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

[John Miles]

Interesting stuff!  I don't see much upside in converting an 8551B to use a
YIG, though.  That is a little like "souping up" a classic Corvette with a
twin-turbo Mazda rotary... or retrofitting an old 500-series Tek scope to
use FETs.

In the 8551B's case, a good BWO tube, with clean power supplies, will
perform in a manner commensurate with the rest of the instrument.  A YIG
will be cleaner, sure, but I think you'd be better off with a 141T/8554B or
8555A if you want a more modern solid-state analyzer.  The YIG upgrades may
have made sense for industrial/military users of the 8551B back in the 1970s
when the economics justified it, but not so much anymore, considering how
inexpensively you can acquire a much-better analyzer.

-- john KE5FX

>
> Hi All
>
> An article on fixing the 8551 IF has been published before--
>
> Please see " A Replacement 2 GHz IF Strip for the HP8551
> Spectrum Analyzer " by Jim Davey  WA8NLC---It was
> printed in " Microwave Update -1994" published by ARRL
> ( ISN 0-87259-486-6 )
>
> You can also find articles on the YIG conversion for the 8551
> in other  Microwave Updates  by ARRL -_Send me an email if you
> need an exact location for the article......I was going to do it
> until I got a newer 141T based system..
>
> I had 2 of the 851/8551 analyzer in the past--Neat technology
> for the day .I finally would up giving them to a new ham
> when I needed the space in my very small shop
>
> 73   Ray    KE3QY
> Chilly St. Paul, MN
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/test-equipment
>