1A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR USING THE HP3586A/B/C SELECTIVELEVEL METER© (Version 2.0), September 2004By Bill Feldmann, N6PY

10If 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 clos

115. SETTING AND MEASURING FREQUENCY5.1 General - Now we’re ready to have some fun doing examples of how to use your HP3586. Thischapter we’ll show

12If there is other strong signals in the filter’s band pass and the instrument has trouble locking on to thereceived carrier, select a narrower filte

136. POWER LEVEL MEASUREMENTS USING THE SELECTIVE MODE6.1 General - The most basic function of the HP3586 is to measure the power of signals on telep

14and a reading on the LED level display, we need to accurately set the filter center frequency. Press[COUNTER] just under the LED frequency display.

157. VOLTAGE LEVEL MEASUREMENTS USING THE SELECTIVE MODE7.1 General - The HP3586 can only output level measurements in db’s referenced to a power lik

168. 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 Bversions.

179. TUNING SSB SIGNALS USING THE SELECTIVE MODE9.1 General - This Chapter will describe the only method of tuning SSB signals on the HP3586C. Thenex

18The difference is caused by the different way telephone and radio people denote SSB cannel frequency.When comparing a SSB radio frequency with a HP3

1910. TUNING A SSB SIGNAL USING THE NOISE/DEMODULATION MODE10.1 General – The A and B versions of the HP-3586 have SSB channel modes that speed the s

2TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE 1 Introduction 3 2 Description of the HP3586 4 3 Signal Connections 7 4 Front Panel Description and Initi

2011. MEASURING AUDIO NOISE USING THE WIDEBAND MODE11.1 General – All versions HP3586 can be used to measure total power input over their entire frequ

2112. MEASURING IMPULSE NOISE12.1 General – During our wideband noise example we noticed some level changes indicating possibleshot noise from some IC

2213. MEASURING AUDIO HARMONIC DISTORTION13.1 General – In this chapter we will show how to measure harmonics of a sinusoidal signal. This is anextre

2313.4 Measuring Harmonic Levels – With the amplifier still putting 2.5 watts at 1000Hz into the 75ohm dummy load resistor, enter a frequency of 2000H

2414. PASSIVE AND ACTIVE NETWORK ANALYSIS14.1 General – In this chapter we’ll demonstrate the ability of the HP3586 to be used for networkanalysis. T

25power 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

2615. MEASURING A TRANSMITTER’S SPURIOUS EMISSIONS15.1 General – One consideration when working on older or homebrew transmitters is maintaining lowsp

27Next 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 freq

2816. SELECTION OF MEASUREMENT MODES AND OTHERCONSIDERATIONS 16.1 General – In this last chapter I’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the

29center of its filter’s band pass like in the other modes if the [CARRIER] button under the frequency displayhas its light on. Its performance shoul

31. INTRODUCTIONThis documents is intended for those having a HP3586 without the operator’s manual or are having troubleunderstanding the operator’s m

3016.9 Other Accuracy Considerations –Always use averaging if a level measurement is rapidlychanging its level like when measuring a radio carrier sub

31APPENDIX AUNDERSTANDING THE DECIBEL RATIO MEASURING SYSTEMThe HP3586 will only outputs level measurement in the nonlinear logarithmic system of deci

32As 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, w

33When working with voltage the formula is a little different from the power formula:Voltage ratio in dbv = 20 log (V/VR) Where V = the level in vo

34APPENDIX BHP3586 ERROR CODESDuring initial power up and following auto cal cycles, the follow error codes could appear on one of theLED displays ind

35APPENDIX CSCHEMATICS FOR USEFUL HP3586 ACCESSORIESPrint these Adobe PDF files from the following files you received with this text file for the cont

42. DESCRIPTION OF THE HP35862.1 General – For those not familiar with selective level meters they can best be visualized as a receiverhaving very hig

5 Power dbm = 10 log (Power in watts/.001) or Power watts = .001 [ anti log ( power dbm/10) ] Voltage dbv = 20 log (Voltage volts/Vr) or

6comparative measurement between different devices or conditions its accuracy can approach the 100db or10db ranges precision of .1db or .01db, we’ll t

73. SIGNAL CONNECTIONS3.1 General - In this section I’ll describe how to connect a HP3586 for measuring frequency and powerlevel in the selective mod

84. FRONT PANEL DESCRIPTION AND INITIAL SET UP4.1 General - Before turning on your HP3586 be sure it’s configured for the right input power, usually1

9and 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 i