The advent of relatively inexpensive test equipment (spectrum analyzers are a case in point) got me wondering. Wen I was a tech for Collins Radio and later Alcatel, freq analyzer were common. The big uses were tuning filters. Is their any low cost units out there?

 

Something like this?
https://www.tinysa.org/wiki/

 

The advent of relatively inexpensive test equipment (spectrum analyzers are a case in point) got me wondering. Wen I was a tech for Collins Radio and later Alcatel, freq analyzer were common. The big uses were tuning filters. Is their any low cost units out there?

We used old stuff like this for basic transmitter spectrums.

Everything cheap today is SDR based.

 

Nano-VNA.

 

Nano-VNA.

??

 

??

https://nanovna.com/

 

Define needs and budget.

 

Basically it on mt wish list. Think audio to start, then up to 10MHz, like I said tuning filters and whatnot. $500.00 or less. A freq analyzer sweeps through a range, which a spectrum analyses most definitely will not

 

Basically it on mt wish list. Think audio to start, then up to 10MHz, like I said tuning filters and whatnot. $500.00 or less. A freq analyzer sweeps through a range, which a spectrum analyses most definitely will not

Sure spectrum analyzers sweep through a range. A frequency analyzer is just the old and maybe original name for a spectrum analyzer. What you likely want is a spectrum analyzer with a tracking oscillator. The tracking oscillator matches the tuned frequency of the spectrum analyser frontend so you can plot the frequency response of something.
https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/type-of-electrical-circuit.178907/post-1628195


Normalized frequency response of a wire using the tracking oscillator.


A quick and dirty Interdigital Filter response plot using that normalized wire calibration.

 

I can do that with my function generator in sweep mode up to its 30MHz limit and run it into my digital scope which will record and store the sweep. Then I can pull it apart to my heart's content. I can even run a Bode plot on it!

 

I can do that with my function generator in sweep mode up to its 30MHz limit and run it into my digital scope which will record and store the sweep. Then I can pull it apart to my heart's content. I can even run a Bode plot on it!

What is your function generator?I priced the Rigol DSA 815. For me it is just on the edge of affordability. Every month I save $50 for things like test equipment.
Just for the halibut I am going to set $500 as the Max I am willing to spend thank you for all your responses truth is I have no use for it at the moment but I will.

 

Here is the cheap one I have on the bench. Comes under many brand labels. Mine is a Kuman although I've upgraded a couple of times and now mainly using a Siglent SDG1032X which has a few more bells and whistles. But these do sweep @ up to 24MHz and are also a frequency counter as well. The actual works inside could fit in a cigarette pack, the box is for show and uses a wall wart for a power supply. No shielding or grounding but does work well and pretty much on spec. I just grabbed the first one I came to on Alix and you can do better on price with shopping around. Also depends on what max Freq you want. Higher Freq+Quality = Higer $.

 

Food for thought. Look into the Hewlett Packard 8592B Spectrum Analyzers used on eBay. IF you can find a good used one for the right price...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1861818370...W1U5UU/avaqC+TJQ=|tkp:Bk9SR6aQxp3OYw&LH_BIN=1

 

What is your function generator?I priced the Rigol DSA 815. For me it is just on the edge of affordability. Every month I save $50 for things like test equipment.

If you buy one be sure it's the Rigol DSA815-TG with the tracking generator. It's a very good deal as an old R&S is a lot more.
I also have a old Chinese AT5010 (with no tracking generator). Useful for general RFI/EMI sniffing but that's about it.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1250649/Atten-At5010.html?page=9#manual

 

Food for thought. Look into the Hewlett Packard 8592B Spectrum Analyzers used on eBay. IF you can find a good used one for the right price...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/186181837036?itmmeta=01HSRXHH0BMMHPMX5B99PQENXR&hash=item2b594d60ec:g:QI0AAOSwyG9lYsKL&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA0O83tkIMc8O/V2WBENeS+5wtQscSJfJQoKQkY5Bzu4Dvl25Lz8srcMIw5Ds/scf25XW9mAwt/OS94Lzmh5S94YC8BfauLnLzzJTZUEyy87SRk7Aook7h6hNyTTQY51uxBHG+NUJy9BnvZh/uRDyLqs1iyN0H6dAlbz6bXD/YUJK/eT6KS9CFsY15F/yoQKkDSQruBzU8AQD/UB+43TKTum97WYvAyIoX75JrK0+sVSuB/SbNrGiq+AJYjiPeUWiaY4BM5UXW1U5UU/avaqC+TJQ=|tkp:Bk9SR6aQxp3OYw&LH_BIN=1

Don't buy that one.
Unit powers on and enters into what appears to be an infinite boot loop.

 

This thread has taught me a lot, thank you. Right now I am not sure what the heck I want. But I now have a lot to think about. I am rarely in the RF business nowadays. Audio is probably going to be more my speed.

 

Don't buy that one.

Of course not, simply a link as to model number. There was a fully functional one below for a few k$ but they can be had for under 1k$ working fine if you are patient and keep an eye out for them.

 

Most of the Audio ones I've seen listed were for setting up rooms for audio and recording sessions. I.E. Concert halls and such.

 

This thread has taught me a lot, thank you. Right now I am not sure what the heck I want. But I now have a lot to think about. I am rarely in the RF business nowadays. Audio is probably going to be more my speed.

If you want simply audio then a PC based version might work.
For example:

I've used early versions of this software.
https://www.roomeqwizard.com/
https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/...st-dedicated-home-theater.160250/post-1398002





Audio response from inside my car using very old ETF software.

 

This thread has taught me a lot, thank you. Right now I am not sure what the heck I want. But I now have a lot to think about. I am rarely in the RF business nowadays. Audio is probably going to be more my speed.

Few if any of the modern analyzers go below 9 kHz.
TG performance doesn't go that low either.

A modern DSO with good FFT and Bode Plot capability in conjunction with a AWG may be better suited to your needs.