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In this episode Shahriar repairs a R&S FSV40 spectrum analyzer which despite passing all self-tests and alignments, shows all inputs signals heavily attenuated. The instrument block diagram is reviewed as well as a quick teardown. The problem is traced to a faulty front-panel connector which unfortunately doesn't make for an exciting repair. Nevertheless, the connector is repaired and the instrument returns to normal operation.
Thank you AllTest for providing this instrument for repair! You may see various products and services offerings from AllTest here:
Alltest Instruments: alltest.net/
Provides: Refurbished benchtop test & measurement instrumentation, service, and calibration. Types of equipment include but are not limited to oscilloscopes, network analyzer, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, multimeters, etc.
Alltest Chambers: alltestchambers.com/
Provides: Refurbished environmental test chambers, service, and calibration. Types of equipment include but are not limited to hot, cold, shock, altitude, liquid, HALT/HASS, temperature forcing, etc.
Brerro Technical Consultants: brerro.tech/
Provides: Expert consultation creating low cost solutions related to R&D, engineering, manufacturing, QA/QC, and compliance. Solutions include but are not limited to EMI/EMC testing, SMT and PCB applications, MIL-461 compliance systems, MIL-810 compliance systems, DO-160 compliance systems, manufacturing equipment and systems.
www.TheSignalPath.com
/ thesignalpath
www.Patreon.com/TheSignalPath

Пікірлер: 116

@PapasDino 3 жыл бұрын

Even the easy fixes are very interesting!

@great__success 3 жыл бұрын

and even though I am definetely no expert like Shahriar, I have seen a lot of his videos, and had a feeling that it is going to be a bad connector

@ahmedalshalchi 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah ... and quite understanding the case of that SA user of misusing it ....

@rcleveacp 3 жыл бұрын

The simple fixes are many times the best. They reflect what we see in the real world. The simple fixes also provide hope to those of us who prowl Ebay for broken test equipment.

@taylorlindley5578 3 жыл бұрын

Definitely agree that you should post the repairs no matter how simple. There's always something to learn!

@CraigBurden1 3 жыл бұрын

Your problem solving techniques and your knowledge is always valuable even when the fix ends up being simple. Excellent as usual!

@JeffCowan 3 жыл бұрын

Can you imagine being the person who dropped it? I wouldn't sleep right for a year.

@metatechnologist 2 жыл бұрын

I wonder how much was paid for this non-working spectrum analyzer??

@metatechnologist 2 жыл бұрын

The other thing this is why equipment has "handles" on both sides - to protect the panel from occasional mishandling. Something that modern equipment has done away with here. And you know that if that connector if it costs a dime it's priced at $200 lol.

@L1ama Жыл бұрын

@@metatechnologist those handles didn't stop the fedex driver from rolling the box I packed a 40 GHz generator in in such a way that it destroyed the 2.4mm connector on it. Honestly I was kind of impressed that they managed to accomplish that, I don't think I could have done it on purpose. Thankfully it had enough other problems that it was only good for parts anyway

@thetechgenie7374 Жыл бұрын

You be surprised the deals you get with broken test equipment. Plus if it really broken more of the challenge the better as enjoy restoring older higher end test equipment. I pick up one similar to this one and no display at all but booted and turned out to be a shorted control pin as wire rub to next pin. It the best way to get test equipment that cost several thousand bucks for a few hundred bucks and even got equipment that literally had practically no hours on it but a few dollars component failed,

@OctavMandru 7 ай бұрын

Yeah, special postage services should be provided when shipping such high value equipment. I imagine that person isn't even aware of the issue

@witeshade 3 жыл бұрын

It's a simple fix, but I still appreciate how you worked through it systematically. Like, yeah you probably knew pretty early on exactly what the problem is and could have jumped directly to that and it would be impressive, but instead you showed us a bunch of good ways to find and isolate the issue. It's great.

@dtiydr 3 жыл бұрын

Doesn't matter if its basic many people will learn anyway so just keep them coming.

@n2185x 3 жыл бұрын

Something simple like this is still definitely worthwhile, because it shows the troubleshooting thought process as well as showing the use of the block diagram and other resources to narrow down the possibilities. And don't underestimate the value of showing what you are expecting to see and why you expect to see it, as you did with the attenuator here. This is great stuff, so even on a piece of equipment where the solution is simple, it's very valuable to see the troubleshooting process in action. Had you tested the connector first then it obviously would have made for a much shorter and less valuable video. It may be that you actually did that and opted to show the longer troubleshooting path that comes from presuming the connector to be good. Either way, the troubleshooting path shown here was very interesting and valuable.

@rrb6544 3 жыл бұрын

Nice fix and troubleshooting. As a RF amateur, I'm glad to see videos like this one, I learn so much things :)

@Nik930714 3 жыл бұрын

I love videos like that. Even watching simple repair videos like this has helped me build up a catalogue of knowledge of common faults with equipment and i find that its easier for me to find faults with the devices i've designed when its time to test them for the first time. Now days with all of the experience over the years i tend to have a lot less "dumb" errors in my designs, but problems still come up on almost any first prototype. PS: I have seen other videos with similar faults from you, but its always enjoying when i "oh oh i know what its gonna be".

@davidv1289 3 жыл бұрын

Great video and definitely worth posting. It's always interesting to see other people's troubleshooting thought process and different methods of testing. Thank you for an interesting video!

@jackjackson5137 3 жыл бұрын

It’s less about what the issue actually is and more about the entire process of diagnosing and localising faults, even if the issue is simple it’s a pleasure to watch you work

@gordonwedman3179 3 жыл бұрын

It is good to know how things can break and the logical analysis of the problem was also good.

@McTroyd 3 жыл бұрын

Fault isolation is never a bad thing to post, even if it's "only" a simple repair. Besides, as expensive as the equipment is when it's new, relatively simple fixes like this can save people a lot of money.

@mikael5743 3 жыл бұрын

Can't believe this content is free

@devilsMovieBull 3 жыл бұрын

its not about the destination, its about the journey! Great video showing the debug process.

@lasersbee 3 жыл бұрын

I had never seen one of those connectors. Thanks for sharing.

@JohnChuprun 3 жыл бұрын

I LOVE these videos, even if basic. Thanks for posting!

@helmutheller1538 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, I love the easy ones, as I can relate to doing this myself (even without a network analyzer). Very interesting video!!

@theovannieuwenhuizen5756 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, this is one episode I was able to fully understand! But great repair, again. Just waiting until your workbench is overlade with equipment....

@mstjerning8919 3 жыл бұрын

I rather enjoyed that. Please dont hesitate to upload what you consider simple stuff, Shahriar. Its nice that you include the reasoning behind your approach - I think people will benefit from that. To be honest, in that situation I would not have considered using a VNA - brilliant. Also, there were many other subtle things I gained from that. Keep up the good work!

@bfx8185 3 жыл бұрын

It's pity that's so simple failure😉 , but that hint with using VNA to check input circuitry even without open the unit is great! I'll use it in the future repairs for sure. Thx.

@rtodsoznbfsw9054 3 жыл бұрын

Great job as usual, don't refrain from posting this type of video, there is always something interesting to learn. If the repair is easy, maybe spending more time on describing the equipment itself, would be nice. Thanks again for all this work.

@PaulHigginbothamSr 2 жыл бұрын

Good job Shariar. I may not have been able to find this with my limited equipment. Just shows had the seller said, "I dropped my unit on the face and it has not worked since". It would have made the fix a bit easier, even I may have been able to fix it.

@willernst8376 3 жыл бұрын

You always get the easy ones! Great video though, I wish the stuff I had to fix was a front panel connector every once in a while..

@ruhnet 3 жыл бұрын

Although I prefer the more in depth fixes, I’m still very glad you posted this one. Still very useful info, even though simpler, and it’s always enjoyable to see different equipment on the outside and inside. 😀

@NickGaster 3 жыл бұрын

Amazingly cool and well done, thanks!

@forceofbill 3 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed this one even though it was so simple!

@atcwhite97148 3 жыл бұрын

I use the older FSUs in my test stations and I too have many problems with the front connectors. This was a fun video to watch. Thank you.

@JohnDoe-es5xh 3 жыл бұрын

What a shame to R&S not to fix this problem in general for new equipment.

@donreid358 3 жыл бұрын

The demonstrations of debugging and how it should work are great. I suspect that front panel connector damage is a very common problem with instruments like this.

@gammarayflash1170 3 жыл бұрын

I like the easy stuff, because that's where you can start and go to the more complex stuff, step by step.

@pa4tim 3 жыл бұрын

I repaired a R&S VGA. The centerpin of the N connector was broken in 2. It was not possible to replace it so I made a new one but after that I still had no signal. Turned out an SMA connector on a piece of rigid coax failed. I used TDR to find the distance to the open connection. That was more easy because I did not need to disconnect things.

@sleibson 3 жыл бұрын

A simple fix, perhaps, but a great explanation of the instrument's architecture. Worthwhile, I'd say.

@djmips 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I love seeing the videos where it's a mechanical fix on a connector. It's interesting to see how that affects the units.

@unkyuge 3 жыл бұрын

A basic fix is still a fix! keep 'em coming.

@lmamakos Жыл бұрын

So in summary, ultimately you fixed this with very precise, tiny hammer to move the pin back in position. Just a variation of the tried and true percussive maintenance technique.

@sanketkandhare2835 3 жыл бұрын

Keep posting.👍

@jluke6861 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you,

@akosbuzogany2752 3 жыл бұрын

Some fixes seem deceptively simple. I bet if I bought a broken item, it would have a big hole cut by waterjet on its main board for some reason.

@electronicengineer 3 жыл бұрын

You and me both Akos! Fred

@smallenginedude71 3 жыл бұрын

This is the kind of thing that would happen to me

@lucasng3330 3 жыл бұрын

It's look so easy for Shahriar to spot the problem, but true is we will hardy success at first

@ruhnet 3 жыл бұрын

Yay! A repair!!!

@joopterwijn 3 жыл бұрын

For sure, they are setting you up,... they know it. “Just sent in connector jobby, see how long it will take home to find this one hahahahaha” 🙃 it mite be basic and simple for you, but still fascinating to the common folks how you deduct the problem.

@aDaWaN 3 жыл бұрын

Maybe it makes sense to give these videos a theme. I think this one is really good as a basic network analyzer trouble shooting (return loss 101). Nevertheless great video and interesting, I do not mind these quick bites!

@maurosobreira8695 3 жыл бұрын

It was useful - not only regarding the repair, but as awareness on the care that should be taken with that interfaces (seems rugged but it isn't!). As a hobbyist, I think It could be a good Segway to do a video on the effects that connectors (including dirt, oil from fingers) and cables (Why my 5 dollar Chinese pigtail may be different from the 200 dollar Agilent one) have depending on the frequency...Thanks :-)!

@youpattube1 3 жыл бұрын

Yes. It's simple in hindsight, but still a mystery in the beginning. Please post the "simple" ones too.

@gabiold 3 жыл бұрын

Easy repair, mormal people: beeps out continuity issues with multimeter first. Shariar: Let's hook up to a VNA and check the response! If it doesn't behave correctly below 10GHz, it is clearly a DC issue. 😂

@IceArdor 3 жыл бұрын

Careful about breaking out a multimeter on RF equipment. RF equipment is easily damaged by a DC voltage.

@Thesignalpath 3 жыл бұрын

A connector is probably safe. ;)

@AndrewZonenberg 3 жыл бұрын

Easy repairs are fine, but why not show off some of the cool RF parts to make up for it? We barely saw any PCB layout.

@kasra7907 3 жыл бұрын

Good idea to post it

@kpeterrodgers2996 3 жыл бұрын

Gobbledeegook. Yet fascinating all the same. 👍👍👍

@chrisscott1547 Жыл бұрын

I have found that quite often the problem is simple, like a bad mechanical connection or solder joint. One just has to find it. I have also seen many N chassis connectors with center fingers bent out.

@OneBiOzZ 3 жыл бұрын

at 10 minutes we get an authentic signal path blooper!

@Varietech-AU 3 жыл бұрын

If you ask if it's worth posting this video with the simple repair? I think so because I subscribe. Thanks for sharing your troubleshooting techniques especially testing the return loss and S21 transmission loss.

@Ziferten 3 жыл бұрын

I lol'd at type K to BNC adapter :)

@Thesignalpath 3 жыл бұрын

Wait until you see my 1mm connector to speaker wire!

@electronicengineer 3 жыл бұрын

@@Thesignalpath I can barely contain my interest Shahriar! Fred

@s3sebastian 3 жыл бұрын

@@Thesignalpath Convert the broken input of the R&S spectrum analyzer to a fresh pair of Banana Plugs from Aliexpress and you already have a video for the 1st of April next year.

@vihai 3 жыл бұрын

@@Thesignalpath do you use special oxygen-free speaker cables? You know... there might be losses in the high frequencies! many kilohertz!

@tchiwam 3 жыл бұрын

Can you make a video showing the use of the many rear connectors like 2nd IF, Blank, Video, Sweep , V/GHz. I use them a lot for many projects but when I buy these items on eBay I often end up fixing these rarely used features.

@DantalionNl 3 жыл бұрын

I'm gonna place my bets someone has managed to physically break the connector at the input again. Hence why it passes self tests but does not actually work

@ofgjf 3 жыл бұрын

Or burnt input protection

@yaghiyahbrenner8902 3 жыл бұрын

I think that instrument was mounted inside a rack, probably knocked into a wall. The connector would have been saved if x4 protective rubbers on the instrument was present I think instrument racks allow for those rubbers.

@tommihommi1 3 жыл бұрын

these analyzers are pretty nice

@nickxia3209 3 жыл бұрын

just that simple

@bhavani1089shankar 3 жыл бұрын

you changed your logo earlier pooch was not there now it is also part of your logo , great

@JohnMason8183 3 жыл бұрын

Why is that transistor on the upper left side of the PCB mounted at an angle? @08:30

@NikiBretschneider 3 жыл бұрын

When I saw how this behaves on the lower frequencies I was almost sure it is yet another broken front pannel connector. I imagine him screaming "No please, not again, no more broken front pannel connectors please…". I can imagine that feeling, but on the other hand, it had at least that broken front pannel connector, which is much better than what happened to me last week. I bought some cheap defunct programmable power supply for parts or repair. It was described like "UI works, but the output does not come on." But when I received it I realized, that there was nothing wrong with the power supply itself, the described problem was between the chair and the front pannel - previous user did not know what OVP does. I was completely disapointed…

@michsmi8297 3 жыл бұрын

On an unrelated point; when working on HP equipment how do you resolve hp part numbers to the actual part itself for replacement? Information on Google searches seems incomplete but you seem to know what they are. So if you could share that information that would be really helpful

@TheTruthSentMe 3 жыл бұрын

The problem and solution can be this simple. The process of finding both is interesting nonetheless.

@jack_brooks 3 жыл бұрын

I would prefer you post all debug videos even if they result in trivial solutions. I find more value in watching the debugging methodology than the final solution.

@gglovato 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah it's interesting as well, not only those repairs that need an xray imager are good haha

@wilcostienezen9403 3 жыл бұрын

Lucky you :)

@gordonfreeman320 3 жыл бұрын

The connector again! Doh!

@AissaAzzaz 3 жыл бұрын

When life gives you lemons It would be a s signal path RF video

@sudoall 3 жыл бұрын

And the corollary to that .. when life gives you melons you are dislexic..

@ErZocktLP 3 жыл бұрын

Look at the rubber front guards they look damaged. So it was probably droped

@xDevscom_EE 3 жыл бұрын

Hmm, I was curious what happens next with this SA? It gets back to with bodge-patched connector and sold for big $$ for unsuspecting buyer? :)

@JohnGotts 3 жыл бұрын

Keep posting even the simple ones. I post both types of repairs myself.

@t1d100 3 жыл бұрын

I think that you missed a teaching opportunity... We would have loved seeing what you did to make the repair... Your description was clear, but we could have learned more by seeing the process... How you secured the connector to work on it... What tools did you use... What issues should we watch out for... Etc... As the suspension disk was damaged, I would also like to see an attempt at a more robust repair. Maybe the old super-glue and baking soda trick to build it up ever so slightly... Epoxy... Etc. My other thought is that another point to the repair is to get equipment for the lab. So, the easier the repair, the better.

Жыл бұрын

0:59 ??? WHUTT???

@MCGeorgeMallory 3 жыл бұрын

Maybe it was basic, maybe nobody learned anything, but it was still relaxing, and good stress relief.

@zedcarr6128 3 жыл бұрын

I wonder who dropped the $35,000 Spectrum Analyzer?

@IceArdor 3 жыл бұрын

I wish spectrum analyzers cost less than $1k/GHz.

@randylemn 3 жыл бұрын

That type of connector seems to be a weak point on the FS series of Analyzers

@stargazer7644 2 ай бұрын

CC: This is a rodent shorts spectrum analyzer. 😆

@jorditribo94 3 жыл бұрын

Well it is unfortunately to you that the only broken part is the connector. But if I am the owner of that instrument I would be very happy.

@manuelminutello3027 3 жыл бұрын

K connector worth 10K$/cm adapted to banana, the VNA isn't precise enough? use the multimeter!

@shazam6274 3 жыл бұрын

Suggested New Title: "How to find and open connector with a $50,000 Network Analyzer instead of a $50 Ohm meter"

@nated1971 3 жыл бұрын

Only on Signal Path would someone be disappointed that a SA is simple to repair!

@samfedorka5629 3 жыл бұрын

It's always a letdown for me, when I try to buy something broken and have fun fixing it, only to find it's a fuse or the power supply or something. Then I have to go find another broken item and think about if I want to keep or sell the fixed one.

@nated1971 3 жыл бұрын

@@samfedorka5629 it's a vicious cycle

@ahmedalshalchi 3 жыл бұрын

Shahriar ... You got more repetitively front connectors mechanical problems recently , what the hell are those users to misuse these precious instruments ?? ... Plastics could have much damage before such metal piece to bend like that ...

@Thesignalpath 3 жыл бұрын

Front panel connector damage is fairly common. But normally those failures don’t make it to my bench for repair.

@leocelente 3 жыл бұрын

Is it really impractical to standardize front-end connectors as an easily replaceable package? The thousands of dollars being trashed because of such a stupid failure. Maybe there could be a standard at least to test it so it gets caught earlier? Just clarifying that it's not a criticism of the video. I love me some reverse engineering :-)