Master List of Equipment Needed

Standards:

• HP 3335A Frequency Synthesizer
• HP 3455A or HP 3456A System DVM
• HP 83640A Synthesized Sweeper
• HP 8902A Measuring Reciever or HP 436A or HP 438A Power Meter
• HP 8485A or HP 8481A Power Sensor
• HP 8112A or HP 8116A Pulse Generator
• HP 909A Option 012 50 Ohm Termination
• HP 8721A Coaxial Directional Bridge
• HP 11667B or HP 11667A Power Splitter
• HP 5061A Frequency Standard
• HP 5316A Universal Counter
• HP 3456 Voltmeter
• HP 8566A/B Spectrum Analyzer
• HP 8672A Synthesized Signal Generator
• HP 3312 Function Generator
• HP 8340A Signal Generator
• HP 5345A Electronic Counter

Accessories:

• HP part number 0955-0306 50 MHz Low Pass Filter (2 needed)
• HP part number 8120-4921 APC 3.5 Low-Loss Microwave Test
• Omni-Spectra 2090-6202-00 Reactive Power Divider
• HP 8493B, Option 020 20 dB Attenuator (2 required)
• HP 8493B, Option 003 3 dB Attenuator
• K&L 5L380-250-B/B Low Pass Filter (250 MHz)
• K&L 6L250-8000-NP/N Low Pass Filter (8 GHz)
• HP 360B Low Pass Filter (1200 MHz)

Software Automated Performance Testing
These testing procedures are applicable to the following models: 8566, 8567 and 8588.

• Input Attenuator Switching Check

This is included as an aid to verify operation only and to assist in
troubleshooting. A signal source of known amplitude is connected to the
spectrum analyzer and the analyzer is adjusted for a reference. The input
attenuator is stepped down from 10 dB to 70 dB, while the reference
level and the signal source are stepped up. This maintains the signal
peak at the same approximate location on the display. The amplitude
of the signal is measured at each step using the marker function on
the spectrum analyzer.
Equipment needed:
- HP 3335A Frequency Synthesizer

• IF Gain Uncertainty

A signal source of known amplitude is connected to the spectrum
analyzer and the analyzer is adjusted for a reference level. The
amplitude of the signal peak is measured in 0.1 dB steps from -0.1 dB
to -1.9 dB, in 2 dB steps from -1.9 dB to -9.9 dB, and in 10 steps
from -10 dB to -120 dB.
Equipment needed:
- HP 3335A Frequency Synthesizer

• Scale Fidelity (Log)

The specification listed is for cumulative error. Only cumulative error
is measured in this procedure.
A signal source of known amplitude is connected to the spectrum
analyzer and the analyzer is adjusted for a reference. The signal
source is stepped down in 1 dB steps and the displayed signal
amplitude on the spectrum analyzer is measured at each step. This
measurement is performed in both the 3 kHz and 300 kHz bandwidths.
Equipment needed:
- HP 3335A Frequency Synthesizer

• Scale Fidelity (Linear)

A signal source of known amplitude is connected to the spectrum
analyzer and the analyzer is adjusted for a reference. The signal
source is stepped down from -10 dB to -30 dB in 10 dB steps, and
the amplitude of the displayed signal is measured using the marker
function. This measured value is used to calculate the percent error
from the established reference level.
Equipment needed:
- HP 3335A Frequency Synthesizer

• Log Scale Switching Uncertainty

A signal source of known amplitude is connected to the spectrum
analyzer and the analyzer is adjusted for a reference in the 1 dB per
division log scale. The spectrum analyzer is then switched to each of
the other LOG scales (2 dB, 5 dB, and 10 dB) and the LINEAR scale.
The amplitude of the signal peak is measured at each setting.
Equipment needed:
- HP 3335A Frequency Synthesizer

• Resolution Bandwidths (for instruments without Option 462)

A signal source is connected to the spectrum analyzer input. The
analyzer steps through the bandwidths from 3 MHz to 10 Hz, centers
the signal, sets signal peak near the reference level, and measures
the frequency of the 3 dB points for each bandwidth. The 3 dB
bandwidth is then calculated by determining the difference in
frequency between the 3 dB points.
Next the spectrum analyzer steps through the bandwidths and
measures the frequency of the 60 dB points of each bandwidth. The
60 dB bandwidth is then calculated by determining the frequency
difference between the 60 dB points.
The shape factors are calculated by dividing the 60 dB bandwidths by
the 3 dB bandwidths.

• Impulse and Resolution Bandwidths (Option 462 Impulse Bandwidth)

A source outputting pulsed RF signals is connected to the spectrum
analyzer input. The analyzer steps through the bandwidths from
3 MHz to 1 kHz, and the controller measures the frequency of the
impulse response for each bandwidth. Next, a CW signal is connected
to the spectrum analyzer input. The analyzer steps through all
bandwidths from 3 MHz to 10 Hz, centers the signal, sets the signal
peak near the reference level, and measures the frequency of the 6
dB points for each bandwidth. The 6 dB bandwidth is then calculated
by determining the difference in frequency between the 6 dB points.
Last, the analyzer steps through the bandwidths and measures the
60 dB points for each bandwidth. The 60 dB bandwidth is calculated
for each bandwidth. The selectivity of each bandwidth is then
calculated by dividing the 60 dB bandwidth by the 6 dB bandwidth
for each filter.
Equipment needed:
- HP 3335A Frequency Synthesizer
- HP 8112A or HP 8116A Pulse Generator

• Line-Related Sidebands

A signal source is connected to the spectrum analyzer input and the
necessary front-panel control settings made for the test. The test
calculates line frequency harmonics, sets the front-panel controls in
order to view the frequencies, and measures the amplitude of the
signal at each of the frequencies.

• Average Noise Level

The RF INPUT of the spectrum analyzer is terminated with a 50 ohm
load or the synthesizer. The necessary front-panel control settings are
made and the average noise level measured at four non-preselected
and four preselected frequencies.
Equipment needed:
- HP 909A Option 012 50 Ohm Termination

• Residual Responses

The RF INPUT of the spectrum analyzer is terminated with a 50 ohm
load or the synthesizer. The peak amplitude of the noise or responses
is measured at various frequencies associated with residual responses
caused by harmonics and mixing products of the first, second, and
third local oscillator; the internal reference; and the HP-IB and digital
storage clocks.
Equipment needed:
- HP 909A Option 012 50 Ohm Termination

• Sweep + Tune Out Accuracy

A digital voltmeter is used to monitor the rear-panel SWEEP + TUNE
OUT voltage while the spectrum analyzer center frequency is set to
nine arbitrary values. The output voltage for each center frequency
setting is checked against the specification.
Equipment needed:
- HP 3455A or HP 3456A System DVM

• Second Harmonic Distortion

A 40 MHz signal is applied to the analyzer RF INPUT through a 50
MHz low pass filter. The spectrum analyzer is adjusted to measure the
second harmonic at 80 MHz.
Equipment needed:
- HP 3335A Frequency Synthesizer
- HP part number 0955-0306 50 MHz Low Pass Filter (2 needed)

• Frequency Span Accuracy

A stable signal source is connected to the spectrum analyzer. The
center frequency and span are set to measure spans from 100 kHz to
10 GHz in a 1, 2, 5 sequence.
Equipment needed:
- HP part number 8120-4921 APC 3.5 Low-Loss Microwave Test Cable
- HP 83640A Synthesized Sweeper

• Gain Compression

Gain compression is measured by changing the power level at the
input mixer from -15 dBm to -5 dBm and measuring the change in
display level using the spectrum analyzer marker function. This is
done at two frequencies: 100 MHz and 2.2 GHz to check both the first
mixer and YIG-tuned mixer, respectively.
Equipment needed:
- HP part number 8120-4921 APC 3.5 Low-Loss Microwave Test Cable
- HP 83640A Synthesized Sweeper
- HP 8485A or HP 8481A Power Sensor
- HP 8902A Measuring Receiver or HP 436A or HP 438A Power Meter
- HP 11667B or HP 11667A Power Splitter

• Frequency Response

If this test is individually selected, a menu of the testable bands is
displayed. For all bands, the test consists of 100 data points taken
across the selected band. For the 200 Hz to 22 GHz test, six bands are
tested (600 data points). First the sweeper is used to test from 20 MHz
to 22 GHz, and then the synthesizer is used to test from 200 Hz to 20
MHz. The levels at 20 MHz are matched to guarantee continuity. If
the Frequency Response test is entered from the ALL TESTS Mode,
then the 200 Hz to 22 GHz is selected automatically.
- HP 11667B or HP 11667A Power Splitter
- HP 3335A Frequency Synthesizer
- HP 83640A Synthesized Sweeper
- HP 8902A Measuring Receiver or HP 436A or HP 438A Power Meter
- HP 8485A or HP 8481A Power Sensor
- HP part number 8120-4921 APC 3.5 Low-Loss Microwave Test Cable

• Third Order Intermodulation

Two signals with 1 MHz separation are applied to the first mixer. The
frequencies of third order intermodulation products are calculated
and the spectrum analyzer is set to measure the amplitude of
these responses. The third order intercept is calculated from the
Measurements.
Equipment needed:
- HP 83640A Synthesized Sweeper
- HP 3335A Frequency Synthesizer
- HP 8721A Coaxial Directional Bridge
- HP part number 0955-0306 50 MHz Low Pass Filter (2 needed)
- HP part number 8120-4921 APC 3.5 Low-Loss Microwave Test Cable

• Cal Output Amplitude Accuracy

The power sensor is connected to the spectrum analyzer CAL
OUTPUT and the power is measured.
Equipment needed:
- HP 8902A Measuring Receiver or HP 436A or HP 438A Power Meter
- HP 8485A or HP 8481A Power Sensor

• First LO Output Power

The power sensor is connected to the spectrum analyzer 1ST LO
OUTPUT and the output power is measured as the LO is stepped from
2.3 GHz to 6.2 GHz in 100 MHz steps.
Equipment needed:
- HP 8902A Measuring Receiver or HP 436A or HP 438A Power Meter
- HP 8485A or HP 8481A Power Sensor

Additional Manual Performance Testing

• Center Frequency Readout Accuracy Test

A synthesized signal source that is phase-locked to a known frequency
standard is used to input a signal to the analyzer. The frequency
readout of the analyzer is compared to the actual input frequency
for several different frequency settings over the analyzer’s range.
The signal source is phase-locked to a standard known to be as
accurate as the analyzer’s internal frequency reference to minimize
the “frequency reference error X center frequency” term of the
Specifications.
Equipment needed:
- HP 83640A Synthesized Sweeper
- HP 5061A Frequency Standard

• Sweep Time Accuracy Test

A universal counter is connected to the PENLIFT RECORDER
OUTPUT (on the rear panel) of the 8566B. The counter is used in
time interval mode to determine the “pen down” interval of the
PENLIFT RECORDER OUTPUT. The penlift output voltage level
corresponds directly to the sweeping of the analyzer (pen down = 0V)
and not-sweeping of the analyzer (pen up = 15V). A DVM is used to
set the appropriate trigger level of the counter.
Equipment needed:
- HP 5316A Universal Counter
- HP 3456A Voltmeter

(This test is for sweep times ≥20 ms. For faster sweep times, refer to Fast Sweep Time Accuracy Test.)

• Noise Sidebands Test

A 5.7 GHz signal with low phase noise is input to the spectrum
analyzer. The signal and noise sidebands are displayed on the analyzer
and the trace is video-averaged. The displayed noise sideband level
at various frequency offsets is measured and the measured values are
corrected for log amplification and detection errors, then normalized
to a 1 Hz bandwidth. A second HP 8566A/B Spectrum Analyzer is
used as the signal source for this test. Therefore, if the measured
values are not within specification limits, either analyzer may be at
Fault.
Equipment needed:
- HP 8566A/B Spectrum Analyzer

• Harmonic and Intermodulation Distortion Test

Second harmonic distortion in the non-preselected and preselected
bands is checked with a signal source and low-pass filter. The
low-pass filter ensures that the harmonics measured are due to the
analyzer and not the source. Third-order intermodulation distortion
is measured in the non-preselected and preselected bands with two
signal sources. To prevent source interaction, the synthesizer outputs
are padded and combined in a reactive power divider.
Equipment needed:
- HP 8902A Measuring Receiver or HP 436A or HP 438A Power Meter
- HP 8485A or HP 8481A Power Sensor
- HP 8340A Synthesized Sweeper
- HP 8672A Synthesized Signal Generator
- Omni-Spectra 2090-6202-00 Reactive Power Divider
- HP 8493B, Option 020 20 dB Attenuator (2 required)
- HP 8493B, Option 003 3 dB Attenuator
- K&L 5L380-250-B/B Low Pass Filter (250 MHz)
- K&L 6L250-8000-NP/N Low Pass Filter (8 GHz)
- HP 360B Low Pass Filter (1200 Mhz)

• Image, Multiple, and Out-of-Band Responses Test

Image and out-of-band responses are checked by setting the analyzer
center frequency to several frequencies across the analyzer range and
tuning a leveled signal source to the frequencies determined by the
tuning equation, Fsig = nFLo ± FIF. Input signals at these frequencies
will excite all possible image and out-of-band responses for a given
1st LO frequency and all positive integer values of n. In this test,
only values of n corresponding to the analyzer mixing modes are
used. Multiple responses are checked by applying an input signal
and measuring the response at those center frequencies for which a
harmonic of the 1st LO mixes with the input signal.
Equipment needed:
- HP 8340A Synthesized Sweeper

• Fast Sweep Time Accuracy Test (~20 ms)

The triangular wave output of a function generator is used to
modulate a 500 MHz signal which is applied to the spectrum analyzer
RF INPUT. The signal is demodulated in the zero span mode to display
the triangular waveform. Sweep time accuracy for sweep times
~20 ms is tested by checking the spacing of the signal peaks on the
displayed waveform.
Equipment needed:
- HP 8340A Synthesized Sweeper
- HP 5316A Universal Counter
- HP 3312A Function Generator

• Frequency Reference Error Test

The frequency of the spectrum analyzer time base oscillator is
measured directly using a frequency counter locked to a frequency
reference which has an aging rate less than one-tenth that of the
time base specification. After a 30-day warm-up period, a frequency
measurement is made. The analyzer is left undisturbed for a 24-hour
period and a second reading is taken. The frequency change over this
24-hour period must be less than one part in log.
Equipment needed:
- HP 5061A Frequency Standard
-HP 5345A Electronic Counter

In the beginning, I wasn’t very familiar with this type of handheld optical network test device, so my first task was learning and gaining more understanding. I went to the Sunrise Telecom website to see what the manufacturer could tell me.
(http://www.sunrisetelecom.com/products/sunset_ocx.php) At the website here, I learned how this analyzer is used for various applications involving installing, testing, and maintaining SONET networks. Then I gathered manuals and any other literature that I could find, and began a simultaneously theoretical and hands-on approach to figuring out this unit. During my research, Randy and Joel assisted with hints, ideas, and detailed explanations. They showed me how to use the optical video scope in the lab to view the trasmitting and receiving lenses of the unit. They were filthy! So then I learned how to properly clean an optical lens using a special thin optical cleaning swab lightly dipped in alcohol, followed by a blast of pressurized air. I had to do this a few times but now that single black circle is surrounded by pristine white.
Now today we received three portable video fiber scopes made by Noyes Fiber Systems. I tested these to make sure that they were all functional and complete sets. Because of what I learned during my Sunset project, I easily figured out how to set up and use these devices. Proud to say they all work great and are ready to hit the road at a moment’s notice.

Custom-Cal is proud to offer service, calibration and repair for Yokogawa devices and power meters.

Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Yokogawa-denki-kabushikigaisha) is a world leader in field instruments & testing devices. Contact Custom-Cal by phone at 888-530-9009 or email service@custom-cal.com with your model number for a quote & consult.

Custom-Cal is a leader in repair, service & calibration of LeCroy Oscilloscopes & devices. We offer savings over OEM prices, easy shipping, quick service and possible immediate swap out for a fully functional unit.

We have an extremely high success rate repairing LeCroy models, contact Custom-Cal by phone at 888-530-9009 or email service@custom-cal.com with your model number for a quote & consult.

Custom-Cal Offers Calibration, Service & Repair for a wide range of Keithley Instruments products. Since 1946 Keithley has been a leader in providing extremely accurate equipment for signal testing.

Custom-Cal has a high success rate repairing Keithley models and you save off OEM repair. Ask about our replacement service and easy shipping options. Contact Custom-Cal by phone at 888-530-9009 or email service@custom-cal.com with your model number for a quote & consult.

Joshua Min

We have recently acquired four new members to our staff as interns, three enrolled at The College of New Jersey and one from Mercer County College. We have been utilizing the students’ backgrounds in a variety of Engineering fields of which they are studying, including Electrical, Mechanical, Biomedical, and Managerial. Many skills obtained from previous experience have already been displayed through various projects, while excitement to continually participate in the learning process is expressed on both ends – being the interns and our full-time employees. Our goals are focused around strengthening the students’ knowledge about the field, education and training in the use of technical equipment, and expanding on personal skills and interests.

Calibrations and Repairs:

• Fluke 73-III  Calibration
• Fluke 52-II Calibration
• Keithley 2700 Calibration
  

  Nicole Kennedy and Kyle Wilson

• Sunset OCx Repair
• Keithley 5156 Repair
• HP 7015b Repair
• Custom heater repair

Other Projects:

• Monitoring refrigeration unit temperatures using an RS232 with thermocouples
• Replaced potentiometer in a Tektronix1103
• Exploring the use and benefits of organizational software
  • Microsoft Project Manager
  • Mindjet MindManager
• Research and comparisons of several battery packs and alternative options

Upcoming:

• Prepare and organize the new facility
• Document standards and advertise specialties
• Expand target market – translate website to more languages
• More calibrations and repairs as they come

Aside from the repairs which saved downtime our staff was also able to satisfy the customers need to have all the optical test equipment calibrated. A sample of optical test equipment calibrated with-in the customers facility:

• 86142A and AQ6317 Optical Spectrum Analyzer (OSA )
• 8168F and 81640A Tunable Laser Source ( TLS )
• 81524A, 81525A, 81533B, 81619A, 81636B Optical Sensors and Interface Modules
• 8163A and 8164A Lightwave Mutimeter and Lightwave System
• Various Wavelength Meters including 86120A/B and C

Introducing the new Anritsu model MS9740A bench top optical spectrum analyzer! This unit offers significant advancements over previous models allowing you to maximize production efficiency and cost performance.

The MS9740A offers:

• Spectrum Measurement at 0.2s/5 nm with Real time Sweeping
• Seven Analysis Modes
• Instant Data Transfer via Ethernet to Controller Equipment
• Compact and Lightweight with 50% less power consumption
• Wide Dynamic Range
• Large, easy to use LCD display

View full MS9740A product brochure in pdf form by clicking here.

Custom Calibration Solutions has aquired a brand new unit for sale as well as a demo unit for display across Northeast United States. Give us a call at 1-888-530-9009 or email service@custom-cal.com for more details or to schedule a demo.

JOB CAN PAY 90K + TO THE MOST QUALIFIED APPLICANT

Immediate need in NJ, we are super backlogged with Optical repair work!

Apply NOW!

Call 908-328-3663 for more details

Medical, Dental 10k bonus and more possible.
Relocation – Referral Fee paid up to 5k! Call Randy to discuss, call back often if you don’t get an answer.. we are on the phone a :LOT!