For Sale: A custom built Hewlett Packard Automatic Vector Network Analyzer covering .1-18 GHz with 8 or 12 term error correction. Why would anyone want a piece of gear this old and large? Well, let me tell you why: First off, this is made by Hewlett Packard back in the day when things were real and meant to last, plus provide the very best in quality measurement. Second, you can FIX THIS if you need to without mortgaging your house, basic parts are everywhere, just not put together like this one. This is an HP 8410A Vector Network Analyzer that has been automated for computer control. I know a lot about this as I personally built this system and have a big file folder on the documentation. You can measure all four S-parameters without reversing the device as this is a full four term system. I used an HP 9826 lab bench computer to automate this using the 11863F (check this) Accuracy Enhancement Pack Program. I built this in 1988 when a Automated VNA was just astronomically priced. My new little R&D company was just getting off the ground (KMEC) and I had worked with and learned the 8410 while at Westinghouse Defense Systems (ESD) (now Northrop Grumman) in Baltimore, where I learned my trade as a microwave engineer. We had built our own "Semi-Automated VNA" (HP's terminology) from system components. This is where I learned this system in the late 1970's time frame. We had in the East Building an HP 8542 Automatic VNA in a 3 bay rack (one of the earliest ones made!!!) with an HP 2116 Computer and reel-to-reel tape drives running it. I used this. It used the 8690 Sweeper and BWO based sources. I later bought three of these at government sales ($250-300 K each new), and used the parts for my systems and sold off the rest. My system uses the 8419C Computer interface and the 8410A-H34 VNA with interface. These have TTL parallel interfaces for control, easy to interface with. I used the standard HP software and rewrote the source code for different RF generators, starting with the HP 8690 BWO based sweeper and moving up to an HP8620-290 sweeper, then a Systron Donner 1626 Microwave synthesizer. This machine (in its day) performed amazingly well. I would get proper reading from the open, load & short with phase and amplitude results accurate to 2 decimal places and repeatable!!! This machine uses IEEE-488 (HPIB or GPIB, whatever) as the control interface from the controller. The IOTECH Digital 488 box is the interface to the older parallel bus TTL units. This stack has the S-Parameter Test Set (8746), the rectangular and polar displays (8412 &8414), the 8410A NA & 8411A opt 018 Harmonic Converter, the 8419 Interface that holds the 8414, the 59313A 4 channel A/D converter & 59306A Relay Actuator (for control of the S-parameter test set and other items), all cables and custom interface widgets. I will provide a copy of my software as a listing (paper) and all my wiring diagrams, notes, etc.I used this extensively in the late '80's & early '90's. I have not turned it on in 15 years. It probably needs some TLC and clean-up. This is why I am listing it as "For repair". This is not a project for the faint of heart. You could put a copy of HT Basic on an older PC with a 488 card and have a kick-ass automatic VNA, running the RMB code as I modified it. The software is modular and has subroutines for each major hardware box making it easy to troubleshoot and modify for your particular use. It will be a lot of work to pack and ship this so it will not be cheap. The rack is not part of the sale and I will remove my property tags from the equipment once it has been sold. You will need an RF source to cover the range you want to go. An 8620 with an 86290 is a great starting place. You will have lots of questions, so I figure I will spend a lot of time talking to the buyer about this, and that is part of the price. You might think that an 8510 box would be better, but the issue of repair is a key one. I have bought a lot of spares for stuff including my 8510's, but they are a bit pricey. The 8410 stuff was made in great quantity and is simple & robust, so lasts long and is cheap. I loved this thing: I learned so much about basic RF measurement of networks from this stuff. You can run full 12 term error correction (and get 60 dB directivity corrected on reflection!) or just use the simpler 8 term model if you wish. The software does source phase lock if desired and the 8411 Harmonic converter has the phase lock mod so you can lock it to a source to prevent harmonic skip errors. I used a PTS-160 (not in the sale) for the harmonic converter control with HPIB interface. This routine is in the software. This system can be run as a manual analyzer as well,with no need for the computer. But it is the computer control and data taking/plotting, etc. that make this thing SO COOL! It was probably the pinnacle of the 8410 A-VNA hardware, kludged together from a couple of epochs of equipment systems design. I could go on for many pages. I just do not need it (I have several 8510 systems now) but hate to chop it up, it worked so well, and I am sure it could be restored. Looking at eBay asking prices, I am cheaper for all the parts as a whole, but why cut it up? I also have 6 plain 8410 systems that I have in storage, so I could help with spares if needed in the future. Any questions, call me at 606-783-9599. Overseas shipping would be too expensive. If you want to pick this up, I could go over it with you and explain everything. I will discuss shipping methods and costs with the buyer but expect at least 500.00 because shipping is so dang expensive these days. I put freight in so eBay would leave me alone....
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