Good overview & demo. Most Signal generators already have an internal RF detector with coupler for ALC (Auto Level Control) near the output connector. The advantage of using an external detector is to compensate signal path loss across frequencies since it usually sits much closer to the device under test.
I have a couple of surplus detector mounts that use the old 1N23 etc... point contact diodes. I have a bag of Microwave Assoc. diodes that I can't find squat on that fit form and function the same. The nice thing is that many of these old detectors had a removable contact cap so you could easily change the polarity. How useful are these old school detector diodes now, and what is inside those newer HP detectors that cost a small fortune? Schottkys?
I'm not familiar with those so I can't comment specifically on them but Keysight still sell these diode detectors and they're still used in various test setups. Keysight have an product fact sheet here - literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/5990-4897EN.pdf?id=1822125 and a good overview of the detectors here - www.keysight.com/upload/cmc_upload/All/DetectorOverview.pdf. These are Low Barrier Schottky Diodes so I suspect that is why they're expensive (other than tight tolerances, small runs, etc) - There is a good exposition into them here hparchive.com/seminar_notes/Pratt_Diode_detectors.pdf Unfortunately I can't find a HP Journal that talks about the 8470B or 432B but here is one that goes into hot-carrier diodes - www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1965-12.pdf
Completely agree Douro. Unfortunately in my suburb, if I want something faster than 40MBps I have to use them. As soon as Century Link finally start selling their Fiber I'll probably change (though they're as much as a muchness I suspect).
Good overview & demo.
Most Signal generators already have an internal RF detector with coupler for ALC (Auto Level Control) near the output connector.
The advantage of using an external detector is to compensate signal path loss across frequencies since it usually sits much closer to the device under test.
Thanks Rk - Appreciate you clarifying what I was trying to draw on the paper about the external ALC loop. Great Comment.
I have a couple of surplus detector mounts that use the old 1N23 etc... point contact diodes. I have a bag of Microwave Assoc. diodes that I can't find squat on that fit form and function the same. The nice thing is that many of these old detectors had a removable contact cap so you could easily change the polarity. How useful are these old school detector diodes now, and what is inside those newer HP detectors that cost a small fortune? Schottkys?
I'm not familiar with those so I can't comment specifically on them but Keysight still sell these diode detectors and they're still used in various test setups. Keysight have an product fact sheet here - literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/5990-4897EN.pdf?id=1822125 and a good overview of the detectors here - www.keysight.com/upload/cmc_upload/All/DetectorOverview.pdf.
These are Low Barrier Schottky Diodes so I suspect that is why they're expensive (other than tight tolerances, small runs, etc) - There is a good exposition into them here hparchive.com/seminar_notes/Pratt_Diode_detectors.pdf
Unfortunately I can't find a HP Journal that talks about the 8470B or 432B but here is one that goes into hot-carrier diodes - www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1965-12.pdf
Nice video, tnx for sharing !
73 N8AUM Vidas
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks fr watching.
Comcast can throw themselves off a cliff!
Completely agree Douro.
Unfortunately in my suburb, if I want something faster than 40MBps I have to use them. As soon as Century Link finally start selling their Fiber I'll probably change (though they're as much as a muchness I suspect).