| Author |
Message |
Grogster
Admin Group
Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New ZealandPosts: 9749 |
| Posted: 04:24pm 27 Sep 2017 |
 Copy link to clipboard |
 Print this post |
|
Hello everyone. 
I had a spare microsecond today, so tested the E44 module on the analyser.
Module settings:
Module setup for testing:
Direct connection to spectrum analyser, 10mW output power.
Spectrum @ 1GHz bandwidth:(500MHz either side of 915MHz center-frequency)
Spectrum @ 100MHz bandwidth:(50MHz either side of 915MHz center-frequency)
Spectrum @ 20MHz bandwidth:(10MHz either side of 915MHz center-frequency)
Spectrum @ 5Mhz bandwidth:(2.5MHz either side of 915MHz center-frequency)
I have to say that I am rather pleased with the results of this test, and they don't appear to be radiating any kind of harmonics or spurious signals onto the spectrum outside of where they are supposed to be sitting.
I would happily recommend these modules to a friend. 
These analyser shots are only relevant for the E44 module @ 915MHz.
Other modules - even from the same series(such as the 433MHz ones) would need separate testing to confirm what they are doing, but I expect they are also as clean as the 915MHz ones. This would need testing to prove it one way or the other though.
Based on these tests, I am happy to put them on-air. If you are a New Zealand member reading this, RSM allow up to 1000mW on this band, so you can run these at the full 100mW output power if you like - that should allow them to go a fair distance! 
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
| |
Warpspeed
Guru
Joined: 09/08/2007
Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406 |
| Posted: 05:54pm 27 Sep 2017 |
Copy link to clipboard |
Print this post |
|
I really like your spectrum analyser.
I have a much older R3361A and it has opened up a whole new world of discovery.
Edited by Warpspeed 2017-09-29
Cheers, Tony. |
| |
Grogster
Admin Group
Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New ZealandPosts: 9749 |
| Posted: 08:08pm 27 Sep 2017 |
Copy link to clipboard |
Print this post |
|
Yes, it is one bit of test equipment that I am happy I bought. I got it 2nd hand though, as I could not afford a new 2GHz analyser! This was ten years or so ago - modern ones would be much cheaper I expect, but this one has never let me down.
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
| |
Warpspeed
Guru
Joined: 09/08/2007
Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406 |
| Posted: 08:54pm 27 Sep 2017 |
Copy link to clipboard |
Print this post |
|
Some of the really old stuff can be a really good buy these days.
My ancient mid 1980's 8 Khz to 2.6 Ghz spectrum analyser, cost $75,000 (without options) when brand new, which would have bought you a very nice house back in the 1980's.
An equipment broker must have bought a whole bunch of these (probably ex US Government) at auction and got rid of some of the more ugly examples really cheap on e-bay.
This one was in perfect working order but had chronic scan burn on the CRT. A new CRT made it again work like new, as it was the only problem it had.
Kind of like buying an old Rolls Royce or old Ferrari complete and drivable for only a few hundred dollars.
It may be very old, but it was still the very best engineering and technology of its day, and is still very good (if it works) and if you can get it cheap, a truly exceptional bargain.
Quite a few of these ended up in the hands of Ham Radio guys, myself included, and it has been a very happy purchase. Something I have always dreamed of having.
Cheers, Tony. |
| |
Grogster
Admin Group
Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New ZealandPosts: 9749 |
| Posted: 09:55pm 27 Sep 2017 |
Copy link to clipboard |
Print this post |
|
Yes, I was very fortunate to come across that one when I did. Cost five grand 2nd hand and in good working order, but this one was supposedly about twenty-five grand or more when new.
Like you, it's something I always wanted. I expect many people also want them, but are unwilling to part with the money.
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
| |
Warpspeed
Guru
Joined: 09/08/2007
Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406 |
| Posted: 11:27am 28 Sep 2017 |
Copy link to clipboard |
Print this post |
|
I can believe the twenty five grand original price tag, and that was probably also priced in US dollars. If you look at what's inside, its a truly amazing and beautifully made piece of engineering.
The very clear scan burn shows it must have been installed somewhere as permanent full time monitoring for something, with constant settings that never changed. So the image just steadily burned its way into the phosphor over thirty years.
The prices have certainly come down a lot. $450 for this one on e-bay and $192 for a brand new new orange CRT. It certainly brings it within the home hobby price range.
Its showing a bit of cosmetic wear and tear from thirty years of normal use as expected, but after passing the normal full self check and full self calibration, its in perfect working order and should have original factory accuracy.
The tracking generator with sweep width set to zero, also makes a very nice synthesized RF signal generator source of precise frequency and amplitude which can be very useful sometimes.
Definitely one of my better buys.
Cheers, Tony. |
| |
Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me.