Agilent 3499A - Part1 1

[@largepimping]

The thumbscrews on the coax-based cards screw into the switch controller in the same way that the other cards' (the "non-coax" ones, so to speak) wiring harnesses screw into the unit. IOW, all the cards eventually have something that screws into the back of the 3499 (or 3488).

[@tgsoapbox]

I was really just wondering why the VHF card had screws and the Microwave card had thumbscrews - I can understand them both having either screws or thumbscrews but the difference seemed strange.

[@pa1wbu]

Maybe a look at the serial number enlightens? Could very well be different production years?

[@tgsoapbox]

@@pa1wbu Could absolutely be but I think both these boards were earlier vintage I just find it interesting that they have different mounting hardware - It'd be great to know if it was just a "release date" thing or if there was a real design decision behind it.

[@pa1wbu]

Actually, the connectors on the digital I/O boards are not custom parts. They are standard DIN41612 connectors. In this case the 96 pin ABC variant (rows A, B and C are populated with pins). All sorts of variants exist, like 64 pin AC in the same plastic shroud, but also shorter ones with less pins, as this HP has on its backplane. Really nice and reliable connectors. Often found in (mostly European I suppose) industrial control systems, T&M stuff. And in VMEbus computers. cheers, Wilko

[@tgsoapbox]

Interesting - Thanks for the info - I've never seen the connectors outside of the bits hanging off the back of these units - I'm still fairly sure I won't use the boards for anything though :)

[@pa1wbu]

@@tgsoapbox Yeah, these are not the most useful cards for the average home user. The aforementioned DIN41612 connectors also come with coax contacts. I just stumbled on pictures of those. They are found inside my Efratom modular Rubidium frequency reference, More than happy to send you a copy (just need to figure out how 😀). best , Wilko

[@tgsoapbox]

@@pa1wbu Thanks - Maybe drop a link into the comments here - I really don't have a use for them though

[@zdzisiek1979]

🙂👍

[@paulpaulzadeh6172]

Where is this dumpster ?? I can move in there 😂😂

[@tgsoapbox]

Many have asked for the dumpster location, but few have received it... :) Sorry, can't share so I can protect the primarily innocent...