Instrument care and preventive maintenance consist of proper operation in a suitable environment and occasional cleaning of the instrument, and inspecting and cleaning the RF connectors and all accessories before use. Clean the instrument body with a soft, lint-free cloth dampened with water or water and a mild cleaning solution.
Caution
To avoid damaging the display or case, do not use solvents or abrasive cleaners.
Caution
Do not operate or store the Spectrum Master in extreme environments. Refer to the instrument Technical Data Sheet for the specified operating and storage conditions.
Connector Care
Clean the RF connectors and center pins with a cotton swab dampened with denatured alcohol. Visually inspect the connectors. The fingers of the female connectors and the pins of the male connectors should be unbroken and uniform in appearance. If you are unsure whether the connectors are undamaged, gauge the connectors to confirm that the dimensions are correct. Visually inspect the test port cable(s). The test port cable should be uniform in appearance and not stretched, kinked, dented, or broken.
To prevent damage to your instrument, do not use pliers or a plain wrench to tighten the connectors. The recommended torque settings are given in Figure: Spectrum Master Connectors and Status Indicator. Inadequate torque settings can affect measurement accuracy. Over-tightening connectors can damage the cable, the connector, the instrument, or all of these items.
Visually inspect connectors for general wear, cleanliness, and for damage such as bent pins or connector rings. Repair or replace damaged connectors immediately. Dirty connectors can limit the accuracy of your measurements. Damaged connectors can harm the instrument. Connection of cables carrying an electrostatic potential, excess power, or excess voltage can damage the connector, the instrument, or both.
Connecting Procedure
1. Carefully align the connectors. The male connector center pin must slip concentrically into the contact fingers of the female connector.
2. Holding alignment, push connectors straight together. Do not twist or screw them together. A slight resistance can usually be felt as the center conductors mate.
3. To tighten, turn the connector nut, not the connector body. Major damage can occur to the center conductor and to the outer conductor if the connector body is twisted.
4. If you use a torque wrench, initially tighten by hand so that approximately 1/8 turn or 45 degrees of rotation remains for the final tightening with the torque wrench.
Relieve any side pressure on the connection (such as from long or heavy cables) in order to assure consistent torque. Use an open‑end wrench to keep the connector body from turning while tightening the connector nut with the torque wrench.
Do not over-torque the connector nut.
Disconnecting Procedure
1. If a wrench is needed, use an open‑end wrench to keep the connector body from turning while loosening with a second wrench.
2. Complete the disconnection by hand, turning only the connector nut.
3. Pull the connectors straight apart without twisting or bending.
ESD Caution
The Spectrum Master, like other high performance instruments, is susceptible to electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage. Coaxial cables and antennas often build up a static charge, which (if allowed to discharge by connecting directly to the instrument without discharging the static charge) might damage the Spectrum Master input circuitry. Instrument operators must be aware of the potential for ESD damage and take all necessary precautions.
Operators should exercise practices outlined within industry standards such as JEDEC-625 (EIA-625), MIL-HDBK-263, and MIL-STD-1686, which pertain to ESD and ESDS devices, equipment, and practices. Because these apply to the Spectrum Master, Anritsu recommends that any static charges that might be present be dissipated before connecting coaxial cables or antennas to the instrument. This might be as simple as temporarily attaching a short or load device to the cable or antenna prior to attaching to the Spectrum Master. It is important to remember that the operator might also carry a static charge that can cause damage. Following the practices outlined in the above standards will ensure a safe environment for both personnel and equipment.