Leveler calibration PROM, now: EPROM

2014/08/27 Simon Leave a comment

Fortunately, the manual of the Wavetek has some detail on the leveler correction PROM. Essentially, it is fed with 8 bits representing the frequency, 255 (0xff) for 7.0 GHz, 0 (0x00) for 12.4 GHz. For each of the 256 steps, it has a correction byte stored in a Texas Instruments TBP28L22N 256×8 PROM. This is programmed at the factory, to match each individual RF deck.

Getting this exact device and programming tools ready was out of question, some of these PROMS might still around, with datecodes of the 80s, but really not worth the effort and cost.

Step-by-step

Step (1) – A little test rig was set up, with the recently repaired HPAK 8904A as a DC source (can source -10 to +10 Volts, in very fine steps), and the DC voltage connected to the leveler correction control voltage line. The Wavetek is designed for servicability, and there is a nice jumper to disengage the actual level correction DAC, and the feed an external voltage instead. An EIP 545A was used as a frequency counter and power meter. Cable and EIP 545A power meter accuracy was tested with my best calibrated source at hand, and found to be within +-0.5 dB over the 7 to 12.4 GHz band.

Step (2) – Data were collected by setting the Wavetek to various frequencies, mostly in 0.5 GHz steps, and the control voltage was adjusted for the power meter to read about 0 dBm. The data were then used to calculate the coefficients of a forth degree polynomial, and converted to the 256×8 bit format. The Wavetek uses a DAC0800LCN DAC, and the output voltage (after the on-board opamp, a LM307N) was found to be very close to 10.00 V with 0xff input, and nearly -10.00 V, for 0x00.

wavetek 907 cal

Step (3) – The tricky part. How to get a replacement for the 28L22 PROM? There are mainly two choices, one option would be to use a little microcontroller, that can easily function as a pseudo-memory, or use something more permanent, in this case, an EPROM. I had some 2532 around, therefore, not much effort. Only a small fraction of the 2532 will be used, 2 kbit of a total of 32 kbit. What a waste!
Unfortunately, the 2532 isn’t close in size to the 28L22, nor are the pins arranged in a similar fashion – but this can be solved with a little adapter board, and a few wires. Not the most beautiful solution, but who cares, it works!

Leveler – Missing part!

2014/08/27 Simon Leave a comment

As it turns out, somebody must have opened up the Wavetek 907A before, and it is missing a crucial part – the detector, for the leveling circuit! Checked out with the manual – there used to be a 6 dB pad (to get better SWR for the detector), and a positive-type tunnel diode detector (SMA input, SMA output). Nothing I have around here surplus.

Wait – there is a spare HP Schottky negative-type detector around in a drawer back home in Germany, and coincidence allowed to have it carried over to the US. This litte device as SMA input, SMC output, and with a little SMC to SMA adapter, at least a mechanical fit.

A little mod will is required to get this going, changing the polarity of the input amplifier. No big deal:

Next step – there are correction coefficients stored in the Wavetek (in ROM), to compensate for signal losses along the RF chain, and to keep the output calibrated. This will require some more thought, to be continued.

HP 8904A Multifunction Synthesizer

HPAK 8904A – Power supply repair

2014/08/27 Simon Leave a comment

With the failed parts identified, we need a replacement for the FES8DT diodes: 200 V, 8 A, 0.95 V drop, 35 ns recovery time, 125 A surge current.

Something more rugged – because already on the datasheet, it says “Ultrafast, rugged” – what do you want more – are the BYV79E-200 diodes.
These are 200 V, 14 A, below 0.9 V drop, 30 ns, 150 A. These should last for another 20+ years, and come in the same packaging, SOD59, aka TO220AC.

Fortunately, I had some spares around from other activities, but you know – the best source is not xbay, but just some junk switchmode supplies that should be sitting around in any good electronics workshop – these are always keepers, and have come in handy as a source for parts, for more urgent (commercially relevant) repair jobs, rather than for the HPAK 8904A…

For the 8904A – one important thing! Never short out the RAM backup power on the main board – you will need to go through an activation routine, otherwise, your instrument will be rendered non-working. Don’t now why HPAK didn’t use EEPROM at the time, maybe, these were not yet invented… Following the instructions in the user manual (Thank You, HPAK, for providing all these manuals free of charge on the web!!!), the backup battery was replaced with a new Lithium cell. In the end, it might be a good idea anyway, to open-up the case every 10 years, get the the dust out, and a new battery in.

With new Schottkys, new RAM backup, new serial (and new code), the instrument is now fully functional, option 001 and 002, and will provide good service, hopefully, for decades to come!

Anyone with a broken 8904A – feel free to contact me!

HP 8904A Multifunction Synthesizer

HPAK (HP Agilent Keysight) 8904A Multifunction Synthesizer

2014/08/27 Simon 3 Comments

The HPAK 8904A – you will find the detailled specs elsewhere on the web, it is a one-of-its-kind instrument, an early type of arbitrary waveform generator, capable of frequencies up to 600 kHz, but its mainstay is the audio region.
Why is it so unique, well, it has a complex (some say, difficult to use, but are there any easier ways?) user interface that let’s you program all kinds of test signals without any time lost for generating complex waveform bit by bit, uploading it to a modern arbitrary generator, and so on. The HPAK 8904A support all the common modulation features, AM, FM, Phase, and additionally, DSBSC (double sideband supressed carrier) and Pulse modulation. It can gernerate FM stereo test signals, various other types of composite signals, DTMF tones, just to name a few. In fact, HPAK has published a catalog, with some of the common waveform (will try some of them later).

Most importantly, your plain 8904A might not be able to do all these things, because all the nice and special functionality is only available with option 001, which is, believe it or not, a software option (to my best knowledge, one of the earliest occurrences of a really powerful software option feature for HPAK equipment).

The unit I’m using came with option 002, two channels, but not with option 001 – well, it’s software only, all you need is a serial and key, and some intructions – which I will be happy to provide to you, when needed.

But before we start: the unit discussed here came from an undisclosed source, and failed power on test (no noise or other signs of functionality). Once opened up, big surprise, HPAK was using a Computer Products switchmode supply, 90 Watts, Model XL51-5601. Fair enough, this is a quality supply, but somethings must have gone wrong – no power.

Troubleshooting a switchmode supply, with my somewhat limited workshop here in the US – well, it’s worth a try. No schematic, so hoping that it failed because of one of the more obvious defect modes. And, fair enough, here are the cuprits: FES8DT Schottky diodes, the secondary rectifiers – 2 of 3 were dead.

The FES8DT are 200 V, 8 A, 85 pF, 0.95 V drop devices. 35 ns recovery time. 125 A surge current. Seems they don’t fully hold up to the requirements.

Attenuator calibrator (objective: a really precise and accurate apparatus)

Remotely controlling the Micro-Tel SG-811

2014/08/25 Simon Leave a comment

The SG-811 comes with various option – mine didn’t come with the IEEE-488 remote control option. At least, it has a BCD type TTL interface. All the essential functions (band, operation mode, attenuators, and in particular, external frequency control-phase lock input enable) can be controlled via no less than 23 signals, plus ground.

All the signals are available at the rear of the instrument, via a 50-pin Centronics connector (similar to the old-fashioned SCSI connectors).

Several steps were taken to make sure that the ancient but still valuable SG-811 will carefully listen to the commands of a modern area microcontroller:

(1) Fabricate a suitable connector cable. Centronics 50 to D-sub 25. Starting from a pre-assembled D-sub 25 1:1 cable, cut in half, the Centronics connector was soldered on. Quite an effort! Turned out that the 1:1 cable uses pretty thin wire – they are saving on copper, over there, in China!

(2) A little shift register, 3×8 bits (3x 74LS164) – a total of 24 wires that can be controlled. 3 of these wires will be used to select the band of the 1295 receiver (via optocouplers, PC817), the reminder, via direct TTL connection, for the SG-811. The shift registers will later be set by a microcontroller, just using 2 outputs to set 24 wires.

Wavetek 907A

The Wavetek 907A – initial assessment

2014/08/25 Simon Leave a comment

A Wavetek 907A – this apparatus generates microwaves from about 7 to 12.4 GHz. All the typical modulation capabilities are provided, FM, AM, pulse. Found it on xbay, USD 45. That’s less than the value of the two precision bulkhead SMA to N connectors.

Quick look inside:

RF unit:

You can see the YIG oscillator on the top, followed by an isolator, leveler, isolator, two attenuators, isolator. There is a side chain, starting at the leveler, and with an additional isolator: this is a non-attenuated reference signal, which is available as an auxilliary output at the front panel – quite handy to use as as a signal for PLL stabilization, or other purposes.

Some items that need attention:

(1) Power LCD display doesn’t work properly, not showing the power reading

(2) Attenuator works, but leveler doesn’t seem to work (always at maximum, unleveled power)

(3) Only have a manual with partial, cut off schematics!

(4) Some TLC required, de-dusting – done.

(5) Two pushbuttons are missing, but switches work – more a cosmetic issue, will replace, once everything else has been fixed

(6) Some switches don’t work properly – fixed with the help of DeoxIT D5.

Attenuator calibrator (objective: a really precise and accurate apparatus)

The Microwave PLLs: stabilizing the YIGs

2014/08/25 Simon Leave a comment

The Micro-Tel SG-811 and 1295 are great units, however, they lack PLL control. Even at their time, in the late 70s, early 80s, government labs required PLL control – and Micro-Tel offered PLL controlled frequency stabilizers for these units. Stabilizers that are now virtually impossible to source (if you have two spare Micro-Tel FS1000, please let me know!).

So I decided to build some very broadband PLL circuits that can handle 2 to 18 GHz, at reasonable frequency resolution. 10 kHz, or 100 kHz resolution seems to be perfectly adequate; mostly, the attenuator calibrator will be used in 2 GHz steps anyway.

Both units have two inputs:

(1) A frequency control input – a voltage controlled input, 0 to 10 V, that sets the frequency roughly, within the given band. Bands are: 2-4, 4-8, 8-12, 12-18 GHz. There is some thermal drift, but preliminary test shows that a 16 bit DAC would be most suitable for this kind of “coarse” frequency control.

(2) A phase lock input. This has a sensitivity of a few MHz per Volt. 0 to 10 V input, for the 1295 – and -3 to 3 V for the SG-811, as it turns out. Accordingly, with the coarse control set to the right value, the phase lock voltage should be somewhere around 3-7 Volts, for the 1295, and close to 0 V for the SG-811.

Now, the tricky part, how to get a phase comparator running, for the 2-18 GHz range? Traditionally, this requires a broadband harmonic generator, locking to a certain harmonic, and so on. All possible, has been done before, but a lot of work to get it working.

There comes the rescue, from Analog Devices: a truely remarkable little thing called ADF41020. It is a full 18 GHz PLL circuit, works with more or less any reference (10 MHz will be used here), and has pretty high input sensitivity, all that is needed are about -10 dBm to drive it over the full band.

After some tricky soldering, in dead-bug style, and some auxilliary circuitry, with 16 bit DAC, reference voltage supply, very clean and stable supplies for the PLL, all the typical loop filters (0.5 KHz bandwidth) – and an ATMega32L – this is the current setup, for the 1295. Believe me, it is working just fine, and even has an auto-track feature, to keep the phase lock voltage mid-range – so it won’t un-lock with drift.

Upper left hand corner: ADF41020
Lower left hand corner: PLL loop filter
Center: Low noise voltage regulators, reference and DAC
Other parts: ATMega32L board (16 MHz, USB interface), LCD display (just for troubleshooting)

Attenuator calibrator (objective: a really precise and accurate apparatus)

Equipment selection: switching matrix

2014/08/25 Simon Leave a comment

There are quite a few coaxial switches around – I figured that I need two transfer switches to accomplish the task of “through” calibration, and reflection/insertion loss measurement.
Any unused ports should be automatically terminated with 50 Ohms, when switched out.

Looking around, I found that the HP/Agilent/Keysight (will call it HPAK from now on, and add further letters, with next name change of this wonderful company) HPAK 8763B transfer switch, offers really good data, especially on repeatability. 0.03 dB – for millions of cycles.
Determining this switching reproducibility will be the first task for the attenuation calibrator!

They go for USD 813 each (August 2014), but you can find them much cheaper elsewhere. Preferably, get a unit that doesn’t have 10 million+ cycles yet!

These are of latching type – so we will have to device some drive circuitry to switch them, 24 V positive supply. Won’t be too difficult.

Interconnections will all be rigid coax, and precision SMA to N test cables to connect to source/receiver.

Note the Sage 0.5-18 GHz coupler, left of the switches. This will be used to get a sample of the SG-811 signal – stay tuned.
For this coupler – this item was found on xbay, quite reasonably prices for its bandwidth. However, the coupled port has a little damage of the SMA connector – rendering it non-usable for its original destiny, but will now be very handy for this project.

To the outside world, the interface is a pair of HPAK SMA (3.5 mm) to precision N panelmount transitions. These are the best and most reliable know to me to date.

Attenuator calibrator (objective: a really precise and accurate apparatus)

Equipment selection: reflection bridge

2014/08/25 Simon Leave a comment

Attenuation is defined as insertion loss minus reflection loss.

The insertion loss measurements – that’s quite straightforward, with signal genarator and receiver. We will deal with the particulars later.

For the reflection loss, we still need another device, a directional device. Either a directional coupler, or a return loss bridge.

After careful review, I selected a Narda 5082 “Precision high directivity bridge”. Several reasons:

(1) It is a fairly robust device, and offers N and APC-7 connectors. Luckily, APC-7 adaptors were included. Also included was a combined short/open, APC-7 style. That’s really great.

(2) It is very broadband, 2-18 Ghz full range with one device. This eliminates connections – there are hardly and couplers available that offer 35+ dB directivity, over the full band.

(3) The bridge has a bit more insertion loss compared to a coupler/multi-coupler solution, about 6 dB, but the loss is well defined and flat, will be calibrated out.

(4) It was available, at a few cents for the list price in dollars, and in pristine condition.

Next step: need to connect the “reflected” port to a switch matrix, via an APC-7 to SMA adapter (which I don’t have in my collection).

Attenuator calibrator (objective: a really precise and accurate apparatus)

Equipment selection: signal generator and receiver

2014/08/25 Simon Leave a comment

We are talking 2-18 GHz here, and getting signals clean and strong, at such frequencies, can be quite expensive.
I didn’t want to go for any harmonically multiplied generator, but something straightforward, reliable, and easy to fix. Looking around, I have a Systron Donner 26.5 GHz synthesizer, model 1026, which is great, but I don’t want to add it to a fixed purpose rig. And it is somewhat tricky to control.

Another choice, a Gigatronics 1720, great device, but I don’t know how to remotely control this instrument (it has IEEE-488 bus, but is somehow non-reactive to it, and I don’t have a full manual that shows all the codes – if you have a 1720 manual, please let me know). Also, I need this gem for various test tasks that require one or more stable microwave sources.

Finally, I scored a Micro-Tel SG-811 on xbay, not quite cheap, but still a steal. It has all-discrete type construction, several YIG oscillators, a tracking YIG filter, and (limited, see later) remote control functionality. I also has a high-precision output attenuator, so setting any level from +10 dBm down to -120 dBm will be no issue, and allow measurement of even high-gain amplifiers, at any frequency. The unit needed some repair (nothing dramatic, fuse holder, and some minor items) and alignment – one rainy afternoon. With some effort, I managed to locate a paper manual for the SG-811 (from commercial vendor, about 100 EUR!, but worth it), which made the latter task much easier. It may be noteworthy that the unit is ex-MOD, shipped from the UK.

So, the source question has been resolved.

For the receiver: there aren’t too many high precision microwave receivers around, the Scientific Atlanta 1711 (which is just the receiver, no digital amplitude measurement chain), and the Micro-Tel 1295 being the viable alternatives. Fortunately, I found a Micro-Tel 1295.

The Micro-Tel 1295. It covers the full 0.01 to 40 GHz span; 0.01-18 Ghz with the main unit, and 18-26.5, 26.5-40 GHz with two harmonic mixers, that – big luck – came with the unit, and are fully functional!
I acquired this unit already several months ago, and fixing it was no easy task. The -15 V rail was dead, due to some over-aged tantalum caps (interestingly, in the frequency display!).
The -15 V rail also controls the power supply circuitry itself, and any mistake could ruin the receiver altogether. But never mind, there are full schematics available. The power supply is of switching mode type, all discrete electronics with NE555 timer, transformer, and optocoupler feedback.
My only advice: don’t fix it in a rush, but take it step by step. Should any of you come across a 1295 with defective power supply – shoot me a line.

Here, a quick glance at the two gems:

SimonsDialogs

Leveler calibration PROM, now: EPROM

Leveler – Missing part!

HPAK 8904A – Power supply repair

HPAK (HP Agilent Keysight) 8904A Multifunction Synthesizer

Remotely controlling the Micro-Tel SG-811

The Wavetek 907A – initial assessment

The Microwave PLLs: stabilizing the YIGs

Equipment selection: switching matrix

Equipment selection: reflection bridge

Equipment selection: signal generator and receiver

SimonsDialogs – A wild collection of random thoughts, observations and learnings. Presented by Simon.