[Bought] Agilent E4406A - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 06:57:19 pm
content: As it says (o;Before I bug all those Ebay sellers with over priced equipment I ask here first....Preferably shipped from an EU country as I also have a delivery address in Germany....

author: Monittosan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2015, 03:15:01 am
content: They seem to go for pretty reasonable prices how much are you expecting to pay for one?

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 29, 2015, 06:13:41 am
content: I expect a similar price what I paid for my CRTU-RUs...so around Euros 400 (o;

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 29, 2015, 08:27:09 pm
content: Ah forgot...preferably with W-CDMA option to have a 100MHz span instead of 10MHz....

author: Wuerstchenhund
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2015, 12:20:08 pm
content: Quote from: davorin on September 29, 2015, 06:13:41 amE4406As are cheap but €400 is really stretching it, even if it was for the older 12bit variant and with no options.Plus the ones with W-CDMA tend to go for a bit more as it enables wider spans.

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 30, 2015, 12:28:24 pm
content: Well...I saw US$500 on ebay...but extremly high shipping costs....others are little more expensive with reasonable shipping....and most of them are way over us$ 1200

author: samofab
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2015, 12:58:58 pm
content: I think I was talking to the seller of the 500 USD unit and he said that the shipping cost will be reduced in next auction (at least for EU shipping). He wasn't clear what happens shipping for this auction :-).

author: Wuerstchenhund
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2015, 01:30:22 pm
content: Quote from: davorin on September 30, 2015, 12:28:24 pmYes, plus customs and MWSt. At the end you'll probably pay the Dollar amount in €.

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2015, 05:52:11 pm
content: You can contact these guys:http://www.eqtsolutions.fi/products.html#product1They had one on auction last week for 500$, I purchased from them before, and shipping cost were very reasonable. Apart from being a customer, I have off course no further connection with this company...

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2015, 05:53:59 pm
content: This was the auction:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Agilent-HP-E4406A-VSA-Opt-BAF-WCDMA-and-202-Edge-GSM-transmitter-tester-/262052634985?hash=item3d038de169

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 30, 2015, 09:17:22 pm
content: Exactly that one...Jukka suomistä (o;Didn't got any feedback from him of the past two mails..

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2015, 05:03:20 am
content: They are indeed sometimes a bit slow in responding to emails. But they do ship fast, and my unit was very well packed in a wooden box. And they have reasonable prices...

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 05, 2015, 06:54:50 pm
content: Well..still haven't found an affordable E4406A (o;Piling up my paypal account with ebay selling of some equipment I don't need anymore (o;

author: samofab
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2015, 07:01:22 pm
content: The one from EQT is on ebay again with reduced shipping price.

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 05, 2015, 07:06:33 pm
content: Ah the guy who never replied to my last email (o;Hmm..my paypal account is right now only at Euros 300. Hopefully looks better on Thursday (o;

author: samofab
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2015, 07:10:09 pm
content: He certainly takes his time. I'm trying to convince him to sell me a CMU-200.

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 05, 2015, 07:11:29 pm
content: I might have a CRTU-RU left, if that helps (o;

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 10:26:52 am
content: Hmm....got an answer now (o;What buzzes me is this screenshot which states that no CPU is present?

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 10:43:30 am
content: I wonder how it functions without a cpuAt least mine has one, and a sig gen:

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 10:46:49 am
content: Hmm...he also shows no Signal Generator....whatever this kmight be useful for an analyzer...Haven't got an answer yet from him regarding missing CPU ID.

author: samofab
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 10:50:20 am
content: When I last contacted the EQT, they were making smoke signals indicating that they might not be available till next week. If this helps.I don't know what to make out of the strange serials listing, but the image of the back side clearly shows the CPU board at the bottom.

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 11:38:58 am
content: Quote from: davorin on October 09, 2015, 10:46:49 amI believe that the SIG GEN module refers to the module that generates the first local oscillator signal for the first mixer stage. So this module must be present and working if the analyser RF sections can downconvert signals correctly.This module is probably called SIG GEN because this module is also used in some of Agilent's E443x range of signal generators. So they probably all get called SIG GEN on the production line.I would also guess that each module has some form of onboard EEPROM chip that holds its module number and name (eg SIG GEN) and serial number. Maybe two of your modules have lost this EEPROM data so they show up as blank entries in the listing?There does seem to be quite a variation in module types fitted to these analysers. Mine has some modules from the PSA analyser and it also has a different/later RF module to the ones listed here. But it does have the same SIG GEN module that is used for the LO generation.

author: 0xfede
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 12:25:13 pm
content: Hi all.Since I'm the one who bought this E4406A I'll let you know if the item is working or not when it will arrive.I saw the strange missing serial numbers in the picture but for 500$ I still think that it is a nice bet.Let me know if you want some specific test.0xFEDE

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 01:16:00 pm
content: Well...I've seen just the E4406A front panel on Ebay with a higher price (o;

author: 0xfede
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 01:35:48 pm
content: @DavorinSometimes I think that there are crazy sellers on ebay...689,99$ for a front panel is simply insane.0xFEDE

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 03:34:33 pm
content: Quote from: 0xfede on October 10, 2015, 01:35:48 pmI'd sell a complete unit for less than that.

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 04:22:24 pm
content: Quote from: KJDS on October 10, 2015, 03:34:33 pmNow -1 (o;

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 05:05:47 pm
content: Quote from: davorin on October 10, 2015, 04:22:24 pmAs the E4406A range of analysers are now typically >10 years old there's a good chance that the battery for the NVRAM backup will be near the end of its useful life so I'd recommend you order a spare battery for it. This large coin cell battery lives on the CPU unit.I think the part number is as below and you can get these on ebay cheaply. However, it is a fairly major job to gain access to replace it.I still haven't bothered to replace the battery on mine and it loses the date/time info and (maybe?) a few other things if this battery goes flat. I think the battery only has a 3 to 5 year life in this instrument.However, don't get too alarmed because I don't think anything critical/significant gets lost in NVRAM if the battery fails but maybe someone else can advise about this?Quote

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 05:10:05 pm
content: I've read here that the Agilent software can be somehow bypassed to use all Features...whatever those are as I've never seen the software (yet ;o)What about the licenses on the device itself? Something that can be cured or installed like the non-commercial licenses for 16702A LA? (apparently there is a keygen on the 16702A system somewhere, but never found it ;o)

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 05:32:25 pm
content: My E4406A only has 48Mb of flash so it can only hold the firmware for a few licenced features. I think these analysers came with 30Mb, 48Mb and 64Mb memory size with 48Mb being fairly typical.I put the latest firmware into mine and this eats up a fair bit of this memory space meaning I can only get a few licenced features onto it. With earlier firmware I think you can get up to 7 features with 48Mb of memory.But I mostly use mine with V12 of the 89600 SW and this gives demod capability for dozens of modulation types. There is a Windows registry key available that maintains support for the E4406A for V12.But the SW only runs for a 14 day trial unless you find a way to extend the trial or create your own licence. It can be done and you can also add more features but I'm not going to release the info about how to do it for obvious reasonsYou could probably find something on the web but you risk going to sites loaded with some nasty click based malware.

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 05:42:06 pm
content: QuoteWhen I loaded the latest firmware on my E4406A the firmware loader asked me which licenced features I wanted to include and I recall that it gives an indication of memory size for each feature. So the features come with the firmware but you obviously have to have the unlock code for your particular analyser unless you bypass this by some other means.Because I only have 48Mb of flash I had to decline most of the features available when I ran the FW update. I don't know how many you can squeeze in if you have 64Mb of flash. I'm not sure the features are of much use to a typical home user anyway. I'm more than content with the features included with the 89600 SW.The AYA option is just one feature included in this SW and it covers :• Modulation types: FSK, MSK, BPSK, QPSK, OQPSK, DQPSK, 8PSK, D8PSK, QAM, APSK, VSB• Filter types: RC, RRC, IS-95, Gaussian, EDGE, LP, Rect, Half-sine, user defined, adaptive equalizer• Symbol rate: Frequency span / (1+ alpha)• Alpha/BT: 0.05 to 10• Residual EVM: <0.5% (QPSK, platform dependent)• Presets: >25 (including APCO, DECT, TETRA, GSM/EDGE/EDGE Evolution, NDAC, Bluetooth®, Zigbee)http://www.keysight.com/en/pd-1254738-pn-89601A/vector-signal-analysis-vector-modulation-analysis?cc=US&lc=engThere are a whole load more features than the AYA option including old school analogue demodulation like AM and FM.

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 05:45:00 pm
content: Hmm...Flash Memory? I thought the CPU board is similar to 16702A and runs HPUX?

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 05:45:41 pm
content: I don't think that having the options in the E4406A is very interesting, the 89600 software offers more and is easier to use.

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 05:50:27 pm
content: Quote from: davorin on October 10, 2015, 05:45:00 pmThis may help?http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/E4406-90267.pdf

author: davorin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 05:53:43 pm
content: Yes...just saw it in the installation manual as well (o;Well..can tell more in about one or two weeks when it arrives from UK...The 89600 software looks very impressive...and I mostly remote control most of my devices...even powering on/off via SNMP/HTTP ;o)

author: Wuerstchenhund
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2015, 07:23:30 pm
content: Quote from: G0HZU on October 10, 2015, 05:42:06 pmPretty much all of them.