VNA Set Up Config - RF Cafe Forums

 Post subject: VNA Set Up Config

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:18 am 

Hi Yorl
I am currently starting a project to design and build a fairly complex X band signal generator, and so I am needing to carry out filter alignment at UHF, C band and X band as part of this. I rashly bid on a VNA and won.
I now have an HP 8410 with 8412 display and nothing else.
Obviously I need a sweeper signal generator and some test cables.
Qu.: what else do I need to plot S11 and S21 vs frequency?
Agilent seem reluctant to talk about museum pieces like this on their web pages, unless I am too short-sighted to notice where the 8410 might be described.
Help help help.
Nubbage in panic mode

 Post subject:

Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 4:25 pm 

Hi,

have you looked at the Yahoo-group hp_agilent_equipment? The 8410 has been discussed there. I don't know about the 8410, but several manuals are uploaded at http://www.ko4bb.com/cgi-bin/manuals.pl

Regards
Jens

 Post subject:

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:25 am 

Thanks Jens. I will check out this site. The manual I have is the full maintenance manual, but does not cover configuration details for particular types of test.

 Post subject: HP8410 Manuals

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:54 pm 

I did a search on Google for HP8410 and found several good references including an 8410 Owning and Operating Manual in pdf. I worked on that instrument in my old days at WJ. I did automation work with the old 11863T program to run this system. I completely rewrote it for lots of options. it's been a long while. The docs gave me a refresher and you need a 8411A Harmonic Converter and a reflection/transmission test set.

From doc: The 8740A, 8741A and 8742A are the earliest test sets. The 8740A is a reflection test set, the 8741A and 8742A are transmission test sets. or the Sparamters Test set for forward and reverse Refl/Tran 8745A,46A,47A,48A S-parameter test sets

Own/Op Manual Link: http://www.caip.rutgers.edu/~kahrs/papers/mud2k.pdf
Paper on Older VNA's: http://www.prc68.com/I/MWTE.shtml

On older instruments, the issue for Agilent is the cost to scan the documents and maintain them. I have been saving an archive of App Notes, Manuals etc for many years and have many of the old and no longer available ones from Agilent and some others.

I can also send files by email if you fail in the websites and I have a couple others. Good luck.

_________________
Sunshine Design Engineering Services

 Post subject:

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:08 pm 

What a star!
I have glued most of the system together, and even done some limited tests.
Somehow, all the projects I ever worked on were too lean and mean ever to be able to afford a VNA, so I only recently got my hands on one.
I have the 8746A S-parameter test set, and regret that once I gave away the tranmission test set because I did not have the 8410.
The only trouble I am finding with the 8746A is that the transfer relays are intermittently operating instead of clunking over every time. This of course leads to a lot of confused reults and even more confused operator (me).
I found a service manual offer, but it was priced at $90, which about what I paid for the 8410.
The most expensive item was the 8411A.
I have recently obtained another 8410, but the X sweep does not seem to be working. I really need that service maual, but need the $90 even more.
Hopefully Father Christmas hacks into these emails.

 Post subject:

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:18 pm 

And thanks to the help of Jens I have aquired the 8410 service manual, and the 8753 manual, which seems to be a similar beast to the 8746A S-parameter test set I have bought.
Thanks to you guys I am almost ready to be "cookin on gas"