[Amps] Tour of an Analog TV Transmission Facility

[John Lyles]

I watched that Australian YouTube host's tear down of one of the Rigol 
spectrum analyzers before deciding to get a better look with a demo. I 
got the version that played up to a few GHz for a week. It might be fine 
for somebody on a budget ($few thousand), but didn't suit me for a 
portable unit to look at pulsed amplifier output spectra. The control 
firmware was buggy, would freeze up and the response was slow. I've been 
using the HP 8651E, which is very heavy but a high quality old 
workhorse. Last week, though, Anritsu came forth with their VNA-Master, 
one up from their Site-Master portable analyzers. They are made in USA 
at the old Wiltron factory in Morgan Hills, CA. The box was a combo 
unit, a vector network analyzer and a spectrum analyzer, about the size 
of a big city telephone book. It played to 20 GHz (I don't need that) 
with 3.5 mm connectors (I needed N) but was versatile, accurate and 
convenient. They have lower coverage units, with 4 GHz top end.

I measured a high order bandpass filter with it, and it was right on 
with the manufacturers test data printout (from an Agilent machine). The 
spectrum analyzer allowed me to see a transmitter harmonic that wasn't 
possible on the 8651E due to its noise floor. Built-in GPS, Ethernet 
port, Vector Voltmeter, TDR, power meter, S/A + VNA. A little pricy for 
amateur test equipment, $15K, but considering what it replaced, is 
excellent for a start up company, field test, broadcaster, or a ham who 
has everthing. At work I need something to set up and install HPAs 
without having to drag the benchtop Hp 8753 and 8651E for two 
measurements. Anritsu might have just the thing.

John
K5PRO