Comments on the HP 83480A Digital Communication Analyzer? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2014, 07:52:39 am
content: This may turn out to have been a bad idea. Time will tell. Or maybe you guys will tell....For a long-term project I've been looking for an affordable way to detect light output up into the GHz range. For me, 'affordable' usually isn't much, though sometimes I can reach a bit higher.One possibility I was aware of is the HP 83480A Digital Communication Analyzer Mainframe series, with one of the optical/electrical sampler modules like the HP 83482A : 30 GHz integrated optical channel and 40 GHz electrical channel. Trouble is, on ebay those modules are always above $1000, and often $2000 to $3000. So this didn't seem like a workable idea. Even if I did happen to acquire a new set of manuals for the 83480A, for free, a while ago.Then recently a 83480A mainframe came up fairly cheap, from a seller I've bought from before. I couldn't resist, and bought it for $100. And now have to save up to pay the $230 it will cost to get it from the US reshipper to Sydney. Big and heavy!Anyway, soon enough I'll have this rather nice bit of gear on my bench. Without any modules yet, and probably not for quite a while.I'd like to hear any stories people have about these scopes. Any ideas for sources of modules at better prices than typical on ebay?And why are the modules still so expensive anyway? They never seem to sell.I recall there was a thread on eevblog a while ago, where a guy bought one of these modules very cheaply, and was toying with the idea of building a scope around it. Not a workable idea, but where'd he get the module? I can't find that thread now.Please don't start that virtual time vs real time sampling stuff again. It's not important to me, as the intended use is to monitor a totally repetitious physical process.Personally I strongly dislike the kind of 'stylish' front panels of later scopes like the HP Infinium series. All that superfluous visual frillyness is annoying enough that I'd rather never pay money for one. It seems the 83480A/54750A was the last visually clean and simple high end scope HP did before the 'stylistas' got a hold on the design process.Anyway, this unit has Option 100 - enhanced trigger, HP-IB, and hallelujah - the floppy drive is MSDOS compatible. The mainframe powers up, but... the seller didn't show the selftest screen. Also the rear feet are missing, which always makes one wonder who had the covers off and if they gave up, ie didn't bother replacing the feet.Fingers crossed!Paper manuals I have83480A Digital communications analyzer/54750A Digitizing oscilloscope:- User's Guide- Programmer's Guide- Quick start guide- Programmer's quick reference- 83485A,B Optical/Electrical Plug-in Module User's guideThe HP 1998 catalog has a one page mention of 83480A, on pg 430.Refers to more info in: Lightwave test and measurement catalog, pg 638. (presumably 1997/1998 ed.)Also 3 pages on the HP 54750A digitizing scope (identical hardware to 83480A.) Pg 103.HP Agilent Lightwave Test & Measurement Catalog 2000 (in post. Fingers crossed it lists 83480A.)Online docs* Digital Analyzer 83480A - HP.pdf 83480A series product overview.http://stargate.snu.ac.kr/insspec/Digital%20Analyzer%2083480A%20-%20HP.pdf*http://www.keysight.com/main/techSupport.jspx?pid=48467&pageMode=FQ&lc=eng&cc=AUKeysight: 83480A Digital Communications Analyzer FAQs, software, doc library*http://www.hpmemory.org/wc_pages/wall_c_page_01.htmHistory of HP 54750A(Doesn't mention the 83480A, which is identical apart from firmware.)Docs wanted* HP 83480A communications analyzer/54750A oscilloscope SERVICE GUIDE 54750-99011There's one on ebay, but the seller turned me off by having 'make offer' on, but then refusing tocome down more than $2. I'll wait for another. Or see what Artek has.PluginsHP 83481A : 2.85 GHz 155/622 Mb/s integrated optical reference receiver and 20 GHz electrical channelHP 83482A : 30 GHz integrated optical channel and 40 GHz electrical channelHP 83483A : Dual 20 GHz electrical channelsHP 83484A : Dual 50 GHz electrical channelsHP 83484B :HP 83485A : 20 GHz integrated optical channel, SONET/SDH 155, 622, 2488, and 9953 Mb/s reference receiverand 20 GHz electrical channelHP 83485B : 9.953 Gb/s filtered reference receiver and 40 GHz electrical channelHP 83486A : 2.85 GHz 155/622/1063/1250/2488Mbit/s multi-mode integrated optical reference receiverand 20 GHz electrical channelHP 83487A : 2.85 GHz 155/622/1063/1250/2488Mbit/s multimode integrated optical reference receiverand 20 GHz electrical channel (750 to 860 nm wavelengths)HP 83491A : Electrical clock recovery module for 155/622/1063/1250/2125/2488/2500 Mb/sHP 83492A : Multimode optical clock recovery module for 155/622/1063/1250/2125/2488/2500 Mb/sHP 83493A : Single-mode optical clock recovery module for 155/622/1063/1250/2488 Mb/sHP 54753/4/5A TDR/TDT modules : The HP 83480A accepts the HP 54753A/54754A TDR/TDT plugin moduleswith the HP 54750K firmware upgrade.HP 11898A : Module extender. 1.5 meter extension.There are other modules for the 54750A, which are compatible. But I don't think any have optical inputs.Things I'd be interested in getting83481A (plus manual)83482A (plus manual)83485A (have manual)the HP 54750K firmware upgradePics from the listing:

author: Miek
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2021, 11:50:54 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on October 16, 2014, 07:52:39 amThis is a typo in one of the datasheets floating around. The available firmware upgrades are:54755A- enables 54750A features on an 83480A83480K- enables 83480A features on a 54750A

author: mates
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 12, 2021, 02:14:17 pm
content: Hi, did you found the SERVICE GUIDE 54750-99011?I am asking you cause recently bought an 83484a plugin however the one channel has excessive offset and could not pass the vertical calibration. Would be glad for any advices.

author: Miek
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2021, 02:38:13 pm
content: I think the correct number is 54750-97011 and you can download it here:https://www.keysight.com/us/en/assets/9018-06026/service-manuals/9018-06026.pdf

author: mates
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 12, 2021, 03:27:35 pm
content: Thank you for this link, but unfortunately, there is no information I am looking for. Looks that I need an 83484a service guide which seems to be impossible to get.Anyway I open the new topic so hopefully someone had the same issue.

author: Miek
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2022, 06:21:03 pm
content: This service guide might help:http://www.ko4bb.com/getsimple/index.php?id=download&file=HP_Agilent/Agilent_86100_83480A_54750A/Agilent_86100_83480-Series_Plug-in_Module_Service_Guide.pdfIt doesn't have your exact module and it's aimed more towards the optical modules, but there's a lot of useful debugging information in there that still applies to the electrical modules.