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I have the opportunity to get a hold of a couple of HP Signal Generators
Hello everyone, yesterday I took a bunch of old electronics recycling to a local computer store where one of the guys that works there is a vintage tech junkie like me, and I traded him an old Akai X-360D Reel-to-Reel tape recorder for a Zenith Royal 2000-1 AM/FM/FM AFC Transistor Radio and 2 Hewlett-Packard Signal Generators (vintage units from the late 1960s or early 1970s).
I don't remember the model numbers on the Signal Generators but I know one of them had a slide-rule dial for tuning in the frequency (and was a smaller benchtop unit) and the other one was a large rack-mount sized unit with an analog "VU Meter" and digital readout for the frequency readout including direct entry of the frequency into the generator, they both had BNC outputs and inputs and other stuff. I did a GIS and the models that came closest to looking like the ones that I'll be getting were the models 8654A and the 8640B but I'm not sure if those are the units exactly or not as there were several units that showed up in GIS that looked like them and they had different model numbers listed for them. What do you guys think? Was that a fair trade or not, and what is your opinions on the old Hewlett-Packard Signal Generators, I know Mr. Carlson swears by them from what I've seen in his repair videos. Any help with this matter would be appreciated. Last edited by vortalexfan; 03-16-2022 at 02:26 AM. |
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The HP 8640B is the best non-synthesized signal generator they made. Extremely low phase noise. It covers 500 KHz to 1 GHz. They made a down converter for it to drop the low end coverage. Does AM and FM modulation. Weak points are the gears that are shrinking and cracking (but can usually be repaired) and the little metal fingers on the switches that sometimes fall off. These sell for a few hundred dollars in good working order.
I am not familiar with the 8654A. I have 4 or 5 other synthesized HP generators, the best is the 8662A by far. Sweeps and has 5 programmable markers. Yes, most HP SG's are good if they are working. |
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Any ideas as to what's going on here? Is my radios IF Freguency that far off or is there something wrong with the calibration of the signal generator? |
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How about tuning your radio to a known station, then dialing the signal generator to that frequency to see if it matches?
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I'm trying to do that but the output signal is way too weak for the radio to pick it up to be audible above the local station which is a 50KW blowtorch from Chicago (ESPN 1000 out of Chicago.)
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Audiokarma |
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"Squeal like a pig!!!!!!" ........... Last edited by init4fun; 03-18-2022 at 01:36 PM. |
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So really I don't think it was a rip off at all in that sense, plus vintage HP Test equipment in general costs quite a bit of money on eBay or elsewhere (I don't know which world you live in, but where I live you can't get a decent HP Signal Generator for under $300.) |
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Well now, I guess your's and my opinions differ slightly here, no surprise to me. The thing is, while I didn't ask your opinion, you DID ask mine as per this quote; So, since it appears you ARE satisfied with your trade as per your most recent post, why would you need the affirmation of people like me who you don't know and who (obviously) have different views about the value of the deal you made? You like what ya got? Great! Run with it and don't worry about what I or anyone else thinks, cause I certainly ain't loosing any sleep over whether or not your upset over what I think regarding if ya got porked or not |
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The problem I have with your "opinion" isn't the opinion isn't itself, it's the fact that whenever I (and others as well) ask about an item that we are thinking about buying or trading for, you (initforfun) act like that question was never asked so then when we do actually pick up the item in question and then ask whether or not we did good price wise (or trade wise) on the item in question, then that's when you decide to interject your "opinion" on the item(s) in question which usually ends up being some sort of sarcastic remark stating that the item in question is junk and that it wasn't worth your time, money and gas to pick up the item. In other words you have poor timing when it comes to making your comments. And I'm just leave it at that. Have a nice weekend. Last edited by vortalexfan; 03-19-2022 at 09:26 PM. |
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PS, it's "init4fun" and not "initforfun" , , , in our hobby it's best to remember that small details DO matter...... |
Audiokarma |
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Ahh, the triumphant return of Captain Clock under the Vortelexfan handle.... between you and Jeffhs (not to mention most of the good members dying or switching to groups) I've just about had it with these forums.
__________________
Tom C. Zenith: The quality stays in EVEN after the name falls off! What I want. --> http://www.videokarma.org/showpost.p...62&postcount=4 |
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One thing about HP generators and other gear, there are various places on the web where those experienced with them describe the troubles ans fixes they have found. The 8640 is very popular and a search for it's troubleshooting should be helpful.
__________________
Timeless Information for Retro-Tech Hobbyists and Hardware Hackers No Kowtow
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If this were "Survivor" we could band together, get a few more on board, and vote the two of em off the island in a double elimination....... Or, just wait till no one's lookin, and toss both em feet first into the woodchipper, your choice Kidding!!!!! , , , , just kidding....... Maybe |
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Another key thing to know when communicating with people with Autism is that people with autism don't handle sarcasm well (we tend to take things too seriously when it comes to that because we don't pick up on sarcasm as easily.) So when comments like the ones you make, where you give your "opinons" about something and you're talking in a "sarcastic" manner, then it would be best to not do that, and just give a straight up yes or no answer, rather than making a sarcastic remark with vague references to old hollywood movies. |
Audiokarma |
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