriate size for the desired harmonic.

Scott
N0EDV

Zack Widup wrote:
> I'd say what you really need to start out is a power meter of some sort and
> a frequency counter of some sort. You don't need a spectrum analyzer or
> anything like the W6PQL frequency marker.
>
> For years I used this power meter:
>
> http://www.sonic.net/%7En6gn/hr88/a2/article2.html
>
> The power meter is Figure 4 and the calibration curve is Figure 5. This is
> remarkably accurate as compared to an HP435B power meter, which I later
> acquired. This is very simple to build. I built one right on a BNC connector
> and another on an SMA connector.
>
> I built a frequency counter using the ICM7216DIPI frequency counter chip,
> which was once easy to ger but may be more difficult now. Adding an extra
> few stages of counters enables it to count to 10 GHz.
> You can also use a radio such as the Yaesu VX-6R which has a receiver that
> tunes to 999 MHz as an indicator of power on a certain frequency. Maybe a
> cruder frequency meter but useful.
>
> You can add equipment as you gain experience, but the power meter is the
> most useful thing I've found so far.
>
> 73, Zack W9SZ
> On Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 9:41 AM, David Palm <thepalmhq at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> Hello all,
>>
>> As a follow-up to my question yesterday asking for books/resources to learn
>> more about SHF, I'd like to ask your opinion on the most important and
>> useful test equipment.  I have just finished stuffing the LO and
>> transverter
>> boards for the W1GHZ transverter on 902 MHz.  I bought parts for the 902,
>> 1296, 2403, and 3456 transverters.  But now I'm faced with the problem that
>> I have no way to check these out!  I'm forced to ship them off to a fellow
>> ham who has access to a spectrum analyzer and signal source.  I'd rather be
>> able to do more of that myself.
>>
>> So.......
>>
>> What do you consider to be the absolutely essential test equipment for a
>> ham
>> who wants to do some building in the UHF and SHF bands?  Confirmation and
>> suggestions on the most bang for the buck on these pieces of equipment
>> would
>> be helpful:
>>
>> * Signal source:  W6QPL's microwave marker?  Other?
>>
>> * Power meter:  Bird 43 with various slugs?  W1GHZ's "all-band power
>> meter"?  Other?
>>
>> * Spectrum analyzer:  Expensive (!) but I've had some good correspondence
>> with WB9LYH about the "poor man's spectrum analyzer" designs out there.
>> Anybody else had experience with this?
>>
>> * Other "must have" test equipment?
>>
>> Thanks and 73,
>>
>> David  W9HQ
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-- 
Scott
http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
Flying Corben Junior Ace - Building RV-4
Gotta Fly or Gonna Die