Page 2 - TABLE OF CONTENTS; CHAPTER
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE 1 Introduction 3 2 Description of the HP3586 4 3 Signal Connections 7 4 Front Panel Description and Initial Setup 8 5 Setting and Measuring Frequency 11 6 Power Level Measurements Using the Selective Mode 13 7 Voltage Level Measurements Using the Selective Mode 15 8 ...
Page 6 - Level Measuring Modes –
6 comparative measurement between different devices or conditions its accuracy can approach the 100db or10db ranges precision of .1db or .01db, we’ll talk about that in Chapter 16. To maintain accuracy the HP3586 does a 3 second duration automatic calibration, auto cal, when it’s firstturned on, eve...
Page 7 - SIGNAL CONNECTIONS; Signal Input and Termination –; Never put more than +27dbm or .5 watts total power into the; Tracking Oscillator’s Output Signal -; This output signal can drive a transmitter or other device,
7 3. SIGNAL CONNECTIONS 3.1 General - In this section I’ll describe how to connect a HP3586 for measuring frequency and power level in the selective modes. In the following chapters I’ll also describe any differences for othermeasurement modes. 3.2 Signal Input and Termination – Never put more than ...
Page 8 - FRONT PANEL DESCRIPTION AND INITIAL SET UP; On the upper LH is the measurement/entry sub panel, which is used
8 4. FRONT PANEL DESCRIPTION AND INITIAL SET UP 4.1 General - Before turning on your HP3586 be sure it’s configured for the right input power, usually 115VAC. Also be sure the filter on its back panel is clean, if not remove it and clean with only soap andwater. The filter should be cleaned after ev...
Page 9 - On the lower LH side is the measurement mode sub panel that’s used; Termination Group –; Never put more than +27dbm or .5 watts total power into the input 50
9 and carrier buttons are only active in the SSB channel modes. The tone button is only useful for phone lineanalysis and won’t be used or discussed in this document. 4.4 Status Group - This small status sub panel on the top far right indicates if the instrument is receiving or sending data to a rem...
Page 10 - Back Panel Oscillator Output; – On the HP3586’s back panel is located a female BNC connector
10 If you press [OFFSET] on this sub panel you’ll first see the offset in the measurement level offset register.If the number you want to enter is close to the present one in the data offset register, you can change theexisting number up or down using the arrow keys, [ ↑ ] or [ ↓ ] and then press on...
Page 11 - SETTING AND MEASURING FREQUENCY; Automatically Determining a Station’s Frequency –; Be sure the 75 or 50 ohm connector is
11 5. SETTING AND MEASURING FREQUENCY 5.1 General - Now we’re ready to have some fun doing examples of how to use your HP3586. This chapter we’ll show how to use the HP3586 as a VFO by adjusting its frequency and outputting thisfrequency for controlling an outboard device like an AM transmitter. We’...
Page 12 - Checking Your Instrument’s Frequency Calibration –; HP recommends that the instrument be
12 If there is other strong signals in the filter’s band pass and the instrument has trouble locking on to thereceived carrier, select a narrower filter and repeat the above procedure. Unfortunately the HP3586 can’t be easily used as a receiver when controlling a transmitter, see section16.11 of Cha...
Page 13 - POWER LEVEL MEASUREMENTS USING THE SELECTIVE MODE; Setup for Performing Power Measurements -; Now let’s go through a typical example of; Setting Input Termination Impedance -; Make sure the display is reading in dbm by confirming
13 6. POWER LEVEL MEASUREMENTS USING THE SELECTIVE MODE 6.1 General - The most basic function of the HP3586 is to measure the power of signals on telephone lines using its selective measuring mode. This useful feature can also be used to do on the air measuring ofradio signal strength or on the benc...
Page 14 - eliminate as much noise as possible from the level measurement.; Transforming Power From dbm to Watts -; Since our instrument only measures power in dbm,; Saving the Instrument’s Configuration; – For use in a future example let’s now store the
14 and a reading on the LED level display, we need to accurately set the filter center frequency. Press[COUNTER] just under the LED frequency display. Now set the instrument’s frequency register to thisfrequency by pressing [CNTR → FREQ] followed by [MEAS CONT]. Last select the 20Hz filter to elimin...
Page 15 - VOLTAGE LEVEL MEASUREMENTS USING THE SELECTIVE MODE; Where Vr is the display panel reading in db.775V units.
15 7. VOLTAGE LEVEL MEASUREMENTS USING THE SELECTIVE MODE 7.1 General - The HP3586 can only output level measurements in db’s referenced to a power like one miliwatt, one picowatt, or a voltage level like .775 volt on all models and a 1 volt input on the C version.But remember that every level readi...
Page 16 - MEASURING CARRIER SIGNAL STRENGTH; Normalizing the Measurement –; Now let’s calculate a db.775V display offset to reference the; Measuring the Carrier’s Signal Strength; – This is an example of a procedure to measure a
16 8. MEASURING CARRIER SIGNAL STRENGTH 8.1 General - In this chapter we’ll do an example showing the use of the carrier mode in the A and B versions. This mode is not available in the C version but this example can be performed with a C versionby using the low distortion selective mode by using the...
Page 17 - TUNING SSB SIGNALS USING THE SELECTIVE MODE; Common Problems When Using the HP3586 as a SSB Receiver
17 9. TUNING SSB SIGNALS USING THE SELECTIVE MODE 9.1 General - This Chapter will describe the only method of tuning SSB signals on the HP3586C. The next chapter will describe a much easier method used only in the A and B versions. Even if you have an Aor B versions with the SSB channel tuning and m...
Page 18 - Setting a AM Transmitter’s Carrier to a SSB frequency -; To better understand this let’s go
18 The difference is caused by the different way telephone and radio people denote SSB cannel frequency.When comparing a SSB radio frequency with a HP3586 frequency on LSB the HP3586 will have a fixednegative offset from the receiver’s whose value depends on the filter that is selected in the HP3586...
Page 19 - TUNING A SSB SIGNAL USING THE NOISE/DEMODULATION MODE; Configure your HP3586 by pressing [NOISE/DEMOD] on the measurement; Determining a SSB Station’s Frequency –; I’m going to use the same CCA net example of; Measuring the Strength of a SSB Station –; After tuning in a SSB station for best audio in the
19 10. TUNING A SSB SIGNAL USING THE NOISE/DEMODULATION MODE 10.1 General – The A and B versions of the HP-3586 have SSB channel modes that speed the setup of the instrument for reception and measuring of SSB signals. Unfortunately the C version doesn’t have thesemodes but can still be configured to...
Page 20 - MEASURING AUDIO NOISE USING THE WIDEBAND MODE; Wideband Amplifier Noise Measurement; – Assume we have an amplifier that we can input; Taking the Data –
20 11. MEASURING AUDIO NOISE USING THE WIDEBAND MODE 11.1 General – All versions HP3586 can be used to measure total power input over their entire frequency range of 200Hz to 32MHz by placing them into the wideband measuring mode. This mode is useful forrapidly measuring a signal whose frequency isn...
Page 21 - MEASURING IMPULSE NOISE; Taking Measurements; – Now install one of the IC’s we want to test into our audio amplifier.
21 12. MEASURING IMPULSE NOISE 12.1 General – During our wideband noise example we noticed some level changes indicating possible shot noise from some IC’s, a common problem with many inexpensive consumer solid state IC chips. Inthis chapter we will use the impulse measuring mode to test the shot no...
Page 22 - MEASURING AUDIO HARMONIC DISTORTION; or higher order
22 13. MEASURING AUDIO HARMONIC DISTORTION 13.1 General – In this chapter we will show how to measure harmonics of a sinusoidal signal. This is an extremely valuable feature removing the necessity of having an audio distortion analyzer if you alreadyhave a HP3586. In a later chapter we’ll demonstrat...
Page 23 - Measuring Harmonic Levels; – With the amplifier still putting 2.5 watts at 1000Hz into the 75
23 13.4 Measuring Harmonic Levels – With the amplifier still putting 2.5 watts at 1000Hz into the 75 ohm dummy load resistor, enter a frequency of 2000Hz using the HP3586’s keyboard to change it’smeasuring frequency to 2KHz. You should see a lower than 0dbm reading on the level display. If youhave t...
Page 24 - PASSIVE AND ACTIVE NETWORK ANALYSIS; Normalizing our Level Measurements –; We now disconnect the device but leave the; Measuring the Filter’s Pass Band and Loss –; We now reinstall the filter and start to take; Measuring an Amplifier’s Gain and Frequency Response; – We can now use a similar
24 14. PASSIVE AND ACTIVE NETWORK ANALYSIS 14.1 General – In this chapter we’ll demonstrate the ability of the HP3586 to be used for network analysis. The HP3586 has the ability to accurately measure relative power and voltage levels over a widerange of frequency and also output a signal at the freq...
Page 25 - Alignment and Analysis of Radio Circuits; - A HP3586 could also be used to aid in alignment,
25 power to stay around an input power of 0 dbm to our HP3686 to stay well within its accurate measuringrange of +20dbm to –100dbm. The best way to do this and since we are dealing with low power, is to insert a 20db 50 ohm attenuator padbetween the 150 ohm resistor and the amplifier’s input. We rem...
Page 26 - MEASURING A TRANSMITTER’S SPURIOUS EMISSIONS; AM Transmitter’s Measurement Procedure; – We start by slowly tuning up our transmitter at
26 15. MEASURING A TRANSMITTER’S SPURIOUS EMISSIONS 15.1 General – One consideration when working on older or homebrew transmitters is maintaining low spurious emissions. These should be as low as possible, usually down–30db or more from the transmitter’scarriers or maximum output level. The HP3586 ...
Page 27 - SSB Transmitter Measurement Procedure –; Go back to the carrier mode. With a SSB
27 Next change to the noise/demodulation mode under SSB channel on the measurement/mode sub panel.And be sure the [CARRIER] button is on below the frequency display and select USB. Now tune toyou’re transmitter frequency, turn up the volume on the audio sub panel and listening to the audio usinghead...
Page 28 - Low Distortion Selective –; This measurement mode will give the most accurate level
28 16. SELECTION OF MEASUREMENT MODES AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 16.1 General – In this last chapter I’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different measuring modes used in our examples and some other measurement accuracy considerations along withadditional applications. Many measuremen...
Page 29 - Enhanced Frequency Accuracy –; For one year after its calibration the HP3586 has excellent
29 center of its filter’s band pass like in the other modes if the [CARRIER] button under the frequency displayhas its light on. Its performance should be similar to the low distortion but it selects the instrument’swidest filter. Its important to realize when using this mode that the instrument’s t...
Page 30 - Other Accuracy Considerations; –Always use averaging if a level measurement is rapidly; Using a HP3586 to Receive and also Control a Transmitter –; Here is an interesting idea
30 16.9 Other Accuracy Considerations –Always use averaging if a level measurement is rapidly changing its level like when measuring a radio carrier subjected to selective fading or SSB signals. Thiswill give representative average readings over a two second periods and make it easier on your eyes b...
Page 31 - APPENDIX A; UNDERSTANDING THE DECIBEL RATIO MEASURING SYSTEM
31 APPENDIX A UNDERSTANDING THE DECIBEL RATIO MEASURING SYSTEM The HP3586 will only outputs level measurement in the nonlinear logarithmic system of decibels. Thissystem is widely used to express levels of power in electronic and acoustic measurements because it hasthe advantage of emphasizing only ...
Page 32 - power which is 100 or if you had 60db raise
32 As and example again lets say we have +6 dbm, we divide 6 by 10 to get .6 and using our calculator get theanti log as 3.98 on my HP 25 calculator, which is nearly 4, and multiply it by our reference of one mw andhave 4 mw of power equal to +6dbm. If it were –6dbm the ratio would be negative, -.6,...
Page 34 - APPENDIX B; The format for all non-calibration error messages is; Err N; or; CE – N; Where
34 APPENDIX B HP3586 ERROR CODES During initial power up and following auto cal cycles, the follow error codes could appear on one of theLED displays indicating a failure to calibrate and or an instrument failure. Some error codes could alsoindicate improper entries or operation of the instrument. B...
Page 35 - APPENDIX C; SCHEMATICS FOR USEFUL HP3586 ACCESSORIES
35 APPENDIX C SCHEMATICS FOR USEFUL HP3586 ACCESSORIES Print these Adobe PDF files from the following files you received with this text file for the contents of thisappendix and insert them behind this page: C1-C2.PDF Fig C1– Hi Z ONE TO ONE ISOLATIONS AMPSFig C2 – DC ISOLATED 50 OHM TERMINATION BOX...
