HP 8920A User guide

1
HP 8920A & HP 8920B
RF Communications Test Set,
Application Handbook
HP Part No. 08920-90126
Printed in U. S. A.
April 1996
Rev C
DUPLETXRX PREV TESTS
CONFIHELPMSSG HOLD PRINT
SCREEN CONTROL
LOCAL
ADRS
RECAL
SAVE MEAS PRESE
INSTRUMENT STATE
DATA FUNCTIONS
INCR
REF INCR METER INCR AVG
LO HI
CURSOR CON-
PUSH TO
CANCE
SHIFT
k1
k1’
k2
k2’
k3
k3’
k4
ASSIG
k5
RELEA
USER DATA
789
456
123
0+
_
ENTER
GHz
dB
MHz
%
kHz
s
Hz
ms
%
Ω
ppm
NO
ON/OFF
YES
MEMO
AUDIO IN LOHI
!MAX !MAX
AUDIOSQUELCVOL-
MIC/
MAX POWER 200
!
ANT INDUPLEX OUTRF IN/OUT
!MAX POWER
POWE
OF O

2
Copyright © Hewlett-Packard Company 1994
Notice Information contained in this document is subject to change withoutno-
tice.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, adaptation, or translation without
prior written permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the copy-
right laws.
This material may be reproduced by or for the U.S. Government pursu-
ant to the Copyright License under the clause at DFARS 52.227-7013
(APR 1988).
Hewlett-Packard Company
Learning Products Department
24001 E. Mission
Liberty Lake, WA 99019-9599
U.S.A.

3
Manufacturer’s
Declaration This statement is provided to comply with the requirements of
the German Sound Emission Directive, from 18 January 1991.
This product has a sound pressure emission (at the operator
position) < 70 dB(A).
•Sound Pressure Lp < 70 dB(A).
• At Operator Position.
• Normal Operation.
• According to ISO 7779:1988/EN 27779:1991 (Type Test).
Herstellerbeschei
nigung Diese Information steht im Zusammenhang mit den Anforderungen der
Maschinenlärminformationsverordnung vom 18 Januar 1991.
• Schalldruckpegel Lp < 70 dB(A).
• Am Arbeitsplatz.
• Normaler Betrieb.
• Nach ISO 7779:1988/EN 27779:1991 (Typprüfung).

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Safety
Considerations GENERAL
This product and related documentation must be reviewed for familiar-
ization with safety markings and instructions before operation.
This product is a Safety Class I instrument (provided with a protective
earth terminal).
SAFETY EARTH GROUND
A unterruptible safety earth ground must be provided from the main
power source to the product input wiring terminals, power cord, or sup-
plied power cord set.
CHASSIS GROUND TERMINAL
To prevent a potential shock hazard, always connect the rear-panel chas-
sis ground terminalto earth ground whenoperating this instrument from
a dc power source.
SAFETY SYMBOLS
Indicates instrument damage can occur if indicated operating limits are
exceeded.
Indicates hazardous voltages.
Indicates earth (ground) terminal
WARNING A WARNING note denotes a hazard. It calls attention to a
procedure, practice, or the like, which, if not correctly performed
or adhered to, could result in personal injury. Do not proceed
beyond a WARNING sign until the indicated conditions are fully
understood and met.
!

5
CAUTION A CAUTION note denotes a hazard. It calls attentionto an operation
procedure, practice, or the like, which, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in damage to or destruction of part or all of
the product. Do not proceed beyond an CAUTION note until the
indicated conditions are fully understood and met.
Safety Considerations for this Instrument
WARNING Any interruption of the protective (grounding) conductor (inside
or outside the instrument) or disconnection of the protective
earth terminal will cause a potential shock hazard that could
result in personal injury. (Grounding one connector of a two
conductor outlet is not sufficient protection.)
Whenever it likely that the protection has been impaired, the
instrument must be made inoperative and be secured against any
unintended operation.
If this instrument is to be energized via an auto transformer (for
voltage reduction), make sure the common terminal is connected
to the earth terminal of the power source.
Servicing instructions are for use by service trained personnel
only. To avoid dangerous electric shock, do not perform any
servicing unless qualified to do so.
Adjustments described in the manual are performed with power
supplied to the instrument while protective covers are removed.
Energy available at many points may, if contacted, result in
personal injury.
Capacitors inside the instrument may still be charged even if the
instrument has been disconnected from its source of supply.
For Continued protection against fire hazard, replace the line
fuse(s) only with 250 V fuse(s) or the same current rating and
type (for example, normal blow or time delay). Do not use
repaired fuses or short circuited fuseholders.

6
CERTIFICATION Hewlett-Packard Company certifies that this product met its published
specificationsat the time of shipmentfromthe factory. Hewlett-Packard
further certifies that its calibration measurements are traceable to the
United States National Institute of Standards and Technology, to the ex-
tent allowed by the Institute’s calibration facility, and to the calibration
facilities of other International Standards Organization members
WARRANTY This Hewlett-Packard instrument product in warranted against defects
in material and workmanship for a period of one year from date of ship-
ment. During the warranty period, Hewlett-Packard Company will at its
option, either repair or replace products which prove to be defective.
For warranty service or repair, this product must be returned to a service
facility designated by HP. Buyer shall prepay shipping charges to HP
and HP shall pay shipping charges, duties, and taxes for products re-
turned to HP from another country.
HP warrants that its software and Firmware designated by HP for use
with an instrument will execute its programming instructions when
properly installed on that instrument. HP does not warrant that the oper-
ation of the instrument, or software, or firmware will be uninterrupted
or error free.

7
LIMITATION OF
WARRANTY The foregoing warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from im-
properorinadequatemaintenancebyBuyer,Buyer-suppliedsoftwareor
interfacing, unauthorized modification or misuse, operation outside of
the environmental specifications for the product, or improper site prep-
aration or maintenance.
NO OTHER WARRANTY IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. HP SPE-
CIFICALLY DISCLAIMS THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MER-
CHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTIDCULAR
PURPOSE.
EXCLUSIVE
REMEDIES THE REMEDIES PROVIDED HEREIN ARE BUYER’S SOLE AND
EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES. HP SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY
DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUEN-
TIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER BASE ON CONTRACT, TORT, OR
ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY.
ASSISTANCE Product maintenance agreements and other customer assistance agree-
ments are available for Hewlett-Packard products. For any assistance,
contact your nearest Hewlett-Packard Sales and Service Office.

8
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Manufacturer’s Name: Hewlett-Packard Company
Manufacturer’s Address: Spokane Division
24001 E. Mission Ave.
Liberty Lake, WA 99019-9599
Declares that the product(s):
Product Name: RF Communications Test Set
Model Number(s): HP 8920A, 8920B
Product Options: All
Conforms to the following product specifications.
Safety: HD 401/IEC 348
EMC: EN 55011 (1991) /CISPR 11 (1990): ‘Group 1,
Class A
EMC: EN 50082-1 (1992)/IEC 801-2 (1991): 4 kV CD, 8
kv AD
/IEC 801-3 (1991): 3 V/m
/IEC 801-4 (1991): 1k V Power
Lines 0.5 kV Sig-
nal Lines
Supplementary Information:
The product herewith complies with the requirements of the Low Volt-
age Directive 73/23/EEC and EMC Directive 89/336/EEC.
Spokane, Washington
Date Vince Roland, SKD Quality Man-
ager
European Contact: Your local Hewlett-Packard Sales and Service Office or
Hewlett-Packard GmbH. Dept. ZQ/Standards Europe, Herrenberger StarBe
130, D-7030 Boblingen (Fax: [phone]).

9
In this Book This book is a guide for performing common radio tests using the Test
Set. This guide contains the following chapters and appendices.
Chapter 1, Getting Started With The Test Set
This chapter contains a description of the manual contents, a general
description of the Test Set, and a general description of the front and rear
panel controls, indicators, and connectors.
Chapter 2, Measurement Considerations
This chapter contains a description of guidelines that must be adhere to
when performing the measurements with the Test Set.
Chapter 3, Testing FM Radios
This chapter contains the information required to use the Test Set to
perform FM Transmitter and Receiver measurements.
Chapter 4, Testing AM Radios
This chapter contains the information required to use the Test Set to
perform AM Transmitter and Receiver measurements.
Chapter 5, Testing SSB Radios
This chapter contains the information required to use the Test Set to
perform SSB Transmitter and Receiver measurements.
Chapter 6, Spectrum Analyzer Measurements
This chaptercontainstheinformation about system measurementsusing the
Spectrum Analyzer and Tracking Generator.
Chapter 7, Spectrum Analyzer Measurements
This chaptercontainstheinformation about system measurements usingthe
Spectrum Analyzer and Tracking Generator.
Chapter 7, Oscilloscope Measurements
This chaptercontainstheinformation about system measurements usingthe
Oscilloscope.

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Chapter 8, Configuring For Measurements
This chapter contains the information required to install the Test Set in
preparation of performing measurements. Information provided includes
instructions for power and printer connection, and initial power-up and
configuration.
Chapter 9, References
This chapter lists any manuals, application notes, specifications, and
standards referenced in this guide.
Chapter 10, HP 8920A Specifications
This chapter provides abbreviated specifications for the HP 8920A.
Chapter 11, HP 8920B Specifications
This chapter provides abbreviated specifications for the HP 8920B.
Glossary
Thisinformationliststheacronyms,abbreviations,andcommontermsused
in this guide.

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Contents
1 Getting Started With The Test Set
Conventions Used In This Manual 24
Product Description 25
The Test Set’s Features 28

Contents
12
2 Measurements Considerations
Measurement Guideline 1 44
Measurement Guideline 2 45
Measurement Guideline 3 46
Measurement Guideline 4 48

13
Contents
3 Testing FM Radios
Introduction 50
List of Tests 51
FM Transmitters 52
FM Receivers 79

Contents
14
4 Testing AM Radios
Introduction 116
List of Tests 117
AM Transmitters 118
AM Receivers 136

15
Contents
5 Testing SSB Radios
Introduction 160
List of Tests 161
SSB Transmitters 162
SSB Receivers 173

Contents
16
6 Spectrum Analyzer Measurements
Introduction 188
List of Measurements 189
Using the Spectrum Analyzer 190
Using the Tracking Generator 205

17
Contents
7 Oscilloscope Measurements
Introduction 234
Using the Oscilloscope 235

Contents
18
8 Configuring for Measurements
Preparing the Test Set for DC Operation 244

19
Contents
9 References
Manuals 250
Application Note 251
Specifications and Standards 252

Contents
20
10 HP 8920A Specifications
Signal Generator Specifications 255
Audio Source Specifications 261
RF Analyzer Specifications 262
AF Analyzer Specifications 268
Oscilloscope Specifications 271
Spectrum Analyzer Specifications (Option 102) 272
Signaling (Option 004) 276
DC Current Meter (Option 103) 277
Remote Programming (Option 103) 278
Reference Oscillator Specifications 279
Save/Recall Registers 280
General Specifications 281