[Test-Equipment] giga 6061A vs HP 8656x

[Brooke Clarke]

Hi Eugene:

It depends on what Sig Gen specs are important to you. 

A few years ago I wanted a Sig Gen that could be computer controlled for 
making measurements on receivers and found an HP 8648A and like it very 
much. 100 kHz to 1 GHz.  There are other flavors that go higher in 
frequency, but don't have the nice modulation features that this box has 
for testing pagers.

The heavy rack mount size HP sig gens that came out of Spokane, WA were 
optimized for low phase noise and even today are excellent if that's the 
key spec you need.  I got a tour of the factory and they had small 
cranes all over the place since they weigh more than one person is 
allowed to lift.

There are a lot of HP 8640 generators on the surplus market, but they 
have some problems with the plastic parts failing.

73,

Brooke Clarke, N6GCE

-- 
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Eugene Hertz wrote:

>Hello all, 
>
>looking for an rf gen to near about 1Ghz or so.  Been thinking about the HP 8656B or possibly 8657A depending on what I can get for cheap(ish).  Came across a gigatronics 6061A for a few hundred less that the typical HP units and was wondering, is this a decent unit? Should I stick to HP? Should I avoid the 6061A like the plague for any reason (reliability, parts, etc?)
>
>thanks
>Eugene
>
>
>
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