[Test-Equipment] Spectrum Analyzer

[Steve]

At 10:15 PM 12/24/2015, Fuqua, Bill L wrote:
>    The 2712 is AC but many have Tektronix Spectrum Analyzers have 
> DC coupling since they go down to 100Hz. 494, 495,2794 and others 
> are DC coupled and
>do require extra care.

Si. If it's just down into the MHz at the low end, it's likely AC 
coupled. But if its rated down into the kHz or especially Hz, it's 
likely DC coupled and worthy of extra consideration.

Either way, since I blew a 8569B front end out way back in my youth 
some 40 years ago, I've learned to take extra precautions against 
possible overload, and blowout. I now start out with the internal 
attenuator at 40 dB, and recognize that may not be enough in the case 
of a 1 Watt amplifier. I never like to stress my measurement 
equipment over a tenth of their capability, it's so hard to get the 
boss to pay fer replacement and calibration when I make a mistake. 
Oncit upon a day, in the moon-seeking days, we had the liberty to 
explore those expanses of our measurement capabilities. Today, no 
longer, it's on coorporate expense to perform such exploration.

Bah, humbug. America has lost.

SteveH, K0XP