Hi Don, Congratulations on the E8285A. I've an 8924C that does me nicely and came with a bunch of other stuff including two 10811A's and a crystal impedance meter (gotta keep on-topic) for £300 (~$500). Another useful instrument in the range that can sometimes be picked up cheaply is the 8922X if you get the 06 or 106 option you get a nice 1GHz digital SA with TG, a CW RF generator and low frequency scope. The GSM test stuff is an unwanted extra. A bit big, but better than a 141T setup. I think you will find that the E8285A is the same as the 8924C and uses non-volatile RAM cards, not flash. These cards are rare now and have CMOS ram and a lithium coin cell. You MIGHT be able to read a flash card, but I'm pretty certain you can't write to them. Robert G8RPI.
--- On Mon, 1/2/10, Don Latham <d...@montana.com> wrote: From: Don Latham <d...@montana.com> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment To: "Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement" <time-nuts@febo.com> Date: Monday, 1 February, 2010, 22:34 Just bought one last week. As advertised, came with a cal and checkout sheet. BTW, cost another $150 to have manuals printed out. But, I'm old fashioned and have a hard time using manuals onscreen... I also got the feeling (phone order) that I can call Amtronix and at least reach a Real Person who will talk to me. I think the E8285A will replace at least three present instruments with better, once I master Instrument Basic :-). Does anyone know which low-cost PCMCIA memory card will work? They're on Epay for as little as $10 Don Bob Camp > Hi > > I do believe the last (or maybe next to last) of the Amtronix E8285A's is > now on it's way to a basement in Pennsylvania. If anybody else here is > looking for one, I'd sure call Rick pretty quick. > > Bob > > -----Original Message----- > From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On > Behalf Of John Ackermann N8UR > Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 4:14 PM > To: john.fo...@gmail.com; Discussion of precise time and frequency > measurement > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment > > If RF measurement is your bag, and you're able to spend a couple of $K > (actually, <$2K if what I've seen recently holds), consider a > communications service monitor like the HP > 8920A/8920B/8921/8924/8935/E8285 (all pretty much the same thing). > > You get an RF generator, RF power meter, RX frequency meter and > modulation analyzer, audio generator, audio analyzer, digital o'scope, > and in most units a spectrum analyzer (many have a tracking generator, > too) in one box. And I've probably forgotten a few things. If you get > one with spec analyzer and tracking generator, there's software that > lets you do swept insertion/return loss and cable fault finding. > > None of its capabilities are as good as those of a dedicated box > performing a single function, but they're good enough for the vast > majority of uses. An 8920 was the first significant piece of test gear > I bought, and if I ever have to sell out, it'll be the last one to go. > > The prices came down a lot when Lucent surplused hundreds (thousands?) > of them from their portable and cell phone production lines. I saw an > 8935 with spec an, fully functional (as far as I could tell) for about > $1500 this summer. > > A guy who sells and services a lot of these boxes is Rick at > http://www.amtronix.com -- that web site will give you lots of info > about the various versions and options. (I just noticed he has some > Agilent 8285As as a "hobbyist special" with spec an and tracking > generator for $650. That looks like a deal.) > > John > ---- > john.fo...@gmail.com said the following on 01/21/2010 03:43 PM: >> Just that John, I'm looking to setup a general purpose lab. I'd lean > towards RF type stuff since I'm a HAM. >> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: "J. Forster" <j...@quik.com> >> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:22:11 >> To: <did...@cox.net>; Discussion of precise time and frequency > measurement<time-nuts@febo.com> >> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Test Equipment >> >> I made the mistake of setting up a purpose-built lab once, and soon >> discovered to do most things, you really need at least a basic general >> purpose lab. >> >> The only exception is, I suppose, if you are going to repair a specific >> instrument and do nothing else. >> >> Also, as others have pointed out, you really need to define what are >> your >> area(s) of interest. Specialized gear gets $$$ pretty quickly. >> >> -John >> >> ==================== >> >>> John, >>> >>> That sounds like asking what is the best vehicle for you to buy. If you > do >>> not know what you want to do with it, I am not sure we can help you all >>> that much. However, if you have a specific objective, I am sure you >>> will >>> get a lot of valuable information here. >>> >>> You have a (good) analog scope, you may want a power supply or two, a >>> soldering iron and maybe a desoldering station if you do surface mount. >>> You also want a good hand-held multimeter. Some sort of signal or > function >>> generator may be useful too. These vary widely depending on frequency >>> range and features. There is no good single answer to any of these >>> questions without knowing more about what you do with it. >>> >>> Many of us on this list have more than one of pretty much everything (I > am >>> guilty of that too) to reflect the fact that no single instrument is >>> universal, with possibly one exception: my favorite hand held DMM is a >>> Fluke 8060A, but I am sure some people will have another favorite :) >>> >>> Don't start spending what little money you have until you know what you >>> need. If you just need to spend money, may I interest you in a >>> wonderful >>> business opportunity in Nigeria? >>> >>> Didier KO4BB >>> >>> >>> ------------------------ Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless thingy while >>> I >>> do other things... >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: John Foege <john.fo...@gmail.com> >>> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:35:22 >>> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency >>> measurement<time-nuts@febo.com> >>> Subject: [time-nuts] Test Equipment >>> >>> I realize that this e-mail is somewhat off topic, however, I also >>> believe that I will get some of the best answers from the members of >>> this list: >>> >>> I have recently started to build an electronics lab, and am currently >>> trying to acquire test and general equipment for my little basement >>> workshop of horrors. So far, being on a limited budget, I have >>> acquired a Tek 2465A in good working order, a Fluke 1953A counter, and >>> my little gem (ok not quite so little) HP5345A with the 4-ghz freq >>> converter plugin w/ opt 11 & 12. >>> >>> I'd just like to ask everyone what they would be, if they were in my >>> shoes, attempting to acquire. Unforunately, however, I am just out of >>> engineering school and not working with much of a budget here. I'd >>> kill to have all the fancy gear some of you nuts have. >>> >>> I'd really love a DSO instead of the Tek 2465A I have. I'd kill for a >>> good spectrum analyzer or VNA etc. >>> >>> Any suggestions on what I should acquire and/or suggestions for >>> economical equipment that I should make that is a must have? I am a >>> good DIYer when it comes to building equipment, so often I attempt to >>> build that which I cannot afford. >>> >>> I appreciate everyone's' opinions in advance. Thank you. >>> >>> Sincerely, >>> >>> John Foege >>> KB1FSX >>> starving-engineer! >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com >>> To unsubscribe, go to >>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >>> and follow the instructions there. >>> _______________________________________________ >>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com >>> To unsubscribe, go to >>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >>> and follow the instructions there. >>> >>> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com >> To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >> and follow the instructions there. >> _______________________________________________ >> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com >> To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >> and follow the instructions there. > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > -- Dr. Don Latham AJ7LL Six Mile Systems LLP 17850 Six Mile Road POB 134 Huson, MT, 59846 VOX 406-626-4304 www.lightningforensics.com www.sixmilesystems.com _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.