Differences between the HP 8920A, 8920B, 8924C, E6380A, E8285A

Amtronix Instruments, Inc. 2010

All the units listed below will make excellent Service Monitors used for 2 way radio. They all generate AM, FM and have a calibrated output signal generator, have 2 separate audio tone generators, have 2uV sensitive "off the air receivers" with antenna input, encode/decode standard tone (PL) (CTCSS), have sinad, distortion, S/N meters, receive AM, FM and SSB, have modulation / deviation meter, frequency error meters. All 5 units use many of the same modules and have many of the same screens. They are all different in some ways as listed below.

Amtronix Instruments	HP8920A	HP8920B	HP8924C	E6380A	E8285A
Frequency Range	0.4 – 1000MHz*	30-1000MHz*	30-1000MHz*	0.4 – 1000 MHz, 1700 – 2000MHz	0.4 – 1000 MHz, 1700 – 2000MHz
RF Counter	Yes	Yes	Yes	No – You need to set the frequency & read error	No – You need to set the frequency & read error
Includes AF Analyzer, TX Test, RX Test Screens	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Includes Duplex Screen	Yes	Yes	Yes	No – but will do full duplex on RX Test Screen	Yes
PCMCIA Card Slot	NO- uses Epson 40 pin in line	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Includes RF Analyzer Screen	Yes	Yes	Yes	No – Tx test screen works for RF Analyzer	Yes
Includes RF Generator screen	Yes	Yes	Yes	No – Rx Test Screen does RF Gen. functions	Yes
Spectrum Analyzer / Tracking Generator	Requires Option 102	Requires Option 102	Standard	Standard	Requires Option 102
Sensitive Receiver	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
High Stability Reference	Needs opt 001 (or opt 050 includes opt 001)	Needs opt 001	Standard	Needs opt 001	Standard
Display Type	CRT	CRT	CRT	Electro-Luminicent	Electro-Luminicent
Weight	38 Pounds	38 Pounds	59 Pounds	49 Pounds	52 Pounds
Receiver IF Bandwidths	15 / 230 KHz	15 / 230 KHz	15 / 230 KHz	30 / 230 KHz ( 30 KHz IF may cause adjacent channel reception in “off the air” mode)	15 / 230 KHz
Power Meter	60 Watt Standard will handle 125 intermittently	60 Watt Standard will handle 125 intermittently	3 watt Standard but most have 60 or 100 Watt	75 Watt Standard will handle 125 intermittently	2.5 Watt –no upgrade available**
Cellular Functions	Not included	Not included- Analog included in later firmware	CDMA	CDMA	CDMA
2-Way Radio Functionality	Yes, AM, FM, SSB Mod & Demod., calibrated output signal generator	Yes, AM, FM, SSB Mod & Demod., calibrated output signal generator	Yes, AM, FM, SSB Mod & Demod., calibrated output signal generator	Yes, AM, FM, SSB Mod & Demod., calibrated output signal generator	Yes, AM, FM, SSB Mod & Demod., calibrated output signal generator
Audio Encode / Decode	Opt 004 includes tone, 2-tone, 5-6 tone, POSCAG, LTR, EDACD, LPT1327, DTMF, DPL	Opt 004 includes tone, 2-tone, 5-6 tone, POSCAG, LTR, EDACD, LPT1327, DTMF, DPL	Standard- includes tone, 2-tone, 5-6 tone, POSCAG, LTR, EDACD, LPT1327, DTMF, DPL	Tone and DTMF only	Tone and DTMF only
2 Variable Audio Tone Encoders	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
RF Tools Return Loss Sweep Program	Requires 11807A opt 100 Smart Card and return loss bridge	Requires 11807E opt 100 Smart Card and return loss bridge	Requires 11807E opt 100 Smart Card and return loss bridge	RF Tools Program included with firmware – requires return loss bridge	Requires 11807E opt 100 Smart Card and return loss bridge
Volume and Squelch controls	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No – Has volume but squelch is set in software

* The HP 8920B and HP 8924C have specified frequency ranges of 30 MHz – 1000MHz because they have the electronic attenuator (input module). HP re-engineered the input assy in these units by using electronic switching to make them more dependable. Our test show the electronic input module is actually accurate from 11-1000MHz in signal generate mode. Below 11 MHz, the RF output level is less than the display indicates. The signal generator’s AM and FM modulation is still accurate down to 0.4 MHz but the RF level out will taper down to about 20 db low at 0.4 MHz. In receive mode, the electronic input module units works well down to 2 MHz. Below 2 MHz, the spectrum analyzer is still functional but will read 3-6 db low. HP 8920B and 8924C units with option 055 are spec’d for 0.4 -1000MHz because they use a mechanical input module. Some HP 8920A units have option 009 which is the electronic input assy.

**The E8285A differs from the others in that there is no option to add a higher power input. We suggest that if you need to input more power, buy a 20-30 db, 50 or 100 W attenuator with N connectors. This can be used on the front I/O connector and the configure screen has options to offset the I/O port by any db amount. This can be saved to memory and automatically loaded at power up.

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