List your test equipment "scores" here!

[Cubdriver]

And for future reference, in general I think most here would agree with me - if it's a piece of old HP gear, and the offer price is 'free', the answer is yes.

-Pat

It is huge and heavy. I'll get it and see if I can sell it or swap for other more needed gear.

That it definitely is.  Back in the late 90s, that generator had a list price of just shy of US $30k without options.  You should have no trouble (other than physically packing and moving it) selling or swapping it - it is a very high end signal generator.

-Pat

[bitseeker]

And for future reference, in general I think most here would agree with me - if it's a piece of old HP gear, and the offer price is 'free', the answer is yes.

Yes! If nothing else, it can go to someone who can make good use of it or be exchanged for something else.

It's a shame how much good equipment is destroyed these days under the guise of "recycling." Not being wasteful goes in the order of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Unfortunately, recycling has been pushed so hard that it's gained first place in the public mindshare. Buy more and recycle it!

[AF6LJ]

Went to the Clairemont ham swap meet today.
Among other places I picked up these directional couplers and this 30DB 100W attenuator.

[bitseeker]

Do you have a way to test potential purchases at the swap meet?

[Cubdriver]

Generally not, in my experience at least...

-Pat

[Neomys Sapiens]

Do you have a way to test potential purchases at the swap meet?

When your car conforms to NSN 4940-01-110-7422, that should be not a problem.

[AF6LJ]

Do you have a way to test potential purchases at the swap meet?

Directional couplers are easy.
The incident port (or reflected port) will be terminated in a 50 ohm resistor.
A simple ohm meter check will find gross faults. The other thing you do in the case of the Narda couplers is you look for broken or missing paint, to see if they have been disassembled.

With the Bird attenuator you are taking a chance; unless you bring an ohm meter and measure the input and output ports. a 30 or even a 20 DB pad should look like 50 ohms at the ports to ground. Again look for signs of tampering. The only thing wrong with my attenuator is it is missing the four rubber feet.
The Bird attenuator cost me $40.00 US
The two Narde couplers cost me $10.00 US each.
I tested the attenuator when O got back here and it is fine.
The couplers I will test later in the week.
As long as the Bird is within a DB I am happy, that is good enough for the boys I go out with 
It will sit on my 8640 and provide protection since I do a lot of work on gear that can transmit.
I can test the couplers to my satifaction using my sweeper. (again good enough for the boys I go out with)

I would love to have some of the HP dual directional couplers, however they are too hard to tell if they have been tampered with. The Narda couplers are good enough.

[bitseeker]

Thanks for the tutorial, Sue. I was curious if such go/no-go checks were possible without lugging a lab with you. Pretty straightforward.

[AF6LJ]

Thanks for the tutorial, Sue. I was curious if such go/no-go checks were possible without lugging a lab with you. Pretty straightforward.

Here is a good video showing what is inside of a directional coupler.
https://youtu.be/r-OS3BlRWFs

[bitseeker]

Thanks, Sue. I actually just ran across his channel yesterday and started watching his back catalog. Good stuff.

[Tony_G]

Glad you're enjoying the videos, thanks for the kind words.

Just as bit more info on testing the couplers, the actual load resistor can range from 48.75 to 50.25 ohms as they're selected to match the particular unit. They're also a 0.5% part so your DMM needs to be accurate in that range (this is surmised from the Keysight parts list for the unit, I can't find an official statement anywhere).

It doesn't take much change in that resistance to fall out of spec though so it is a bit of caveat emptor if being 100% in spec is important to you.

[Neomys Sapiens]

Glad you're enjoying the videos, thanks for the kind words.

Just as bit more info on testing the couplers, the actual load resistor can range from 48.75 to 50.25 ohms as they're selected to match the particular unit. They're also a 0.5% part so your DMM needs to be accurate in that range (this is surmised from the Keysight parts list for the unit, I can't find an official statement anywhere).

It doesn't take much change in that resistance to fall out of spec though so it is a bit of caveat emptor if being 100% in spec is important to you.

That's right. And they are not so robust as one might think from their contents. I discovered by viewing installation photos that at 4 installations the directional couplers for reading back RF output were installed in the wrong direction. I had them exchanged and when they arrived I hooked them up to the VNA.
Two were bad, one was dodgy (but might have been me) and one measured ok.

[Cubdriver]

Thanks, Sue. I actually just ran across his channel yesterday and started watching his back catalog. Good stuff.

Indeed.  New subscription added.  Thanks for the tip, Sue, bitseeker.  Good stuff, Tony.

-Pat

[bitseeker]

Glad you're enjoying the videos, thanks for the kind words.

Hi Tony! I was wondering what your username was on here since I saw you had an EEVblog DMM. 

Did you get your 33120A calibration saved OK or is it really out of whack?

[Tony_G]

Unfortunately no. It looks like it is outside the ability for the unit to compensate for it. I tried again just this weekend and it was still out even after I got the Cal settings to store. I need to see if there is a CLIP for it.

[bitseeker]

Ah, OK. I'll watch for an upcoming video on it. I have a couple of "parts" 33120's. One has a noisy fan and no errors (I have to run through the performance checks to know for sure) and the other either has bad RAM ICs or bad filter cap(s) across them.

[nfmax]

The HP33120A has a 'proper' service manual with full schematics! 

[plazma]

Picked up the free 8664A. F*ck it's heavy. I have to check what the calibration code means.

[PartialDischarge]

Picked up the free 8664A. F*ck it's heavy. I have to check what the calibration code means.

It means the equipment values itself as $8043311 worth

[scatha]

Picked up the free 8664A. F*ck it's heavy. I have to check what the calibration code means.

It means the equipment values itself as $8043311 worth

Nah, its the number of calories burnt lugging the thing up the stairs.

[Ice-Tea]

Picked up the free 8664A. F*ck it's heavy. I have to check what the calibration code means.

Does it still have the sticker that says you need to carry it with 2 people? (not a joke...)

[plazma]

Picked the logic probes from three 1661A logic analysers.

Took a closer look at the microscope. Fully functional with good working distance. Zoom is stepped (changes some lenses internally) with good range. Russian (or Soviet era) quality optics. Just need a stand. I was looking for some monitor stands with a long arm.

[plazma]

Picked up the free 8664A. F*ck it's heavy. I have to check what the calibration code means.

Does it still have the sticker that says you need to carry it with 2 people? (not a joke...)

Yes it does. I have to check what the option 004 is.

[hendorog]

Picked up the free 8664A. F*ck it's heavy. I have to check what the calibration code means.

Does it still have the sticker that says you need to carry it with 2 people? (not a joke...)

Yes it does. I have to check what the option 004 is.

004 is the low phase noise option. Good one.

[BU508A]

Bought a Guildline 9576 6 1/2 digit Microprocessor Voltmeter for U$ 40.- plus shipping (ca. U$ 76.-) plus import fee etc. (ca. U$ 12.-)