[Test-Equipment] HP 141 analyzer low gain

[Gary Schafer]

Arthur Shulman wrote:
> I had exacly the same problem with my 141T & 8445B, right down to the 20db loss
> of gain. It was not the mixer, but low gain in the 50Mhz amp that outputs to the
> IF section. My repair shop advised it was not worthwhile to continue the repair
> due to the labor involved in dissasembly, so I replaced the RF section with a
> known good unit. Has worked perfectly since, & I have the old module, still
> unrepaired by me.
> Suggest you try to borrow a different RF section, any range, and determine by
> substitution if the problem lies in the RF or IF plugin. Then you can decide what
> to do next. I think servicing this unit is almost impossible without the extender
> cables, & I highly recommend you consider that if you find the problem requires
> extensive dissasembly.
> I seem to recall that the amp with low gain was buried beneath a mass of other
> circuitry & hardware & was impossible to access for direct measurements. It was
> possible to measure gain loss around that block, however, & that's why I feel
> confident about the diagnosis, despite the fact that I was unable to determine
> the exact failed component.
> Please let me know what you discover, & good luck!
> 
> Arthur Shulman VE3ZV
> 
> 

Thanks for the tip. Another fella suggested the same thing, the 50 mhz 
amp. There are two of them. One is on the output of the RF unit. Not 
much too it and easy to get at. The next one is in the IF unit and looks 
like it is buried.

I will have to see if I can find a connector to check at the output of 
the RF unit. It is smaller than an SMA, can't recall what type it is.

Wish I had a set of cables!

Thanks,
Gary  K4FMX