crt replacement for hp-8505a network analyzer

You can get the repair manuals for most gear, either on ebay or from a few resellers. The troubles are: 1) you can not get repair parts easily, so maybe you have to buy 2 clunkers to yield one working unit, 2) it is a lot of work getting some of this stuff working. It is from the era of "module" design, where you open up the cover and are faced with 10 modules worth of RF stuff crammed into the box. Some things are just not worth the time to fix, like a few frequency counters I have bought. I have had good luck fixing HP synthesizers--usually a power supply pass transistor or an adjustment to a PLL potentiometer. I won't buy anything that is stated to be broken, just because I do not need another fix-it project on the back burner.

And while we are on the subject of ebay, be really careful about what you do with emails. I get at least 3 emails per month that are phishing emails--they look just like ebay emails, with the logos and all, but want you to click on a link to do something. When you click on the link, you get a virus! NEVER respond to those emails. If you want to pay for an auction via paypal, log into ebay by your browser and pay that way. If you get an email from some seller/buyer asking you a question on an auction you have not bid on, DO NOT RESPOND! Never paypal thru someone elses website! NEVER enter your paypal or ebay password unless you used your own browser to go to the ebay or paypal site first! If you are ever not sure of an email, forward it to ebay at Spoof@ebay.com They will let you know right away if it was bogus. Be CAREFUL!

Agilent is adding many scanned old manuals to their web site. Just search for the model number, such as 8753A. However, the service manual for that instrument unfortunately doesn't have schematics.

You may enjoy this Yahoo forum:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hp_agilent_equipment/

Yep, modern instruments are like modern cars. There's nothing you can repair under the hood/covers anymore.

My rule of thumb is to now only buy (used) instrtuments with LCD displays. Anything CRT based is getting old enough it's getting hard to find replacement parts. It's a shame since the 8566B spectrum analyzers and 8510B VNA are excellent however we have had nothing put problems with CRTs/HV supplies.

Another problem is that Agilent takes in old VNAs in on trade just to get them off the market. They are either canabalized for parts but also smashed (heard this from an Agilent employee pertaining to old 8510As and Bs)

I discovered that Clarke Electronics (Milwaukie, Oregon, USA) stocks a wide variety of replacement CRTs.

A few years ago, I got a great eBay deal on an Advantest R3265 8 GHz spectrum analyzer (vintage 1992). The only problem was amber CRT phosphor burn, and factory support (Tektronix) wanted S1500 to fix it. Thankfully, Clarke had the replacement tube for only S70.

Clarke Electronics use to have a web page, but I can't find it now.

Apparently it has been suspended, too bad, http://www.picturetubes.net/ .

/pisoiu

for me it would b my brain n my cheap voltmeter...


:)

Different jobs need different equipments. :)