I have been considering the purchase of a Network Analyzer for some time now. This could take my hobby and passion for the RF world to a whole new level. I am not sure what level of expense is justified for a hobby. Have any of you ever splurged more than you felt comfortable with on your hobbies?
Maybe I could figure out how to put this hobby to work for me. Anyways, I just put a bid on this little baby. Well not that little at 75 pounds.
Before you call me an idiot, keep in mind my current health problems have pretty much left me housebound and I am going crazy, or maybe I am already crazy.
We hello little network analyser, how are you?
Please assure your master that no expense should be spared when It comes to hobbies which keep him sane.
How do I know this?
I asked the spectrum analyser and it assured me. Not only that, but the signal generator agreed with it.
For a freeware application to run on a PC, try EZGPIB:
Unfortunately Ulrich Bangert died a couple of years ago, but his software is still available. It is a bit quirky in places and the odd German word creeps into menus, but it works for me.
I also use a live data plotter called LiveGraph, useful if you are running a test over an extended period and want to see how the thing is trending.
Again this is freeware, the remnants of a university project and a bit quirky in places, but works for me.
Well, I come from the HP85/86 ERA. Later the MINC-11 and even later yet LabVIEW on the MAC and PC. LabView is probably the cream of the crop with VEE coming in 2nd.
I used to get cables and adapters from www.l-com.com. They made cables with plastic connectors that were cheaper.
The interfaces and USB adapters were around $500. For work I did buy one of the GPIB over Ethernet adapters. Tough was simultaneous triggering. I lost my reference materials. I should stay stolen or something like that.
Well, it is no longer my friend. At the last 10 minutes of the bidding someone swooped in and wanted more than me. In a way I am relieved as I was having second thoughts. I think a Spec An with a tracking generator may be more useful. Oh well, there will always be another one up for sale.