Hello, I just purchased an old 8594E, I made the freq. cal ok but when I run the AMPTD, at emi bandwith calibration, it start at 300 mhz and go descending freq. but never ending.
I let it run for about 15 hours and not finished.
No errors shown during this unfinished test.
Im using a home made 20cm rg58 pigtail to connect cal out to input (I dont think this could be the problem)
Have OPT 41 - 119 - UK6
FIRST PROBLEM SOLVED. Please see next posts.
I let it run for about 15 hours and not finished.
No errors shown during this unfinished test.
Im using a home made 20cm rg58 pigtail to connect cal out to input (I dont think this could be the problem)
Have OPT 41 - 119 - UK6
FIRST PROBLEM SOLVED. Please see next posts.
Frequency
-2001
Hz
CAL
More
Default cal data
Run CAL Frequency - OK
Run CAL Amplitude - OK
Now I DON'T HAVE ANY SIGNAL ON THE SCREEN if correction is on, must change to off.
So the self calibration is wrong but the Analyzer think it is OK ???
Please help.
At "show options" i get:
8594C #2749
Firmware rev 950914
But the analyzer is 8594E, not C - ???
Please see "Display CAL Data" in the picture attached.
Attachments
Values with Att 10dB from -20 to -12dBm are close to shown, all the others are much lower.
I send the edited .pdf
What does it mean?
Attachments
I have news!
First of all, in all the tests I did not touch anything inside the analyzer.
My knowledge about electronics is really poor.
I purchased the analyzer to test and build antennas, filters and other items related to RF.
It is my first spectrum analyzer, I wanted one for several years but prices...
Now I have one! It must work, I don't need high accuracy.
So any help to fix it would be very welcome.
Well, I did again the cal reset, cal freq, cal amp...
Everything passed!!! The analyzer is working fine now!!! (Or not)
The CAL Data is correct, not like before (See picture)
The Conf Test is working now BUT:
Step gain/attn fail 0
Step gain/attn fail 2000
conf test fail
Using the analyzer, when I reach 2GHz or more I get "Freq Uncal" error on the screen and it freezes.
If I go below 2GHZ and move up slowly I can go to a higher freq. waiting some time to let it to unfreeze.
So, I think there must be a problem with processor board, firmware rom or maybe memory.
Could please someone help me???
Thank you.
Attachments
Does your 8594E have option 103, QPD Detector? How about option 130, Narrow Resolution BW’s?
If neither options are present, the internal calibration routine is trying to calibrate the 9 kHz and 120 kHz EMI 6 dB resolution bandwidths. The routine adjusts for the actual bandwidth as well as the bandwidth amplitude. The resolution bandwidth filters on an 8590 series are adjustable. The adjustment process is in the service guide, but does require special tools, such as the crystal and LC shorts and a non-metallic adjustment tool or tweaker. If you don’t have these tools, I doubt you can order them through Agilent Technologies since these products are beyond their support period. An Agilent service center can make these adjustments for you to see if that will get the routine to speed up and pass.
Just for fun, press the Cal, More, More, Service Diag, Display Cal Data and let me know what the BWAMP, LC and XTAL columns read for each Bandwidth. Please include the 9K and 120K and 200H if option 130 exists in this instrument. Please include the ATT ERR numbers for attenuators 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16.
Regards -
I posted the options in the first post:
OPT 41 - 119 - UK6
Don't have 103 or 130.
All the values you are asking me are in my previous post picture:
6dB BWAMP LC XTL
200H -0.03 0 121
9k 0.80 128 128
120k 0.30 45 255
CA ATT ERR
1 -0.08
2 -0.04
4 0.11
8 0.08
I solved most of the problems running self calibration, resetting to default values and running again and again.
When the analyzer arrived to me amplitude calibration was not 100% ok, I did:
CAL AMPTD - call signal not found
-37 Hz + CAL AMPTD - Run, test never ends
Conf test don' work
-37 Hz + CAL AMPTD several times, didn't end.
Default cal data
CAL Frequency - call signal not found
-37 Hz + CAL Feq - OK
CAL AMPTD - call signal not found
-37 Hz + CAL AMPTD - OK
Conf test don' work
No signal on screen, including background noise
Default cal data
-37 Hz + CAL Feq - OK
-37 Hz + CAL AMPTD - OK
conf test - Step gain/attn fail 0
Step gain/attn fail 2000
conf test fail
Amplitude looks OK I have signal - "Freq Uncal" error on the screen in 2Ghz and up
CAL Feq - OK - No freq uncal error, find didn't need to enter -37Hz for CAL to run
conf test - Step gain/attn fail 0
Step gain/attn fail 2000
conf test fail
Now background noise is at -30 dBm with 2.9 Ghz span, narrowing is about -90 dBm, not in all scales
I dare not rerun CAL AMPTD if it goes back to bad values
For more information please see my previous posts
Thanks again.
I've have been reading the service guide and there is a "Caution" that says:
Shorting the crystal test points to ground may permanently damage the
bandwidth board assembly. If you make your own shorts, it is advisable
to insulate the bare wires and connectors.
So, shorts can be made but I have no idea how are them made. It is just a piece of wire to short the crystals?
If the resolution bandwidth filters are unadjusted I don't understand why sometimes the analyzer self calibrate really bad and others not so bad.
Absolute Amplitude Uncertainty - Passed with good results about -20.08 dB (Margins -20.15 to -19.85)
Resolution Bandwidth Switching Uncertainty - Passed excellent about +- 0.13 dB maximum (Margins +- 0.4 dB)
1 capacitor 0.01 microF in series with 1 resistor 90.9 Ohms plus connectors. Need to search how this connectors are.
If I build this shorts will them work with the 8594E???
Thank you.
What must I choose???
For resistors:
- 91 Ohm 1/4W 5% Carbon Film
- 90.9 Ohm 1/4 Watt 1% Precision Metal Film
For capacitors:
- CBB 250V 103 103J 0,01uF 10nF 5%
- 0.01uF (2.5 % tol) 160v polystyrene Axial capacitor
- WIMA MKC2 0.01uF 100V 5% (Metalized Polycarbonate Film)
- WIMA MKP2 0.01uF 250V 5% (Metalized Polypropylene Film)
- CBB22 0.01uF 630V 5% (Metalized Polypropylene Film)
I ordered:
- 90.9 Ohm 1/2 Watt 1% Metal Film
- 0.01uF (2.5 % tol) 160v polystyrene Axial capacitor
Will see what happens.
Your BWAMP correction numbers all look very good, so I don’t think you need to adjust the crystal and LC poles by using the shorts you mentioned in your previous post. The concerning correction value is in the RFATN column and look at the lower number. The image you posted is showing a -22.03 dB correction for the 70 dB attenuator step, yet all other steps look good. I’m not sure what your access is to troubleshooting tools, but I would inject a signal of known amplitude into the RF input connector on the 94E. I would start with an RF input of 0 dBm from a signal source. You will then need to access the input attenuator and disconnect its output semi rigid cable carefully and connect to a known good spectrum analyzer or power meter to that input attenuator output SMA connector. If you set the input attenuation to 0 dB via the front panel, the SA or PM should read 0 dBm. Adjust the input attenuator in 10 dB steps from 0, 10 , 20, etc. and measure at each point. 40 dB of input attenuation should measure -40 dBm on the SA or PM for example. What happens when you get to 70 dB of input attenuation? Does the SA or PM read -70 dB or something way off?
There are 3 main sections that make up a total of 70 dB of input attenuation; 10 dB, 20 dB and 40 dB. Combinations are used to achieve 0-70 dB worth of attenuation. Since the 10 dB, 20 dB and 40 dB corrections look good, the 70 dB should be OK to, but it’s not. You may have an intermittent or sticky section, so exercise the attenuator several time when confirming operation. Perhaps a cold start would exacerbate the failure. This is also throwing off your Log and Lin correction numbers. The BW and CA ATT ERR numbers look good as well. The fundamental problem is that 70 dB input attenuator correction. The input attenuator is not available, but some of the internal parts such as the 10 db, 20 dB, and 40 dB circuit pads are still orderable.
Hope this helps -
In my previous amplitude calibration I had:
- 40.50 0dB
- 0.00
- 0.01
- -0.04
- 0.00
- 0.04
- -40.69
- -44.63 70dB
In my previous amplitude calibration I had:
- 40.50 0dB
- 0.00
- 0.01
- -0.04
- 0.00
- 0.04
- -40.69
- -44.63 70dB
Attachments
I ran again the CAL AMPTD & had the same problem than in the beginning:
When test arrives to Emi bandwidth it runs for ever.
- Deleted all data (Reset).
- Tested CAL freq + CAL amptd and again it remains at Emi bandwidth calibration.
- I run the cal freq & save.
- I run several times cal amptd, do not finish :(
- After cancelling cal amptd I have no signal on screen, press Preset, no changes.
- Turn off & on the analyzer, background noise reappears with a message "freq uncal" for a couple of seconds.
Without running cal amptd the 300 MHz signal is at -54dBm instead of -20dBm, I think it is normal cause default values give 130 to amp gain & when calibrated it goes over 200, anyway it is for 0 & -10dBm reference.
Without calibrating amplitude (I can't now) I have these values:
- Ref 0 dBm - -54 dBm
- Ref -10 dBm - -54 dBm
- Ref -20 dBm - -32 dBm
- Ref -30 dBm - -54 dBm
- Ref -40 dBm - -32 dBm
- Ref -50 dBm - -95 dBm
- Ref -60 dBm - -64 dBm
- Ref -70 dBm - -64 dBm
I don't know if this means something.
I think you’ve gleaned about as much information as you can via the front panel and the cal data table. The cal data is pointing to the input attenuator, so it should be qualified. Several switch cycles may have to be performed, due to the intermittent results. Do you have the tools to be able to troubleshoot an intermittent input attenuator, which I outlined in my previous email? You could do your qualifying at 300 MHz, which is where the instrument does the frequency and amplitude calibration.
Regards -
I think I don't have the equipment to repair it.
When you say "input attenuator". Do you mean "step attenuator"?
If yes the part number is 33321-60032, is that right?
I've been searching for this and they are asking $500+ (Used)
33321-60032 looks like the model 33321SC is exactly the same and can be found for just about $75-80 including shipping!!!
33321SC has 10 pins connector too, it is a three section latching attenuator, 10 db, 20 db and 40 db, DC 4 GHz, 15V.
So, please, Could you tell me if the 33321SC is the same than the 33321-60032?
This way I could have a working attenuator plus parts for repairs for just $75.
Looks too good to be true :)
Anxiously awaiting for a quick answer :) :) :)
Both are externally equal, have same connector & cable's colors look to be the same.
The 33321-60032 is marked 24VDC while the SC is marked 15VDC
I checked all the connector pins of my analyzer & none of the voltages are higher than 15v.
So the 24VDC sticker is just false information :(
Ordered the 33321SC to a guy in Greece for $79.95 including shipping, hope to have it in about one week.
Will see if it works...
The 8590 series service guide lists part number 33321-60036 as the input attenuator for the 8594E. I’m not sure what product(s) the 33321SC or 33321-60032 goes into.
Regards -
I removed the attenuator from the analyzer before searching for the part number, so I can see perfectly well it is 60036 & not 60032.
Why did I search for the 60032? No idea... :(
Like for the 60032 I have been unable to find any information about the 60036.
I will receive the 33321SC in a few days, I'll put into the analyzer & will see what happens :)
I disassembled both (It is hard to remove all these screws with a slotted screwdriver), the 33321SC have 3 stages but the 60036 is a 4 steps attenuator, not 3.
I can see 4 att. plus 4 relays/coils
Image: !http://usuarios2.arsystel.com/vitete/33321-60036-1.jpg!
Image: !http://usuarios2.arsystel.com/vitete/33321-60036-2.jpg!
Image: !http://usuarios2.arsystel.com/vitete/33321-60036-3.jpg!
Image: !http://usuarios2.arsystel.com/vitete/33321-60036-4.jpg!
Image: !http://usuarios2.arsystel.com/vitete/33321-60036-5.jpg!
Image: !http://usuarios2.arsystel.com/vitete/33321-60036-6.jpg!
I just made a visual checking, it looks very good, the relays make noise :) Everything appears to be OK.
No idea how to make an operating check. So I'm searching for a 33321-60036 at a reasonable price, nothing found right now.
Do you know about another step attenuator fully compatible with the 60036?
Is it difficult to check if the att is working correctly?
Thank you.
I disassembled the entire attenuator, the o-rings are OK, I inspected carefully everything with a 20x binocular loupe, no problems found.
I also purchased another 60036 attenuator & the problem is about the same.
It is giving me bad values at 0, 60 & 70 dBm, also have to run several times the amptd to pass the "Emi bandwith". When it passes often I have a blank signal screen.
The only remaining thing for me to do with the attenuator is check the impedance but with two step att. giving me similar results I'm thinking this is not the problem.
Right now I spend about $270 for nothing :(
I suspect a A7 analog interface board problem.
I removed this board, I made a visual inspection and some cleaning.
Just after reinstalling it I ran freq& calibration, bad values changed!
Before rfatn values for 0, 60 &70 dB were about 40 for 0 & -40 for 60 & 70dB after that, values are 3 for 0dB & -20 for 60 & 70.
In previous ampt cals had also changes for rfatn without touching anything so maybe this changes mean nothing.
I removed the attenuator cable, inspected & cleaned. After a new freq& cal values back to previous :(
I will buy a cleaning spray for the contacts to see what happens, also will check again the attenuator cable with a ohm meter.