Rohde&Schwarz UPV 1146.2003.02

[Philipp Paul Klose]

The R&S UPV 1146.2003.02 recently came back from calibration and I just wanted to share this old marvel of tech and the cal check with you.

I grew up with PC based tools, but having something "real" which just works but still has all the great benefits of a PC (mass storage, screenshots, USB, recording) is a great tool in the lab. Reviewing it in depth does not really make sense, since R&S do not make these anymore. Used on eBay, they still go for 10k+USD.

The Windows XP Embedded still works like a charm. Since the unit it is not connected to the Eth, there is no problem with cybersecurity.

"The Dimension in Audio Measurements" - Holds true to this day! It feels very valuable. All buttons are still in working condition and the XLR connectors feel like they are connected with the earth's core.

The analog generator is still a beast.

Even without a keyboard and mouse the GUI is very easy to use and learn. It took me maybe half a day to grasp the concept of the device. I hope the unit keeps on giving for a long time.

 

[Scytales]

Most (all?) Rohde & Schwarz audio analyzers used to have provision for an optional "low distortion" sine generator. Is this the case with your UPV and does it have a low distortion sine generator? Judging by the above measured perf, it does, but you never know!

 

[Philipp Paul Klose]

Do you know how to find that out? I am pretty sure it has this option, since the colleague who ordered these units always went all in.

 

[Scytales]

According to the UPV datasheet, there is indeed an optional UPV-B1 low distortion analogue sine generator available (page 8).

I take back what I wrote above. I didn't read correctly the unit on the screen capture. The THD+N level measured by QuantAsylum seems closer to the performance level of the standard analogue generator (THD+N specified at less than -103 dB whereas the low distortion one is specified at less than -110 dB in a 22 to 22 kHz bandwidth).

I guess that there must be somewhere in the user interface a page that lists the installed options in the analyzer. The option "B1" would appears if the low-distortion sine generator would have been installed.

 

[Philipp Paul Klose]

Concluding from the measurement about the option is tricky. I suppose we see the border of the QA here. I will check the option when I am in the lab.

 

[pma]

AFAIK QA403 has lower distortion than that shown in post #1. We did some comparisons with E1DA Cosmos ADC.

 

[nagster]

Concluding from the measurement about the option is tricky. I suppose we see the border of the QA here. I will check the option when I am in the lab.

You can check the installed options on the back of the UPV. You can also check them by going to "menu -> Utilities -> Install Options".

 

[Philipp Paul Klose]

Just checked: B1 is installed.

 

[Philipp Paul Klose]

In fact, there many options installed

 

[Scytales]

Great!