Group: A comment on the old hp 141T series of spectrum analyzers, that
someone (probably someone like me) recently suggested:
We have some and I like them, BUT:
a) They are no longer supported by hp and some of the parts are no longer
even available.
b) If you are going to get one, you'd better be willing to spend a lot of
time getting very familiar with the manual and learning how to repair and
align it yourself. It will be hard to find someone that is competent to work
on it.
c) Treat it carefully. Old equipment can last a long time, or it can break
down tomorrow, depending on how it was used or abused before you got it.
With these, it is specially easy to blow the mixer or the front end. A lot
of the idiot proofing safeguards that are built into modern computerized
equipment, (and that we now take for granted) do not exist in the old stuff.
d) Know who you are dealing with. Old equipment like this comes with either
NO WARRANTY or 30 days at most. You could easily end up with an expensive
door stop. Try explaining that to your boss after bragging about how much
money you just saved!
e) If you are outside the US, forget about it. You will have a hard time
getting it into your country. There is no CE mark on this equipment, and
never will be.
f) If I were working for the government or for a big company, I wouldn't get
one of these at all. It would be too hard to justify it to the many layers
of non technical people that get involved, specially later, when you have to
spend twice what it cost to get it fixed. Sometimes this actually makes
sense with old sequipment, but you'll never be able to explain that to the
bean counters! :)
I would only get one if I worked for a small company with an understanding
boss that had a lot of money and a real love of equipment. Also a sense of
humor.
Regards,
Lou
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