[Test-Equipment] Old HP RF analyzers - are they worth it?

[Chris Trask]

    Do you still have the deceased 141T?  The failures in those are fairly
easy to fix.

Chris

     ,----------------------.       High Performance Mixers and
    /    What's all this     \    Amplifiers for RF Communications
   / extinct stuff, anyhow?  /
   \  _______,--------------'           Chris Trask / N7ZWY
  _ |/                                  Principal Engineer
 oo\                                  Sonoran Radio Research
(__)\       _                             P.O. Box 25240
  \  \    .'  `.                     Tempe, Arizona 85285-5240
   \  \  /      \
    \  '"        \                     IEEE Member #40274515
     .       (  ) \
      '-| )__| :.  \              Email: christrask at earthlink.net
        | |  | | \  '.       http://www.home.earthlink.net/~christrask
       c__; c__;  '-..'>.__

                       Graphics by Loek Frederiks

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Mijal" <bluebirdtele at earthlink.net>
To: <test-equipment at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 7:38 PM
Subject: [Test-Equipment] Old HP RF analyzers - are they worth it?


Hi:

I just blew $25 on two HP spectrum analyzers.  Both are the old 851B/8551B
sytems. I think I may have popped something in my back getting them in my
car today! I also found a Boonton 260A but that's another story.
One set is complete, the other less than that so I will call it a parts
donor for now.
I lost a HP 141T due to old age a couple of years ago but would like try it
again.
Here's the question. Is it worth the effort? Can I do basic transmitter
observations up to 500 mhz?  I do not need super accuracy. I need a basic
idea if I have cleansed the simple transmitter or not. A wee wobble on the
scope doesn't rule it out for me.
If you have comments or suggestions I would like to hear from you. Anything
I need to watch out for beyond the basics? Any common failure modes? I'm
also looking for manuals.
Thanks
Greg
_______________________________________________
Test-Equipment mailing list
Test-Equipment at mailman.qth.net
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/test-equipment