At the shop my partner inherited a bunch of old test equipment including several network analyzers in various states of broken-ness from the mid 80s. I have played with them and found they make tuning a cavity, duplexer, or antenna length into something stupidly simple. Just watch the display as you twist the knob. I don't know how to use all the fancy features but I am just wondering if other comm shops have them or not? All the information I have read about tuning filters and stuff seems to infer that they are out of reach for most...should we just feel lucky?
Birken
Anybody Else Use a Network Analyzer?
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Birken Vogt
- Posts: 262
- Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2005 7:53 pm
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440roadrunner
- Posts: 236
- Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2004 3:47 pm
I guess you can answer your question by browzing around eFray and noticing just how much money some of that stuff goes for
I've played with a "poor mans" analyzer, using alternately an HP8558b HP spectrum analyzer, with a tracking generator and some coupling devices,
A good 'ol fashioned sweep gen with apropriate coupling devices,
and I played briefly with an HP 8755C "Swept amplitude analyzer", but unfortunately the detectors for this (11664 series) --which can also be used with some of the "real" network analzyers, are VERY expensive.
Those detectors, in ANY shape usually bring over 100 dollars, and if advertised in any kind of working shape, bring several hundred. It only takes one screw up around RF to kill one of those.
I've played with a "poor mans" analyzer, using alternately an HP8558b HP spectrum analyzer, with a tracking generator and some coupling devices,
A good 'ol fashioned sweep gen with apropriate coupling devices,
and I played briefly with an HP 8755C "Swept amplitude analyzer", but unfortunately the detectors for this (11664 series) --which can also be used with some of the "real" network analzyers, are VERY expensive.
Those detectors, in ANY shape usually bring over 100 dollars, and if advertised in any kind of working shape, bring several hundred. It only takes one screw up around RF to kill one of those.
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Microwave Mike
- Posts: 259
- Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2001 4:00 pm
Net Ans
8753C with test set. Best way to build or tune anything in the 50 ohm world. 300Kc to 3 Ghz.
When you get one working you will NEVER go back.
mm
When you get one working you will NEVER go back.
mm
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Dan562
- Posts: 533
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 7:30 pm
- What radios do you own?: Kenwood, Yaesu, ICOM, Motorola
Network Analyzers
I think you've heard this saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words." That's how I feel about having a Network Analyzer and I'm jealois of Microwave Mike having a unit that goes up to 3 GHz. That's DC to White Light frequency coverage in the Land Mobile Radio business!
I have an older HP3577A, that covers up to 200 MHz which I picked for a little over $100.00. A friend gave the operating manual (rare to find) and a bi-directional sensing head from a defective S-Parameter interface box. I've collected all of the other components to build my own S-Parameter box which should cost well under $2K and do everything the commercial version does except have the letters HP on it.
Tuning any type of RF cavities, Notch, Pass or whatever is a breeze. The same holds true for adjusting or measuring antennas and feedlines. It's got an electronic Smith Chart built-in to indicate whether the network component is either capacitive or inductive. Basically you have several Engineering Lab Grade pieces of test equipment.
The Network Analyzer won't replace a HP/Agilent or Tektronix Spectrum Analyzer for measuring or troubleshooting spurious RF emissions as each piece of test equipment has it's basic functions. I've tuned 50 Ohm network components using a Spectrum Analyzer, Tracking Generator and RF Signal Generator with success but when you've got the right piece of equipment available, it makes the task much easier.
I have an older HP3577A, that covers up to 200 MHz which I picked for a little over $100.00. A friend gave the operating manual (rare to find) and a bi-directional sensing head from a defective S-Parameter interface box. I've collected all of the other components to build my own S-Parameter box which should cost well under $2K and do everything the commercial version does except have the letters HP on it.
Tuning any type of RF cavities, Notch, Pass or whatever is a breeze. The same holds true for adjusting or measuring antennas and feedlines. It's got an electronic Smith Chart built-in to indicate whether the network component is either capacitive or inductive. Basically you have several Engineering Lab Grade pieces of test equipment.
The Network Analyzer won't replace a HP/Agilent or Tektronix Spectrum Analyzer for measuring or troubleshooting spurious RF emissions as each piece of test equipment has it's basic functions. I've tuned 50 Ohm network components using a Spectrum Analyzer, Tracking Generator and RF Signal Generator with success but when you've got the right piece of equipment available, it makes the task much easier.