Difference HP3585A and HP3585B?

Guess this is a question for engineers who are over the hill like me: Do
you guys remember any fundamental differences between the older spectrum
analyzer HP3585A and its "newer" brother HP3585B?

I recall that the GPIB command sets were different but other than that
it's just too freaking long ago that I used the A. Or maybe those very
brain cells have fallen victim to a brewsky. The B version retails for a
lot more on the market so if there are only more or less cosmetic
changes we'd go for the A version. This is to replace a 3585 that had
been busted in shipping. That one was truly totaled, the CRT and a lot
of other stuff is shot.

 

Joerg:
I have a few old HP catalogs here, can't see much difference between the A
(1986) and the B (1994). All RF specs appear to be equivalent. The B says it
can output directly to HP plotters and graphics printers and ThinkJets. The
B gives Video bandwidths 1 Hz - 30 kHz in 1,3,10 seq. The A doesn't mention
video filters. RBW's are equal (3 Hz - 30kHz). Amplitude range, marker
accuracies, spurs, IP, freq accuracies are all identical. Both have tracking
generator. B has an option 001 Sweep Gating Mode. And the B weighs 7 pounds
less, which means only a slightly smaller hernia.

Steve

 

I found the B already in my 1989 catalog but that was the oldest catalog
I had.

It sounds alright then. Video filters are kind of necessary but not if
the RBW extends down to 3Hz. That'll be low enough for the noise
measurements we have to do. Thanks for that information.

ROFL!

 

Joerg a écrit :

Agilent has the 3585A manual on their site.

I've a 3585B SA and only the A version manual and never noticed a
difference. Ok, I don't open the manuals very often, but...

 

Joerg a écrit :

Gasp! speaking of 3585, mine just decided its fan had to quit.
Ok it was some time it was making alarming noise, but so do the other HP
analyzers of the same vintage I have.
Now it randomly slows down then blows full speed again, then...
and I just learned I need to bring it with me at a client site tomorrow.
Arghhh...

 

People have used lithium grease or, in a pinch, even a spritz of WD40 to
make it work just for a few more days. HP used similar fans on all their
big units. Maybe you could "borrow" a fan for tomorrow if grease won't
get it going. Heck, I've heard folks borrow a complete Citroen 2CV
engine for a day to pass the emissions test.

 

Well, we'll be ordering the 3585A now. Can't really go wrong with HP. I
started with ye olde HP141T and even that old rig always got me home
every time.

 

Teflon oil works great.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

Is that the stuff Chevy Chase used on his snow disk in "Christmas Vacation"?

 

Michael A. Terrell a écrit :

Problem is that I prefer walnut, olive and grapes pip oil to dress my
salad, so I don't have Teflon oil in my kitchen

Taking the fan apart and pressing plain ordinary grease through the
bearings seals did it well enough for today and probably a few more weeks.

 

Try balsamico. Très délicieux. Should be even better over there since
you are close to Italy where most of it comes from. But I wouldn't be
surprised if farmers in sourthern France would also sell their special
brand.

 

Lets see: That movie came out in 1989, and i haven't seen it in
years so I can't really say. All I remember right now is when the cat
supposedly bites the wires to the tree and explodes. You can buy a
small pen oiler at Radio Shack full of PTFE lubricant for around $5.
I've salvaged a lot of motors and fans with it in the last 20 years.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

Why would one want to oil Teflon?? ;-)

When your local RS closes up shop, try a good bicycle shop. Most of
them--at least ones around here--will also have Teflon-loaded
lubricant.

One common problem with scintered bronze bearings is that when they
go, they hole diameter gets bigger and oil is only a very temporary
solution. Fred's grease packing may be more useful if that's the
problem.

Cheers,
Tom

 

That movie is a classic, worth to what it again.

Except that our Radio Shack became a, gasp, cell phone store. Grumble.
There will come a day when kids don't even know what a soldering iron is :-(

 

It might be, but I'm not spending ANYTHING I don't absolutely have to
until I figure a way to get rid of these two abscessed teeth.

I am considering a VERY dangerous hike north along I-75 to the VA
hospital and having someone call the local TV station about the time I'm
a few miles out of town with a sign on my back, "I'm DAMN tired of the
VA refusing to treat my real medical problems!". Who knows? If I
survive it might make the national news.

I think I have a spare, if you need it.

--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

I'm fearing that one day even SMD resistors and capacitors have
ball grid arrays underneath and then the solder iron is for the bin! :-(

I have well laughed over the swapped 2CV engine !! :-D

Jorgen

 

Joerg a écrit :

That's my preferred one and we have a quite descent 'mass' market one
here. Anyway the best I ever tasted was in a excellent Italian friend's
restaurant in Lyon (not the pizza blah restaurant...). He buys it from a
small producer in Italy at a very dissuasive price.

Try this: leeks in a balsamico and fine walnut oil dressing. Serve
chilled. That's to die for.

 

I prefer foods that are "To live for!" That used to be a
"Butterscotch pie", but now that I'm diabetic, its completely out of the
question.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida