Into the bay: Buying a spectrum analyzer
Brad Thompson, contributing technical Editor -- Test & Measurement World, 2/1/2007
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After seeking well-informed opinions from RF and microwave engineers and technicians of my acquaintance, I settled on a Hewlett-Packard (now Agilent) HP 8568B. Although it’s an obsolete instrument, Agilent provides service and operations manuals for the HP 8568B in Adobe Acrobat format on its Web site. Availability of documentation weighed heavily in my choice, as did availability of spectrum analyzers that offer backward-compatible programming code capabilities. I won’t have to rewrite any code if I upgrade to a newer analyzer.
For a couple of weeks, I perused auction listings for HP 8568Bs in various states of condition. I settled on one offered by a test-equipment broker and described as “…fully tested, in working and excellent physical condition. Unit is very clean, with bright display screen and includes original cables and manual.” I asked the seller a couple of questions regarding his packaging methods and received prompt and satisfactory answers.
Choosing the seller’s “buy it now” option, I sent payment via PayPal and a week later, FedEx delivered two large cartons. Other work intervened, and a couple of days later I eagerly unpacked the cartons, connected cables to the analyzer’s display and RF sections, and flipped the power switch. As the unit warmed up, I discovered in consternation that the RF section’s front-panel logo read “8568A.”
Had I been swindled? No, according to the seller. Someone in the warehouse had shipped the wrong unit, and he would send a replacement upon receipt of the 8568A. I immediately shipped the 8568A, and then the seller stopped responding to my e-mails and phone-call messages. A couple of anxiety-filled weeks elapsed before FedEx delivered the correct unit—an 8568B that looked cosmetically better than the first unit and operated flawlessly. Now, my real adventure begins: I’m looking forward to reacquainting myself with LabView while programming the 8568B to operate under IEEE 488 control. I’ll keep you posted.
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