Choose microwave instrument

You have tested the prodcut with the one you are currently using. Stick with standardization. At least you will be consistent.

If you need extra bells and whistles, take it to the Nano level.

The task is not testing the product but comparing and verifying the instruments.

Exactly, if they have been using the Anritsu's and getting standard or congruent readings, unless they need the additional indications, stay with the product that has worked. (Don't fix it, if its not broke) Keeps it easy on the QA and pocket book. It is not an unflawed indicator (i.e. Ford Tarus runs great doesn't mean Ford Focus will run great), but at this point, that and the datasheets are all they have to go on.

However, if the purpose for the increase in frequency range requirements is do to needing more details to appease the clientel,(more profit potential) then perhaps the Agilent is worth the change in product.

The different results got for both makes could indicate difference in equipment calibration.

May i advise you stick to what presented you with same reading using varying models.

Back in the days when I was putting together Engineering labs, my philosophy was: For oscilloscopes, buy Tektronics... for everything else buy Hewlett Packard (HP) which is now Agilent. You can never go wrong.

I am not familiar with Anritsu so I can not express an opinion.

.1 dB?? This begins to sound like specsmanship... what is the temperature... relative humidity... and the price of beans in China under which the test was run??... also test cable placement. How much difference from one machine and the other? Hey in microwaves, it makes a difference. We are talking millimeters here... and a random piece of test lead can be resonant.

In any case, I would say go Agilent at least for Engineering. For production, go for something less calibrated, but put bounds on what is acceptable.

I would be willing to bet that Agilent can trace their test results back to NIST or what we used to call the National Bureau of Standards.

This is only one ancient opinion so look at the others also.

Sincerely

Bill

Great piece Bill, but your choice is suggestive of brand loyalty though, I'm not accussing you of such.

There are couple of test equipment manufacturing outfits whose products compare with the best.

Ethobil

I do have to concede that putting together the lab described above, that I had an unlimited equipment budget. $$ were not an issue.

Now my home lab has brand names such as Heathkit... Radio Shack... I did go with Bird for RF power measurements, and my 100 MHz scope says Leader... but it was MY $$ buying them.

Sincerely

Bill

Thank you for all your comments.

(We plan to use the Anritsu with the 6 GHz limit to use for other kind of devices (mostly lumped element circulators) so I think it is not so important to stick to that brand. We just tried to compare.)