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HP 8552B IF SECTION
The HP 8552B IF Section is used with the HP 141T Display Section and any one of the HP 8553B RF Section, HP 8554B RF Section, HP 8555A RF Section or HP 8556A LF Section to make a Spectrum Analyser. It cost $3,775 in 1980 and there was an economy version available, the 8552A, for only $3,075! I have the paper and various downloaded Manuals and Change Notes.

Front view showing controls and connectors
BNC connections from top to bottom:
CAL OUTPUT 30MHz at -30dBm for amplitude calibration of Spectrum Analyser;
PEN LIFT OUTPUT for Plotters, or external Blanking Input;
VERTICAL OUTPUT proportional to vertical deflection on CRT;
SCAN IN/OUT for horizontal deflection.

Rear view showing P1 Connector to HP 141T
Connector P1 see HP 141T Internal Connections for details. Also 2 fuses for -10V and -12.6V power rails.
Top view showing J3 the special D-type connector
J3 connector mates directly with the plug-in RF or LF Section. Some care is needed to avoid damaging this connector. For details see HP 8552B Mating Connections.

Bottom view with cover and internal RF covers removed
This provides access to the individual pcb's with the bottom covers removed.


August 2008

Unit is in good condition. Apart from a good clean, this worked ok on first power-up. Testing of this IF Section revealed a few minor issues. See Repair HP 8552B IF Section for details.


February 2009

Performance tests completed.


November 2014

No CAL OUTPUT signal so removed the A6 Scan Generator Assembly PCB. The 30MHz oscillator is inside a RF metal screening can. As this circuit only requires -10Vdc it can be connected to a Power Supply for testing. There was no obvious fault so resoldered all the joints and it now works! There is 1.5Vpp 30MHz at Q17c which is attenuated down to 20mVpp at the output when terminated in 50Ω.

Wrote up some notes on setup procedure to save me time when I next need to calibrate the Spectrum Analyser, see Operating HP 141T Spectrum Analyser for details.

July 2018 
 
Acquired another HP 8552A and a 8552B as part of a 'Job Lot'. To be tested when I have time.

October 2018 
 
F
ollowing buying a 'Job Lot' of Spectrum Analyser parts, started re-testing my existing equipment, as some of it will be required as a test bed. 
 
The 8552B was tested with a 141T and  8553B. Passed the operator's checks ok.

Testing outside the 141T using the Extender Cables.

November 2018

Tested the 8552A and 8552B.  I will keep the 8552B as a working spare.
The 8552A has been sold. 

Some Operating Instructions are available as a 'Quick Reference', see:

Operating HP 8552B IF Section

Full details are provided in the HP Manual, available for download. 

August 2019  
 
Have now sold all my 141T based equipment.