[Test-Equipment] HP equip questions

[L. Mark Pilant]

And just to confuse things even further...

You are right Jose.  Somewhere along the line, I got the notion the
"L" SA plugin prefix was for low cost.  Since you had evidence to
the contrary, I did a little checking.

I have an 8553B, but from the 1973 HP catalog and the 8553L/8552A
Cal & adj manuals I have, it would appear the (front panel)
differences between the 8553L & 8553B are:

 L - Has local osc (first & third) connectors on front panel
   - Continuous 1 kHz - 110 MHz
   - 15 scan widths
   - No probe power connector

 B - No local osc connectors
   - 2 ranges: 1 kHz - 11 MHz & 1 kHz - 110 MHz
   - 18 scan widths
   - Probe power connector

The 8554 is even stranger.  There appear to be (at least) two versions
of the 8554L.  The earlier version I have documented in a 1970 operator
manual and the later is in the 1973 catalog.  Although both appear to
share the 500 kHz lower frequency limit.

8554L (early) & 8554B

 L - No local osc connectors
   - Continuous 500 kHz - 1250 MHz
   - 15 scan widths

 B - Local osc (1 & 3) connectors
   - Continuous 100 kHz - 1250 MHz
   - 15 scan widths

In addition, the later 8554L appears to be almost identical to the
8554B I have.

I don't have an 8555, and I didn't get around to checking the
two 8556A plugins I have.

73

- Mark  N1VQW