Keysight (Agilent HP) 8590A Repair Service

Product model

8590A Portable RF Spectrum Analyzer, 10 kHz - 1.5 GHz

Services

Send us your HP 8590A Spectrum Analyzer for full repair and calibration. Our veteran-owned lab offers free estimates and quick turnaround.

Description

The Agilent/HP 8590A has the versatility to make most RF signal measurements. A digital display gives flicker-free and parallax-free graticule. Display menus simplify operation and reduce the number of front-panel controls. Use the three main control keys and the data entry knob or keypad to measure any signal. Operation is simple, center the signal with FREQUENCY; resolve the signal with SPAN; move the signal up and down with AMPLITUDE, that's all there is to it! The Agilent/HP 8590A used spectrum analyzer automatically adjusts internal parameters such as resolution bandwidth, sweep time, IF gain, and input attenuation.
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Repair prices

Any failures or unforeseen issues identified during the calibration phase will be detailed in an estimate submitted for your approval prior to any further action. Repair charges are determined by the actual time and materials required. Please be aware that customers are responsible for all associated shipping costs, to and from our location. This initial estimate is provided free of charge.
8590A Specifications – click to expand

8590A Specifications

With a wide frequency range (10kHz to 1.5GHz, 4-digit resolution), large amplitude range (-115 dBm to +30 dBm), and a 50-ohm input,

8590A Options – click to expand

8590A Options

001 - 75 Ohm Input Impedance

HP 8590A Error Messages – click to expand

HP 8590A Error Messages

The HP 8590A portable spectrum analyzer runs self-tests at power-up and every time PRESET is pressed. When a test fails, a message appears on screen. These are the hardware messages from the 8590A service manual and the boards usually at fault.

First step: connect CAL OUTPUT to the RF input, run CAL FREQ and CAL AMPTD, and press CAL STORE. Many 8590A messages come from bad calibration data.

8590A hardware messages

MessageMeaningSuspect assemblies
ADC-GND FAILProcessor analog-to-digital converter failure.A16 processor
ADC-TIME FAILProcessor analog-to-digital converter failure.A16 processor
ADC-2V FAILProcessor analog-to-digital converter failure.A16 processor
CAL: FM SPAN SENS FAILCould not set the FM coil span sensitivity.A7 analog interface (FM coil driver)
CAL: SPAN SENS FAILThe YIG main coil sensitivity calibration failed.A7 analog interface (main coil driver)
CAL: LINEAR DET FAILThe linear detector calibration failed.Attenuator cal constant missing or overwritten, or A12 step gain / A14 log amp
CAL: RES BW AMPL FAILRelative loss of a resolution bandwidth filter is wrong.RF/IF section
FAIL: xxxx xxxxxxxxxxPower-up self-test found a circuit fault (see below).A16 processor and bus

8590A self-calibration progress (M)

While CAL routines run, the 8590A shows progress messages such as CAL: MC DELAY, FM DELAY, SWEEP, SWP DELAY, FREQ, SPAN, AMPTD, 3dB BW, ATTEN, LOG AMP and DONE. These are normal.

8590A setup and information messages

MessageTypeMeaning
MEAS UNCALUSweep time, span and bandwidth settings make the measurement uncalibrated. Press AUTO COUPLE or adjust the settings.
SRQ 110MHardware broken service request. Look for the hardware message shown with it.
SRQ 140MAn illegal command was received over the bus.
INVALID SAVE REGUNothing has been saved in that state register.
INVALID SYMTAB: EEROM OVERFLOWUToo much data has been cataloged into memory.
INVALID SYMTAB: SYMTAB OVERFLOWUThe symbol table is full; too many user-defined items in memory.

8590A remote programming messages (U)

These come from bad remote commands over HP-IB, HP-IL or RS-232, not from hardware: COMMAND ERROR, PARAMETER ERROR, CONFLICT TABLE OVERFLOW, INVALID AUNITS, INVALID DETECTOR, INVALID TRIGGER MODE, INVALID TRACE, INVALID TRACE NAME, INVALID VARDEF, INVALID KEYNAME, INVALID WINDOW TYPE, INVALID ENTER FORMAT, INVALID OUTPUT FORMAT, INVALID BLOCK FORMAT: IF STATEMENT, INVALID COMPARE OPERATOR, INVALID CHECKSUM: USTATE, INVALID REPEAT MEM OVFL, INVALID REPEAT NEST LEVEL, INVALID HP-IB ADDRESS OR OPERATION, INVALID HP-IB OPERATION REN TRUE, INVALID HP-IL ADDRESS OR OPERATION, INVALID HP-IL OPERATION REN TRUE, INVALID RS-232 ADDRESS OR OPERATION, SOFTKEY OVFL, UNDEF KEY.

8590A power-up FAIL codes

The 4-digit part of a FAIL code shows which circuit on the A16 processor board failed (ROM, RAM, EEPROM, I/O bus, CPU or video RAM), and matches the row of test LEDs on A16. The longer second part breaks down into the I/O address bus, the I/O data bus to the A7 analog interface, and the video board RAM.

FAIL: 1330 0000000000 is a common 8590A code. It usually means bad data in the EEPROM that holds calibration constants, with no bus or video RAM fault. Rerunning CAL FREQ and CAL AMPTD and pressing CAL STORE usually restores normal operation. If it keeps coming back, the EEPROM or its data needs service.

8590A calibration data problems

Lost or altered calibration constants can cause spurious signals, LIN DET FAIL, SRQ 110, or codes such as 1330 0000000000 and 5300 0000000000. If the A3 attenuator has been replaced, new calibration constants must be generated and entered.

Need the 8590A fixed? We repair older 8590 series analyzers to the board and component level and return them calibrated. Free estimate once it arrives; you approve before any work. Contact us for service.

Based on the HP 8590A Installation Manual (Appendix A) and the HP 8590A Support Manual (Chapter 4).

Located in: Spectrum Analyzers