[Test-Equipment] HP8555A needs some help :-(

[Jose V. Gavila]

Hello my friends,

Well, sometimes you are lucky and sometimes not so... My case has been the 
last.

I bought from eBay Germany an 'as-is' HP140T system, composed of a 8555A RF 
plug-in, 8552B IF plug-in, 140T mainframe and a 8445 preselector (with 
connecting cable). Here in Europe these units are not as common as in other 
places, as USA or Canada, so price is higher (I paid about US$600 for the 
set; yes, you can call me fool and be right :-( )

Finally, after some work to get it shipped to Spain, it arrived yesterday. 
Packaging was superb, including an sturdy wood box, so it was in good 
shape. I got to check the unit and, yes, you guessed it, did not work. I 
got a trace but not the usual one (I think there is a problem in the PS of 
that 140T but this is not big trouble, as I have fixed other similar 
units). So I took the modules out and plugged them in my other, known good, 
140T mainframe. And, yes, I got a more common trace, with the usual 'V' 
following the frequency tune in full span mode, attenuators doing their 
work and so on. But, applying the calibrator signal and selecting a 
suitable frequency range, there was no sign of it on display. I checked 
with another known good 8552B IF plug-in but got same result. All I can see 
seems to be noise.

So, I am afraid, the 8555A is faulty... and, sadly, it was the main cause 
for this buying :-(!!!. It seems I have bad luck with 8555As, because first 
one I bought was never delivered (I paid for it to a 'gentleman' in USA and 
it was never shipped). Well...

So, please, could you help me?. I could need, besides any help you can 
provide, a 8555A parts unit to fix mine or, if someone has a reasonably 
priced one, a working one.

Please, let me know also about your experiences fixing these units.

Thanks and best regards,

JOSE
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  73 EB5AGV / EC5AAU - JOSE V. GAVILA
     La Canyada - Valencia (SPAIN) - Loc: IM99SM

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