Finished: 16-05-2022
HP 8614A
0.8 - 2.4 GHz klystron oscillator
The HP 8614A was a technological marvel for its time. Introduced in the year 1962, this generator was based on a mechanically tunable klystron oscillator. The big selling point of this machine was that the power output was incredibly flat throughout the range of the instrument. Over its entire frequency range, the power level stayed within 0.5dB, eliminating readjustments of the power output when changing to a different frequency.
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Other useful features of this generator include AM and FM modulation. Meaning that both the output can be pulsed with microsecond precision, but it can also be locked to a more accurate master oscillator. This made this generator a very versatile piece of kit for any RF laboratory.
First impressions
With a lot of vintage equipment, a sad but true reality is that it usually won't survive for longer than a couple decades without any intervention. Although the building quality of HP equipment is generally very high, not every component ages equally, and a significant malfunction will render it out of service. Once this device is turned on, the only use it currently has is being a very weak nightlight and a suboptimal muffled fan. There's no power output and the needle of the power indicator is about stationary. Let's have a look and see what's inside, shall we?