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HP 8552B MATING
CONNECTIONS
The HP 8552B IF Section is part of the HP 141T Spectrum Analyser. It can be used with various RF & LF Sections (8553B, 8554B, 8555A, 8556A) to provide a range of frequency bandwidths from 20Hz to 40GHz.
Front view with mating connector on top
On the top of the 8552B is the mating connector (J3) to the RF or LF Section. It is a special D-type connector with 41 sockets and 2 coax's.

Correct mating of this connector is critical to the operation of the Spectrum Analyser and is often the cause of problems.
 
A quick test is to see if switching the Input Attenuator of the RF or LF Section lights all the lamps of the Log Ref Level of the 8552B. Correctly assembling these 2 Sections together takes some care.
Top view of connector
The Table below shows the connections varying slightly between the 8552B and the various RF & LF Sections.

x indicates same as Circuit Function
J3
Pin
No's
 Wire
Colour
Code
 Circuit
Function
 8553B 8554B 8555A 8556A
1 912 0.03kHz
Bandwidth
 x
 +20V from
Pin 37		 +20V
from
Pin 37
 x
2 913 0.1kHz
Bandwidth
 x x x x
3 914 0.3kHz
Bandwidth
 x x x x
4 915 1kHz
Bandwidth
 x x x x
5 4 Phase Lock
Compensation
 x n.c. n.c. Frequency
Tune
Voltage
6
 3 Preset Scan
Voltage
 x x -5V to +5V
Sweep Ramp
 ±5V Scan
Sawtooth
7 5 Linear
Compensation
Control
Voltage
 x x x x
8 6 Linear
Compensation
Control
Voltage		 x x x x
9 938 Log Ref Level
Lamp No 4
 x x x x
10 945 Log Ref Level
Lamp No 5		 x x x x
11 946 Log Ref Level
Lamp No 6		 x x x x
12 90 Sensing
Ground
 x n.c. Ground
Return
 x
13 8 Blanking for
Tracking
Generator
 x n.c. Blanking n.c.
14 925 0.01kHz
Bandwidth
 x n.c. n.c. x
15 902 +20V n.c. n.c. n.c. Sensing
for Zero
Adjust
16   n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c.
17   n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c.
18   n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c.
19   n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c.
20   n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c.
21   n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c.
22 90 Scan Width
Ground
 n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c.
23 8
Coax
 3MHz IF n.c. n.c. n.c.
 n.c.
24 8
Coax
 Ground n.c. n.c. n.c. n.c.
25 916 10kHz
Bandwidth
 x x x x
26 927 30kHz
Bandwidth
 x x
917
 x x
27 918 100kHz
Bandwidth
 x x x x
28 923 300kHz
Bandwidth
 x x x x
29 96 Amplitude
Calibrate
Adjustment
 x x x x
30 957 Normal
Analogic
Line
 x x x x
31 934 Scan Voltage
to Shaping
Circuit
 Scan Voltage
to IF 47MHz
 n.c. n.c. Scan Voltage
47MHz LO
32 9 Fine Tune
Voltage to
Shaping Circuit
 Fine Tune
Voltage to IF
 47MHz LO
Voltage		 47MHz LO
Voltage
 Zero Adjust
Voltage
33 935 Log Ref Level
Lamp No 1		 x x x x
34 936 Log Ref Level
Lamp No 2		 x x x x
35 937 Log Ref Level
Lamp No 3		 x x x x
36 907 -10V x x
Circuit Error!
 x x
37 902 +20V x x
Circuit Error!
 x x
38 956 Video Filter
Analogic Line
 x x x x
39 958 Zero Scan
Analogic
Disable Line
 x to Scan
Time Switch		 -10V to IF
Section
 x
40 968 Log / Linear
Sense
 n.c. n.c. n.c. x
41 928 0V to 8V Ramp
Scan Control
to Tracking
Generator
 x n.c. Scan Voltage
0V to 8V
 n.c.
A1
 9
Coax
 50MHz IF x x x x
A2 6
Coax
 47MHz
Auxiliary Line
 x n.c. 47MHz LO
 x
J3
Pin
No's		 Wire
Colour
Code		 Circuit
Function		 8553B 8554B 8555A 8556A
July 2018

After acquiring some more Spectrum Analyser equipment and the HP 11592-600015 Plug-In Extender Assembly, decided to make the HP 11592-60016 Inter-Connecting Cable which involves checking all the connections for the various Plug-In Sections.  I have some of the parts, but would need a scrap 8552B IF Section to obtain the other special D-Type Socket.  A lot of work to make up a test cable.

A quick check on eBay UK and found one for only £20.  Serendipity!  These cables seem to be very rare and never seen one on eBay before.  
Extender Cables
August 2019  
 
Have now sold all my 141T based equipment.
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