Message	Date	From	Subject
8355	2013-03-17 14:07:39	Jerry Haigwood	HP 8601A sweeper/generator
Hi All, I would like to get a better RF generator. Most the HP generators are outside of what I can spend. However, the HP 8601A looks to be a bit more reasonable priced. So, here is my questions to the group. 1. Is anyone using one of these generators? 2. How well is it sealed? Cabinet leakage? It appears the attenuator goes down to -110dbm. Does it real go that low? 3. How stable is this generator? 4. Does it have a clean sinewave output? 5. Chime in with anything else you might know about it. 6. Are there any other lower cost generators I should consider? I am planning to go to Dayton this year and thought I'd keep my eye out for a good generator. Thanks, Jerry W5JH "building something without experimenting is just solder practice" [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
8371	2013-03-19 21:51:55	Leonard	Re: HP 8601A sweeper/generator
> Hi All, > > I would like to get a better RF generator. Most the HP generators are > outside of what I can spend. However, the HP 8601A looks to be a bit more > reasonable priced. So, here is my questions to the group. > > > > 1. Is anyone using one of these generators? I have one. I've used it for sweeping filters and amplifiers. http://golddredgervideo.com/kc0wox/bitxver3/rfamp.htm It is pretty versitle. Mine doesn't seem to be super stable but thats not what it's really designed for. I can't speak about the attenuator accuracy as most of my work with it is with circuits that aren't shielded well. One of the biggest advantages that I see is it is designed to be used with an HP 8407a network analyzer. The analyzer requires a signal generator that puts out the RF signal plus a signal 100 mhz higher. The 8601a is one of the few generators that does this. The sinewave output looks clean on a scope. You can see an example in the web page above. I've never examined the output on a spectrum analyzer. All in all for a general purpose signal source, I think it's pretty good. There are newer and more elaborate generators out there. That usually means "more expensive". If you do get one take a look at the HP 8407a. They are a great bench addition for an experimenter. For some reason they seem to be running high for the last year or so. I bought mine for $80.00 plus another $80.00 for shipping. They are heavy. Leonard http://kc0wox.com > > 2. How well is it sealed? Cabinet leakage? It appears the attenuator > goes down to -110dbm. Does it real go that low? > > 3. How stable is this generator? > > 4. Does it have a clean sinewave output? > > 5. Chime in with anything else you might know about it. > > 6. Are there any other lower cost generators I should consider? > > > > I am planning to go to Dayton this year and thought I'd keep my eye out for > a good generator. > > Thanks, > > Jerry W5JH > >

> Hi All,
>
> I would like to get a better RF generator. Most the HP generators are
> outside of what I can spend. However, the HP 8601A looks to be a bit more
> reasonable priced. So, here is my questions to the group.
>
>
>
> 1. Is anyone using one of these generators?

I have one. I've used it for sweeping filters and amplifiers.

http://golddredgervideo.com/kc0wox/bitxver3/rfamp.htm

It is pretty versitle. Mine doesn't seem to be super stable but thats not what it's really designed for. I can't speak about the attenuator accuracy as most of my work with it is with circuits that aren't shielded well.

One of the biggest advantages that I see is it is designed to be used with an HP 8407a network analyzer. The analyzer requires a signal generator that puts out the RF signal plus a signal 100 mhz higher. The 8601a is one of the few generators that does this.

The sinewave output looks clean on a scope. You can see an example in the web page above. I've never examined the output on a spectrum analyzer.

All in all for a general purpose signal source, I think it's pretty good. There are newer and more elaborate generators out there. That usually means "more expensive".

If you do get one take a look at the HP 8407a. They are a great bench addition for an experimenter. For some reason they seem to be running high for the last year or so. I bought mine for $80.00 plus another $80.00 for shipping. They are heavy.

Leonard

http://kc0wox.com

>
> 2. How well is it sealed? Cabinet leakage? It appears the attenuator
> goes down to -110dbm. Does it real go that low?
>
> 3. How stable is this generator?
>
> 4. Does it have a clean sinewave output?
>
> 5. Chime in with anything else you might know about it.
>
> 6. Are there any other lower cost generators I should consider?
>
>
>
> I am planning to go to Dayton this year and thought I'd keep my eye out for
> a good generator.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jerry W5JH
>
>