Used spectrum analyzer buyer's guide

[DaJMasta]

looks like the S331D is an antenna analzyer only - only SWR, cable loss, TDR, etc. there is no spectrum analyzer feature in the documentation and there does not appear to be an SA option for the S331D.

Looks like you're right, my mistake.  That probably explains the price difference....

[cncjerry]

I paid $750 fo my R3131a with TG.  Perfect condition.

[Johncanfield]

I've been looking on eBay for a spectrum analyzer for several months,  finding one with a tracking generator for under $2,000 was almost impossible.  Finally I decided to buy a new Siglent,  I bought the tracking generator license and with the EEVblog discount I spent about $1500. Having said that, I love vintage equipment and have some HP and Agilent gear.

Thanks for a great topic and your research efforts.

[usagi]

Advantest R3131a User's Manual

image courtesy of sglabs.it


TG is option 74.

Topic: Advantest R3131A Spectrum Analyzer 9KHz-3GHz

xdev: Advantest R3131 SA manuals and photos added

[mmagin]

HP 8562A   
range 1 KHz - 22 GHz (plus reasonably easy to find 11971 external mixers)
span zero, 2.5 Khz to full (but broken into a low and high band at 2.75 GHz)
RBW 100 Hz to 1 MHz
$1-2k in good condition.

Resolution bandwidth doesn't go as low as the rackmount beasts of the era, but is portable (in a 1980s sense). 

[cncjerry]

The display bezel started to turn yellow on my R3131A and I let it sit in hydrogen peroxide in the sun for a few hours and it cleared it all up.  Nice and white now.

That analyzer is really nice by the way.  It doesn't have the noise levels, SFDR, etc, etc, etc of my HP 8568 or 8566 but the integration with the TG really works well.  The other thing is the RBW I think only goes down to 300hz but again, works well within the specs.

The guy I bought mine from, really nice guy by the way, had two of them and wanted $2,500 each.  I kept bugging him over a year, we became email friends, and finally he parted with it for $750. I have to change my battery before it runs out and I lose my features including the TG but I can't get the damn thing apart.  I know it sounds silly, but there is something hung-up in it preventing the back cover from being removed.

Highly recommended for anything under 1k with the TG and under $750 without.  My 8568B though blows its doors off up to 1.8G but the 3131A goes to 3G with very predictable results.


By the way, we have needed this thread for a while.  I had also suggested some type of common plot output should be added for each to give people a view of what you get for the money.  Something simple like just the lowest RBW VBW of the calibrate signal at a common span for instance.

[innkeeper]

HP 8650A 50hz-2.9ghz can be had very often in the $400 dollar range without the tracking generator.

i dont see any ebay auctions for hp 8650a. can you find any? if any are sold anymore, it looks extremely rare.

OOPS! I meant hp 8560a

[nctnico]

The display bezel started to turn yellow on my R3131A and I let it sit in hydrogen peroxide in the sun for a few hours and it cleared it all up.  Nice and white now.
I have to change my battery before it runs out and I lose my features including the TG but I can't get the damn thing apart.  I know it sounds silly, but there is something hung-up in it preventing the back cover from being removed.

You have to remove the screws/bolts for the connectors as well.

[usagi]

HP 8562A   
range 1 KHz - 22 GHz (plus reasonably easy to find 11971 external mixers)
span zero, 2.5 Khz to full (but broken into a low and high band at 2.75 GHz)
RBW 100 Hz to 1 MHz
$1-2k in good condition.

Resolution bandwidth doesn't go as low as the rackmount beasts of the era, but is portable (in a 1980s sense).

added. congratulations you now own stewardship of this entry. 

[usagi]

GW Instek GSP-810 Product Page

Very cheap. Currently (Feb 19 2017) lots on ebay, apparently ITT bankruptcy surplus.

[usagi]

TBD

[CJay]

Topic: Rohde & Schwarz CMU200

Controller is a standard PC running MS-DOS. Motherboard is FMR6 with Award BIOS. CPU upgrades and SSD conversions are possible.

Motherboard is either FMR5 or FMR6, it is not a standard motherboard.

Edited after receipt o0f new info, there's an FMR6+ and an FMR7 as well apparently, still non standard form otherboards though

[cncjerry]

By the way, I bought all my analyzers on Craig's list for less than the going price in eBay.  Also, don't buy an 8568 or 8566 piecemeal or without cables.  Setup a Craig's list notification and you can find an analyzer usually pretty quickly.  There is an 8568A for sale in Boise, for instance and he is going to haul it to the Sacramento area on an upcoming trip.  I have dibs on it if he doesn't sell it sooner.

[technogeeky]

Note:

I would amend the entry for the HP 8594E to state that option 130 and option 140 include the small RBW entries, but option 140 also includes an internal OCXO.

For instance, this link is to one such device.

[usagi]

TBD

[usagi]

TBD

[usagi]

TBD

[usagi]

w2aew - #51: Basic Spectrum Analyzer Do's and Dont's ...
(includes footage and discussion of E4411B)

[charliedelta]

What would be addition to the comparison  is to show if any of the spectrum analyzers listed have  EMC options such  as EMC bandwidths and Quasi peak etc etc.

[Relaxe]

What would be addition to the comparison  is to show if any of the spectrum analyzers listed have  EMC options such  as EMC bandwidths and Quasi peak etc etc.

I agree.
Most have the Quasi-peak detector as an option... would be nice to have a column with detector types and option# if they are optionnal.

It's a very nice guide usagi ! Thanks for your time!

[PaulAm]

Also, don't buy an 8568 or 8566 piecemeal or without cables.

Although this is very good advice and something I'd also recommend, for completeness, I have to add that if you buy them piecemeal and build your own cables, it is often significantly cheaper than buying a complete set.  The trade off is you have to make the cables, which is not trivial.  Parts for the d-sub coaxial rf cable will be at least $50 and the bus cable is not wired 1:1.  Not surprising you often see the cable set offered for more than either of the 2 electronic pieces.

[usagi]

Anritsu MS2711D Product Page

[innkeeper]

HP 8560A can be had very often in the $400 dollar range without the tracking generator.
range 50 Hz to 2.9 GHz (dc-coupled); 100 kHz to 2.9 GHz (ac coupled) ,  span 0 Hz, 100 Hz to 2.9 GHz,  RBW 10hz-2mhz

ones with tracking generators built in go for significantly more money.

now inexpensive external tracking generators that emulate the hp generators can be had as designed by BG7TBL, so the ones with the built in tracking generators are not necessarily worth the extra money.

[kirill_ka]

I recently acquired HP8561E on ebay for $600. It's not trouble free, but mostly usable.
One interesting discovery is a thing called "AN/USM-489A" which is some kind of HP856X series. You can find schematic and other useful documentation for that.
http://radionerds.com/index.php/AN~USM-489

[innkeeper]

I recently acquired HP8561E on ebay for $600. It's not trouble free, but mostly usable.
One interesting discovery is a thing called "AN/USM-489A" which is some kind of HP856X series. You can find schematic and other useful documentation for that.
http://radionerds.com/index.php/AN~USM-489

The AN/USM-489A may be a HP 8562A - as i found a cal procedure document labeled hp 8652a and AN/USM-489A

I also found some maintenance and tools document for the AN/USM-489A that was amazing. had great tear-down instructions.
i've had a new crt for my HP 8560A but even after doing some work on it in the past and having the service manual instructions, it seemed like a huge hassle replace the CRT tube.
the AN/USM-489A tools and mantenance manual described how to get the crt out to it with ease. and it is not how it is explained in the service manual at all.

Gotta love military documentation!