Sage 930A Communications Test Set

[DavePEI]

HI Pholks:

I bought a Sage 930A this morning for what I felt was a very good price. It was US $74.95, plus    US $12.54  (approx. C $13.67)   International Priority Shipping to Canada and US $14.70 Import charges.

The Sage 930A Communications Test Set is a combination test instrument designed to meet all of the applications associated with testing Network Switching and DS1 Facilities. The standard 930A is a high performance Signaling, TIMS and Return Loss Measuring Set with a built-in DP, MF and DTMF sender.

For me, the best thing about it, is it has a very good dial and TT analyzer in it which in the case of a dial gives dial timing and # break, and in the case of a TT pad or MF, interdigital timing... Of course, it has a whole slew of other features:

Software version 3.27 is installed on this device.

This unit has many options installed:
930A-01: DP, MF, DTMF Receiver / Analyzer
930A-06: Peak to Average Ratio
930A-07: 3 Level Impulse Noise
930A-09: DS1 PCM Dual Direction Drop/Insert with D4 Superframe and ESF Capability
930A-10: RS-232C Remote Control/Printer Interface
930A-12: Remote Office test Line, Interrogator, and Responder (Type 105 Format)

Features: 2- and 4-Wire Access
Loop & Ground Start
Reverse Battery
E&M Signaling Types I and V
Level and Frequency (20 Hz to 5 kHz)
C-MSG, C-Notch, 3 kHz Flat Noise
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
2- and 4- Wire Return Loss
DP, MF & DTMF Sender with Talk Battery
DC Volt and Milli-ammeter
Wink Timing
Impedances 150, 600, 900 & 1200 .

When it arrives and as I become accustomed to using it, I will detail features I use in it which make my day easier. The 930A was originally a $6000 machine but newer versions and eBay pricing have brought it down to affordable levels.

[DavePEI]

While I await the arrival of my Sage 930A, I thought I would fill you in with some of the details on the unit... The 930A is the same unit Jeff Lamb uses to time dials. He has had his for a couple of years and uses it pretty well exclusively for dial timing.

Now, the 930 is essentially a computer, with cards (options) which plug into it. Dial timing requires the Option #1 DP, MF, DTMF Receiver / Analyzer card be installed. Once I have mine set up and operating, I will pass along detailed instructions on setting it up to perform these tests. With the options in mine, it will also do tests which I am sure I will never have the need to perform. But Jeff tells me it remembers what the past test it performed was and will boot up to that test, making it very simple, once you get past the initial learning curve.

Mine has the following options installed:
930A-01: DP, MF, DTMF Receiver / Analyzer **needed for dial timing tests**
930A-06: Peak to Average Ratio
930A-07: 3 Level Impulse Noise
930A-09: DS1 PCM Dual Direction Drop/Insert with D4 Superframe and ESF Capability
930A-10: RS-232C Remote Control/Printer Interface
930A-12: Remote Office test Line, Interrogator, and Responder (Type 105 Format)

Jeff passed along some very interesting information this morning. Jeff has a price list for the 930A and you will be amazed by its initial cost! In comparing my unit and the boards in it to the list:

Sage 930A  (basic unit)    $3,995.00
Card - 01            .......     $1,200.00
Card - 09            .......     $2,850.00
Card - 12            .......     $   800.00

Grand Total                                    $8,845.00

I don't have prices for the other cards that are in your unit, but I
probably wouldn't be far off if I estimated it's total
value at over $10,000.00 USD.

The 930A was introduced in 1999. Amazing how much it has dropped in value today on the used market. However a new model, 930i has been introduced, and no doubt many commercial interests have traded in for newer models, and the fact many don't know what can be done with them has kept their price down on the used markets.

By all accounts they are exceptional units and there are many units available between $70 and $200. Just make sure when you buy one that it has option 1 installed in it if you wish to do dial timing. Beyond that be happy with whatever options are installed - the more the merrier, though many of them you might never use. It isn't often one can find a $10,000 unit for less than $100 which isn't completely roached out. It certainly brings their cost and accuracy within the realm of the hobbyist's budget.

Only buy a unit whose seller will list the included options. Reputable or knowledgeable sellers will.. It would be a shame if you would up with one without option 1.

I just made up a test cable for my unit The basic cable for dial testing is a 310 plug with the tip and ring brought out - for dial testing, sleeve isn't used. Near as I can tell, the WE 310 plug is essentially a stereo or 3 conductor version of the standard switchboard plug. I found one here, a spare ordered when I set up the headphone for my SB-22 p/t military switchboard.  I need to find a few more so I can eventually make up cables for more of the 930A's functions.

More updates after I have performed my first dial test with the unit! Thanks to Jeff for his guidance on this excellent unit!

Dave

[Scotophor]

I see several of these currently listed on eBay, without mention of which options are installed, and I can't tell from the photos. Assuming the usual seller cluelessness, what instructions should I give to the sellers, so that they can accurately relay to me which options are installed -- without my giving away too much information, which might put "ideas" in the head of a dishonest seller?

[DavePEI]

I see several of these currently listed on eBay, without mention of which options are installed, and I can't tell from the photos. Assuming the usual seller cluelessness, what instructions should I give to the sellers, so that they can accurately relay to me which options are installed -- without my giving away too much information, which might put "ideas" in the head of a dishonest seller?

I would say simply ask them - if they can't tell you or won't, avoid them as a seller. The 01 option seems to be pretty universal, but what a shame it would be for someone to buy one for dial timing purposes, only to find it doesn't have the module required to do the timing...

I am looking through the manual and I see no quick and easy way to see which options are installed but there may be a way other than going through each possible option and seeing if it is actually installed....

Dave

[unbeldi]

It is easy to find out which Options are installed.

[unbeldi]

The 930A was introduced in 1999. Amazing how much it has dropped in value today on the used market. However a new model, 830i

The 930A was around a lot earlier than that! It's 1980s technology. I think I have or had a manual from at least 1992.

[DavePEI]

The second most useful option for telephone collectors, unfortunately you didn't get, is the capability to ring a phone (#13). It provides a ring generator and a 3-REN load.

Fortunately, something which doesn't bother me at all - in fact it was a conscious choice. I could have paid another $20 plus a  considerably higher shipping charge and gotten one with option 13, but decided it wasn't worth it to me - I already have 1001 ways to ring a phone 

Can't wait for it to arrive. I already have the TR test cable made up for dial testing. To me, the biggest selling feature on this one was the low shipping costs.

Dave

[DavePEI]

The Sage has arrived, and in great shape. The only thing that needs to be done, is I have to install a new bios battery in it so it will remember its settings from one session to the next. I have ordered and received the replacement battery.

I have made up a fixture for checking dial speeds, but haven't experimented with it as I need to solder the new battery in, and am also tied up with the stuff from Ontario. Also, I had to take a trip to Emergency the other day because of a severe infection in my leg. This has resulted in my being placed on IV antibiotics for the next few weeks...

So, whenever I get all of this settled out, I will put on a report on the Sage checking dial speed!

Dave

[pancho22]

I was wondering what is the difference between the Sage 930A and 930i. I can't find precise information about this on Sage's Web site and I noticed that 930i models are a bit more expensive on eBay.

[unbeldi]

I was wondering what is the difference between the Sage 930A and 930i. I can't find precise information about this on Sage's Web site and I noticed that 930i models are a bit more expensive on eBay.

The 930i is still a current product, I believe, while the 930A was discontinued a long time ago.
The 930i is called the 'international' version, which seems to mean that it uses specs for world-wide use, most notably the PCM interface uses an E1 carrier, not the T-carrier as was standard in the US.
I believe the follow-up US-version to the 930A is the 935AT, also still featured on the Sage website.

For analog telephony measurements the 930A is just fine. You can find them rather cheaply. $20 to $50 is probably a good range to look for, but one can get them as cheaply as $10 occasionally, if you're not in a hurry and keep looking.

When buying, you have to be clear about the features you need and ask sellers to perform the test to determine the configuration. The manuals are available on-line, there are also data sheets.