Agilent E4401B User Manual

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User’s Guide

Agilent Technologies

ESA-E Series Spectrum Analyzers

Option 227

Cable TV Measurement Personality

This manual applies to Cable TV Measurement Personality version A.02.00.

This manual provides documentation for the following instruments:

ESA-E Series

E4401B (9 kHz - 1.5 GHz) E4402B (9 kHz - 3.0 GHz) E4404B (9 kHz - 6.7 GHz) E4405B (9 kHz - 13.2 GHz) E4407B (9 kHz - 26.5 GHz)

Manufacturing Part Number: E4401-90228

Printed in USA

July 2000

Notice

The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. Agilent Technologies makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Agilent Technologies shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for inc idental or con sequentia l damages in conn ection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.

Agilent Technologies assumes no responsibility for the use or reliability of its software on equipment that is not furnished by Agilent Technologies.

Restricted Rights Legend

Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subj ec t to restrictions as set forth in subparagra ph (c)(1)(ii) of the Righ t s in Technical Data and Co mputer Software clause at DFARS 252.227-7013 for DOD agencies, and subparagraphs (c)(1) and (c)( 2) of t he Commercia l Computer Software Res tricte d Rights clause at FAR 52.227-19 for other agencies.

Agilent Technologies 1400 Fountaingrove Parkway Santa Rosa, CA 95403, U.S.A.

Warranty Information

IMPORTANT Certification

Agilent Technologies certifies that this product met its published specifications at the time of shipment from the factory. Agilent Technologies further certifies that its calibration mea surements are tracea ble to the United St ates Nati onal Instit ute of Standards and Technology (NIST, formerly NBS), to the extent allowed by the

Institute’s calibration facility, and to the calibration facil it ie s of other International Standards Organization members.

NOTE The actual warran ty on your instrument dep ends on the date it was ordered as well

as whether or not any warranty options were purchased at that time. To determine the exact warranty on your instrument, contact the nearest Agilent Technologies sales or service office with the model and serial number of your instrument. See the list of sales and service offices in this document.

This Agilent Technologies instrument produc t is warranted against de fects in material and workmanship for the warranty period. During the warranty period, Agilent Technologies will, at its option, either repair or replace products which prove to be defective.

If the warranty covers repair or service to be performed at the Buyer’s facility, then the service or repair will be performed at the Buyer’s facility at no charge within Agilent Technologies service travel areas. Outside Agilent Technologies service travel areas, warranty service will be performed at Buyer’s facility only upon Agilent Technologies prior agreement, and Buyer shall pay Agilent Technologies round-trip trave l expenses. In al l other areas , products must be r eturned to a ser vice facility designated by Agilent Technologies.

If the product is to be retu rned t o Agilent Technologies for service or repa ir , it must be returned to a service facility designated by Agilent Technologies. Buyer shall prepay shipping charges to Agilent Technologies and Agilent Technologies shall pay shipping charges to return the product to Buyer. However, Buyer shall pay all shipping charges, duties, and taxes for products returned to Agilent Technologies from another country.

Agilent Technologies warrants that its software and firmware designated by Agilent Technologies for use with an instrument will execute its programming instructions when p roperl y ins tall ed on t hat instr ument. Agi lent Technologies does not warrant that the operation of the instrument, or software, or firmware will be uninterrupted or error-free.

iii

Limitation of Warranty . The fore going warra nty shall not apply to defects r esulti ng from improper or inadequate maintenance by Buyer, Buyer-supplied software or interfacing, unauthorized modification or misuse, operation outside of the environmental specifications for the product, or improper site preparation or maintenance.

NO OTHER WARRANTY IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES

THE REMEDIES PROVIDED HEREIN ARE BUYER’S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES. AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIA L, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY.

Getting Started

What You Will Find in This Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

Checking the Shipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4

Supported Spectrum Analyzer Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5

Licensing the Cable TV Measurement Personality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6

Installing the Cable TV Measurement Personality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7

Uninstalling the Cable TV Measurement Personality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8

Measurements

What You Will Find in This Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2

Making Channel Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

Step 1. Configure the test system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4

Configuration Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4

User Defined Channel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6

Measurement Bandwidth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6

External Preamplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7

External Pad Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7

Step 2. Connect the signal to the analyzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8

Step 3. Make the measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9

Optimizing the Dynamic Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14

Optimizing the Total Power at the Input. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14

Access the TV Picture Mode (Optional). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23

Modifying the Channel Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24

If You Have a Problem

What You Will Find in This Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2

Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

If the Test Results Are Not What You Expected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4

How to Contact Agilent Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5

Channel Measurements Menu Map

What You Will Find in This Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2

Channel Measurements Menu Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

SCPI Commands

SCPI Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

Test Descriptions

What You Will Find in This Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2

Visual Carrier Level and Visual-to-Aural Level and Frequency Difference Test Description. . . . . . . . . . 6-3

Carrier-to-Noise Ratio Test Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6

Composite Second Order (CSO) Test Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-11

Composite Triple Beat (CTB) Test Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-14

Hum Test Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-16

Depth of Modulation Test Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-19

Specifications and Test Aids

What You Will Find in This Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-2

Cable TV Measurement Specifications and Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-3

C/N, CSO, and CTB Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-6

Channel Identification Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-8

Safety and Regulatory Information

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-2

Cleaning Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-2

Shipping Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-2

Before Applying Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-2

Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-3

Warnings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-3

Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-4

Instrument Markings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-5

Safety, Earth, Ground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-5

Agilent Technologies Sales and Service Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-6

1 Getting Started

Getting Started

What You Will Find in This Chapter

This chapter provi des step-by- step procedur es for setti ng up a spectru m analyzer t o perform cable TV measurements. This chapter contains the following sections:

• Introduction

• Checking the Shipment

• Supported Spectrum Analyzer Requirements

• Licensing the Cable TV Measurement Personality

• Installing the Cable TV Measurement Personality

• Uninstalling the Cable TV Measurement Personality

1-2 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Getting Started

Introduction

With the Agilent Technologies ESA E-Series with Option 227 your spectrum analyzer is both a full-featured spectrum analyzer and a cable TV service and installation analyzer.

The cable TV mode is used to perform channel-by-channel measurements. This allows execution of a single measurement on a single channel.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 1-3

Getting Started

Checking the Shipment

Verify that the following items are in this shipment. Contact your nearest Agilent Technologies sales or service office. (Refer to the Agilent Technologies Sales and

Service Offices” on page 8-6) if any items are missing or damaged.

Table 1-1 ESA Option 227 Materials Supplied

Description Agilent Technologies

Part Number

ESA Option 227

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Personality (Version A.02.00) (provided on 3.5-inch floppy disks)

E4401-90228 1

E4401-10006 1

Quantity

1-4 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Getting Started

Supported Spectrum Analyzer Requirements

The ESA Option 227 is designed to operate with 75 Ω and 50 Ω ESA-E Series spectrum analyzers.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 1-5

Getting Started

Licensing the Cable TV Measurement Personality

Licensing the Cab le TV Measureme nt Personality

In order to start using the features of the Cable TV Measurement Personality, it must be licensed. To license your Cable TV Measurement Personality:

NOTE If you ordered the Cable TV Measurement Personality with a new spectrum

analyzer proceed to st ep 5 of the Installing the Cable TV Measurement

Personality” on page 1-7, and verify that the program is already installed.

1. Turn the spectrum analyzer on. After the analyzer has completed its power on sequence. Press

System, Licensing.

2. Press

Option and use the alpha editor keys to enter the name of the option . For

the Cable TV Measurement Personality the option name is 227.

3. Press

Return to go back to the licensing menu and select License Key . Use

the numeric keypad and the alpha editor keys to enter the appropr ia te licensing key for your spectrum analyzer.

4. Press

Return to return to the licen sing menu and p ress Activate to license your

installed personality.

1-6 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Getting Started

Installing the Cable TV Measurement Personality

The Cable TV Measurement Personality is supplied on a floppy di sk. To install the program into your spectrum analyzer:

1. Press

System, Personalities.

The screen will list the personalities currently installed in your analyzer.

2. Insert the Cable TV Measurement Personality floppy disk into the analyzer disk drive and press now or verify the disk. Press

3. After the installation has been completed press

Install. The installer utility will ask if you wish to install

Install Now to install the personality.

Exit Installer to go back to the

analyzer mode and cycle the power to the analyzer.

4. To verify that the Cable TV Measurement Personality has been properly installed, press

MEASURE and ch eck that the last key is lab eled CATV.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 1-7

Getting Started

Uninstalling the Cable TV Measurement Personality

Uninstalling the Cable TV Measur ement Personality

To uninstall the Cable TV Measurement Personality from the spectrum analyzer follow these steps:

1. Press

2. Press

System, Personalities. Uninstall and using the up

Meas. Pers

3. Press

Uninstall Now. The analyzer will ask you to confirm the command by

pressing

Uninstall Now again. After t he confir mation the Ca ble TV per sonality

will be uninstalled.

.” field.

and down ⇓ arrows select the “

⇑

Cable TV

1-8 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

2 Measurements

Measurements

What You Will Find in This Chapter

This chapter contain s informatio n describing how to make cable TV measurements and how to modify channel plans.

The tests are listed on the following pages along with the keys that activate them.

2-2 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

This section explains the steps that are necessary to make channel measurements. The steps are as follows:

1. Configure the test system

2. Connect the signal to the analyzer

3. Make the measurements

NOTE Early versions (before personality version A.01) required that each measurement

must be turned off prior to changing the channel. Press measurement.

To speed up the testing process the newer personality version allows changing the channels after the measurement has produced a result.

Meas Off to turn off the

Table 2-1 Channel Measurements

To activate Press

Carrier Level and Frequency Carrier to Noise C/N Ratio Composite Second Order/Composite Triple Beat CSO/CTB Hum Hum Depth of Modulation Depth Mod

Carrier Lvl

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 2-3

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

Step 1. Configure the test system

Use MEASURE, CATV, Setup, TVSTD to set up TV standard, channel tu ning, a user defined channel, and an external preamplifier.

NOTE An additional way to set the TV standa rd i s prov ide d if TV Trigger (Option B7B)

is installed. This method is by pressing keys two methods of setting the TV standard work independently of each other. However, wh en a CATV measurement is started, wha tever standard i s set under t he

Trig menu is changed to match the standard that was set under MEASURE.

Therefore , it is important that

MEASURE, CATV, Setup, TVSTD is used to set the

TV standard before starting CATV measurements.

NOTE The information is stored in nonvolatile analyzer memory. This means that the

analyzer retains the information, even when the power is turned off, until you access the setup menu again and change it.

Configuration Procedures

Trig, TV Trig Setup, Standard. The

1. Press

NOTE The default TV standard is set to NTSC-M.

2. Press

MEASURE, CATV, Setup.

TVSTD and choose the appropriate TV standard: NTSC-M, NTSC-J,

PAL-M, PAL-B/G, PAL-D/K, or PAL-I (the default TV standard is set to NTSC-M).

3. Press

NOTE The channel plan that i s shown in th e menu will de pend on which TV standard wa s

Plan and the appropriate channel plan key.

enabled in step 2. For example, if the TV standard NTSC-M was enabl ed i n st ep 2 then the channel plan menu would display the following selections: STD, AIR, IRC, HRC, and T, but would not show the CBL, VHF, or other channel plans.

The default configuration menu allows you to select one of the following channel formats:

• NTSC-M and PAL-M channel plans — STD Standard Cable — AIR Broadcast Channels

— HRC HRC Cable — IRC IRC Cable — T Upstream Channels

2-4 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Making Channel Measurements

• NTSC-J — CBL Japan Standard Cable — AIR Japan Broadcast channels

•PAL-B/G — HRC HRC Cable — VHF VHF Channels — UHF UHF Channels — S S Channels PAL-B/G Standard — S-Cable S Channels PAL-B/G Cable — CENELEC CENELEC Channels

•PAL-D/K — DS China Broadcast Channels

Measurements

— Z China Standard Cable

•PAL-I — HRC HRC Cable — VHF VHF Channels — UHF UHV Channels

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 2-5

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

User Defined Channel

The following keys in the set up menu allow you to de fine the cente r frequenc y and span for a user def ine d chan nel. This channe l is t hen ac cesse d b y sel ectin g c hannel 0 (zero). Refer to Figure 2-1.

Chan 0 Freq Channel 0 center frequency

•

Chan 0 Span Channel 0 span

• One convenient use for Channel 0 is for testing at 44 MHz IF.

Figure 2-1 Channel Tuning Menu

Measurement Bandwidth

Measuremen t Bandwidth carrier to noise, bandwidth default is 4 MHz for NTSC-M, NTSC-J and PAL-M.

NOTE Bandwidth default for PAL-I, PAL-B/G and PAL-D/K is 5 MHz.

2-6 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

External Preamplifier

1. Using an external preamplifier, for analyzers without an internal preamplifier: An external p reamplifier ma y be required for the carrier-to-noise test. Se e

Chapter 6, “Test Descriptions,” which contains more i nformat ion abou t when a preamplifier is required for the carrier-to-noise test. The carrier-to-noise test calculates the noise contribution of the external preamplifier, and reports the correction on the

More Info screen of the carrier-to-noise test. If an external

preamplifier is used, enter the preamplifier gain and noise figure using

Ext Amp Gain and Ext Amp NZ Fig in the Setup menu.

NOTE Inaccurate values used for Ext Amp Gain and Ext Amp NZ Fig can result in

significant measurement errors. Use Agilent 85905A preamplifier with measured data for accurate results.

NOTE If an external preamplifier is not used, Ext Amp Gain and Ext Amp NZ Fig values

must be set to zero or carrier-to-noise ratio calculation errors may occur.

2. Connect the cable TV signal as described in “Step 2. Connect the signal to the

analyzer” on page 2-8.

External Pad Compensation

EXT P AD Yes No key can be used to compensate for the amplitude loss caused

1. by using a 50 Ω to 75 Ω external matching pad. (A 50 Ω to 75 Ω external matching pad is used to match the signal from a 75Ω impedance system to a spectrum analyzer with a 50 Ω impedance input.) The external pad function compensates for the 5.8 dB amplitude loss of the external pad by setting the spectrum analyzer's reference level offset to 5.8 dB.

2. If you are using a spectrum analyzer with 50 Ω input impedance but are not using an external matching pad, the cable TV analyzer mode will compensate for most of the impedance mis mat ch, but ampl itude measure ments ca n have up to ±0.2 dB error caused by the uncompensated mismatch over the frequency range.

This function is set to

No when the ESA Option 227 personality is loaded into

analyzer memory. The setting of the external pad function is stored in nonvolatile spectrum

analyzer memory. Storing the setting in nonvolatile memory means that once the external pad function is set to

Yes, it will remain set to Yes until you

change the setting or delete the ESA Option 227 personality program from analyzer memory.

MEASURE, CATV, Setup to access Ext Pad Yes No.

Press

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 2-7

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

Step 2. Connect the signal to the analyzer

CAUTION To prevent the analyzer input circuits from being damaged, the total power at the

analyzer input must be less than +75 dBmV.

To optimize the analyzer input mixer for the best measurement range without being overloaded, the tota l power at the analyzer input mixe r must be l ess t han +47 dBmV for C/N and less than +37 dBm for CSO/CTB. Total power greater than these will add anal yzer atte nuation. The se values a re 10dB great er tha n the Agilen t 8591C Spectrum Analyzer, resulting in more measurement dynamic range using the Agilent ESA analyzer. Compare the accuracy and characteristics graphs of

Figure 7-1 on page 7-7 with those of the Agilent 8591C analyzer.

For systems with unequal carrier levels (system tilt), the total power must be calculated by summing the individual carriers. The accounts for system tilt.

Total Power key function

You can measure the input power by pressing

Power

. The total power is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

MEASURE, CATV, Setup, Total

Total power at the input mixer can be reduced by increasing input attenuation.

Amplitude, Attenuation and make the adjustment. The analyzer retains a

Press manually selected attenuation until you either select a new value, or reset the analyzer power-on default conditions. For all tests provided by the cable TV measurement personality, the analyzer automatically selects the attenuator setting to meet the above requirements.

2-8 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

Step 3. Make the measurements

Most measurements updat e the result at the end of a sweep or at the en d of multiple sweeps. Refer to each measurement type.

NOTE

Carrier Level and Frequency Test

1. If you accidentally use the wrong key sequence, re-enter the channel. Press

MEASURE, CATV, Channel, enter the channel number, and press Enter.

2. If you want to set the analyzer to the power-on default conditions after using the cable TV functions, you can either cycle the power or press

1. Select a channel and press

MEASURE, CATV, Carrier Lvl. The peak visual

Preset.

carrier level and visual-to-aural carrier difference appear on the screen. See

Figure 2-2.

Frequencies and power ratios for both sound carriers are displayed when the following TV standards (and associated sound carriers) are used:

• PAL-I with NICAM

•PAL-B/G

• PAL-B/G with NICAM See Figure 2-3 on page 2-10 and Figure 2-4 on page 2-11.

2. If it is available, press

Nicam On Off (On). A true RMS power measurement is

made across the NICAM band and the visual-to-sound power ratios are displayed.

NOTE The Nicam key is availabl e onl y whe n PAL-I or PAL-B/G has been selected in the

TVSTD menu. It is not an indication that a NICAM carrier is present in the

channel.

3. Press

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 2-9

MEASURE, CATV, Meas Off to exit th e test. Meas Control to control single sweep, pause, and restart.

Press

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

Figure 2-2 Carrier Level Measurement (NTSC-M)

Figure 2-3 Carrier Level Measurement (PAL-B/G with Nicam Off)

2-10 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Making Channel Measurements

Figure 2-4 Carrier Level Measurement (PAL-B/G with Nicam On)

Measurements

NOTE For best results, the carrier-to-noise ratio (in 4 MHz BW or 5 MHz BW) of the

system should be 40 dB or greater, and the measured signal level should be 30 dB or greater above the displayed noise during the test.

For sync suppressed scrambled signals the results will be inconsistent. To stabilize the result press the max hold function then

View/Trace, Max Hold. To exit the test, press Clear Write to exit

MEASURE, CATV, Measure Off. To speed level

measurements on a number of channels, a new channel can be tuned during the measurement. Press

Channel, enter the channel number, and press Enter or use the

up arrow ⇑ or down arrow ⇓ to move to adjacent channels.

Carrier-to-Noise Test

1. Select a channel, then press

2. Perform th e following steps:

MEASURE, CATV, C/N Ratio.

a. The marker defaults to the minimum system noise near the lower channel

boundary. Wait for the analyzer to return an answer. b. Remove the carrier and modulation to perform the carrier-to-noise test. c. Press

Marker, then using the knob, move the marker to the desired position

in the indic ated “FCC MEASUREMENT RANGE.” Refer to Figure 2-5 on

page 2-12.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 2-11

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

NOTE “FCC Measurement Range” is onl y applied fo r NTSC-M, NTSC-J and PAL-M TV

standards . The messag e “Measurement Range” will be di sp layed for the other TV standards. See Figure 2-6 on page 2-13.

The FCC measurement range ba ndwi dth is defined as 4 MHz. Mea sur ement r ange bandwidths other than the FCC measurement range bandwidth are defined as 5 MHz.

Change the measurement bandwidth by pressing

Meas BW, and enter the desired bandwidth.

d. Use averaging to stabilize the result. Press

MEASURE, CATV, Setup,

BW/Avg, Averaging On. Check

that the average type is set to video.

The carrier-to-noise test compares the system noise level at the analyzer input to that of the analyzer itself. If these levels are within 3 dB of each other, the analyzer will display the message “

See More Info

” (under the measurement result. If the difference is less than 2.2 dB, the message is in inverse video. Refer to Chapter 6, “Test Descriptions,” for more detailed information about the carrier-to-noise measurement.

3. Press

More Info to display the carrier-to-noise calculation. See Figure 2-7 on

page 2-13. To exit the test, press

MEASURE, CATV, Meas Off.

Figure 2-5 Carrier-to-Noise — FCC Measurement Range (NTSC-M)

Meas Setup) next to

2-12 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Figure 2-6 Carrier-to-Noise (PAL-B/G)

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

Figure 2-7 Carrier-to-Noise, More Information (NTSC-M)

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 2-13

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

Carrier to Noise with an External Preamplifier

Preamplifier noise is calculated and corrected when an external preamplifier is used. External preamplifier gain and noise figure are used for this calculation. External preamplifier keys

Ext Amp Gain and Ext Amp NZ Fig are used only for

this purpose. Refer to the notes under “External Preamplifier” on page 2-7 for

proper usage.

1. When using a tunable bandpass filter, first peak the filter using the

Carrier Lvl key. Press Meas Off, C/N Ratio. Place the marker to measure the

carrier- to-noise clos e enough to the car rier to minimi ze any roll-of f ef fect of the bandpass filter.

2. Carrier-to-noise measurement accuracy is degraded as the cable TV system noise approaches the analyzer noise. This is reflected in the magnitude of the analyzer noise correction value.

3. Note the analyzer noise correction value by pressing

More Info.

• if less than 0.5 dB, then C/N accuracy is ±1 dB

• if equal to 0.5 dB, then C/N accuracy is ±1.25 dB

• if equal to 3 dB, then C/N accuracy is ±2 dB

• if equal to 7 dB, then C/N accuracy is ±3.5 dB

• if greater than 7 dB, C/N is out of measurement range

4. The analyzer input a ttenuator se ts the noise f loor of th e analyzer. The attenuator is set to not overload the first mixer. For carrier to no ise, the attenu ator switch point from 0 to 5 dB is at +47 dBmV to tal power at the input. (This r ange is 10 dB more than the Agilent 8591C spectrum analyzer.)

Optimizing the Dynamic Range

Limiting the number of carriers input to the analyzer allows the measurement routine to select a lower attenuator value, providing the analyzer a lower noise floor . This ca n be done with individ ual channel filters, a high pass filt er , a low pass filter or an adjustable bandpass filter.

When the attenuator switches to the next higher value, the noise floor raises 5 dB which degrades the signal to noise ratio by 5 dB. For C/N, the attenuator switches from 0 dB to 5 dB at +47 dBmV. Keeping the total power just below that will obtain the best signal to noise ratio.

A 1 dB (or smalle r than 5 dB) step attenuator used in conjuncti on with a filter will provide the best coverage of signal range for optimizing the total power at the input.

Optimizing the Total Power at the Input

If the analyzer correc tion value dict ates that it is nece ssary to optimize the analyzer noise floor for a particular configuration, press

Power

MEASURE, CATV, Setup, Total

2-14 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

For carrier to nois e, th e attenuator switch point from 0 dB to 5 dB attenuatio n is at +47 dBmV. The attenuator switch point from 5 dB to 10 dB is at +52 dBmV and increments proportionately with each 5 dB step in attenuation.

Measuring C/N with modulation on is limited to a maximum range of 55 dB. Measuring C/N with modulation off within 2 MHz of the carrier is limited to a maximum range of 55 dB. For a higher maximum C/N range, measure noise farther than 2 MHz from the carrier when th e carrier is on , o r turn the carrier off. Refer to the g raphs shown in

Figure 7-1 on page 7-7.

Composite Second Order/Composite Triple Beat

1. Select a channel, then press

2. Perform th e following steps: a. The marker de faults to the lower beat.

MEASURE, CATV, CSO/CTB.

(CSO/CTB) Test

b. To perform the carrier-to-beats test remove the carrier and modulation by

turning the modulator off.

NOTE The carrier-to-b eats test for NTSC-M, NTSC-J, and PAL-M is done according to

FCC requirements.

c. Using the knob, move the marker to the desired beat. See

Figure 2-8 on page 2-17. Note that if the mar ker i s not a ct ive , yo u wi ll need

to press the

NOTE For NTSC-J, please refer to Figure 2-9 on page 2-17 and for PAL-B/G, PAL-D/K

Marker key. Alternatively, press Meas Setup, Next Beat.

and PAL-I refer to Figure 2-10 on page 2-18.

d. Turn averaging on by pressing

averaging type is video. Press

BW/Avg, Average On. Check that the

Return to get back to the cable measure

menu.

3. Move the marker to the nex t beat by pressing

Next Beat. Using the front-panel

knob will also allow measuring beats other than at the standard CSO/CTB offsets.

The results of the measurement are displayed at the bottom of the analyzer display.

4. Press

Meas Setup, and then Atten Down or Atten Up, to make the attenuator

check for analyzer gene rate d beats when no t usin g a bandpa ss fil ter. Switch the attenuator up and down to check for changes in the beat level.

If the beat level does not change, then the beat is not generated in the analyzer. If the beat level changes with attenuator changes, then raise the attenuator setting until the bea t l ev el no longer changes. The di spl ayed noise may prevent accurate measurement results.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 2-15

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

NOTE The measurement automatically sets the attenuator to prevent analyzer generated

beats upon entering the test. The analyzer switches from 0 dB attenuation to 5 dB attenuation at +37 dBmV of total power at the input.

5. Remove the carrier, or press or below the carri er (i f an op en sp ace ex ists) . Eac h time

CTB Up or CTB Down to measure the CTB ab ove

CTB Up is pressed, the

marker is automatically positioned at the next CTB above the carrier (+6 MHz increments). Each time

CTB Down is pressed, the marker is automatically

positioned at the next CTB below the carrier (−6 MHz increments).

NOTE ±6 MHz increments only are applied for NTSC-M, NTSC-J and PAL-M TV

standards. PAL-B/G, P AL-D/K and PAL-I will have ±7 MHz or ±8 MHz, ±8 MHz and ±8 MHz increments respectively.

6. Press the test, press

NOTE When using a tunable bandpass filter, first peak the filter using Carrier Lvl. Make

More Info key to display the carrier-to-beat calculation. To exit the

MEASURE, CATV, Meas Off.

sure the filter band width is suf fici ent that the beats are not rolled off. See Table 2-2 below .

Table 2-2 Boundary Beats

TV Standard Lowest

Beat (MHz)

Highest

Beat (MHz)

NTSC-M –1.25 +1.25 NTSC-J –1.25 +4.00 PA L-M –1.25 +1.25 PAL-B/G

(7 MHz span) PAL-B/G

(8 MHz span) PAL-D/K CTB +6.25 PAL-I CTB +6.25

CTB +5.25

CTB +6.25

2-16 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Figure 2-8 CSO/CTB Measurement (NTSC-M)

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

Figure 2-9 CSO/CTB Measurement (NTSC-J)

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 2-17

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

Figure 2-10 CSO/CTB Measurement (PAL-B/G)

NOTE See the graphs, Figu re 7-1 on page 7-7, for measurement range versus visual

carrier level.

Hum Test

1. Select a channel or tune directly to the carrier to be measured. Make sure that the desired carri er is the highest on t he screen by adjus ting the ce nter fre quency or span as needed. Turn off modulation (optional), then press

CATV, Hum. See Figure 2-11 on page 2-19.

NOTE After pressing Hum, the analyzer determines if video modula tion is presen t or not.

MEASURE,

If the video modulation is on and the test result is greater than 3 percent, an additional message appears advising the operator to retest using a CW signal only.

2. Press

More Info to perform a single sweep and a Fast Fourier Transform (FF T)

to separate power line related components. See Figure 2-12 on page 2-20. 60 Hz, 120 Hz, 180 Hz, and 240 Hz are displayed. This is intended to be used

as a troubleshooting aid. A relatively high 60 Hz level implies inadequate grounding or stray power util ity neutral cur rents. A relativel y high 120 Hz level implies poor filtering of a full-wave rectifier in a power supply.

NOTE For TV standards PAL-B/G, PAL-D/K and PAL-I, 50 Hz, 100 Hz, 15 0 Hz and 200

Hz are displayed instead. These values also are intended to be used as a troubleshooting aid. A high 50 Hz level inplies inadequate grounding or stray power utility neutral currents. A high 100 Hz level inplies poor filtering of a full-wave rectifier in a power supply. See Figure 2-13 on page 2-20.

3. To exit the test, press

2-18 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

MEASURE, CATV, Meas Off.

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

NOTE For best result s, the c hannel carrier -t o-noise ratio s hould be 4 0 dB or greater (in a 4

MHz or 5 MHz noise bandwidth). The hum test requires a carrier wave. It cannot give meaningful results when a

channel uses sync suppression scrambling (unless the measurement is made at the subscriber terminal output of a descrambler). Measuring hum with video modulation present requires that all sync tips have the same general level in order to measure their variation.

Invalid information is given when the hu m test is perf ormed on channe ls with sync suppression scrambling.

Figure 2-11 Hum Measurement (NTSC-M)

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 2-19

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

Figure 2-12 Hum, More Information (NTSC-M)

Figure 2-13 HUM, More Information (PAL-B/G)

Depth of Video Modulation Test

1. Select the channel and press updated every 50 analyzer sweeps (approximately every 6 seconds). Refer to

Measure, CATV, Depth Mod. The result is

Figure 2-14.

2. To exit the test, press

3. Press the

2-20 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Meas Control key to control single sweep, pause, and restart.

MEASURE, CATV, Meas Off.

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

NOTE Large amounts of hum and low frequency disturbances may affect the

measurement result. If so use the TV Line optional test.

NOTE This test must have a white level present during the vertical interval because

program video may not always have white level available.

4. For spectrum analyzers with TV Trigger (Option B7B) and Fast Time-Domain Sweeps (Option AYX), the test can also be performed on an indiv idual TV li ne:

a. Press

Meas Setup, TV Line.

Results are returned approximately every second. This helps when making modulator adjustments.

Figure 2-14 Depth of Video Modulation Measurement (NTSC-M)

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 2-21

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

Figure 2-15 TV Line Number (NTSC-M)

b. To change the TV line number, either enter the new number and press the

Enter key, or use the up and down arrow keys

(⇑ and

to increment and dec remen t, re spect ively, the current line number

⇓)

by one. Refer to Figure 2-15.

c. To view multiple horizontal lines, change the sweep time by pressing

Sweep, Sweeptime. Enter the new number then press ks, s, ms, or µs.

Return to return to the cable TV menu.

Press

NOTE The displayed video is i nvert ed from ho w it would appear on a wavef orm anal yzer

(that is, sync is displayed at the top in this test and would be displayed at the bottom with a waveform analyzer).

NOTE If no white reference is available the test can be changed to a Quiet Line. Ideally, it

should read 25%.

1. Press

Meas Setup, More Info to display the ideal value, and other

measurement considerations. Refer to Figure 2-16 on page 2-23.

2-22 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Making Channel Measurements

Figure 2-16 Depth of Video Modulation, More Information (NTSC-M)

Measurements

Access the TV Picture Mode (Optional)

1. Select a channel, then press

2. Press the

Tab keys to select the desired channel to view. Press the Tab |

to increment the channel and the

MEASURE, CATV, Picture.

Tab

key to decrement the channel.

←|

Pressing almost any other key will exit the TV picture display.

3. To select and view any desired channel press

4. To exit the mode, press

NOTE Option B7B is required to access the TV Picture mode.

MEASURE, CATV, Meas Off.

MEASURE, CATV, Channel.

TV Picture Mode is useful for channel identification. Picture quality is compromised by using the spectrum analyzer resolution bandwidth filters, which are not shaped to reject adjacent channel carriers. This results in herringbone patterns superimposed on the picture.

→

key

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 2-23

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

Modifying the Channel Plan

This section explains the steps that are necessary to change the default channel plan. The steps are as follows:

1. Copy the CTNTSCM.PLN file onto a floppy disk.

2. Edit the CTNTSCM.PLN file

3. Install the CTNTSCM.PLN file The CTNTSCM.PLN file contains the information necessary to define up to five

channel plans. Each channel plan defines the center and span for each of the channels.

NOTE For TV standards other than NTSC-M, different channel plane files are used. To

change these channel plan s, follo w the abov e three st eps with the chann el plan fi le corresponding to the desired TV standard. See Table 2-3 .

Table 2-3 Channel Plan Files

Step 1. Copy the CTNTSCM.PLN file onto a floppy disk

Channel Plan File TV Standard Max Allowed Channel Plan

CTNTSCJ.PLN NTSC-J 2 CTPALM.PLN PAL-M 5 CTPALBG.PLN PAL-B/G 6 CTPALDK.PLN PAL-D/K 2 CTPALI.PLN PAL-I 3

1. Insert a formatted (PC environment) floppy disk into the analyzer floppy disk drive.

2. Press

3. Select

File, Copy.

Type, All and use th e up and down arrow keys (

⇑

and

to highlight the

⇓)

CTNTSCM.PLN file in the [-C -] directory.

4. Select

Dir To, Dir Select. Use the up and down arrow keys (⇑ and ⇓) to

highlight the [-A-] drive.

5. Press

Dir Select, Copy Now. You should now have a copy of the

CTNCSTM.PLN file on your floppy disk.

6. Using your PC verify that the floppy disk contains the CTNTSCM.PLN file.

2-24 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

Step 2. Edit the CTNTSCM.PLN File

To edit the CTNTSCM.PLN file, you will need an ASCII text editor and a PC.

Refer to the “CTNTSCM.PLN file below. The following notations are used within the file:

! – Name of plan @ – Start channel # – End channel $ x, y – Where x is the center frequency and y is the span ;– Comment

NOTE (“...” denotes a break in the file)

NOTE The same notations are used throughout every channel plan file

CTNTSCM.PLN File ; This file is the channel pla n for NTSC-M ; Use the following symbols ; ! = Name plan ; @ = Start channel ; # = End channel ; $ x, y = where x is center frequency, y is span ; ; = comment

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 2-25

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

! STD

@ –13 # 158 $ 45250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–13 $ 39250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–12 $ 33250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–11 $ 27250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–10 $ 21250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–9 $ 15250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–8 $ 9250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–7 $ 0.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–6 $ 0.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–5 $ 0.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–4 $ 0.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–3 $ 0.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–2 $ 0.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–1 $ 45500000.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #0 $ 51500000.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #1 $ 57500000.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #2 $ 63500000.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #3 . . . ! AIR @ –13 # 158 $ 45250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–13 $ 39250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–12 $ 33250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–11 $ 27250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–10 $ 21250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–9 $ 15250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–8 $ 9250000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–7 $ 0.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–6 $ 0.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–5 $ 0.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–4 $ 0.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–3 $ 0.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–2 $ 0.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #–1 $ 45500000.0000 , 6000000.000000 ;Channel #0 . . .

2-26 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Measurements

Making Channel Measurements

Step 3. Installing the CTNTSCM.PLN file

1. Copy the edited CTNTSCM.PLN file to a floppy disk.

2. Insert the disk into the analyzer.

3. Press the

File key, then follow Step 1. Copy the CTNTSCM.PLN file onto a

floppy disk on page 2-24, but use the [-A-] drive as your “from” directory (

From

key), and the [-C-] drive as your “to” directory (Dir To key).

The channel plan is now installed. Cycle the power on the analyzer.

MEASURE, Setup, Plan and select the appropriate new channel plan.

Press

Dir

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 2-27

3 If You Have a Problem

If You Have a Problem

What You Will Find in This Chapter

The purpose of this chapter is to help you if you have a problem. If the problem is related to the spectrum analyzer mode of operation, consult the documentation for the analyzer.

This chapter is divided into the following sections:

• Problems that are indicated by error messages that appear on the analyzer display.

• Other types of problems (problems that are not indicated by error messages).

• How to contact Agilent Technologies.

3-2 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

If You Have a Problem

Error Messages

A Parameter has changed. Results may be invalid (press ESC to clear).

This message indicate s that a change was made (such as to th e span parameter) that may affect t he vali dity of the meas ureme nt re sults . To clear this message, pr ess th e

Esc key.

To solve the problem:

• Return the changed parameter to the original value, or press

C/N Ratio (for

example), to restart the measurement.

Option Not Installed

This message appears when the internal preamplifier is not installed. This is normal for instruments without a preamplifier.

TV Standard not Supported, Set to Previous Setting

This message appears only if TV Trigger (Option B7B) is installed. It appears when trying to set the TV standard under the

Trig key to a standard other than one

of the following when a CATV measurement is active:

• NTSC-M

• NTSC-JAPAN

•PAL-M

• PAL-B/D/G/H/I If this occu rs, then the TV standard un der the

Trig key will be reset to its previous

setting.

TV Standard Under Standard is Set to the one Under Setup

This message appears only if TV Trigger (Option B7B) is installed. It appears at the beginning of the measurement when the TV standard under the TV standard under the measurement is started, what ever standa rd is set under the match the standard that was set under

MEASURE key are not the same. When a CATV

Trig menu is changed to

MEASURE, CATV, Setup, TVSTD. This

Trig key and

message is shown to let you know that this change has been made.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 3-3

If You Have a Problem

If the Test Results Are Not What You Expected

If the test results are not what you expected, it could be because of one of the following:

CAUTION Do not exceed the specified power input limit for the analyzer.

• The input signal was not connected. — Ensure that the signal is present at the analyzer input.

• The input signal is too low to be measured. — If the input signal is too low, use a preamplifier to boost the input signal

(ensure that the voltage and power of the input signal does not exceed the specified input limits for the analyzer). See Chapter 7, “Specifications and

Test Aids,” for more information about the minimum carrier level needed.

3-4 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

If You Have a Problem

How to Contact Agilent Technologies

How to Contac t Agilent Technologies

In the unlikely event that s omething goes w rong with your analyzer, refer to th e documentation that came with the analyzer about returning the component for service. If you need to contact Agilent Technologies for a problem with the ESA Option 227 Cable TV Measurement Personality, you can call your nearest Agilent Technologies Sales and Service office listed on “Agilent Technologies Sales and

Service Offices” on page 8-6.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 3-5

4 Channel Measurements Menu Map

Channel Measurements Menu Map

What You Will Find in This Chapter

This chapter contains the channel measurements menu map.

4-2 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Channel Measurements Menu Map

The following menu map shows all channel measurement mode keys and how t hey are accessed. The words wit hin the o vals d esignate the fron t pane l key that must be pressed to access the given menu.

Figure 4-1 Channel Measurements Main Menu

Channel Measurements Menu Map

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 4-3

5 SCPI Commands

SCPI Commands

This chapter contains the SCPI commands used with the ESA Option 227 Cable TV Measurement Personality.

NOTE Some familiarity with the SCPI language is necessary to run these commands

properly. A copy of all four volumes of the SCPI Standard can be obtain ed through the SCPI Consortium. For more information, visit their web site at www.scpiconsortium.org/scpistandard.htm.

Table 5-1 on page 5-3 contains the SCPI commands used with the Cable TV

Measurement Personality (ESA Option 227). A French brace notation { } is used in some cases to show the allowed set of values. The square brace notation [ ] is used for default SCPI nodes.

Before any measurement is performed, it is important to use the SETup command to set the desired TV standard and other necessary configuration parameters, as well as the CHANnel command to set the desired channel.

NOTE An additional way to set the TV standard is provided if TV Trigger (Option B7B)

is installed. This method is by pressing keys Trig, TV Trig Setup, Standard. The two methods of setting the TV standard work independently of each other. However, when a CATV measurement is started, whatever standard was set using the TRIG command is c hanged to mat ch the stand ard th at was set us ing th e SETup command.. Therefore, it is important that the SETup command is used to set the TV standard before starti ng CATV measurements.

NOTE TV standard information is stored in nonvolatile analyzer memory. The analyzer

will retain the information even when the power has been turned off. You do not need to set the TV standard every time the instrument is powered up.

To set the TV standard PAL-I using the SETup command, type: SETup: TVSTandard IPAL;

5-2 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

SCPI Commands

To set the channel plan to the first channel plan of the desired TV standard in the CTNTSCM.PLN (TV standard NTSC-M for instance) and channel number to 3, you would type:

CHANnel:MNTSc:0; CHANnel:NUMBer:3; For each measurement there is a MEASure group of commands that allows the

user to control the measurement process i n varying degrees. MEASure:<MEAS> ? (where <MEAS> is the SCPI command for the desired measurement) performs the complete process where the analyzer is configured, a measurement is performed and all the results the measurement produces are returned.

When more control of the measurement is required, combining the CONFigure:<MEAS>? and READ:<MEAS>? commands is equivalent to the MEASure:<MEAS>? command, but with more flexibility. The analyzer configuration is performed with the CONFigure:<MEAS>? command, and the READ:<MEAS>? command runs the measurement and returns the requested value.

Furthermore, the same effects of the RE AD:<MEAS>? command can be obtained by combining the INITiate:[IMMediate] and FETCh:<MEAS>? commands. INITiate:[IMMediate] takes care of the data acquisition while FETCh:<MEAS>? functions on a single set of acquired data. An example of equivalent of command sets for the Composite Second Order (CSO)/Composite Triple Beat (CTB) measurement is presented in Table 5-2 on page 5-9.

NOTE It is important to make sure that the SCPI commands allow enough time for the

measurement to produce a result, otherwise you might experience time-out errors. Also, the [SENse] set of commands should be performed only when their corresponding measurements are running.

Table 5-1 SCPI Commands

Command Description

:CHANnel:BPAL{0 to 5} Set/Query the PAL-B/G Channel Plan

(6 plan Maximum)

:CHANnel:DPAL{0 to 1} Set/Query the PAL-D/K Channel Plan

(2 Plan Maximum)

:CHANnel:IPAL{0 to2 } Set/Query the PAL-I Channel Plan

(3 Plan Maximum)

:CHANnel:JNTSc{0 to 1} Set/Query the NTSC-J Channel Plan

(2 Plan Maximum)

:CHANnel:MNTSc{0 to 4} Set/Query the NTSC-M Channel Plan

(5 Plan Maximum)

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 5-3

SCPI Commands

Table 5-1 SCPI Commands

Command Description

:CHANnel:MPAL{0 to 4} Set/Query the PAL-M Channel Plan

:CHANnel:NUMBer Set/Query the Channel :CHANnel:UFRequency Set/Query the User 0 Frequency :CHANnel:USPan Set/Query the User 0 Span :CONFigure:CARLvl Configure Carrier Level Measurement :CONFigure:CARNois Configure Carrier to Noise Measurement :CONFigure:CSOCTB Configure CSO/CTB Measurement :CONFigure:DMODulation Configure Depth of Modulation Measurement :CONFigure:HUM Configure Hum Measurement :CONFigure:TPOWer Configure Total Power Measurement

(5 Plan Maximum)

:FETCh:CARLvl?

Return Carrier Level

, Aural Level, Aural 2 Level,

Carrier Frequency, Aural, Frequency, and Aural 2 Frequency

:FETCh:CARLvl:AUR? Return Aural Level :FETCh:CARLvl:AURFREQ? Return Aural Frequency :FETCh:CARLvl:AUURFREQ?

Return Aural 2 Frequency

:FETCh:CARLvl:AURS? Return Aural 2 Level :FETCh:CARLvl:CAR?

Return Carrier Level

:FETCh:CARLvl:CARFREQ? Return Carrier Frequency :FETCh:CARNois? Return Carrier to Noise Ratio :FETCh:CARNois:ANFCorrection? Return External Amp Noise Correction Factor :FETCh:CARNois:BWCOrrection? Return Measurement Bandwidth Correction :FETCh:CARNois:CAR?

Return Carrier Level

:FETCh:CARNois:CNR? Return Carrier to Noise Ratio :FETCh:CARNois:LDCorrect? Return Log Detection Correction Factor :FETCh:CARNois:MEASBW? Retu rn Measu r emen t Bandwidth :FETCh:CARNois:NCORrected?

Return Corrected Noise Level

:FETCh:CARNois:NEPBW? Return Noise Equivalent Power Bandwidth :FETCh:CARNois:NNNCorr? Return Near Noise Correction Factor

5-4 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Table 5-1 SCPI Commands

Command Description

SCPI Commands

:FETCh:CARNois:TPOWer?

:FETCh:CARNois:UCNoise?

Return Total Power

Return Uncorrected Noise Level at Marker

:FETCh:CSOCTB? Return Beat Level and Offset Frequency :FETCh:CSOCTB:CBEAt? Return Beat Level :FETCh:CSOCTB:COFFset? Return Offset Frequency :FETCh:DMODulation? Measure Depth of Modulation :FETCh:HUM?

:FETCh:HUM:HUMJapan?

:FETCh:HUM:HUMpercent?

:FETCh:HUM:MKRDb?

Return Hum Percent (FFT), Marker Percent

Return Hum dB

Return Hum Percent

Return Marker dB

, Hum dBd, Marker Frequency

(FFT) and Marker dBd(FFT)

(FFT)

:FETCh:HUM:MKRFreq? Return Marker Frequency (FFT)

(FFT)

:FETCh:HUM:MKRPercent?

:FETCh:TPOWer?

Return Marker Percent

Return Total Power

:FETCh:TPOWer:POWer?

:MEASure:CARLvl?

Return Total Power

Measure Carrier Level

, Aural Level, Aural 2 Level,

Carrier Frequency, Aural Frequency and Aural 2 Frequency

:MEASure:CARLvl:AUR? Measure Aural Level :MEASure:CARLvl:AURFREQ? Measure Aural Frequency :MEASURE:CARLvl:AURFREQS?

Measure Aural 2 Frequency

:MEASURE:CARLvl:AURS? Measure Aural 2 Level :MEASure:CARLvl:CAR?

Measure Carrier Level

:MEASure:CARLvl:CARFREQ? Measure Carrier Frequency :MEASure:CARNois? Measure Carrier to Noise Ratio :MEASure:CARNois:ANFCorrection? Measure External Amp Noise Correction Factor :MEASure:CARNois:BWCOrrection? Measure Measurement Bandwidth Correction :MEASure:CARNois:CAR?

Measure Carrier Level

:MEASure:CARNois:CNR? Measure Carrier to Noise Ratio

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 5-5

SCPI Commands

Table 5-1 SCPI Commands

Command Description

:MEASure:CARNois:LDCorrect? Measure Log Detection Correction Factor :MEASure:CARNois:MEASBW? Measure Measurement Bandwidth :MEASure:CARNois:NCORrected?

Measure Corrected Noise Level

:MEASure:CARNois:NEPBW? Measure Noise Equivalent Power Bandwidth :MEASure:CARNois:NNNCorr? Measure Near Noise Correction Factor :MEASure:CARNois:TPOWer?

:MEASure:CARNois:UCNoise?

Measure Total Power

Measure Uncorrected Noise Level at Marker

:MEASure:CSOCTB? Measure Beat Level and Offset Frequency :MEASure:CSOCTB:CBEAt? Measure Beat Level :MEASure:CSOCTB:COFFset? Measure Offset Frequency :MEASure:DMODulation? Measure Depth of Modulation :MEASure:HUM?

:MEASure:HUM:HUMJapan?

:MEASure:HUM:HUMpercent?

:MEASure:HUM:MKRDb?

Measure Hum Percent (FFT), Marker Percent

Measure Hum dB

Measure Hum Percent

Measure Marker dB

, Hum dBd, Marker Frequency

(FFT) and Marker dBd (FFT)

(FFT)

:MEASure:HUM:MKRFreq? Measure Marker Frequency (FFT) :MEASure:HUM:MKRPercent?

:MEASure:TPOWer?

:MEASure:TPOWer:POWer?

:READ:CARLvl?

Measure Marker Percent

Measure Total Power

Measure Carrier Level

(FFT)

, Aural Level, Aural 2 Level,

Carrier Frequency, Aural Frequency and Aural 2 Frequency

:READ:CARLvl:AUR? Measure Aural Level :READ:CARLvl:AURFREQ? Measure Aural Frequency :READ:CARLvl:AURFREQS?

Measure Aural 2 Frequency

:READ:CARLvl:AURS? Measure Aural 2 Level :READ:CARLvl:CAR?

Measure Carrier Level

:READ:CARLvl:CARFREQ? Measure Carrier Frequency

5-6 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Table 5-1 SCPI Commands

Command Description

:READ:CARNois? Measure Carrier to Noise Ratio :READ:CARNois:ANFCorrection? Measure External Amp Noise Correction Factor :READ:CARNois:BWCOrrection? Measure Measurement Bandwidth Correction

SCPI Commands

:READ:CARNois:CAR?

Measure Carrier Level

:READ:CARNois:CNR? Measure Carrier to Noise Ratio :READ:CARNois:LDCorrect? Measure Log Detection Correction Factor :READ:CARNois:MEASBW? Measure Measurement Bandwidth :READ:CARNois:NCORrected?

Measure Corrected Noise Level

:READ:CARNois:NEPBW? Measure Noise Equivalent Power Bandwidth :READ:CARNois:NNNCorr? Measure Near Noise Correction Factor :READ:CARNois:TPOWer?

:READ:CARNois:UCNoise?

Measure Total Power

Measure Uncorrected Noise Level at Marker

:READ:CSOCTB? Measure Beat Level and Offset Frequency :READ:CSOCTB:CBEAt? Measure Beat Level :READ:CSOCTB:COFFset? Measure Offset Frequency :READ:DMODulation? Measure of Modulation :READ:HUM?

Measure Hum Percent (FFT), Marker Percent

, Hum dBd, Marker Frequency

(FFT) and Marker dBd (FFT)

:READ:HUM:HUMJapan?

:READ:HUM:HUMpercent?

:READ:HUM:MKRDb?

Measure Hum dB

Measure Hum Percent

Measure Marker dB

(FFT)

:READ:HUM:MKRFreq? Measure Marker Frequency (FFT)

(FFT)

:READ:HUM:MKRPercent?

:READ:TPOWer?

:READ:TPOWer:POWer?

Measure Marker Percent

Measure Total Power

[:SENSe]:CARLvl:NICam{ON/OFF} Set NICAM Carrier for Carrier Level and Frequency

Measurement [:SENSe]:CARNois:MINFo {ON/OFF} Set/Query More info for Carrier to Noise Measurement [:SENSe]:CSOCTB:ATTDown Decrease Attenuation by 5 dB

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 5-7

SCPI Commands

Table 5-1 SCPI Commands

Command Description

[:SENSe]:CSOCTB:ATTUp Increase Attenuation by 5 dB [:SENSe]:CSOCTB:CTBDown Set marker to next CTB below carrier [:SENSe]:CSOCTB:CTBUp Set marker to next CTB above carrier [:SENSe]:CSOCTB:MINFo {ON/OFF} Set/Query More info for CSO/CTB Measurement [:SENSe]:CSOCTB:NEXTbeat Set marker to next beat [:SENSe]:DMODulation:MINFo

{ON/OFF} [:SENSe]:DMODulation:TVLine

{1 to 525} [:SENSe]:HUM:MINFo {ON/OFF} Set/Query More info for Hum Measurement :SETup:EXTGain

:SETup:EXTNZ

:SETup:MEASbw Set /Query Measurement Bandwidth for Carrier to Noise :SETup:EXTPad {ON/OFF} Set/Query the External Pad Feature :SETup:TVSTandard

{MNTSc/JNTSc/MPAL/BPAL/DPAL/ IPAL}

Set/Query More info for Depth of Mod. Measurement

Set/Query TV Line number

Set/Query External Amp Gain

Set/Query Amp Noise Figure

Set/Query the TV Standard

a. Result displayed in dBm unit. b. Result resets to zero for NICAM carrier c. Initialized to zero NTSC-J d. Initialized to zero except NTSC-J e. Range changes to {1 to 625} for PAL-B/G, PAL-D/K, PAL-I f. See the notes on page 7 in Chapter 7 for proper usage.

5-8 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Table 5-2 Examples of SCPI Usage in the CSOCTB Measurement

Command Result

MEASure:CSOCTB?; Returns beat level and offset frequency results. CONFigure:CSOCTB;

INITiate; FETCH:CSOCTB?; CSOCTB:NEXTbeat; INITiate; FETCH:CSOCTB?;

Returns beat level and offset frequency results.

Returns next beat level and offset frequency results.

SCPI Commands

CONFigure:CSOCTB; READ:CSOCTB:COFFset?;

CONFigure:CSOCTB; INITiate; FETCH:CSOCTB:COFFset?;

Returns offset frequency results.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 5-9

6 Test Descriptions

Test Descriptions

What You Will Find in This Chapter

This chapter describes the cable TV tests found in the Channel and System modes of operation. The test descriptions are as follows:

• Visual Carrier Level and Visual-to-Aural Level and Frequency Difference Test Description

• Carrier-to-Noise Test Description

• Composite Second Order (CSO) Test Description

• Composite Triple Beat (CTB) Test Description

• Hum Test Description

• Depth of Modulation Test Description

6-2 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Test Descriptions

Visual Carrier Level and Visual-to-Aural Level and Frequency Difference Test

Description

V isual Carrier Level an d Visual-to-Aural Level and Frequency Difference Test Description

The visual carrier level test measures the peaks an d frequ ency of the vi sual c ar rier, as well as the visual-to-aural level and frequency difference.

To perform the visual carrier level and visual-to-aural level difference test, the analyzer does the following:

1. Changes the resolution bandwidth, video bandwidth, and sweep time of the analyzer to capture the levels accurately, and it turns on the frequency counter as well.

2. Measures the visual amplitude level and aural carrier difference.

Figure 6-1 on page 6-3 shows the analyzer measuring the visual carrier level and

aural carrier difference.

NOTE Figure 6-2 on page 6-4 and Figure 6-3 on page 6-4 show the analyzer measuring

the PAL-B/G visual and sound carriers with Nicam Off and Nicam On.

Figure 6-1 Measuring the Visual Level and Aural Carrier Difference (NTSC-M)

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 6-3

Test Descriptions

Visual Carrier Level and Visual-to-Aural Level and Frequency Difference Test Description

Figure 6-2 Measuring the Visual Level and Aural Carrier Difference (PAL-B/G with

Nicam Off)

Figure 6-3 Measuring the Visual Level and Aural Carrier Difference (PAL-B/G with

Nicam On)

The test runs continually, and test results are updated after each test cycle (after each sweep). To exit the test press

Meas Off.

Nicam On Off selected (On), a true RMS measurement is made of the

With NICAM band.

6-4 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Test Descriptions

Visual Carrier Level and Visual-to-Aural Level and Frequency Difference Test

Description

The aural carrier must be within 4.1 MHz to 4.9 MHz of the visual carrier to be detected as the aural carrier. If the aural carrier cannot be detected, the visual-to-aural frequency difference measurement cannot be done, and a notice will be displayed.

NOTE The aural carrier rang e must be wit hin 5.0 t o 6.5 M Hz for PAL-B/G, PAL-D/K and

PAL-I.

NOTE Due to the nature of the NICAM signal, detecting and measuring its center

frequency is not possible.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 6-5

Test Descriptions

Carrier-to-Noise Ratio Test Description

The result of the ca rrier -to- noise mea surement i s the ra tio of the peak visua l carrie r level (modulated or unmodulated) to the noise measured in one of the manners described below (see Figure 6-4 on page 6-7). This ratio is normalized to a 4 MHz noise-power bandwidth.

NOTE For PAL-B/G, PAL-D/K and PAL-I the ratio is normalized to 5 MHz noise-power

bandwidth. See Figure 6-5 on page 6-8.

This bandwidth can be changed by the user. There are two methods of measuring carrier-to-noise:

1. In-between channels

2. Disable modulation and measure over measur ement range

In-Between Channels

In the first method, the peak carrier level is measured first, then it continuously updates and reports the carrier-to-noise ratio for the marker position. The marker can be moved as desired and the result is updated to reflect the most current test result. At the end of each sweep, the marker does a local minimum search as well as a local trace average.

Before executing the test, the analyzer initially measures the total power of the entire cable syst em. This is done to set the attenu ator to avo id overloa d of the inpu t mixer and noise floor lift due to internally generated distortion. The analyzer then measures its own noise figure and uses this for calculating the final carrier-to-noise value. The analyzer input attenuation is set to both prevent input mixer compression and minimize the noise level of the analyzer.

Initially, the marker is placed at the lower channel boundary. This provides an indication of the distribution system noise level without having to remove modulation. The minimum noise level is measured and compared with the noise level of the analyzer. If the difference between the minimum noise level and the noise floor is less than 10 dB, and the minimum noise value cannot be measured directly, it is calculated using the following formula:

System Noise = 10LOG[10

- 10AN]

where: DN = displayed noise ÷ 10

AN = analyzer noise ÷ 10

6-6 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Test Descriptions

Carrier-to-Noise Ratio Test Description

To find the ratio of the visual carrier level to the noise level, the minimum noise level value is s ubtract ed from the carr ier peak level. The rati o is then normali zed to a noise-power bandwidth value selected by pressing

Meas BW.

MEASURE, CATV, Setup,

The message “

See MORE INFO

” is displayed if the system noise is within 3 dB of the analyzer noise. This can be the case when carrier-to-noise is greater than 50 dB, and carrier levels a re les s than 2 0 dBmV (80 dBµV). Refer to the gra phs in t he specifications section located in your spectrum analyzer calibration guide.

NOTE External preamplifier usage can be enhanced by entering amplifier gain and noise

figure values in the setup menu. By selecting an external preamplifier in the setup menu, errors caused by the preamplifier can be accounted for in the carrier-to-noise calculation. See the notes on page 7 in Chapter 7 for proper usage.

When the internal preamplifier automatically turns on, its gain and noise figure area is automatically accounted for and requires no operator attention.

Averaging minimizes the measurement-to-measurement variation of the system noise determination. Press

Video for this measure ment.

set to

BW/Avg, Average On. Average Type type should be

Figure 6-4 Carrier-to-Noise Measurement (NTSC-M)

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 6-7

Test Descriptions

Carrier-to-Noise Ratio Test Description

Figure 6-5 Carrier-to-Noise Measurement (NTSC-M)

Pressing the

More Info softkey shows the raw data and al l corr ecti ons used fo r thi s

measurement. See Figure 6-6 on page 6-8.

Figure 6-6 M ore Info Screen (NTSC-M)

With the modulation on, the measurement range is limited to 55 dB. Use the following method of carrier and modulation off for >55 dB dynamic range.

6-8 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Test Descriptions

Carrier-to-Noise Ratio Test Description

Disable Carrier, Modulation and Measure over Measurement Range

More Discussion about the Carrier-to-Noise Test

The second method is an interfering measurement of carrier-to-noise in which the carrier and modulatio n are removed . The marker is position ed within t he display ed measurement range. Averaging can be selected to st abil ize t he nois e measur ement. For best results turn the modulator off.

Before returning to the main menu, the modulator must be turned on.

The carrier-to-noise test is very flexible and can handle a wide variety of testing conditions. It provides feedback messages to assist you in achieving the optimum test setup.

Like any cable TV active device, a spectrum analyzer has an ideal operating point which balances carrier-to-noise and carrier beats. When a spectrum analyzer is operating at its optimum point, it has its greatest testing dynamic range. However, to achieve acceptable results, it is not always necessary to operate the spectrum analyzer exactly at its optimum point. To achieve acceptable results, only two conditions are needed:

1. The total power at the analyzer input is below the overload level of the

analyzer.

2. The noise floor being measured i s equal to or great er t h an t he noise floor of the

analyzer. The attenuator switch point for C/N is +47 dBmV

Channel loading forces down the highest acceptable level of each individual channel carrier creating the need to preselect the channel of interest. This is necessary when t he no is e fl oor b eing measu re d is less tha n the a nalyze r noi se f lo or and when the total input power is near overload. The only way to raise the noise floor without overloading the analyzer is to reduce channel loading through preselection.

When

C/N Ratio is pressed the analyzer measures the total power at the input, the

level of the channel to be measured, and the analyzer noise floor. Based on this information , it decides wh ether to turn on the internal p reamp if this option is available, and what the analyzer attenuator setting should be. In addition, it alerts you when it thin ks additional atte nti on is needed. This is indicated by the presence of the message

“See MORE INFO”

in the lower part of the screen. This message occurs when the cable noise floor is within 3 dB of the analyzer noise floor. It is intended to alert the operator that the analyzer noise-near-noise correction is working. In addition, the message is presented in inverse video when the cable noise floor is within 2. 2 dB of the anal yzer n oise. This indicat es that the anal yzer is correcting the r esul t by more than 3 dB, and measurement uncertainty of the result is rising. It is intended that you raise the input level and preselect if necessary.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 6-9

Test Descriptions

Carrier-to-Noise Ratio Test Description

In a flat system, once the optimum input power level is achieved, it does not need to be readjusted for each channel. All channels can be measured without further adjustments to the input level.

If the internal preamplifie r option is available, it is controlled auto matically. It is only turned on at levels low enough to prevent overload. When the internal preamplifier is turned on, a message to that effect is displayed on the screen.

See “Carrier-to-Noise Test” on page 2-11 for information on how to make a

measurement. See the tables and figure on page 6 and page 7 in Chapter 7 for measurement range based on c ar ri er level, as well as measu remen t a cc ura cy based on measurement result.

6-10 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Test Descriptions

Composite Second Order (CSO) Test Description

In the CSO measurement, the analyzer measures the total cable TV system power and adjusts its input attenuation for optimum performance (refer to the graphs in

Chapter 7, “Specifications and Test Aids.”) Distortion near noise corrections are used to more accurately measure distortion

products less than 10 dB above the analyzer noise. The composite second orde r (CSO) test meas ures the re lative le vel of secon d order

intermodulation products that are offset from the carrier under test.

NOTE The second order intermodulation products offset from the carrier under test vary

from TV standard to TV standard. See Table 6-1 below.

Table 6-1 Beats Offset

TV Standard Offset

PAL-M –1.25 MHz, –0.75 MHz, +0.75 MHz and

+1.25 MHz

NTSC-J –1.25 MHz, +1.25 MHz, +2.0 MHz,

+2.75 MHz, +3.25 MHz and +4.0 MHz

NTSC-M –1.25 MHz, –0.75 MHz, +0.75 MHz and

+1.25 MHz PAL-B/G (7 MHz) +0.75 MHz, +4.5 MHz and +5.25 MHz PAL-B/G (8 MHz), PAL-D/K, PAL-I +0.75 MHz, +5.5 MHz and +6.25 MHz

The trace is a time averaged display appropriate for measuring beats. The marker does a local peak search to assure it is measuring the peak of the beat. See Figure

6-7 on page 6-12.

NOTE For NTSC-J, please refer to Figure 6-8 on page 6-1 2 . Fo r PAL-B/G, PAL-D/ K and

PAL-I see Figure 6-9 on page 6-13.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 6-11

Test Descriptions

Composite Second Order (CSO) Test Description

Figure 6-7 Determining the Level of the Beat Product and Offset Frequency (NTSC-M)

Figure 6-8 Determining the Level of the Beat Product and Offset Frequency (NTSC-J)

6-12 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Test Descriptions

Composite Second Order (CSO) Test Description

Figure 6-9 Determining the Level of the Beat Product and Offset Frequency (PAL-B/G)

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 6-13

Test Descriptions

Composite Triple Beat (CTB) Test Description

In the CTB measurement, the analyzer measures the total cable TV system power and adjusts its input attenuation for optimum performance (refer to the graphs in

Figure 7-1 on page 7-7).

Distortion near the noise correction is used to more accurately measure distortion products less than 10 dB above the analyzer noise.

The CTB appears directly under the visual carrier. Therefore, turning the carrier off during the channe l CSO/CTB test is the only method of testing the CTB of each channel.

The marker does a local peak search to assure it is measuring the peak of the time averaged b eat.

The Beat Level is Measured

The Beat Level is Subtracted from the Visual Carrier Peak Level

To accurately determine beat amplitude, the beat level is measured and compared with the level of the an alyzer noi se. If the di ffe rence betwe en the bea t level and t he analyzer noise is less than 10 dB, the beat value cannot be measured directly; instead, it is calculated by using the formula:

Beat Level = 10LOG[10

- 10NL] where: BP = Beat product ÷ 10

NL = Analyzer noise level ÷ 10 With this method of measuring CTB, a preamplifier is not generally needed for

accurate testing.

To find the value for CTB, the beat level is subtracted from the visual carrier peak level.

6-14 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Test Descriptions

Composite Triple Beat (CTB) Test Description

More Discussion about the CSO/CTB Tests

The carrier-to-beats test is very flexible and can handle a wide variety of testing conditions. It provides feedback messages to assist you in achieving the optimum test setup.

Like any cable TV active device, a spectrum analyzer has an ideal operating point which balances C/N and C/Beats. When a spectrum analyzer is operating at its optimum point, it has its greatest testing dynamic range. However, to achieve acceptable results, it is not always necessary to operate the spectrum analyzer exactly at its optimum point. To achieve acceptable results, only 2 conditions are needed:

1. The total power at the analyzer input is below the overload level of the analyzer.

2. The beat being measured is equal to or greater than 3 dB above the noise floor of the analyzer.

Channel loading forces down the highest acceptable level of each individual channel carrier creating the need to preselect the channel of interest. This is necessary when the cable system noise floor is less than the analyzer noise floor and when the total input power is near overload. The only way to raise the noise floor without overloading the analyzer is to reduce channel loading through preselection.

When

CSO/CTB is pressed, the an al yzer measures the total po we r a t the input, the

level of the channel to be measured, and the analyzer noise floor. Based on this information, it decides what the analyzer attenuator should be set to.

Once the optimum input power level is achieved, it does not need to be readjusted for each channel. All channel s can be measur ed wit hout fur th er adjustments to the input level.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 6-15

Test Descriptions

Hum Test Description

The hum test measures the percentage of amplitude modulation for low frequency disturbances (hum) by measuring the peak-to-peak variation for total hum. Using

“more info” under the measure setup, the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is used to display the low frequency spectrum around the carrier. This information can be used to identify the source of hum.

Total hum is measured by reading the peak-to-peak variation in the visual signal level caused by low frequency disturbances (hum or repetitive transients).

NOTE The hum test automatically configures the analyzer for measuring with or without

video modulation on the carrier. For NTSC-M, NTSC-J, and PAL-M this is necessary. This is because analyzer settings used to conform to NCTA recommended practices cannot be used when video modulation is present.

Other analyzer settings can be used to compensate for the presence of video modulation, then the measurement can be made.

When video modulation is on, the video bandwidth is set to 1 MHz to allow the analyzer to measure only the val ues of the sync ti ps. When the video bandwidth is set to 1 MHz, significant noise is also present. This noise is digitally minimized, then several peak-to-peak measurements are taken and averaged. Using the average of these mea sur ement s gives the best co nsi st enc y wi th visual oscilloscope measurements. However, the effe ct s of nois e cannot be completely eliminated and the results reported have slightly more uncertainty (u sually less than 1 percent larger) than when video modulation is off. The reverse, however, is not true. That is, when adding modulation to a carrier wave signal, results will increase, not decrease. For NTSC-M, NTSC-J and PAL-M, if the results are less than 3 percent with modulation on, t hen sec tion 7 6.605(a) (10) of the FCC regul ations is sa tisf ied. If a channel does exceed 3 perce nt, it may still pass by testing again wit hou t video modulation.

When video modulation is not present, a setting of zero span with a sweep time of 5 ms/div acts as a signal level meter and oscilloscope display. With these settings for NTSC-M, NTSC-J, and PAL-M formats, the analyzer conforms to the conditions set forth in the NCTA recommended practices. A video bandwidth of 1 kHz functions as a 1 kHz low pass f ilt er. Several peak-to-peak measurements are taken, then the average measurement is reported.

6-16 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Test Descriptions

Hum Test Description

Selecting More Info displays the low frequency spe ct rum around the visual carrier (see Figure 6-11 on page 6-18).

NOTE For PAL-B/G, PAL-D/K and PAL-I refer to Figure 6-12 on page 6-18.

The marker can be used to i dent ify the frequency and le vel of interference rela tive to the carrier. Obtaining meaningful results even in the presence of video modulation is a great benefit. No one needs to be present at the headend to temporarily insert a carrier wave signal, and subscribers are not deprived of service. On a properly o perating sys tem, results wi th video modulatio n present wil l usually be under the 3 percent limit. Low frequency disturbances on channels above the limit are often a combination of video field time distortion on the received signal and ca ble syste m hum. The dominan t contribut or may be ident ified by removing the signal input to the headend, inserting a clean carrier wave signal on that input, and retesting.

More than 3 percent field time distortion on off-air signals has been observed, but it also has been seen to be caused by multi-path interference between the transmitter and the headend ant enna. Field ti me distortion on t he signal can al so be qualitatively separated from cable hum by observing whether the distortions vary with time or picture level, since cable hum won’t change with picture level.

Figure 6-10 HUM (NTSC-M)

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 6-17

Test Descriptions

Hum Test Description

Figure 6-11 HUM, More Information (NTSC-M)

Figure 6-12 HUM, More Information (PAL-B/G)

6-18 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Test Descriptions

Depth of Modulation Test Description

The depth of modulation test measures the percentage (50 to 93 percent measurement range) of amplitude modulation(AM) on the visual carrier. The analyzer measures the horizontal synchronization-pulse level and vertical interval test signal (VITS) white level from which it calculates the percentage of AM.

NOTE The visual carrier AM modulation depth test may not be valid for scrambled

channel signals depending on the method used to scramble the signals. So, when testing a scram bled channel, you may want to momentarily turn off scramble for the channel while the channel is being tested for AM modulation depth.

T o per form th e depth o f modulat ion meas ureme nt, the analyz er does the fol lowing :

1. Changes the center frequency and reference level of the analyzer.

2. Changes the amplitude scale and span of the analyzer.

3. Measures the minimum level and the maximum level and calculates the percentage of AM modulation depth.

Changes the center frequency and reference level of the analyzer

Changes the amplitude scale and span of the analyzer

The visual carrier is centered on the analyzer screen and a 1 MHz resolution bandwidth is used to capt ure t he enti re mo dulat ion sig nal. For bet ter a ccurac y , the reference level of the analyzer is changed to the level the visual carrier.

The amplitude scale i s changed from loga rithmic (dB) to linear (v olts) and the sp an is set to 0 Hertz to demodulate the signal and display time domain characteristics.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 6-19

Test Descriptions

Depth of Modulation Test Description

Measures the minimum level and the maximum level and calculates the percentage of AM modulation depth

The analyzer measures the minimum level and the maximum level. The minimum level corresponds to the vertical interval test signal (VITS) white level and the maximum level corresponds to the H-sync pulse. This ratio of minimum over maximum, subtracted from a value of 1 and mult iplied b y 100 gives the perc entage of modulation:

minimum

-------------------------

–

100 %

maximum

Figure 6-13 shows the analyzer measuring the minimum and maximum levels.

Figure 6-13 Measuring the Depth of Modulation (NTSC-M)

AM=

6-20 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

7 Specifications and Test Aids

Specifications and Test Aids

What You Will Find in This Chapter

This chapter outlines the specifications and characteristics of the ESA Option 227 Cable TV Measurement Personality with supported analyzers. In addition, test aids are provided. This chapter contains the following sections:

• Cable TV Measurement Specifications and Characteristics

• Channel Identification Plans

7-2 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Specifications and Test Aids

Cable TV Measurement Specifications and Characteristics

Specifications describe the warranted performance of the ESA Option 227 Cable TV Measurement Per sonalit y with supp orted ana lyzers ov er the temper ature range of 0 °C to 55 °C.

Characteristics provide useful, but non-warranted, information in the form of typical, nominal, or approximate values for analyzer performance.

NOTE These measurement specifications and characteristics are based on specifications

and characteristics given for the following Agilent Technologies ESA spectrum analyzers:

E4401B E4402B E4404B E4405B E4407B

Input Configuration

Select input conditions of spectrum analyzer.

75 Ω Spectrum Analyzer No selection required 50 Ω Spectrum Analyzer Measurements converted to 75 Ω values 50 Ω Spectrum Analyzer Selections

ESA-E Series Option 1D7 Ext Pad Amplitude offset set to 5.8 dB NO Ext Pad Amplitude offset set to zero

Channel Selection Analyzer tunes to specified channels based upon selected

tune configuration.

Tune Configuration Standard, Off-the Air, HRC, IRC, T (NTSC-M)

CBL, Off-the Air (NTSC-J) Standard, Off-the Air, HRC, IRC, T (PAL-M) HRC, VHF, UHF, S, S-CABLE,

CENELEC (PAL-B/G) DS, Z (PAL-D/K) HRC, VHF , UHF (PAL-I)

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 7-3

Specifications and Test Aids

Cable TV Measurement Specifications and Characteristics

Channel Range NTSC-M:1 to 158

NTSC-J: 1 to 63 (CBL), 1 to 62 (AIR) PAL-M: 1 to 158 PAL-B/G: 2 to 199 (HRC), 2 to 12 (VHF),

21 to 69 (UHF), 1 to 41 (S), 1 to 44 (S-CABLE), 1 to 42 (CENELEC)

PAL-D/K:1 to 68 (DS), 1 to 37 (Z) PAL-I: 1 to 199 (HRC), 1 to 13 (VHF),

21 to 69 (UHF)

Frequency Range 5 to 1600 MHz Amplitude Range +75 dBmV

Visual-Carrier Frequency Visual-carrier frequency is counted

Frequency Reference

(Standard)

Resolution 100 Hz Accuracy

@55.25 MHz (Ch. 2) @325.25 MHz (Ch. 41) @643.25 MHz (Ch. 94)

Visual-to-Aural Carrier Frequency Difference

± ± ± ±

Frequency difference between visual and aural carriers is counted

(7 x 10 500 Hz

3.4 kHz

4.6 kHz

−6

× carrier frequency + 100 Hz)

Difference Range 4.1 to 4.9 MHz (NTSC-M, NTSC-J, PAL-M)

5.0 to 6.5 MHz (PAL-B/G, PAL-D/K, PAL-I)

Resolution 100 Hz Accuracy ±254 Hz

7-4 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Specifications and Test Aids

Cable TV Measurement Specifications and Characteristics

Visual-Carrier Level The peak amplitude of the visual carrier is measured to an

absolute standard traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Amplitude Range

15 to +70 dBmV

−

Resolution 0.1 dB Absolute Accuracy Relative Accuracy

1.0 dB for S/N >30 dB

0.5 dB relative to adjacent channels in frequency

0.7 dB relative to all other channels

Visual-to-Aural Carrier Level Difference The difference between peak amplitudes of the visual and

aural carrier is measured.

Difference Range 0 to 25 dB Resolution 0.1 dB Accuracy

0.5 dB for S/N >30 dB

Depth of Modulation (characteristic) Percent AM is measured from horizontal sync tip to

maximum video level; measurement requires a white-reference VITS and may not be valid for scrambled

channels. AM Range 50 to 93% Resolution 0.1% Accuracy

2.0% for C /N >40 dB

Hum/Low-Frequency Disturbance Power-line frequency and low-frequency disturbance

measured on modulated or unmodulated carriers. May not

be valid for scrambled channels.

AM Range 0.5 to 10% Resolution 0.1% Accuracy ±0.4% for hum ≤3%

±0.7% for hum ≤5%

±1.3% for hum ≤10%

Visual Carrier-to-Noise Ratio (C/N)* The C/N is calculated from the visual-carrier peak level and

the minimum noise level, normalized to 4 MHz

noise

bandwidth.

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 7-5

Specifications and Test Aids

Cable TV Measurement Specifications and Characteristics

Optimum Input Range

Maximum C/N Range

See Graphs

Input level dependent - See graphs

†

C/N Resolution 0.1 dB C/N Accuracy Input level and measured C/N dependent ±1.0 to ±3.5 dB

over optimum input range

*A preamplifier and preselector filter may be required to achieve specifications.

†

Optimum input range is determined at the time of measurement since a total input power measurement is first done to automatically set the attenuator.

For PAL-B/G, PAL-D/K and PAL-I the C/N is normalized to 5 MHz noise bandwidth.

If the modulation or carrier is turned on and noise is measured within ±2 MHz of the carrier, the maximum C/N range is 55 dB. The following graph (see Figure 7-1 on page 7-7) shows the range and accuracy for a single channel inputed or bandpass filter and the noise measured with the carrier and modulation off.

CSO and CTB Distortion* Manual composite second order (CSO) and composite

triple beat (CTB) distortions are measured relative to the visual carrier peak and require momentary disabling of the carrier. Automatic measurements are made in the channel above the channel selected and assumes that it is unused.

Optimum Input Range

Maximum CSO/CTB Range

See Graphs

Input level dependent - See Graphs

†

70 to 75 dB over

optimum input range

Manual CSO/CTB Resolution 0.1 dB System CSO/CTB Resolution 1 dB CSO/CTB Accuracy Input level and measured CSO/CTB dependent - See

graphs ±1.5 dB to ±4.0 dB over optimum input range

*A preamplifier and preselector filter may be required to achieve specifications.

†

Optimum input range is determined at the time of measurement since a total input power measurement is first done to automatically set the attenuator.

C/N, CSO, and CTB Measurements

The following graphs summarize the ESA Option 227 characteristics for C/N, CSO, and CTB testing on cable TV systems with up to 99 channels and no amplitude tilt. C/N, CSO, and CTB measurement accuracies and ranges can be read from the relevant graphs. They depend upon the visual carrier peak level, the measurement reading, and the total power input to the analyzer. See Chapter 6 ,

“Test Descriptions,” for test descriptions for each test.

7-6 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Cable TV Measurement Specifications and Characteristics

Figure 7-1 Accuracy and Characteristics

Specifications and Test Aids

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 7-7

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Table 7-1 FCC Numerical Designation of Television Channels

(Section 73.603)

Channel Number Frequency Band (MHz)

254-60 360-66 466-72 576-82 682-88 7174-180 8180-186

9186-192 10 192-198 11 198-204 12 204-210 13 210-216 14 470-476 15 476-482 16 482-488 17 488-494 18 494-500 19 500-506 20 506-512 21 512-518 22 518-524 23 524-530 24 530-536 25 536-542 26 542-548 27 548-554 28 554-560

7-8 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Channel Identification Plans

Table 7-1 FCC Numerical Designation of Television Channels

(Section 73.603)

Channel Number Frequency Band (MHz)

29 560-566 30 566-572 31 572-578 32 578-584 33 584-590 34 590-596 35 596-602 36 602-608 37 608-614 38 614-620

Specifications and Test Aids

39 620-626 40 626-632 41 632-638 42 638-644 43 644-650 44 650-656 45 656-662 46 662-668 47 668-674 48 674-680 49 680-686 50 686-692 51 692-698 52 698-704 53 704-710 54 710-716 55 716-722 56 722-728 57 728-734

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 7-9

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Table 7-1 FCC Numerical Designation of Television Channels

(Section 73.603)

Channel Number Frequency Band (MHz)

58 734-740 59 740-746 60 746-752 61 752-758 62 758-764 63 764-770 64 770-776 65 776-782 66 782-788 67 788-794 68 794-800 69 800-806

7-10 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Table 7-2 Channel Identification Plan EIA Interim Standard No. 6 (CP) and FCC Part

76.612

Channel Designation

1 N/A 72.0036 73.2625 4+, A-8 2 55.25 54.0027 55.2625 3 61.25 60.0030 61.2625 4 67.25 66.0033 67.2625 5 77.25 78.0039 79.2625 A-7(HRC,IRC) 6 83.25 84.0042 85.2625 A-6(HRC,IRC) 7 175.25 174.0087 175.2625 8 181.25 180.0090 181.2625

9 187.25 186.0093 187.2625 10 193.25 192.0096 193.2625 11 199.25 198.0099 199.2625 12 205.25 204.0102 205.2625

Picture Carrier Frequency (MHz) Historical

STD HRC IRC

Reference

13 211.25 210.0105 211.2625 14 121.2625 120.0060 121.2625 A 15 127.2625 126.0063 127.2625 B 16 133.2625 132.0066 133.2625 C 17 139.25 138.0069 139.2625 D 18 145.25 144.0072 145.2625 E 19 151.25 150.0075 151.2625 F 20 157.25 156.0078 157.2625 G 21 163.25 162.0081 163.2625 H 22 169.25 168.0084 169.2625 I 23 217.25 216.0108 217.2625 J 24 223.25 222.0111 223.2625 K 25 229.2625 228.0114 229.2625 L 26 235.2625 234.0117 235.2625 M 27 241.2625 240.0120 241.2625 N

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 7-11

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Table 7-2 Channel Identification Plan EIA Interim Standard No. 6 (CP) and FCC Part

76.612

Channel Designation

28 247.2625 246.0123 247.2625 O 29 253.2625 252.0126 253.2625 P 30 259.2625 258.0129 259.2625 Q 31 265.2625 264.0132 265.2625 R 32 271.2625 270.0135 271.2625 S 33 277.2625 276.0138 277.2625 T 34 283.2625 282.0141 283.2625 U 35 289.2625 288.0144 289.2625 V 36 295.2625 294.0147 295.2625 W 37 301.2625 300.0150 301.2625 X 38 307.2625 306.0153 307.2625 Y 39 313.2625 312.0156 313.2625 Z

Picture Carrier Frequency (MHz) Historical

STD HRC IRC

Reference

40 319.2625 318.0159 319.2625 DD 41 325.2625 324.0162 325.2625 EE 42 331.2750a 330.0165 331.2750a FF 43 337.2625 336.0168 337.2625 GG 44 343.2625 342.0171 343.2625 HH 45 349.2625 348.0174 349.2625 II 46 355.2625 354.0177 355.2625 JJ 47 361.2625 360.0180 361.2625 KK 48 367.2625 366.0183 367.2625 LL 49 373.2625 372.0186 373.2625 MM 50 379.2625 378.0189 379.2625 NN 51 385.2625 384.0192 385.2625 OO 52 391.2625 390.0195 391.2625 PP 53 397.2625 396.0198 397.2625 QQ 54 403.25 402.0201 403.2625 RR

7-12 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Table 7-2 Channel Identification Plan EIA Interim Standard No. 6 (CP) and FCC Part

76.612

Channel Designation

55 409.25 408.0204 409.2625 SS 56 415.25 414.0207 415.2625 TT 57 421.25 420.0210 421.2625 UU 58 427.25 426.0213 427.2625 VV 59 433.25 432.0216 433.2625 WW 60 439.25 438.0219 439.2625 XX 61 445.25 444.0222 445.2625 YY 62 451.25 450.0225 451.2625 ZZ 63 457.25 456.0228 457.2625 64 463.25 462.0231 463.2625 65 469.25 468.0234 469.2625 66 475.25 474.0237 475.2625

Picture Carrier Frequency (MHz) Historical

STD HRC IRC

Reference

67 481.25 480.0240 481.2625 68 487.25 486.0243 487.2625 69 493.25 492.0246 493.2625 70 499.25 498.0249 499.2625 71 505.25 504.0252 505.2625 72 511.25 510.0255 511.2625 73 517.25 516.0258 517.2625 74 523.25 522.0261 523.2625 75 529.25 528.0264 529.2625 76 535.25 534.0267 535.2625 77 541.25 540.0270 541.2625 78 547.25 546.0273 547.2625 79 553.25 552.0276 553.2625 80 559.25 558.0279 559.2625 81 565.25 564.0282 565.2625

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 7-13

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Table 7-2 Channel Identification Plan EIA Interim Standard No. 6 (CP) and FCC Part

76.612

Channel Designation

82 571.25 570.0285 571.2625 83 577.25 576.0288 577.2625 84 583.25 582.0291 583.2625 85 589.25 588.0294 589.2625 86 595.25 594.0297 595.2625 87 601.25 600.0300 601.2625 88 607.25 606.0303 607.2625 89 613.25 612.0306 613.2625 90 619.25 618.0309 619.2625 91 625.25 624.0312 625.2625 92 631.25 630.0315 631.2625 93 637.25 636.0318 637.2625

Picture Carrier Frequency (MHz) Historical

STD HRC IRC

Reference

94 643.25 642.0321 643.2625 95 91.25 90.0045 91.2625 A-5 96 97.25 96.0048 97.2625 A-4 97 103.25 102.0051 103.2625 A-3 98 109.2750a 108.0250 109.2750a A-2

99 115.2750a 114.0250 115.2750a A-1 100 649.2500 648.0324 649.2625 101 655.2500 654.0327 655.2625 102 661.2500 660.0330 661.2625 103 667.2500 666.0333 667.2625 104 673.2500 672.0336 673.2625 105 679.2500 678.0339 679.2625 106 685.2500 684.0342 685.2625 107 691.2500 690.0345 691.2625 108 697.2500 696.0348 697.2625

7-14 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Table 7-2 Channel Identification Plan EIA Interim Standard No. 6 (CP) and FCC Part

76.612

Channel Designation

109 703.2500 702.0351 703.2625 110 709.2500 708.0354 709.2625 111 715.2500 714.0357 715.2625 112 721.2500 720.0360 721.2625 113 727.2500 726.0363 727.2625 114 733.2500 732.0366 733.2625 115 739.2500 738.0369 739.2625 116 745.2500 744.0372 745.2625 117 751.2500 750.0375 751.2625 118 757.2500 756.0378 757.2625 119 763.2500 762.0381 763.2625 120 769.2500 768.0384 769.2625

Picture Carrier Frequency (MHz) Historical

STD HRC IRC

Reference

121 775.2500 774.0387 775.2625 122 781.2500 780.0390 781.2625 123 787.2500 786.0393 787.2625 124 793.2500 792.0396 793.2625 125 799.2500 798.0399 799.2625 126 805.2500 804.0402 805.2625 127 811.2500 810.0405 811.2625 128 817.2500 816.0408 817.2625 129 823.2500 822.0411 823.2625 130 829.2500 828.0414 829.2625 131 835.2500 834.0417 835.2625 132 841.2500 840.0420 841.2625 133 847.2500 846.0423 847.2625 134 853.2500 852.0426 853.2625 135 859.2500 858.0429 859.2625

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 7-15

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Table 7-2 Channel Identification Plan EIA Interim Standard No. 6 (CP) and FCC Part

76.612

Channel Designation

136 865.2500 864.0432 856.2625 137 871.2500 870.0435 871.2625 138 877.2500 876.0438 877.2625 139 883.2500 882.0441 883.2625 140 889.2500 888.0444 889.2625 141 895.2500 894.0447 895.2625 142 901.2500 900.0450 901.2625 143 907.2500 906.0453 907.2625 144 913.2500 912.0456 913.2625 145 919.2500 918.0459 919.2625 146 925.2500 924.0462 925.2625 147 931.2500 930.0465 931.2625

Picture Carrier Frequency (MHz) Historical

STD HRC IRC

Reference

148 937.2500 936.0468 937.2625 149 943.2500 942.0471 943.2625 150 949.2500 948.0474 949.2625 151 955.2500 954.0477 955.2625 152 961.2500 960.0480 961.2625 153 967.2500 966.0483 967.2625 154 973.2500 972.0486 973.2625 155 979.2500 978.0489 979.2625 156 985.2500 984.0492 985.2625 157 991.2500 990.0495 991.2625 158 997.2500 996.0498 997.2625

a. This frequency deviates from the pattern.

7-16 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Table 7-3 T-Channels (NTSC-M)

Channel Video Color Sound

T7 7.00 10.58 11.50 T8 13.00 16.58 17.50

T9 19.00 22.58 23.50 T10 25.00 28.58 29.50 T11 31.00 34.58 35.50 T12 37.00 40.58 41.50 T13 43.00 46.58 47.50

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Standard

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 7-17

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Table 7-4 Air Channels (NTSC-J)

Channel Number

Frequency Band (MHz)

Picture Carrier (MHz)

1 90-96 91.25 95.75 2 96-102 97.25 101.75 3 102-108 103.25 107.75 4 170-176 171.25 175.75 5 176-182 177.25 181.75 6 182-188 183.25 187.75 7 188-194 189.25 193.75 8

192-198

193.25 197.75

9 198-204 199.25 203.75

10 204-210 205.25 209.75

11 210-216 211.25 215.75 12 216-222 217.25 221.75 13 470-476 471.25 475.75

Audio Carrier (MHz)

14 476-482 477.25 481.75 15 482-488 483.25 487.75 16 488-494 489.25 493.75 17 494-500 495.25 499.75 18 500-506 501.25 505.75 19 506-512 507.25 511.75 20 512-518 513.25 517.75 21 518-524 519.25 523.75 22 524-530 515.25 529.75 23 530-536 531.25 535.75 24 536-542 537.25 541.75 25 542-548 543.25 547.75 26 548-554 549.25 553.75 27 554-560 555.25 559.75 28 560-566 561.25 565.75

7-18 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Table 7-4 Air Channels (NTSC-J)

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Channel Number

29 566-572 567.25 571.75 30 572-578 573.25 577.75 31 578-584 579.25 583.75 32 584-590 585.25 589.75 33 590-596 591.25 595.75 34 596-602 597.25 601.75 35 602-608 603.25 607.75 36 608-614 609.25 613.75 37 614-620 615.25 619.75 38 620-626 621.25 625.75 39 626-632 627.25 631.75 40 632-638 633.25 637.75 41 638-644 639.25 643.75

Frequency Band (MHz)

Picture Carrier (MHz)

Audio Carrier (MHz)

42 644-650 645.25 649.75 43 650-656 651.25 655.75 44 656-662 657.25 661.75 45 662-668 663.25 667.75 46 668-674 669.25 673.75 47 674-680 675.25 679.75 48 680-686 681.25 685.75 49 686-692 687.25 691.75 50 692-698 693.25 697.75 51 698-704 699.25 703.75 52 704-710 705.25 709.75 53 710-716 711.25 715.75 54 716-722 717.25 721.75 55 722-728 723.25 728.75 56 728-734 729.25 733.75

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 7-19

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Table 7-4 Air Channels (NTSC-J)

Channel Number

57 734-740 735.25 739.75 58 740-746 741.25 745.75 59 746-752 747.25 751.75 60 752-758 753.25 757.75 61 758-764 759.25 763.75 62 764-770 765.25 769.75

Frequency Band (MHz)

Picture Carrier (MHz)

a. This frequency deviates from the pattern.

Audio Carrier (MHz)

7-20 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Table 7-5 CBL Channels NTSC-J

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Band Channel

Number

Mid Band

Super High

Band

Frequency

Band

(MHz)

13 108–114 109.25 113.75 14 114–120 115.25 119.75 15 120–126 121.25 125.75 16 126–132 127.25 131.75 17 132–138 133.25 137.75 18 138–144 139.25 143.75 19 144–150 145.25 149.75 20 150–156 151.25 155.75 21 156–162 157.25 161.75 22 164–170 165.25 169.75 23 222–228 223.25 227.75 24 230–236 231.25 235.75 25 236–242 237.25 241.75

Picture Carrier (MHz)

Audio Carrier (MHz)

26 242–248 243.25 247.75 27 248–254 249.25 253.75 28 252–258 253.25 257.75 29 258–264 259.25 263.75 30 264–270 265.25 269.75

Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide 7-21

Specifications and Test Aids

Channel Identification Plans

Table 7-5 CBL Channels NTSC-J

Band Channel

Number

Super High

Band

Frequency

Band

(MHz)

31 270–276 271.25 275.75 32 276–282 277.25 281.75 33 282–288 283.25 287.75 34 288–294 289.25 293.75 35 294–300 295.25 299.75 36 300–306 301.25 305.75 37 306–313 307.25 311.75 38 312–318 313.25 317.75 39 318–324 319.25 323.75 40 324–330 325.25 329.75 41 330–336 331.25 335.75 42 336–342 337.25 341.75 43 342–348 343.25 347.75

Picture Carrier (MHz)

Audio Carrier (MHz)

44 348–354 349.25 353.75 45 354–360 355.25 359.75 46 360–366 361.25 365.75 47 366–372 367.25 371.75 48 372–378 373.25 377.75 49 378–384 379.25 383.75 50 384–390 385.25 389.75 51 390–396 391.25 395.75 52 396–402 397.25 401.75 53 402–408 403.25 407.75

7-22 Cable TV Measurement Personality User’s Guide

Agilent E4401B User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

1 Getting Started

What You Will Find in This Chapter

Introduction

Checking the Shipment

Supported Spectrum Analyzer Requirements

Licensing the Cable TV Measurement Personality

Installing the Cable TV Measurement Personality

Uninstalling the Cable TV Measurement Personality

2 Measurements

What You Will Find in This Chapter

Making Channel Measurements

Step 1. Configure the test system

Step 2. Connect the signal to the analyzer

Step 3. Make the measurements

Modifying the Channel Plan

3 If You Have a Problem

What You Will Find in This Chapter

Error Messages

If the Test Results Are Not What You Expected

How to Contact Agilent Technologies

4 Channel Measurements Menu Map

What You Will Find in This Chapter

Channel Measurements Menu Map

5 SCPI Commands

SCPI Commands

6 Test Descriptions

What You Will Find in This Chapter

V isual Carrier Level an d Visual-to-Aural Level and Frequency Difference Test Description

Carrier-to-Noise Ratio Test Description

Composite Second Order (CSO) Test Description

Composite Triple Beat (CTB) Test Description

Hum Test Description

Depth of Modulation Test Description

7 Specifications and Test Aids

What You Will Find in This Chapter

Cable TV Measurement Specifications and Characteristics

C/N, CSO, and CTB Measurements

Channel Identification Plans