[Test-Equipment] Re: [AILtech] Landmark Instruments ?

[jeremy-ca]

The HP-141T spectrum analyzer system seems to still be in high demand if 
Epay prices are any indicator.

I have two of them here for less demanding work in the HF and low VHF range.

My HP606A sig gen gets used regularly for boatanchor alignments as does the 
GR1025A sweeper.

One truly landmark item was the HP524B counter. I even have one for parts as 
well as the plug ins. It all has National Radio ID tags on it.

Hickock tube testers should be on the list with the 539C at the top and the 
752/752A as a close second.

The military raised the benchmark with the URM-25D sig gen and those seem to 
be in almost everyones basement, even mine.

The HP4970A NF meter was the first easy(??) to use, accurate and repeatable 
offering. They and the B version are still widely used in industry.

Also in use here are these oldies which were important in their day:

2 HP8410A with the extra display holders
8420C sweeper
8350A sweeper
5345A counter
Tek 5000 something scope
TS-617C/U Q meter
Plus a lot of other vintage oscillators, tunable filters, meters, etc. All 
working fine.

The above are used on the various ham and boatanchor benches here with each 
area dedicated to a particular use. Most of it came from various companies I 
worked for at very low cost or free as it was surplused. All had current cal 
stickers.

I have another bench which is the one that pays for the groceries and that 
has all 90's equipment and Im equipped to beyond 40 GHz. That gear came from 
belly up auctions at 2 companies I worked for as well as a few other 
auctions where the prices were right.

The only items which get moved around are the HP8970A NF Meter and 437B 
Power Meter.

The cal dept manager at one of those companies taught me the cal procedures 
and helps me out when I get stuck. I keep his ham gear functioning in 
return.

Shortly before retiring we had a demo on the latest Agilent E series gear. 
It appears that they have rapidly obsoleted even the best of their 
predecessors.

Carl
KM1H



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Parnass, AJ9S" <a2 at parnass.com>
To: <Test-Equipment at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 9:31 AM
Subject: [Test-Equipment] Re: [AILtech] Landmark Instruments ?


> On Sunday 30 March 2008, J Forster wrote:
>> I'd like people's opinions on what they think are really landmark
>> instruments in the era between about 1955 and 1995,
>
> The Fluke 8000A bench DMM seemed like a breakthrough at the time.
>
> Too, handheld, battery operated digital multimeters, e.g., the Fluke 8024
> series, were small enough to carry just about everywhere and reliable and
> accurate enough to be a significant advance over a Simpson or Triplett 
> VOM.
>
>
> -- 
> =========================================================================
> Bob Parnass, AJ9S      Retired and running Linux       http://parnass.com
>
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