HP 71100A 2.9 GHz Spectrum Analyzer

© Brooke Clarke 2012
Fig 1
HP 71100C
                  Spectrum Analyzer
Fig 2
HP 71100C
                  Spectrum Analyzer


Background
Description
Changes in Configuration
    70004 Color Mainframe
    70310A Precision Frequency Reference
    70300A Tracking Generator
To Do List As Received
Models & Manuals
Articles
Patents
Related
Links

Background

While working at Aertech I wrote a proposal for testing some piece of satellite hardware where there was a spurious oscillations test.  This was a non harmonically related test, that's to say the oscillation could be anywhere in frequency and also it could be very weak.  This means that the spectrum analyzer needs to be run at the minimum Resolution Band Width (RBW) and over a small range of frequencies between start and stop frequencies.  Then that range stepped and the process repeated.  It would take maybe a day or more with computer control to do this test and the speed depended a lot on the brand and model number of spectrum analyzer.  At the time we had a number of HP 8566B spectrum analyzers, but the 70000 series analyzers could do this test much much faster.  Not sure way as I'm writing this but it may be because they use a digital IF filter like the HP 4395A.  The 4395A uses a 12 MHz wide IF feeding an I&Q detector that drives a DSP based filter and detector.  The sweep time for a 100 kHz band is much much faster than any analog spectrum analyzer.

In the 1987 HP catalog (listed under Signal Analyzers) the 71100A retailed for $33,000.  My unit is an "A" version.
In the 1989 HP catalog the 71100A lists for $35,740 (pg 118).
In the 1991 HP catalog the 71110C lists for $46,450 (pg 193).  The key difference is the 70900B LO module, all the other modules are "A" versions.

The "Redwood Project" at HP Santa Rosa developed this family of instruments. (HP Memories: From WWII Switzerland to HP Santa Rosa, an Engineer's Life)

Description

This is a rack mount instrument that's 4 units high (7").  It's a little more than 20" deep and heavy.  The 70000 series instruments are modular and so can have different capabilities depending on what modules are being used.  The 71100C is a 100 kHz to 2.9 GHz spectrum analyzer, but by changing the RF module to another model the frequency range can be extended.  In a similar manner the choice of RBWs can be changed by using a different module.  In a like manner there are different display modules.

8 narrow modules will fit into the 70001A system rack.  4 narrow modules will fit into the 70206A or 70004A display racks.

This system is known as the Modular Measurement System (MMS) and uses an electrical buss known as the Measurement System Interface Buss (MSIB).
If you have any documents on either of these please contact me.

IF Frequencies

The common FM radio has an IF center frequency of 10.7 Mhz with a bandwidth on the order of 100 kHz.  To process signals with a slightly wider bandwidth an IF center frequency of twice that or 21.4 Mhz is used.  There are a number of systems that have panoramic frequency displays where the input is 21.4, i.e. this is a very standard IF frequency.  For even wider IF bandwidths HP has chosen 321.4 MHz which can easily be down converted to 21.4 Mhz using a 300 MHz LO.

W.W.II radar systems used 30 MHz (MC then) IF strips.  The IF consisted of a long skinny chassis with about a half dozen tubes all in a line.

Changes in Configuration

70004A Color Display

To use the color display a pair of MSIB interface calbls are needed.
I found Black Box EDN37T-0005-MF cables on eBay.  They come in male-male, female-female & male-female versions.
They are 5 feet long and on one end there's a DB-37m and on the other end a DB-37f connector.
But they need to be modified to become MSIB cables.  The stock cable has 19 pairs numbered and with one if it's pin numbers from 1(&20) to 18 (&37).
The metal shells are not electrically connected but for MSIB they should be.  Pin 19 connects to pin 19 and so could be connected to both metal shells.
But the HP MSIB cable has the two terminals of pair 16 shorted together.
HP DB37 Cable before modification into MSIB
                    cable
HP DB37 Cable before modification into MSIB
                    cable


70310A Precision Frequency Reference

This is the Option 002 unit which does not have the ovenized oscillator, but rather depends on a precision external oscillator, like the PRS10 Rubidium or Thunderbolt GPSDO.
It does not have Option 001 which is the distribution amplifier (probably needed for systems with many modules) & external DC power input (not needed since there's no oven to maintain)

This module will fit into the unused space in the existing 71100A rack.

HP 70310A Precision Frequency Reference
HP 70310A Precision Frequency Reference
HP 70310A Precision Frequency Reference
HP 70310A Precision Frequency Reference


70300A Tracking Generator


HP 70300A
                  Tracking Generator

HP 70300A
                  Tracking Generator
LO: LO Out 3.0-6.6
RF: 1st LO

LO: Tune Span 4.5-9.9V
TG: Tune+Span In

LO: Sweep d
TG: Sweep In

LO: HSWP In/Out
TG: HSWP In

LO: 300 MHz Out
RF: 300 MHz

LO: Video In
IF: Video Out

RF: 21.4
IF: 21.4 In

RF: 1st LO Out
TG: LO In 3.0-6.6

TG: 0-2.9 Out
TG: 0-2.9 In
Installed
TG: 3.6214 Out
TG: 3.6214 In




Addressing:

Row 6 Coul 18 TG
Row 4 Coul 18 RF
Row 1 Coul 18 IF
Row 0 Coul 18 LO


To Do List As Received

Error 2049 - Battery Failed

On rear panel behind plate held by 2 screws (Fig 2).  TL-5104 3.6 Volt Lithium.  Old battery had date code: K/06/87 (it's now Aug 2012) i.e. the battery is 25 years old.
2 Aug 2012 - on order from eBay California seller (local Radio Shack out of stock).

CRT Image Rotated

This can be fixed by rotating either the CRT or it's yoke.

Fig 3
HP 71100C
                  Spectrum Analyzer
Fig 4
HP 71100C Spectrum
                  Analyzer
Fig 5
HP 71100C Spectrum Analyzer



Move modules into 70004A Color mainframe and get cables to use old mainframe as secondary.

(cables are not obtainable and the connectors are very hard to find)

Roberto Barrios, EB4EQA - DIY HP-MSIB Cable 

70900A Firmware

This is the key firmware controlling the instrument.
Mine is 870501 and the newest is 960418 B.06.03.
How can I update my LO firmware?  Let me know.

Models & Manuals


Model
Description
Manual
Manual Desc
70000
System
70900-90286
70900-90314
Operation - UG
70001
Mainframe
70001-90021
70001-90060
70001-90061
70001-99000
Inst & Verf
Service
Comp Lvl Info
blk dia
71100C
100 Hz - 2.9 GHz SA
HP 70004A color display
70904A RF section
70902A IF section
70900A LO module


70004A
Color Display & 4 slot mainframe
70004-90005
70004-90031
70004-90046
70004-90047
70004-90061
Inst & Verf
Operation - UG
Service
Comp Lvl Info 
Comp Lvl Info 
70100A
Power Meter
70100-90001
70100-90002
70100-90012
Inst & Verf
Service Guide
Man Supplement
70110A DMM
70110-90012
5964-9795E
Operation - UG
Tech Specs
70120A
2.4 GHz Freq Counter
70120-90007
Operation - UG
70205A
Compact 5" (3/8 rack) Mono Graphics display plug-in
70206-90022
70206-90025
70206-90027
70206-90030
Inst & Verf
Service
Comp Lvl Info
Operation - UG
70206A
9" (1/2 rack) System Graphics display mainframe
70207B PC display 70207-90001 Operation - UG
70207B
PC display
70207-90008
5965-4795E
Operation - UG
Sales brochure
70300A
20 Hz - 2.9 GHz RF Track Gen
70300-90107
70300-90286
5958-7011
70300-90090
70300-90092
Inst & Verf
Operation - UG
UG
Service Guide
Comp Lvl Info
70301A
10 Mhz - 18 GHz Microwave Track Gen
70301-90039
5958-7011
70301-90033
70301-90014
Inst & Verf
Operation - UG
Service Guide
Comp Lvl Info
70310A
Precision Frequency Reference
70310-90059
70310-90001
70310-90075
Inst & Verf
Service Guide
Comp Lvl Info
70330A
Pulse Gen (5/8 rack width)
70330-90011
70330-900001
Inst & Verf
Service Guide
70332A
100 MHz Clock Gen
70332-90011
70332-90001
Inst & Verf
Service Guide
70340A
1.0 - 20.0 GHz Sig Gen
5960-7095
5960-7096
70340-90007
70340-90010
70900-90286
5960-7083
Quick Start
Operation - UG
Service Guide
Comp Lvl Info

Cal Kit Manual
70341A
10 Mhz - 1 Ghz extension sig gen
5960-7095
70341-90003
5960-7096
70341-90002
70341-90004
Quick Start
Install Guide
Operation - UG
Service Guide
Comp Lvl Info
70420A
Phase Noise
70420-90004
70420-90005
70420-90006
Operation - UG
Service Guide
Comp Lvl Info
70422A
18 GHz Down converter
70422-90002
70422-90003
70422-90004
Operation - UG
Service Guide
Comp Lvl Info
70427A
26.5 GHz Down converter
70427-90002
70427-90059
70427-90060
70427-90061
5091-4500E
User's Guide
Operation - UG
Service Guide
Comp Lvl Info
Sales Lit
70428A 2.4 - 26.4 GHz Microwave Source
70590A-H69/H72 No-parts shell module
70590-90023
Inst & Verf
70590A-H05 No-parts shell module
70590-90004
Inst & Verf
70597A
MSIB module interface software 70597-90006
Comp Lvl Info
70600A
2.7 - 22 GHz Preselector
70900-90286 Operation - UG
70611A
Switch Driver
70611-90011
5091-0529E  
5963-2038E  
5965-3309E  
5988-3824EN
Op & Srv Manual
70612A
1x6 Switch Matrix
70612C
1x6 Switch Matrix
70613A
2x5 Switch Matrix
70613C
2x5 Switch Matrix
70620A
2 - 22 GHz Pre Amp
70620-900036
70620-900024
70620-900026
70900-90286
Inst & Verf
Service Guide
Comp Lvl Info

70621A
10 Mhz - 2.9 Ghz Pre Amp
70620B
1 - 26.5 GHz Pre Amp
70620-90036
70900-90286

70620B-001
100 kHz - 26.5 GHz Pre Amp
70900-90286
70700A
Digitizer 20 MSPS
70700-90001
70700-90047
70700-90003
70700-90021
70700-90005
Inst & Verf
Supplement
Operation - UG
Programming
Service Guide
70703A
500 MHz Ditigitizing Scope
70703-90028
70703-90029
User's Guide
Programming
70761A
100 kHz - 2.9 GHz Pre Amp
70900-90286 User's Guide
70810B
1200 - 1600 nm Lightwave
750 - 870 nm Opt B
70810-90067
5954-9137
70900-90286
Operation - UG
App Note
User's Guide
70820A
Microwave Transition Analyzer 70820-90047
70820-90070
70820-90049
70820-90051
70820-90053
70820-90005
70820-90016
70820-90033
Quick Start
Inst & Verf
User's Guide
Reference Guide
Programming
Service Guide
Comp Lvl Info
Tutorial
70874A
Eye Diagram Personality 70874-90002
Operation - UG
70875A
Noise Figure Measurement Personality 70875-90001
Operation - UG
70900A
LO
70900-90045
70900-90116
70900-90212
5958-4233
70900-90141
5958-6467
70900-90142
70900-90161
70900-90116
70900-90270
70900-90312
Inst & Verf
User's Guide
Man Supplement
Operation - UG
Man Supplement
Programming
RAM-ROM Supplement

Service Guide
Service Guide
Firmware
70900B
LO
70900-90284
70900-90286
70900-90314
Programming
User's Guide
Inst & Verf 
70902A
IF 10 Hz - 300 kHz RBW
70900-90286 70902-90021
70903A
IF 100 kHz - 3 MHz RBW
70900-90286 User's Guide
70904A RF 100 Hz - 2.9 GHz
70900-90286 User's Guide
70905A/B
RF 50k - 22 GHz RF
70900-90286 User's Guide
70906A
RF 50k - 26.5 GHz RF
70900-90286 User's Guide
70907A
Ext Mixer I/O (mm wave)
70907-90029
70900-90286

User's Guide
70908A
RF 100 Hz - 22 GHz w/preselector
70900-90286 User's Guide
70909A
RF 100Hz - 26.5 GHz w/preselector
70900-90286 User's Guide
70910A
RF 100 Hz - 22 GHz w/preselector 70900-90286 User's Guide
70911A
Ultra Wide IF 10 - 100 MHz RBW
5964-5932E Config_
11990A
Verification software
11990-90051
User's Guide

70000 Series Spectrum Analyzers & Related

Model
Description
Manual
Description
Modules
71100C
100 Hz - 2.9 GHz


70001A, 70310A, 70004A, 70900B, 70902A, 70904A
71150C
2.9 GHz GSM Tx Test Sys


70001A, 70004A,70310A, 70700A, 70900B, 70902A, 70903A, 70904A, 70912B, 11863B, 8657A
71200C
50 kHz - 22 GHz Harm Mixing


70001A, 70310A, 70004A, 70900B, 70902A, 70905A
71250C
22 Ghz GSM Tx Test Sys

70001A, 70004A,70310A, 70700A, 70900B, 70902A, 70903A, 70908A, 70912B, 11863B, 8657A
71209A
Dual rack 100 Hz - 26.5 GHz
71209-90001
Quick Start
70001A, 70310A, 70004A, 70900B, 70902A, 70903A, 70909A
71209A-Z40 Dual rack 100 Hz - 40 GHz


71209A-001




71210C
100 Hz - 22 GHz Fund Mixing
70900-90286 Operation - UG 70001A, 70310A, 70004A, 70900B, 70902A, 70903A, 70908A, 70810B
71400C
1200 - 1600 nm Lightwave


70001A, 70310A, 70004A, 70900B, 70902A, 70903A, 70908A, 70810B
71400C-850 750 - 870 nm Lightwave



71401C
1200 - 1600 nm Lightwave

70001A, 70310A, 70004A, 70900B, 70902A,70904A
71401C-850 750 - 870 nm Lightwave


71500A
Microwave Transition Analyzer

70004A with 70820A
71708A
Microwave Source
5091-4500E Data Sheet

71910A
100Hz to 26.5GHz Wide Band Rx 71910-90002
Operation - UG 70001A, 70004A, 70900B, 70902A, 70903A, 70911A, 70910A, 70310A

Articles

A Microwave Receiver for Wide-Bandwidth Signals, HP Journal Oct. 1995
Optical Spectrum Analyzers with High Dynamic Range and Excellent Input Sensitivity, David A. Bailey & Jamer R. Stimple, HP Journal Dec 1993
A Double-Pass Monochromator for Wavelength Selection in an Optical Spectrum Analyzer, Kenneth R. Wildnauer & Zoltan Azary,
HP Journal Dec 1993
A High-Resolution Direct-Drive Diffraction Grating Rotation System, Joseph N. West & Douglas Knight
, HP Journal Dec 1993
A Broadband, General-Purpose Instrumentation Lightwave Converter, HP Journal Feb 1991

HP 8566 Spectrum Analyzer, HP Journal Aug 1979

Patents HP Santa Rosa

3990004 Multi-frequency range operation of a network analyzer system, Sterling Lewis Newton, HP, 1976-11-02, - 8410A Network Analyzer
-----------
4244024 Spectrum analyzer having enterable offsets and automatic display zoom, Michael S. Marzalek, Lynn M. Wheelwright, HP, -
after the 8566A, 8566?
4253152 Spectrum analyzer with parameter updating from a display marker, Steven N. Holdaway, HP, 1981-02-24, -  - after the 8566A, 8566B?
4264958   Video processor for a spectrum analyzer, Joseph Rowell, Jr.Michael S. Marzalek, Michael J. Neering, HP, 1981-04-28, - includes a schematic - after the 8566A
, 8566B?
4257104 Apparatus for spectrum analysis of an electrical signal, Larry R. Martin, Michael S. Marzalek, HP
- includes a schematic - after the 8566A
4244024 - after the 8566A
4649496 Spectrum analyzer with improved data analysis and display features, Gregory A. Anderson, Paul M. Eason, Lynn M. Wheelwright, HP, 1987-03-10, - includes a schematic in parts -
after the 8566A
------------ 8510?
4636717 Vector network analyzer with integral processor, David D. Sharrit, Robert G. Dildine, Mark D. Roos, John T. Barr, IV, HP, 1987-01-13, -
4641085 "
4641086 "
4644486 "
4661767 "
4669051 "
4703433 "
-------------

4660150 Spectrum analyzer with improved data analysis and display features, Gregory A. Anderson, Paul M. Eason, Michael S. Marzalek, Lynn M. Wheelwright, HP, 1987-04-21, - includes a schematic in parts -
4669051 Vector network analyzer with integral processor, Vector network analyzer with integral processor, John T. Barr, IV, HP, 1987-05-26, -

4890236 Method and apparatus for aiding manual instrument settings by displaying estimates of future measurement results, Erik Kilk, David A. Smith, Alan W. Schmidt, Agilent, 1989-12-26
5177560 Optical spectrum analyzer having adjustable sensitivity, James R. Stimple, Zoltana D. Azary, Kenneth R. Wildnauer, Steven D. Warwick, HP, 1993-01-05, - 70951A

5233405 Optical spectrum analyzer having double-pass monochromator, Kenneth R. Wildnauer, James R. Stimple, John D. Knight, Joseph N. West, Barry G. Broome, HP, 1993-08-03, - 7095x
5359409 Diffraction grating position sensing and control for a scanning monochromator, Kenneth R. Wildnauer, James R. Stimple, John D. Knight, Joseph N. West, Barry G. Broome, HP, 1994-10-25, -
5396444 Terminator keys having reciprocal exponents in a data processing system, Wayne C. Cannon, S. Bruce Donecker, Michael J. Neering, HP, 1995-03-07, -
5550747 Unbounded marker for spectrum analysis, James P. Newman, Jr., HP, 1996-08-27, -
5796479 Signal monitoring apparatus for wavelength division multiplexed optical telecommunication networks, Dennis Derickson, Roger Lee Jungerman, HP, 1998-08-18, -
6177992 Low insertion loss optical monochromator, David M. Braun, Loren F. Stokes, HP, 2001-01-23, -
6249343 Wavelength reference standard using multiple gases,  Gary Wang, Peter Egerton, Kenneth R. Wildnauer, HP, 2001-06-19, -

6362878 Multipoint wavelength calibration technique, Gary Wang, Paul S. Bussard, Zoltan D. Azary, Kenneth R. Wildnauer, Peter Egerton, HP, 2002-03-26, -
6421120 Extended wavelength calibration reference, Kenneth R. Wildnauer, Agilent, 2002-07-16, -

Related

Test Equipment - Microwave Test Equipment - Spectrum Analyzers & some 70000 info
Agilent E4404B ESA-E 9kHz - 6.7 GHz Spectrum Analyzer
HP 4395A combo box: Network, Spectrum & Impedance Analyzer
Optical Spectrum Analyzers
Avcom PSA-45D Portable Spectrum Analyzer
RF Viewer — Wireless USB Dongle, RF Spectrum Analyzer from Nuts about Nets

Links

HP 70k - Inside the 70310A  - 70310A Oscillator Investigations - Master HP70K Document Index
DIY HP-MSIB Cable -
HP 70000 MMS Information - Epiphan VGA2USB LR (not clear which models are needed/work) - CuteSDR (see Bats/SDR-IQ
Full-resolution 70004A Screen Capture  - Using the R, G & B outputs on the 70004 with a USB converter Epiphan VGA2USB LR to get the display into a computer

PRC68, Alpha numeric web page index, Products for Sale

This page created 2 Aug 2012