Agilent E4438C User's Guide

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User’s Guide

Agilent Technologies

E4428C/38C ESG Signal Generators

This guide applies to the following signal generator models:

E4428C ESG Analog Signal Generator

E4438C ESG Vector Signal Generator

Due to our continuing efforts to improve our products through firmware and hardware revisions, signal generator design and operation may vary from descriptions in this guide. We recommend that you use the latest revision of this guide to ensure you have up-to-date product information. Compare the print date of this guide (see bottom of page) with the latest revision, which can be downloaded from the following website:

http://www.agilent.com/find/esg

Manufacturing Part Number: E4400-90503

Printed in USA

July 2007

Notice

The material contained in this document is provided “as is”, and is subject to being changed, without no tice, in future editions.

Further, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Agilent disclaims all warranties , either expressed or implied with regard to this manual and to any of the Agilent products to which it pertains, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitn ess f or a particular purpose. Agilent shall not be liable for errors or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, use, or perfor mance of th is do cumen t or any of the Agilent products to which it pertains. Should Agilent have a written contract with the User and should any of the contract terms conflict with these terms, the contract terms shall control.

Contents

1. E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Standard Analog Signal Generator Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Firmware Upgrades. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

To Upgrade Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Modes of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Continuous Wave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Swept Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Analog Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Front Panel Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

1. Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

2. Softkeys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

3. Frequency Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

4. Amplitude Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

5. Knob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

7. Save Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

7. Menu Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

8. Recall Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

9. EXT 1 INPUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

10. EXT 2 INPUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

11. Help Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

12. Trigger Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

13. LF OUTPUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

14. RF OUTPUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

15. Mod On/Off Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

16. RF On/Off Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

17. Numeric Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

18. Incr Set Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

19. Arrow Keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

20. Hold Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

21. Return Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

22. Display Contrast Increase Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

23. Display Contrast Decrease Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

24. Local Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

25. Preset Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

26. Standby LED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

27. Line Power LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

iii

Contents

28. Power Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Front Panel Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

1. Frequency Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

2. Annunciators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

3. Amplitude Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

4. Softkey Label Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

5. Error Message Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

6. Text Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

7. Active Function Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Rear Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

1. AC Power Receptacle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

2. GPIB Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

3. RS 232 Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

4. LAN Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

5. TRIG OUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

6. TRIG IN Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

7. 10 MHz IN Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

8. SWEEP OUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

9. 10 MHz OUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

2. E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Standard Vector Signal Generator Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Understanding Baseband Generator Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Firmware Upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

To Upgrade Firmware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Modes of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Continuous Wave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Swept Signal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Analog Modulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Digital Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Front Panel Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

1. Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

2. Softkeys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

3. Frequency Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

4. Amplitude Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

5. Knob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Contents

6. Menu Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

7. Save Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

8. Recall Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

9. EXT 1 INPUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

10. EXT 2 INPUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

11. Help Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

12. Trigger Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

13. LF OUTPUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

14. RF OUTPUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

15. Mod On/Off Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

16. RF On/Off Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

17. Numeric Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

18. Incr Set Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

19. Arrow Keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

20. Hold Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

21. Return Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

22. Display Contrast Increase Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

23. Display Contrast Decrease Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

24. Local Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

25. Preset Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

26. Standby LED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

27. Line Power LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

28. Power Switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

29. SYMBOL SYNC Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

30. DATA CLOCK Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

31. DATA Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

32. Q Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

33. I Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Front Panel Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

1. Frequency Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

2. Annunciators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

3. Digital Modulation Annunciators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

4. Amplitude Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

5. Softkey Label Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

6. Error Message Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

7. Text Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

8. Active Function Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Rear Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Contents

1. 321.4 IN Connector (Option 300). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

2. BER GATE IN Connector (Option UN7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

3. BER CLK IN Connector (Option UN7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

4. BER DATA IN Connector (Option UN7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

5. I-bar OUT Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

6. I OUT Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

7. COH CARRIER Output Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

8. Q OUT Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

9. Q-bar OUT Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

10. EVENT 1 Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

11. EVENT 2 Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

12. PATT TRIG IN Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

13. AUX I/O Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

14. DIGITAL BUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

15. AC Power Receptacle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

16. GPIB Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

17. RS 232 Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

18. LAN Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

19. TRIG OUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

20. BURST GATE IN Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

21. TRIG IN Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

22. 10 MHz IN Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

23. SWEEP OUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

24. 10 MHz OUT Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

25. BASEBAND GEN REF IN Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

3. Basic Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Using Table Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Table Editor Softkeys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Modifying Table Items in the Data Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Configuring the RF Output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Configuring a Continuous Wave RF Output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Configuring a Swept RF Output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Generating the Modulation Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Modulating the Carrier Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

To Turn the Modulation On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

To Turn the Modulation Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Creating and Applying User Flatness Correction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Contents

Creating a User Flatness Correction Array. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Using the Memory Catalog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Viewing Stored Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Storing Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Using the Instrument State Registers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Saving an Instrument State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Recalling an Instrument State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Saving an Instrument State for a Waveform File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Recalling an Instrument State for a Waveform File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Deleting Registers and Sequences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Using Security Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Understanding Memory Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Removing Sensitive Data from Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Using the Secure Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Enabling Options (E4438C Only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Enabling a Software Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Waveform Licenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

Using the Web Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Activating the Web Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

4. Basic Digital Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Custom Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Custom Arb Waveform Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Custom Real Time I/Q Baseband . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91

Arbitrary (ARB) Waveform File Headers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

Creating a File Header. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

Modifying Header Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94

Dual ARB Player Waveform Sequence File Headers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100

Editing and Viewing File Headers in the Dual ARB Player. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100

Playing a Waveform File containing a Header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104

Using the Dual ARB Waveform Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106

Accessing the Dual ARB Player. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106

Creating Waveform Segments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107

Creating a Waveform Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108

Playing a Waveform Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109

Editing a Waveform Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110

Adding Real-Time Noise to a Dual ARB Waveform (Option 403) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Storing and Loading Waveform Segments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112

vii

Contents

Using Waveform 5-Pack Licensing (Options 221-229) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113

Understanding the I/Q Modulator Filter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120

Applying An I/Q Modulator Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121

Local Settings for ARB Waveform Formats and the Dual ARB Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122

I/Q Attenuator and Filters Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Waveform Runtime Scaling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124

High Crest Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124

ARB Sample Clock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124

Waveform Markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125

Using Waveform Markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129

Waveform Marker Concepts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130

Accessing Marker Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134

Viewing Waveform Segment Markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135

Clearing Marker Points from a Waveform Segment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136

Setting Marker Points in a Waveform Segment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Controlling Markers in a Waveform Sequence (Dual ARB Only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 39

Viewing a Marker Pulse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Using the RF Blanking Marker Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142

Setting Marker Polarity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Triggering Waveforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146

Mode and Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

Accessing Trigger Utilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Setting the Polarity of an External Trigger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148

Using Gated Triggering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148

Using Segment Advance Triggering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150

Using External Triggering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151

Using Waveform Clipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

How Power Peaks Develop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

How Peaks Cause Spectral Regrowth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156

How Clipping Reduces Peak-to-Average Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157

Configuring Circular Clipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

Configuring Rectangular Clipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161

Using Waveform Scaling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162

How DAC Over-Range Errors Occur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162

How Scaling Eliminates DAC Over-Range Errors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163

Scaling a Currently Playing Waveform (Runtime Scaling) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164

Scaling a Waveform File in Volatile Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

viii

Contents

Using Customized Burst Shape Curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166

Understanding Burst Shape. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166

Creating a User-Defined Burst Shape Curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .168

Storing a User-Defined Burst Shape Curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171

Recalling a User-Defined Burst Shape Curve. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171

Generating the Waveform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172

Configuring the RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172

Using Finite Impulse Response (FIR) Filters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173

Creating a User-Defined FIR Filter Using the FIR Table Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173

Modifying a FIR Filter Using the FIR Table Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178

Loading the Default Gaussian FIR File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178

Modifying the Coefficients. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179

Storing the Filter to Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179

Differential Encoding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180

Differential Data Encoding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181

How Differential Encoding Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182

Using Differential Encoding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184

User-Defined I/Q Maps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188

Creating a User-Defined I/Q Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188

Storing a User-Defined I/Q Map File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190

Moving I/Q Symbols. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190

User-Defined FSK Modulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192

Modifying a Default FSK Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192

Storing an FSK Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193

Creating a User-Defined FSK Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193

Creating and Using Bit Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195

Creating a User File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195

Renaming and Saving a User File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197

Recalling a User File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198

Modifying an Existing User File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198

Applying Bit Errors to a User File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199

5. AWGN Waveform Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201

Configuring the AWGN Generator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202

Arb Waveform Generator AWGN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202

Real Time I/Q Baseband AWGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203

Contents

6. Analog Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

Analog Modulation Waveforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206

Configuring AM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207

Setting the Carrier Frequency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207

Setting the RF Output Amplitude. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207

Setting the AM Depth and Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207

Turning on Amplitude Modulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207

Wideband AM (E4438C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208

Configuring FM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209

Setting the RF Output Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209

Setting the RF Output Amplitude. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209

Setting the FM Deviation and Rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209

Activating FM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

Configuring ΦM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210

Setting the RF Output Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210

Setting the RF Output Amplitude. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210

Setting the FM Deviation and Rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210

Activating FM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210

Configuring Pulse Modulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211

Setting the RF Output Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211

Setting the RF Output Amplitude. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211

Setting the Pulse Period and Width. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211

Activating Pulse Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

Configuring the LF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

Configuring the LF Output with an Internal Modulation Source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213

Configuring the LF Output with a Function Generator Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

7. Digital Signal Interface Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215

Clock Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216

Clock and Sample Rates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216

Clock Source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219

Common Frequency Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220

Clock Timing for Parallel Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .223

Clock Timing for Parallel Interleaved Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226

Clock Timing for Serial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228

Clock Timing for Phase and Skew Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .228

Connecting the Clock Source and the Device Under Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .230

Data Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .232

Contents

Output Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .232

Input Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .232

Operating the N5102A Module in Output Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .234

Setting up the Signal Generator Baseband Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .234

Accessing the N5102A Module User Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .234

Choosing the Logic Type and Port Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .235

Selecting the Output Direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236

Selecting the Data Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236

Configuring the Clock Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .238

Generating Digital Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .242

Operating the N5102A Module in Input Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .243

Accessing the N5102A Module User Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .243

Selecting the Input Direction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 44

Choosing the Logic Type and Port Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .244

Configuring the Clock Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .245

Selecting the Data Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .249

Digital Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .251

8. Bluetooth Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .253

Accessing the Bluetooth Setup Menu on the ESG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 54

Setting Up Packet Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .255

Setting up Impairments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .257

Using Burst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .259

Setting the Burst Power Ramp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .259

Using Clock/Gate Delay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260

Turning On a Bluetooth Signal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .261

9. BERT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .263

Setting Up a PHS Bit Error Rate Test (BERT). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .264

Required Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .264

Connecting the Test Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .265

Setting the Carrier Frequency and Power Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .266

Selecting the Radio Data Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .266

Setting the Radio to a Receiver Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .267

Selecting the BERT Data Pattern and Total Bits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .267

Selecting the BERT Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .267

Starting BERT measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .268

Measuring RF Loopback BERT with Option 300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .269

Contents

Required Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .269

Connecting the Test Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .269

Configuring GSM Mode on the Agilent Technologies E4406A VSA Series Transmitter Tester 271

Configuring GSM Mode on the ESG Vector Signal Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272

Synchronizing to the BCH Then the TCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .275

Synchronizing to the TCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277

Making Loopback BERT Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .278

Using Amplitude Sensitivity Search. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280

Using the External Frame Trigger Function with the EDGE Format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284

Measuring the Initial Delay Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .284

Adjusting the Delay Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285

Bit Error Rate Tester–Option UN7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288

Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288

Clock Gate Function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288

Clock/Gate Delay Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .289

Clock Delay Function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .290

Gate Delay Function in the Clock Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 92

Triggering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292

Data Processing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .295

Repeat Measurements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296

Testing Signal Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 97

RF Loopback BER–Option 300. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .299

Synchronization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .299

Erased Frame Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .300

Downlink Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300

Frame Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .300

Verifying BERT Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .302

Verification Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .302

10. CDMA Digital Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307

cdma2000 Forward Link Modulation for Component Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .308

Activating a Predefined CDMA Forward Link State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .308

Creating a User-Defined CDMA Forward Link State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309

cdma2000 Reverse Link Modulation for Component Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .312

Activating a Predefined cdma2000 Reverse Link State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .312

Creating a User-Defined cdma2000 Reverse Link State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .313

Storing a Component Test Waveform to Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .316

Recalling a Component Test Waveform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .317

xii

Contents

Creating a Custom Multicarrier cdma2000 Waveform. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .318

Opening the Multicarrier cdma2000 Setup Table Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 18

Modifying a Multicarrier cdma2000 4-Carrier Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .319

Activating a Custom Multicarrier cdma2000 Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .320

cdma2000 Forward Link Modulation for Receiver Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .322

Editing the Base Station Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .322

Editing Channel Setups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .322

Adjusting Code Domain Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .324

Managing Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .325

Generating the Baseband Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .326

Configuring the RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .327

cdma2000 Reverse Link Modulation for Receiver Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .328

Editing the Mobile Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .328

Editing Channel Setups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .328

Adjusting Code Domain Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .330

Managing Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .331

Generating the Baseband Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .332

Configuring the RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .333

Applying a User-Defined FIR Filter to a cdma2000 Waveform. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .334

IS-95A Modulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .336

Creating a Predefined CDMA State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .336

Creating a User-Defined CDMA State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .337

Applying Changes to an Active CDMA State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .339

Creating a User-Defined Multicarrier CDMA State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .339

Applying Changes to an Active Multicarrier CDMA State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .341

11. GPS Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .343

Option Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .344

GPS Concepts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .345

Signal Generation Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .345

Data Modes and Subframe Structures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .346

Chip Clock Reference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .347

Rear Panel Signal Synchronization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .347

User Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .348

Bit Error Rate Test Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349

GPS Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .350

Setting Up the GPS Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .350

Configuring the External Reference Clock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .351

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Testing Receiver Sensitivity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .353

Setting Up a GPS Bit Error Rate Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .354

Required Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .354

Connecting the Test Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .355

Setting the Carrier Frequency and Power Level. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .355

Selecting the Data Format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .356

Setting Up the GPS Receiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356

Selecting the BERT Data Pattern and Total Bits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .356

Selecting the BERT Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357

Starting BERT measurements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .357

12. Multitone Waveform Generator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359

Creating a Custom Multitone Waveform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360

Initializing the Multitone Setup Table Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360

Configuring Tone Powers and Tone Phases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360

Removing a Tone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360

Generating the Waveform. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .361

Configuring the RF Output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361

Applying Changes to an Active Multitone Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .362

Storing a Multitone Waveform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .362

Recalling a Multitone Waveform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .363

13. Custom Digital Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365

Using the Arbitrary Waveform Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 66

Using Predefined Custom TDMA Digital Modulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .366

Creating a Custom TDMA Digital Modulation State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367

Storing a Custom TDMA Digital Modulation State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .368

Recalling a Custom TDMA Digital Modulation State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .368

Creating a Custom Multicarrier TDMA Digital Modulation State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .369

Storing a Custom Multicarrier TDMA Digital Modulation State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371

Applying Changes to an Active Multicarrier TDMA Digital Modulation State . . . . . . . . . . . . .371

Using the Real Time I/Q Baseband Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .372

Selecting Predefined Custom Modulation Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .372

Creating User-Defined Custom Modulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .373

14. Real Time TDMA Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375

EDGE Framed Modulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .376

Understanding External Data Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .376

xiv

Contents

Activating Framed Data Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .377

Configuring the EDGE Timeslots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .377

Configuring GMSK Timeslots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .377

Disabling Timeslot Ramping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .378

Generating the Baseband Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .378

Configuring the RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .378

Adjusting the Power Level Between Timeslots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .378

GSM Framed Modulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .380

Activating Framed Data Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .380

Configuring the First Timeslot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .380

Configuring the Second Timeslot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .380

Configuring the Third Timeslot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .380

Disabling Timeslot Ramping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381

Generating the Baseband Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381

Configuring the RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381

Adjusting the Power Level Between Timeslots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381

Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .382

Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .382

Basic GSM Frame Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .382

E-OTD Measurement System Synchronization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .388

Sample SCPI Command Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .391

DECT Framed Modulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .395

Activating Framed Data Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .395

Configuring the First Timeslot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .395

Configuring the Second Timeslot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .395

Generating the Baseband Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .395

Configuring the RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .396

PHS Framed Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .397

Activating Framed Data Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .397

Configuring the First Timeslot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .397

Configuring the Second Timeslot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .397

Generating the Baseband Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .397

Configuring the RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .398

PDC Framed Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .399

Activating Framed Data Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .399

Configuring the First Timeslot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .399

Configuring the Second Timeslot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .399

Generating the Baseband Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .399

Contents

Configuring the RF Output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400

NADC Framed Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .401

Activating Framed Data Format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .401

Configuring the First Timeslot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .401

Configuring the Second Timeslot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .401

Generating the Baseband Signal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .401

Configuring the RF Output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402

TETRA Framed Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403

Activating Framed Data Format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .403

Configuring the First Timeslot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .403

Configuring the Second Timeslot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .403

Generating the Baseband Signal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .403

Configuring the RF Output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404

15. W-CDMA Digital Modulation for Component Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405

W-CDMA Downlink Modulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .406

Activating a Predefined W-CDMA Downlink State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406

Creating a User-Defined W-CDMA Downlink State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407

Storing a W-CDMA Downlink/Uplink State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411

Recalling a W-CDMA Downlink/Uplink State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412

Creating a User-Defined Multicarrier W-CDMA State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413

Storing a Multicarrier W-CDMA State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .416

Recalling a Multicarrier W-CDMA State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .417

W-CDMA Uplink Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .418

Creating a Predefined W-CDMA Uplink State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418

Creating a User-Defined W-CDMA Uplink State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .419

W-CDMA Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .423

Understanding TPC Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425

Understanding TFCI, TPC, and Pilot Power Offsets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .426

Calculating Downlink Scramble Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .428

W-CDMA Frame Structures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432

Downlink PICH Frame Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432

Downlink PCCPCH + SCH Frame Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 433

Downlink DPCCH/DPDCH Frame Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 434

Uplink DPCCH/DPDCH Frame Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 436

16. W-CDMA Uplink Digital Modulation for Receiver Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439

Equipment Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 441

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Contents

ESG and Agilent E4440A PSA Spectrum Analyzer Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .441

ESG and Base Transceiver Station (BTS) Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .441

Understanding the PRACH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .443

Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .443

Access Slots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .443

Preamble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .444

Message Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .445

Power Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .447

Power Control Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .453

Generating a Single PRACH Signal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .456

Configuring the RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .456

Selecting the PRACH and Single PRACH Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .456

Selecting a Rear Panel Output Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .456

Generating the Baseband Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457

Setting Up the E4440A PSA for the PRACH Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457

Modifying the PRACH Physical and Transport Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .458

Viewing the Modified PRACH Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .462

Generating the AICH for the PRACH Message Transmission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .462

Viewing the PRACH Message Using an AICH Trigger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 65

Using the AICH Feature with a Base Transceiver Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .466

Multiple PRACH Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .468

Understanding the 80 ms Transmission/Time Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .468

Understanding the Power Offset Between the Carrier and the Multiple PRACH . . . . . . . . . . . .471

Setting Up a Multiple PRACH Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .473

Configuring the RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .473

Selecting the PRACH and Multiple PRACH Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .474

Selecting the Rear Panel Output Trigger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .474

Generating the Baseband Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .475

Configuring the PRACH Code Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 75

Configuring the PRACH Power Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .481

Configuring the PRACH Timing Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .484

Viewing a Multiple PRACH Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .489

Connecting the ESG to a Base Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .490

Overload Testing with Multiple PR ACHs—Multiple ESGs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .491

Connecting the ESG to the Base Transceiver Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .493

Configuring the ESGs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .494

Setting Up the LF Output as the PRACH Start Trigger Signal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .497

DPCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .498

xvii

Contents

Generating a DPCCH/DPDCH with a Reference Measurement Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 498

Configuring the E4440A PSA for Viewing the DPCCH/DPDCH Output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 499

Modifying the DPCCH/DPDCH Physical and Transport Layers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500

Configuring the E4440A PSA for Viewing Additive Noise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .504

Adding Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .504

Using the Transmit Power Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507

Compressed Mode Single Transmission Gap Pattern Sequence (TGPS) Overview . . . . . . . . . . . .511

Setting Up Compressed Mode for a Single TGPS Transmission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513

Equipment Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513

Configuring the RF Output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513

Accessing the W-CDMA Modulation Format and Selecting Uplink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .514

Setting UP the W-CDMA Signal Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514

Generating the Baseband Signal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .515

Configuring Compressed Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515

Viewing and Adjusting the Compressed Mode Signal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .519

Compressed Mode Multiple Transmission Gap Pattern Sequence (TGPS) Overview . . . . . . . . . .522

Understanding Multiple TGPS Compressed Frame Alignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .522

Setting Up Compressed Mode for a Multiple TGPS Transmission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525

Equipment Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525

Configuring the RF Output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525

Accessing the W-CDMA Modulation Format and Selecting Uplink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .526

Setting UP the W-CDMA Signal Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526

Selecting the Rear Panel Output Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .527

Generating the Baseband Signal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .527

Configuring TGPSI 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 528

Configuring TGPSI 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 531

Viewing the Multiple TGPSI Signal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534

Configuring the UE Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .536

Locating Rear Panel Input Signal Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .537

Configuring Rear Panel Output Signals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .539

Accessing the Output Trigger Signal Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 539

Selecting an Output Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .539

Deselecting an Output Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 41

Adjusting Code Domain Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 542

Scaling to 0 dB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .542

Setting Equal Channel Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .543

W-CDMA Uplink Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 544

Data Channel Air Interface Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 544

xviii

Contents

Reference Measurement Channels (RMC). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .544

Transition between Normal Frame and Compressed Frame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .545

Settling Time during User Event for DPCH Compressed Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .546

Connecting the ESG to a W-CDMA Base Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .546

Connector Assignments for W-CDMA Uplink. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .547

Signal Descriptions for W-CDMA Uplink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .551

Synchronization Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .556

Frame Sync Trigger Status Indicator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .561

Special Power Control Considerations When Using DPCCH/DPDCH in Compressed Mode or

PRACH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .564

W-CDMA AWGN Measurements and Bandwidths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .565

DPCH Transmit Power Control by an External Signal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .567

DPCCH/DPDCH Frame Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .569

17. W-CDMA Downlink Digital Modulation for Receiver Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .571

Using W-CDMA Downlink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .572

Configuring the Base Station Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .572

Configuring the Physical Layer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .573

Configuring the Transport Layer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .574

Adjusting Code Domain Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .575

Managing Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .577

Generating the Baseband Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .578

Applying New Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .578

Configuring the RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .579

Transmit Diversity Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .580

Configuring for Transmit Diversity and BERT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .583

Equipment Set Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .583

Configuring the RF Output for both ESGs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .584

Accessing the W-CDMA Modulation Format and Selecting Downlink. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .585

Setting UP Antenna One (ESG One) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .585

Setting UP Antenna Two (ESG Two) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .589

Generating the Baseband Signals and Synchronizing the ESG Transmissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591

Configuring the UE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591

Making the BERT Measurement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .592

Out-of-Synchronization Testing Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .594

Configuring for Out-of-Synchronization Testing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595

Equipment Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .595

Setting the RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .596

xix

Contents

Accessing the W-CDMA Modulation Format and Selecting Downlink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 597

Setting UP the W-CDMA Signal Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 597

Selecting the Input DTX Gating Signal Trigger Polarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .598

Generating the Baseband Signal and Activating the Out-Of-Synchronization Test Feature . . . .599

Configuring the UE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .599

Setting Up the Spectrum Analyzer for Detecting the UE DTX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .599

Configuring the DPCH DTX Gating Trigger Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .600

Compressed Mode Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .601

Setting Up for a Compressed Mode Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .604

Equipment Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604

Setting the RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 606

Accessing the W-CDMA Modulation Format and Selecting Downlink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 607

Setting Up the W-CDMA Signal Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .607

Generating the Baseband Signal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .608

Configuring Compressed Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 608

Making Compressed Mode Signal Measurements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 613

Measuring the DPCH Symbol Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 613

Making the BERT Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .617

Locating Rear Panel Input Signal Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .619

Configuring Rear Panel Output Signals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .621

Accessing the Rear Panel Output Signal Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .621

Selecting an Output Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .621

Deselecting an Output Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 22

Rear Panel Output Signal Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .623

W-CDMA Downlink Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .626

DPCH Coding Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .626

Reference Measurement Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .626

Scramble Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 628

W-CDMA AWGN Measurements and Bandwidths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .629

Special Power Control Considerations When Using Compressed Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .632

W-CDMA Frame Structures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 633

Downlink PICH Frame Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .633

Downlink PCCPCH + SCH Frame Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 634

Downlink DPCCH/DPDCH Frame Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 635

18. Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 637

If You Encounter a Problem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .638

Basic Signal Generator Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .639

Contents

Cannot Turn Off Help Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .639

No RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .639

Signal Loss While Working with Mixers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .640

Signal Loss While Working with Spectrum Analyzers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .641

RF Output Power too Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 43

No Modulation at the RF Output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .644

Sweep Appears to be Stalled. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .644

Cannot Turn Off Sweep Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .644

Incorrect List Sweep Dwell Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .645

List Sweep Information is Missing from a Recalled Register . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .645

Data Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .646

Signal Generator Lock-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .647

Fail-Safe Recovery Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 47

Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .649

Error Message File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .649

Error Message Format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .650

Error Message Types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .651

Upgrading Firmware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .652

Returning a Signal Generator to Agilent Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .653

Contacting Agilent Sales and Service Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .654

xxi

Contents

xxii

Documentation Overview

Installation Guide

User’s Guide

• Safety Information

• Getting Started

• Operation Verification

• Regulatory Information

• E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

• E4423C Analog Signal Generator Overview

• Basic Operation

• Basic Digital Operation

• AWGN Waveform Generator

• Analog Modulation

• Digital Signal Interface Module

• Bluetooth Signals

• BERT

• CDMA Digital Modulation

• GPS Modulation

• Multitone Waveform Generator

• Custom Digital Modulation

• Real Time TDMA Formats

• W- CDMA Digital Modulation for Component Test

• W- CDMA Uplink Digital Modulation for Receiver Test

• W- CDMA Downlink Digital Modulation for Receiver Test

• Troubleshooting

Programming Guide

• Getting Started with Remote Operation

• Using IO Interfaces

• Programming Examples

• Programming the Status Register System

• Creating and Downloading Waveform Files

• Creating and Downloading User- Data Files

xxiii

SCPI Reference Volume 1:

• SCPI Basics

• Basic Function Commands

• System Commands

• Analog Commands

• Component Test Digital Commands

Volume 2:

• Digital Signal Interface Module Commands

• Bit Error Rate Test (BERT) Commands

• Receiver Test Digital Commands

Volume 3:

• Receiver Test Digital Commands (continued)

Compatibility with E44xxB SCPI Commands

Service Guide

Key and Data Field Reference

• Overview

• E4428C/38C SCPI Commands

• ESG E44xxB Commands

• 8648A/B/C/D Commands

• 8658B, 8657A/B/D/J Programming Codes

• Troubleshooting

• Replaceable Parts

• Assembly Replacement

• Post- Repair Procedures

• Safety and Regulatory

Volume 1:

• Symbols, Numerics, A- H

Volume 2:

• Volume 2: I- Z

xxiv

1 E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

This chapter provides a general overview of the Agilent ESG Analog Signal Generator and includes the following major sections:

• “Standard Analog Signal Generator Features” on page 2

• “Options” on page 3

• “Firmware Upgrades” on page 3

• “Calibration” on page 4

• “Modes of Operation” on page 5

• “Front Panel Overview” on page 6

• “Front Panel Display” on page 12

• “Rear Panel Overview” on page 16

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Standard Analog Signal Generator Features

• CW output from 250 kHz to 3 or 6 GHz; the high-end frequency is dependent on the frequency option purchased with your signal generator

• list and step sweep of frequency and amplitude, with multiple trigger sources

• user flatness correction

• automatic leveling control (ALC) on and off modes; power calibration in ALC-off mode is available, even without power search

• 10 MHz reference oscillator with external output

• GPIB, RS-232, and 10Base-T LAN interfaces

• closed-loop AM

• dc-synthesized FM to 10 MHz rates; maximum deviation depends on the carrier frequency

• phase modulation

• pulse modulation

• a function generator that includes the following features: —50Ω low frequency output, 0 to 3 V

— selectable waveforms: sine, square, ramp, triangle, noise, swept-sine, dual-sine, and pulse — variable frequency modulation rates — variable triggering in list and step sweep modes: auto, external, single, or remote

• a pulse generator that includes the following features: — external pulse

— internal square wave — internal pulse sources: internal square, internal pulse, external 1 dc-coupled, and external 2

dc-coupled — adjustable pulse width — adjustable pulse period — adjustable pulse rate

• external modulation inputs for AM, FM, and ΦM

• simultaneous modulation configurations

2 Chapter 1

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Options

ESG signal generators have hardware, firmware, software, and documentation options. The data sheet shipped with your signal generator provides an overview of available options. For more information, visit the Agilent ESG web page at http://www.agilent.com/find/esg, selected the desired ESG model, and then click the

Options tab.

Firmware Upgrades

You can upgrade the firmware in your signal generator whenever new firmware is released. New firmware releases, which can be downloaded from the Agilent website, may contain signal generator features and functionality not available in previous firmware releases.

To determine the availability of new signal generator firmware, visit the Signal Generator Firmware Upgrade Center web page at http://www.agilent.com/find/upgradeassistant, or call the number listed at http://www.agilent.com/find/assist.

To Upgrade Firmware

The following procedure shows you how to download new firmware to your ESG using a LAN connection and a PC. For information on eq uipment requ irements and al ternate methods of downlo ading firmware, such as GPIB, refer to the Firmware Upgrade Gui de , which can be accessed at http://www.agilent.com/find/upgradeassistant.

1. Note the IP a ddress of your signal generator. To view the IP address on the ESG, press

GPIB/RS-232 LAN > LAN Setup.

2. Use an internet browser to visit http://www.agilent.com/find/upgradeassistant.

3. Scroll down to the “Documents and Downloads” table and click the link in the “Latest Firmware Revision” column for t he E4428C/3 8C ESG.

4. In the File Download window, select

5. In the Welcome window, click to the PC.

6. In the “Documents and Downloads” table, click the link in the “Upgrade Assistant Software” column for the E4428C/38C ESG to download the PSG/ESG Upgrade Assistant.

7. In the File Download window, select

8. In the Welcome window, click

Chapter 1 3

Run.

Next and follow the on-screen instructions. The firmware files download

Run.

OK and follow the on-screen instructions.

Utility >

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Calibration

9. At the desktop shortcut prompt, click Yes .

10. Once the utility downloads, close the browser and double-click the

PSG/ESG Upgrade Assistant icon on the

desktop.

11. In the upgrade assistant, set the connection type you wish to use to download the firmware, and the parameters for the type of connection selected. For LAN, enter the instrument’s IP address, which you recorded in step 1.

NOTE If the PSG’s dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) is enabled, the network assigns

the instrument an IP address at power on. Because of this, when DHCP is enabled, the IP address may be different each time you turn on the instrument. DHCP does not affect the hostname.

12. Click

13. In the Upgrade Assistant, click

14. Once connection to the instrument is verified, click

Browse, and double-click the firmware revision to upgrade your signal generator.

Next.

Next and follow the on-screen prompts.

NOTE Once the download starts, it cannot be aborted.

NOTE When the User Attention message appears, you must first cycle the instrument’s power,

then click OK.

When the upgrade completes, the Upgrade Assistant displays a summary.

15. Click

OK and close the Upgrade Assistant.

Calibration

Agilent Technologies recommends calibrating the E4428C ESG Signal Generator every two years.

4 Chapter 1

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Modes of Operation

The ESG sign al generator provides three modes of operation:

• continuous wave (CW)

• swept signal

• analog modulation

Continuous Wave

In this mode, the signal generator produces a CW signal. The signal generator is set to a single frequency and power level.

Swept Signal

In this mode, the si g nal g e nerator s w eeps over a range of frequencies and/or power le vels . Bot h l ist and step sweep functionality is available.

Analog Modulation

In this mode, the signal generator modulates the CW signal using one of four analog modulation types:

•AM (two paths)

•FM (two paths)

• ΦM (normal a nd high bandwidth)

• Pulse modulation

Chapter 1 5

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Overview

Figure 1- 1 shows the signal generator front panel. This interface enables you to define, monitor, and manage

input and output characteristics.

Figure 1-1 Front Panel Feature Overview

1. Display

The LCD screen provides information on the current function. Information can include status indicators, frequency and amplitude settings, and error messages. Labels for the softkeys are located on the right-hand side of the display. For further description of the front panel display, refer to “Front Panel Displ ay” on page

12.

2. Softkeys

Softkeys activate the function indicated by the displayed label to the left of each key.

6 Chapter 1

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Overview

3. Frequency Key

Pressing this hardkey makes frequency the active function. You can change the RF output frequency or use the menus to configure frequency attributes such as frequency multiplier, offset, and reference.

4. Amplitude Key

Pressing this hardkey activates the amplitude function. You can change the RF output amplitude or use the menus to configure amplitude attributes such as power search, user flatness, and ALC BW.

5. Knob

Rotating the knob increases or decreases a numeric value or changes a highlighted digit or character. You can also use the knob to step through lists or select items in a row. The knob uses the conjunction with the knob ratio (set with the the knob changes the active function value. For example, if the and the knob ratio is 50 to 1, then each turn of the knob changes the active function by 0.2 dB (1/50th of 10 dB). By modifying either value or both, you change the amount for each turn of the knob. For more information on softkeys, refer to the E4428C/38C ESG Signal Generators Key and Data Field Reference.

Step/Knob Ratio softkey) to determine how much each turn of

Incr Set value for the active function is 10 dB

Incr Set value in

7. Save Key

This hardkey accesses a menu of softk eys enabling you to s ave data to th e signal generator’ s instrument state memory register . Th e instrume nt state regis ter is a secti on of memory divided int o 10 sequences numbered 0 through 9. Each sequence contains 100 registers numbered 00 through 99.

The

Save hardkey provides a quick alternative to reconfiguring the signal generator via the front panel or

with SCPI commands when switching between different configurations. The instrument state.

Refer to “Saving an Instrument State” on page 71 for more information on the save operation.

Recall hardkey recalls a saved

7. Menu Keys

These hardkeys access softkey menus enabling configuration of list and step sweeps, utility functions, the LF output, and various analog modulation types. For detailed information on these keys, refer to the E4428C/38C ESG Signal Generators Key and Data Field Reference.

8. Recall Key

This hardkey restores any instrument state that you previously saved in a instrument state memory register.

Chapter 1 7

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Overview

9. EXT 1 INPUT Connector

This BNC input connector accepts an input signal for use with AM, FM, ΦM, and pulse modulation. The damage leve ls are 5 V

AM, FM, ΦM ±1Vp produces the indicated devia ti on or depth. When using the AC co upl ed input selection with a signal th at

has a peak input voltage that differs from 1 V

Pulse Modulation +1 V is on and 0 V is off

and 10 Vp.

rms

by more than 3%, the signal generator displays HI/LO annunciator.

On signal generators with Option 1EM, this input is relocated to a female BNC connector on the rear panel.

10. EXT 2 INPUT Connector

This BNC input connector accepts an input signal for use with AM, FM, ΦM, and pulse modulation. The damage leve ls are 5 V

AM, FM, ΦM ±1V

has a peak input voltage that differs from 1 V

Pulse Modulation +1 V is on and 0 V is off

On signal generators with Option 1EM, this input is relocated to a female BNC connector on the rear panel.

and 10 Vp.

rms produces the indicated de vi ation or depth. When using the AC coupled input selection with a signal that

by more than 3%, the signal generator displays HI/LO annunciator.

11. Help Key

Press this key to display a short description of any hardkey or softkey. There are two help modes available: single and continuous. Single mode is the factory preset condition. To toggle between single and continuous

mode, press

Single Mode The help text is provided for the next key you press without ac ti va ting the key’s function. Any key pressed

Continuous Mode The help text is pro vided for each subsequent key press unt il you either press the

Utility > Instrument Info/Help Mode > Help Mode Single Cont.

afterward exits the help mo de and activates the key’s function

single mode. In continuous mode, pressing the

Help key also activates the key’s function (except for the Preset key) .

Help key again, or chang e to

12. Trigger Key

This hardkey initiates an immediate trigger event for a function such as a list or step sweep. The trigger mode must be set to

Tri g g er K e y prior to initiating a trigger event with this hardkey.

13. LF OUTPUT Connector

This BNC connector is the output for modulation signals generated by the low frequency (LF) source function generator. This output is capable of driving 3 V

On signal generators with Option 1EM, this output is relocated to a rear-panel female BNC connector.

8 Chapter 1

(nominal) into a 50Ω load.

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Overview

14. RF OUTPUT Connector

This female Type-N connector is the output for RF signals. The source impedance is 50Ω. For Options 501, 502, 503, and 504 the damage levels are 50 Vdc, 50 W at ≤ 2 GHz, and 25 W at > 2 GHz maximum. For Options 501, 502, 503, and 504 the reverse power protection circuit will trip, however, at nominally 1 W.

CAUTION E4428C and E4438C signal generators with Option 506 are not equipped with reverse

power protection circuits.

On signal generators with Option 1EM, this output is relocated to a rear-panel female Type-N connector.

15. Mod On/Off Key

Pressing this hardkey enables or disables all active modulation formats (AM, FM, ΦM, or Pulse) that are applied to the output carrier signal.

This hardkey does not set up or activate an AM, FM, ΦM, or Pulse format; each individual modulation format must still be set up and activated (for example, carrier signal when the

The MOD ON/OFF a nnu nciator, which is always present on the display, indicates whether active modulation formats have been enabled or disabled with the

Mod On/Off hardkey is enabled.

AM > AM On) or nothing will be applied to the output

Mod On/Off hardkey.

16. RF On/Off Key

This hardkey toggles the operating state of the RF signal present at the RF OUTPUT connector. The RF On/Off annunciator is always visible in the display to indicate whether the RF is turned on or off.

17. Numeric Keypad

The numeric keypad consists of the 0 th rough 9 hardke ys, a decimal p oint hard key, and a backspace hardkey ( ). The backspace hardkey enables you to backspace or specify a negative value. When specifying a negative numeric valu e, the negative sign must be entered prior to entering the numeric value.

18. Incr Set Key

This hardkey enables you to set the increment value of the current active function. When this hardkey is pressed, the increment value of the current active function appears as the active entry for the display . Use the numeric keypad, arrow hardkeys, or the knob to adjust the increment value. Changing the Incr Set hardkey’s value also affects how much each turn of the knob changes an active function’s value according to the knob’s current ratio setting. For more information on softkeys, refer to the E4428C/38C ESG Signal Generators Key and Data Field Reference.

Chapter 1 9

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Overview

19. Arrow Keys

The up and down arrow hardkeys are used to increase or decrease a numeric value, step through displayed lists, or select items in a row of a disp l ayed l ist. Individual digits or characters may be highlighted using the left and right arrow hardkeys. Once an individual digit or character is highlighted, its value can be changed using the up and down arrow hardkeys.

20. Hold Key

This hardkey blanks the softkey label area, the active function area, and the text areas of the display. Softkeys, arrow hardkeys, the knob, the numeric keypad, and the hardkey is pressed. Press any other hardkey to end the hold mode.

Incr Set hardkey have no effect once this

21. Return Key

This hardkey enables you to retrace your key presses. When in a menu with more than one level (More 1 of 3, More 2 of 3, etc.), the

Return key will always return you to the first level of the menu.

22. Display Contrast Increase Key

This hardkey, when pressed or held, causes the display background to darken.

23. Display Contrast Decrease Key

This hardkey, when pressed or held, causes the display background to lighten.

24. Local Key

This hardkey is used to deactivate remote operation and return the signal generator to front panel control.

25. Preset Key

This hardkey is used to set the signal generator to a known state (factory or user-defined).

26. Standby LED

This yellow LED indicates when the signal generator power switch is set to the standby condition.

27. Line Power LED

This green LED indicates when the signal generator power switch is set to the on position.

10 Chapter 1

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Overview

28. Power Switch

This switch activates full power to the signal generator when set to the on position, and deactivates all signal generator functions when in standby mode. In standby mode, the signal generator remains connected to the line power, and power is supplied to some internal circuits.

Chapter 1 11

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Display

Figure 1-2 shows the front panel display. The LCD screen displays data fields, annotatio ns, key pr ess results ,

softkey labels, error messages, and annunciators that represent various active functions.

Figure 1-2 Front Panel Display

1. Frequency Area

The current frequency setting is shown in this portion of the display. In this same area, the ESG displays the indicators for frequency offset (OFFS) and multiplier (MULT) functions. In addition, REF appears when you enable the frequency reference mode and CHANNEL is turned on when you turn on a frequency channel (

Freq Channels Off On softkey).

12 Chapter 1

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Display

2. Annunciators

The display annunciators show the status of some of the signal generator functions, and indicate error conditions. An annunciator position may be used by more than one function. This does not create a problem, because only one function that shares an annunciator position can be active at a given time.

ΦM This annunciator appears when phase modulation is t urn ed on . If frequency modulation

is turned on, the FM annunciator will replace ΦM.

ALC OFF This annunciator appears when the ALC circuit is disabled. A second annunciator,

UNLEVEL, will appear in the same position if the ALC is enabled and is unable to

maintain the output level.

AM This annunciator appears when amplitude modulation is turned on. ARMED This annunciator appears when a sweep has been initiated and the signal generator is

waiting for the sweep trigger event.

ATTEN HOLD This annunciator appears when the attenuator hold function is turned on. When this

function is on, the attenuator is held at its current setting.

ERR This annunciator appears when an error message is placed in the error queue. This

annunciator will not turn off until you have viewed all of the error messages or cleared the error queue. You can access error messages by pressing

Utility > Error Info.

EXT1 LO/HI This annunciator is displayed as ei ther EXT1 LO or EXT1 HI. This annunciator appears

when the ac-coupled signal to the EXT 1 INPUT is less than 0.97 V

1.03 V

or greater than

EXT2 LO/HI This annunciator is displayed as ei ther EXT2 LO or EXT2 HI. This annunciator appears

when the ac-coupled signal to the EXT 2 INPUT is less than 0.97 V

1.03 V

or greater than

EXT REF This annunciator appears when an external frequency reference is applied. FM This annunciator appears when frequency modulation is turned on. If ph ase modu latio n

is turned on, the ΦM annunciator will replace FM.

L This annunciator appears when the signal generator is in listener mode and is receiving

information or commands over the GPIB, RS-232, or VXI-11/Sockets (LAN) interface.

Chapter 1 13

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Display

MOD ON/OFF This annunciator indicates if the RF carrier is modulated (MOD ON while there is an

active modulation format), or if the modulation is off (MOD OFF). Either condition of this annunciator is always visible in the display.

The MOD ON annunciator may be showing even when there are no active modulation formats. This merely indicates that the carrier signal will be modulated when a modulation format is enabled.

OVEN COLD This annunciator appears when the temperature of the internal oven reference oscillator

has dropped below an acceptable level. When this annunciator is on, frequency accuracy is degraded. This condition should occur for several minutes after the signal generator is first connected to line power. The annunciator is timed, and automatically turns off after a specified period.

PULSE This annunciator appears when pulse modulation is turned on. R This annunciator appears when the signal generator is remotely controlled over the

GPIB, RS-232, or VXI-11/Sockets (LAN) interface.

RF ON/OFF This annunciator indicates when the RF signal is present (RF ON) at the RF OUTPUT,

or if the RF signal is not present (RF OFF) at the RF OUTPUT. Either condition of this annunciator is always visible in the display.

S This annunciator appears when the signal generator has generated a service request

(SRQ) over the GPIB, RS-232, or VXI-11/Sockets (LAN) interface.

SWEEP This annunciator appears when the signal generator is sweeping in list or step mode. T This annunciator appears when the signal generator is in talker mode and is transmitting

information over the GPIB, RS-232, or VXI-11/Sockets (LAN) interface.

UNLEVEL This annunciator appears when the signal generator is unable to maintain the correct

output level. The UNLEVEL annunciator is not necessarily an indication of instrument failure. Unleveled conditions can occur during normal operation. A second annunciator,

ALC OFF, will appear in the same position when the ALC circuit is disabled.

UNLOCK This annunciator appears when any of the phase locked loops are unable to maintain

phase lock. You can determine which loop is unlocked by examining the error messages.

14 Chapter 1

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Display

3. Amplitude Area

The current output power level setting is shown in this portion of the display. When active, the following functions also display indicators in the amplitude area:

• Amplitude offset (OFFS)

• Amplitude reference mode (REF)

• Alternate Amplitude (∆ = 0.00 dB)

• User flatness (UF)

4. Softkey Label Area

The labels in this area define the function of the softkeys located immediately to the right of the label. The softkey label will change depending upon the function selected. For detailed softkey descriptions, refer to the E4428C/38C ESG Signal Generators Key and Data Field Reference.

5. Error Message Area

Abbreviated error messages are reported in this space. When multiple error messages occur, only the most recent message remains displayed. Reported error messages with details can be viewed by pressing

Utility > Error Info.

6. Text Area

This area of the display is used to show status information about the signal generator such as the modulation status, sweep lists, and file catalogs. This area also enables you to perform functions such as managing information, entering information, and displaying or deleting files.

7. Active Function Area

The current active function is shown in this area. For example, if frequency is the active function, the current frequency setting will be displayed here. If the current active function has an increment value associated with it, that value is also displayed.

Chapter 1 15

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Rear Panel Overview

The signal generator rear panel (Figure 1-3) provides input, output, and remote interface connections.

Figure 1-4 shows a portion of the rear panel for signal generators with Option 1EM, which moves front

panel connectors to the rear panel. For Option 1EM connectors not described in this section, see

“Front Panel Overview” on page 6.

Figure 1-3 Rear Panel Feature Overview

Figure 1-4

16 Chapter 1

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Rear Panel Overview

1. AC Power Receptacle

The power cord receptacle accepts a three-pronged cable that is shipped with the signal generator. The line voltage is connected here.

2. GPIB Connector

The GPIB connector allows communications with compatible devices such as external controllers. It is functionally equivalent to the LAN and RS 232 connectors.

3. RS 232 Connector

This female DB-9 connector is an RS-232 serial port that can be used for controlling the signal generator remotely. It is functionally equivalent to the GPIB and LAN connectors. The following table shows the descripti on of the pinouts. Figure 1-5 shows the pin configuration.

Table 1-1 RS 232 Connector

Pin Number Signal Description Signal Name

1 No Connection 2 Receive Data RECV 3 Transmit Data XMIT 4+5 V 5 Ground, 0 V 6 No Connection 7Request to SendRTS 8 Clear to Send CTS 9 No Connection

Figure 1-5

View look i ng into

rear panel connector

Chapter 1 17

E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Rear Panel Overview

4. LAN Connector

LAN based communication is supporte d by the signal gen erator via the LAN (local a rea network) connector. The LAN connector enables the signal generator to be remotely programmed by a LAN-connected computer . The distance between a computer and the sign al gen erat or is l imi te d to 100 meters (10Base-T) on a single cable. For more information about the LAN, refer to the E4428C/38C ESG Signal Generators Programming Guide.

5. TRIG OUT Connector

This female BNC connector outputs a TTL signal that is asserted high at the start of a dwell sequence, or at the start of waiting for the point trigger in manual sweep mode. It is asserted low when the dwell is over, when the point trigger is received, or once per sweep during an LF sweep. The logic polarity can be reversed.

6. TRIG IN Connector

This female BNC connector accepts a CMOS signal for triggering operations, such as point-to-point in manual sweep mode or an LF sweep in external sweep mode. Triggering can occur on either the positive or negative edge. The

damage levels are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts.

7. 10 MHz IN Connector

This female BNC connector accepts a −3.5 to +20 dBm signal from an external timebase reference that is within ±10 ppm (standard timebase) or ±1 ppm (high stability timebase). The nominal input impedance is 50Ω. The signal generator detects when a valid reference signal is present at this connector and automatically switches from internal to external reference operation. The signal generator will o nly automatically switch from internal to external reference operation when the instrument is in its factory default mode where the

Ref Oscillator Source Auto Off On softkey is set to on.

8. SWEEP OUT Connector

This female BNC connector provides a voltage range of 0 to +10 V. When the signal generator is sweeping, the SWEEP OUT signal ranges from 0 V at the beginning of the sweep to +10 V at the end of the sweep regardless of the sweep width . In CW mo de t his conn ect or h as n o ou t put. The output impedance is less than 1Ω and can drive 2 kΩ.

9. 10 MHz OUT Connector

This female BNC connector provides a nominal signal level of +3.9 dBm ±2 dB, and an output impedance of 50Ω. The accuracy is determined by the timebase used.

18 Chapter 1

2 E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

This chapter provides a gen eral overview of the Agilent E4438C ESG Vector Signal Generator and incl ud es the following major sections:

• “Standard Vector Signal Generator Features” on page 20

• “Options” on page 21

• “Firmware Upgrades” on page 22

• “Calibration” on page 23

• “Modes of Operation” on page 24

• “Front Panel Overview” on page 26

• “Front Panel Display” on page 33

• “Rear Panel Overview” on page 37

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Standard Vector Signal Generator Features

• CW output from 250 kHz to 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6 GHz; the high-end frequency is dependent on the frequency option purchased with your signal generator

• list and step sweep of frequency and amplitude, with multiple trigger sources

• user flatness correction

• automatic leveling control (ALC) on and off modes; power calibration in ALC-off mode is available, even without power search

• 10 MHz reference oscillator with external output

• GPIB, RS-232, and 10Base-T LAN interfaces

• closed-loop AM

• dc-synthesized FM to 10 MHz rates; maximum deviation depends on the carrier frequency

• phase modulation

• pulse modulation

• a function generator that includes the following features: —50Ω low frequency output, 0 to 3 V

• a pulse generator that includes the following features: — external pulse

— internal square wave — internal pulse sources: internal square, internal pulse, external 1 dc-coupled, and external 2

dc-coupled — adjustable pulse width — adjustable pulse period — adjustable pulse rate

• external modulation inputs for AM, FM, ΦM, and I/Q modulation

• simultaneous modulation configurations

20 Chapter 2

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Options

Understanding Baseband Generator Options

Your E4438C can have one of four baseband generator options, depending upon when you first purchased the instrument and whether or not the bas eband generat or has been upgraded to a newe r version. Th e options consist of the following:

Option 001 internal baseband generator with 8 megasample memory (no longer available) Option 002 internal baseband generator with 32 megasample memory (no longer available) Option 601 internal baseband generator wit h 8 megasample memory and digital bus capability Option 602 internal baseband generator with 64 megasample memory and digital bus capability These four baseband g enerators are s imilar i n some respects, an d very dif ferent in ot hers. They are similar in

that all four versions support the same signal generation formats, such as W-CDMA, cdma2000, WLAN, and many others. All four versions offer both arbitrary waveform capability and real-time baseband generation capability.

Options tab.

The first obvious difference between these four baseband generators is that they offer different playback memory sizes. This is primarily important to users providing their own arbitrary waveform files, since these may be very large in size. Of the signal creation personalities offered by Agilent, currently only Signal Studio for WLAN and Signal Studio for Pulse Building are capable of creating waveforms that can exceed the 8 megasample memory of the Option 001/601 models.

The second important difference between these baseband generators is that only Option 601 and 602 offer digital bus capability. This proprietary digital bus is used for communication with the Agilent Baseband Studio suite of products. Baseband Studio products provide a range of baseband signal processing functions, including baseband digital outputs, fading, and hard drive waveform streaming. These functions are not compatible with Opti on s 001 o r 0 02. An upgrade kit is available, h owe ver, if you want to add Option 601 or 602 to your existing E4438C ESG.

Chapter 2 21

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Firmware Upgrades

To determine the availability of new signal g e nerator firmware, visit the Signal Generator Firmware Upgrade Center web page at http://www.agilent.com/find/upgradeassistant, or call the number listed at http://www.agilent.com/find/assist.

To Upgrade Firmware

1. Note the IP a ddress of your signal generator. To view the IP address on the ESG, press

GPIB/RS-232 LAN > LAN Setup.

Utility >

2. Use an internet browser to visit http://www.agilent.com/find/upgradeassistant.

3. Scroll down to the “Documents and Downloads” table and click the link in the “Latest Firmware Revision” column for t he E4428C/3 8C ESG.

4. In the File Download window, select

5. In the Welcome window, click

Run.

Next and follow the on-screen instructions. The firmware files download

to the PC.

6. In the “Documents and Downloads” table, click the link in the “Upgrade Assistant Software” column for the E4428C/38C ESG to download the PSG/ESG Upgrade Assistant.

7. In the File Download window, select

8. In the Welcome window, click

9. At the desktop shortcut prompt, click

10. Once the utility downloads, close the browser and double-click the

Run.

OK and follow the on-screen instructions.

Ye s.

PSG/ESG Upgrade Assistant icon on the

desktop.

22 Chapter 2

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Calibration

NOTE If the PSG’s dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) is enabled, the network assigns

the instrument an IP address at power on. Because of this, when DHCP is enabled, the IP address may be different each time you turn on the instrument. DHCP does not affect the hostname.

12. Click

13. In the Upgrade Assistant, click

14. Once connection to the instrument is verified, click

NOTE Once the download starts, it cannot be aborted.

NOTE When the User Attention message appears, you must first cycle the instrument’s power,

15. Click

Browse, and double-click the firmware revision to upgrade your signal generator.

Next.

Next and follow the on-screen prompts.

then click OK.

When the upgrade completes, the Upgrade Assistant displays a summary.

OK and close the Upgrade Assistant.

Calibration

Agilent Technologies recommends calibrating the E4438C ESG Signal Generator every two years.

Chapter 2 23

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Modes of Operation

The ESG signal generator provides four modes of operation:

• continuous wave (CW)

• swept signal

• analog modulation

• digital modulation

Continuous Wave

In this mode, the signal generator produces a CW signal. The signal generator is set to a single frequency and power level.

Swept Signal

In this mode, the si g nal g e nerator s w eeps over a range of frequencies and/or power le vels . Bot h l ist and step sweep functionality is available.

Analog Modulation

In this mode, the signal generator modulates the CW signal using one of four analog modulation types:

• AM (two paths and wideband)

•FM (two paths)

• ΦM (normal a nd high bandwidth)

• Pulse modulation

Some of these modulation types can be used together.

Digital Modulation

In this mode, the signal generator modulates a CW signal with either a real-time I/Q signal or arbitrary I/Q waveform. I/Q modulation is only available on the E4438C. An optional internal baseband generator (Option 001/601 002/602) adds the following digital modulation formats:

• Custom Arb Waveform Generator mode can produce a single-modulated carrier or multiple-modulated carriers. Each modulated carrier waveform mu st be calcula ted and generated before it can be output ; this

signal generation occurs on t he internal baseband generator. Once a waveform has been created, it can be stored and recalled, which enables repeatable playback of test signals. To learn more, refer to “Using the

Arbitrary Waveform Generator” on page 366.

24 Chapter 2

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Modes of Operation

• Custom Real Time I/Q Baseband mode produces a single carrier, but it can be modulated with real-time data that allows real-time control over all of the parameters that affect the signal. The single-carrier

signal that is produced can be modified by applying various data patterns, filters, symbol rate s, modulation types, and burst shapes. To learn more, refer to “Using the Real Time I/Q Baseband

Generator” on page 37 2.

• Multitone mode produces up to 64 continuous wave signals (or tones) with adjustable amplitude and frequency spacing. To learn more, refer to “Multitone Waveform Generator” on page 359.

• Dual ARB mode is used to control the playback sequence of waveform segments that have been written into the ARB memory located on the internal baseband generator. These waveforms can be generated by

the internal baseband generator using any of the Arb modulation formats, or downloaded through a remote interface into the ARB memory. T o learn m ore, refer to “Using the Dual ARB Waveform Player”

on page 106.

Chapter 2 25

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Overview

Figure 2-1 shows the signal generator front panel. This interface enables you to define, monitor, and manage

input and output characteristics.

Figure 2-1 Front Panel Feature Overview

1. Display

33.

2. Softkeys

Softkeys activate the function indicated by the displayed label to the left of each key.

3. Frequency Key

26 Chapter 2

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Overview

4. Amplitude Key

Pressing this hardkey activates the amplitude function. When active, the following functions also display indicators in the amp litude area:

•Amplitude offset (OFFS)

•Amplitude reference mode (REF)

•Alternate Amplitude (∆ = 0.00 dB)

•User flatness (UF)

5. Knob

Step/Knob Ratio softkey) to determine how much each turn of

Incr Set value for the active function is 10 dB

Incr Set value in

6. Menu Keys

These hardkeys access softkey menus enabling configuration of list and step sweeps, utility functions, the LF output, and various analog and digital modulation types. For detailed information on these keys, refer to the E4428C/38C ESG Signal Generators Key and Data Field Reference.

7. Save Key

This hardkey accesses a menu of softkeys enabling you to save instrument settings to the signal generator’s instrument state memory register. The instrument state register is a section of memory divided into 10 sequences numbered 0 through 9. Each sequence contains 100 registers numbered 00 through 99.

The

Save hardkey provides a quick alternative to reconfiguring the signal generator via the front panel. The

Recall hardkey recalls a saved instrument state.

Refer to “Saving an Instrument State” on page 71 for more information on the save operation.

8. Recall Key

This hardkey restores any instrument state that you previously saved in a instrument state memory register .W hen you load t he wavefo rm fi le fr om NVWFM into w aveform m emory ( WFM1), and then use th e

Recall softkey to recall the signal generator settings associated with the file.

Chapter 2 27

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Overview

9. EXT 1 INPUT Connector

This BNC input connector accepts an input signal for use with AM, FM, ΦM, and pulse modulation, or as the linear control for a burst envelope. The damage levels are 5 V

AM, FM, ΦM ±1Vp produces the in dic a te d d e via tion or depth. When using the A C c o up le d in p ut s e lec tio n w ith a

signal that has a peak input voltage that differs from 1 V

displays the HI/LO annunciator. Pulse Modulation +1 V is on and 0 V is off Burst Envelope Provides linear c ontrol: −1 V = 0% amplitude and 0 V = 100% amplitude

and 10 Vp.

rms

by more than 3%, the signal generator

On signal generators with Option 1EM, this input is relocated to an SMB connector on the rear panel.

10. EXT 2 INPUT Connector

This BNC input connector accepts an input signal for use with AM, FM, ΦM, and pulse modulation. The damage leve ls are 5 V

AM, FM, ΦM ±1Vp produces the indicated deviation or depth. When using the AC coupled input selection with a

signal that has a peak input voltage that differs from 1 V displays HI/LO annunciator.

Pulse Modulation +1 V is on and 0 V is off

and 10 Vp.

rms

by more than 3%, the signal generator

If you configure your sign al generat o r with Opt ion 1E M, thi s inp ut is rel o cated to an S MB con nect or on the rear panel.

11. Help Key

mode, press

Single Mode The help text is provided for the next key you press without activating the key’s function. Any key

Continuous Mode The help text is provided for each subsequent key press until you either press the

Utility > Instrument Info/Help Mode > Help Mode Single Cont.

pressed afterward exits the help mode and activates the key’s function

change to single mode. In contin uous mode, pressing t he (except for the

Preset key).

Help key again, or

Help key also activates the key’s function

12. Trigger Key

This hardkey initiates an immediate trigger event for a function such as a list or step sweep. The trigger mode must be set to

28 Chapter 2

Tri g g er K e y prior to initiating a trigger event with this hardkey.

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Overview

13. LF OUTPUT Connector

This BNC connector is the output for modulation signals generated by the low frequency (LF) source function generator. This output is capable of driving 3 V

On signal generators with Option 1EM, this output relocated to a rear-panel SMB connector.

(nominal) into a 50Ω load.

14. RF OUTPUT Connector

CAUTION E4428C and E4438C signal generators with Option 506 are not equipped with reverse

power protection circuits.

On signal generators with Option 1EM, this output relocated to a rear-panel female Type-N connector.

15. Mod On/Off Key

Pressing this hardkey enables or disables all active modulation formats (AM, FM, ΦM, Pulse, or I/Q) that are applied to the output carrier signal.

This hardkey does not set up or activate an AM, FM, ΦM, Pulse, or I/Q format; each individual modulation format must still be set up and activated (for example, carrier signal when the

The MOD ON/OFF a nnu nciator, which is always present on the display, indicates whether active modulation formats have been enabled or disabled with the

Mod On/Off hardkey is enabled.

AM > AM On) or nothing will be applied to the output

Mod On/Off hardkey.

16. RF On/Off Key

17. Numeric Keypad

Chapter 2 29

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Overview

18. Incr Set Key

19. Arrow Keys

20. Hold Key

Incr Set hardkey have no effect once this

21. Return Key

This hardkey enables you to retrace your key presses. When in a menu with more than one level (More 1 of 3, More 2 of 3, etc.), the

Return key will always return you to the first level of the menu.

22. Display Contrast Increase Key

This hardkey, when pressed or held, causes the display background to darken.

23. Display Contrast Decrease Key

This hardkey, when pressed or held, causes the display background to lighten.

24. Local Key

This hardkey is used to deactivate remote operation and return the signal generator to front panel control.

25. Preset Key

This hardkey is used to set the signal generator to a known state (factory or user-defined).

30 Chapter 2

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Overview

26. Standby LED

This yellow LED indicates when the signal generator power switch is set to the standby condition.

27. Line Power LED

This green LED indicates when the signal generator power switch is set to the on position.

28. Power Switch

29. SYMBOL SYNC Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602)

This female BNC input connector accepts an externally supplied symbol sync signal for use with digital modulation applications. The expected input is a CMOS bit clock signal. It may be used in two modes. When used as a symbol sync in conjunction with a data clock, the signal must be high during the first data bit of the symbol. The signal must be valid during the falling edge of the data clock signal and may be a single pulse or continuous. When the SYMBOL SYNC itself is used as the (symbol) clock, the CMOS falling edge is used to clock the DATA signal.

The maximum clock rate is 50 MHz. The d On signal generators with Option 1EM, this input is relocated to a rear panel SMB connector. When using the real-time W-CDMA uplink personality, this connector should not be used to connect the

external baseband generator data clock. The BASEBAND GEN REF IN connector should be used instead.

amage levels are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts.

30. DATA CLOCK Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602)

The female BNC input connector accepts a CMOS externally supplied CMOS compatible signal data-clock input used with digital modulation applications. The expected input is a CMOS bit clock signal where the rising edge is aligned with the beginning data bit. The falling edge is used to clock the DAT A and SYMBOL SYNC signals.

The maximum clock rate is 50 MHz. The damage levels are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts. On signal generators with Option 1EM, this input is relocated to a rear panel SMB connector.

Chapter 2 31

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Overview

31. DATA Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602)

The female BNC input connector accepts a CMOS externally supplied CMOS compatible signal data input used with digital modulation applications. The expected input is a CMOS signal where a CMOS high is equivalent to a data 1 and a CMOS low is equivalent to a data 0.

The maximum input data rate is 50 Mb/s.The data must be valid on the DATA CLOCK falling edges. The damage levels are > +5.5 volts and < − 0.5 volts.

On signal generators with Option 1EM, this input is relocated to a rear panel SMB connector.

32. Q Connector

This female BNC input connector accepts an externally supplied, analog, quadrature-phase component of I/Q modulation. The signal level is = 0.5 V

50Ω. The damage level is 1 V

and 10 volts peak.

rms

for a calibrated output level. The input impedance is

rms

To activate a signal applied to this connector, press

Ext 50 Ohm or Ext 600 Ohm. On signal generators with Option 1EM, this input is relocated as an SMB to the

Mux > I/Q Source 1 or I/Q Source 2 and then select either

rear panel.

33. I Connector

This female BNC input connector accepts an externally supplied, analog, in-ph ase componen t of I/Q modulation. The signal level is = 0.5 V

To activate the in-phase component of the I/Q signal applied to this connector, press

I/Q Source 2 and then select either Ext 50 Ohm or Ext 600 Ohm.

This input connector also accepts the modulating signal for use with the wideband AM selection. The wideband AM signal depth is a linear function of the I INPUT signal voltage:

• 0.25 volts = 50%

• 0.5 volts = 100% When turned on, wideband AM automatically selects the I INPUT and configures it for 50Ω. This setting is

independent of the The damage level for this connector is 1 V

MUX > I/Q Source setting.

rms

input is relocated as an SMB to the rear panel.

for a calibrated output level. The input impedance is 50Ω.

rms

Mux > I/Q Source 1 or

and 10 volts peak. On signal generators with Option 1EM, this

32 Chapter 2

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Display

Figure 2-2 shows the front panel display. The LCD screen displa ys data fi elds, annotat ions, key pr ess results ,

softkey labels, error messages, and annunciators that represent various active functions.

Figure 2-2 Front Panel Display

1. Frequency Area

Freq Channels Off On softkey).

Chapter 2 33

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Display

2. Annunciators

ΦM This annunciator appears when phase modulati on i s t urn ed on . If frequency modulation

is turned on, the FM annunciator will replace ΦM.

ALC OFF This annunciator appears when the ALC circuit is disabled. Two other annunciators

appear in the same position: UNLEVEL when the ALC is enabled and is unable to maintain the output level, and BBG DAC when the waveform data exceeds the DAC range.

AM This annunciator appears when amplitude modulation is turned on. ARMED This annunciator appears when a sweep has been initiated and the signal generator is

waiting for the sweep trigger event.

ATTEN HOLD This annunciator appears when the attenuator hold function is turned on. When this

function is on, the attenuator is held at its current setting.

BERT This annunciator appears when the Option UN7 bit error rate test (BERT) functions are

turned on.

ENVLP This annunciator appears if the burst envelope modulation is turned on. ERR This annunciator appears when an error message is placed in the error queue. This

annunciator will not turn off until you have viewed all of the error messages or cleared the error queue. You can access error messages by pressing

Utility > Error Info.

EXT1 LO/HI This annunciator is displayed as ei ther EXT1 LO or EXT1 HI. This annunciator appears

when the ac-coupled signal to the EXT 1 INPUT is less than 0.97 V

1.03 V

or greater than

EXT2 LO/HI This annunciator is displayed as ei ther EXT2 LO or EXT2 HI. This annunciator appears

when the ac-coupled signal to the EXT 2 INPUT is less than 0.97 V

1.03 V

or greater than

EXT REF This annunciator appears when an external frequency reference is applied. FM This annunciator appears when frequency modulation is turned on. If ph ase modu lation

is turned on, the ΦM annunciator will replace FM.

L This annunciator appears when the signal generator is in listener mode and is receiving

information or commands over the GPIB, RS-232, or VXI-11/Sockets (LAN) interface.

34 Chapter 2

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Display

MOD ON/OFF This annunciator indicates if the RF carrier is modulated (MOD ON while there is an

active modulation format), or if the modulation is off (MOD OFF). Either condition of this annunciator is always visible in the display.

The MOD ON annunciator may be showing even when there are no active modulation formats. This merely indicates that the carrier signal will be modulated when a modulation format is enabled.

OVEN COLD This annunciator appears when the temperature of the internal oven reference oscillator

PULSE This annunciator appears when pulse modulation is turned on. R This annunciator appears when the signal generator is remotely controlled over the

GPIB, RS-232, or VXI-11/Sockets (LAN) interface.

RF ON/OFF This annunciator indicates when the RF signal is present (RF ON) at the RF OUTPUT,

or if the RF signal is not present (RF OFF) at the RF OUTPUT. Either condition of this annunciator is always visible in the display.

S This annunciator appears when the signal generator has generated a service request

(SRQ) over the GPIB, RS-232, or VXI-11/Sockets (LAN) interface.

SWEEP This annunciator appears when the signal generator is sweeping in list or step mode. T This annunciator appears when the signal generator is in talker mode and is transmitting

information over the GPIB, RS-232, or VXI-11/Sockets (LAN) interface.

UNLEVEL This annunciator appears when the signal generator is unable to maintain the correct

output level. The UNLEVEL annunciator is not necessarily an indication of instrument failure. Unleveled conditions can occur during normal operation. Two other annunciators appear in the same position: ALC OFF when the ALC circuit is disabled and BBG DAC when the waveform data exceeds the DAC range.

BBG DAC This annunciator appears when the waveform data exceeds the range of th e DAC, which

causes a DAC over-range error. It remains illuminated until the condition is corrected by scaling the data. It appears in the same location as the UNLEVEL and ALC OFF annunciators, and is the dominant annunciator. For example, if an unleveled condition exists at the same time as a DAC over -range condition, the DAC over -range annunciato r remains until corrected. Once corrected, the UNLEVEL annunciator appears.

UNLOCK This annunciator appears when any of the phase locked loops are unable to maintain

phase lock. You can determine which loop is unlocked by examining the error messages.

Chapter 2 35

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Front Panel Display

3. Digital Modulation Annunciators

All digital modulation annunciators appear in this location. These annunciators appear only wh en the modulation is active, and only one digital modulation can be active at any given time.

4. Amplitude Area

The current output power level setting is shown in this portion of the display. When active, the following functions also display indicators in the amplitude area:

• Amplitude offset (OFFS)

• Amplitude reference mode (REF)

• Alternate Amplitude (∆ = 0.00 dB)

• User flatness (UF)

5. Softkey Label Area

6. Error Message Area

Error Info.

Utility >

7. Text Area

8. Active Function Area

36 Chapter 2

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Rear Panel Overview

The signal generator rear panel (Figure 2-3) provides input, output, and remote interface connections.

Figure 2-4 shows a portion of the rear panel for signal generators with Option 1EM, which moves front

panel connectors to the rear panel. For Option 1EM connectors not described in this section, see

“Front Panel Overview” on page 26.

Figure 2-3 Rear Panel Feature Overview

Figure 2-4

Chapter 2 37

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Rear Panel Overview

1. 321.4 IN Connector (Option 300)

Use this female SMB connector to input a downconverted 321.4 MHz GSM/EDGE signal for base transceiver station (BTS) loopback measurements. (Option 300 also requires Options UN7, 001/601or 002/602, and 402).

2. BER GATE IN Connector (Option UN7)

Use this female SMB connector to input the clock gate signal for the bit-error-rate measurements. The clock signal to the BER CLK IN connector is valid only when the signal to this connector is a high or low, depending on your softkey selection or SCPI command. The d This connector accepts a high impedance TTL-compatible signal or a 75Ω input. It can be enabled or disabled by a softkey or a SCPI command.

amage levels are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts.

3. BER CLK IN Connector (Option UN7)

Use this female SMB connector to input the clock signal for the bit-error-rate measurements. The rising (positive) or falling (negative) edge of the signal (selected either by softkey or SCPI command) causes data on the BER DATA IN connector to be sampled. The d connector accepts a high impedance TTL-compatible signal or a 75Ω input.

amage levels are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts. This

4. BER DATA IN Connector (Option UN7)

Use this female SMB connector to input the data streams for the bit-error-rate measurements. The rising (positive) or falling (negative) edge of the BER CLK IN signal (selected by the softkey or the SCPI command) is used to trigger the reading of the data. The d connector accepts a high impedance TTL-compatible signal or a 75Ω input.

amage lev els are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts. This

5. I-bar OUT Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602)

This female BNC connector is used in conjunction with the I OUT connector to provide a balanced baseband stimulus. Balanced signals are signals present in two separate conductors that are symmetrical relative to ground, and are opposite in polarity (180 degrees out of phase). The nominal output impedance of this connector is 50Ω, DC-coupled. The damage levels are > +2 V and < −2 V. The DC origin offset is typically < 10 mV. The output signal levels into a 50Ω load are as follows:

• 0.5 V

• 0.69 V

• 0.71 Vpk (3.08 dB), typical, maximum crest factor for peaks for π/4 DQPSK with alpha = 0.35.

• Typically 1 V

38 Chapter 2

, typical, corresponds to one unit length of the I/Q vector.

(2.84 dB), typical, maximum crest factor for peaks for π/4 DQPSK with alpha = 0.5.

maximum (Option 001/601or 002/602 only).

p-p

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Rear Panel Overview

If you configure your si gnal generato r with Option 1EM, this outp ut is relocated an d changed fro m a BNC to an SMB connector.

6. I OUT Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602)

This female BNC connector outputs the analog, in-phase component of I/Q modulation from the internal baseband generator. The nominal output impedance of this connector is 50Ω, DC-coupled. The damage levels are > +3.5 V and < −3.5 V. The DC origin offset is typically < 10 mV. The output signal levels into a 50Ω load are as follows:

• 0.5 V

• 0.69 V

• 0.71 V

• Typically 1 V

, typical, corresponds to one unit length of the I/Q vector.

(2.84 dB), typical, maximum crest factor for peaks for π/4 DQPSK with alpha = 0.5.

(3.08 dB), typical, maximum crest factor for peaks for π/4 DQPSK with alpha = 0.35.

maximum.

p-p

If you configure your signal generator with Option 1EM, this output is relocated from a BNC to an SMB connector.

7. COH CARRIER Output Connector

The coherent carrier connector outputs R F that is modulated with FM or ΦM. The output power is nominally –2 dBm ±5 dB. The output frequency range is from 249.99900001 MHz to the maximum specified frequency of your signal generator or 4 GHz for Option 506 instruments. If the RF output frequency is below this range, the coherent carrier output signal will have the following frequency: Frequency of coherent carrier = (1E9 − Frequency of RF output) in Hz. The d amage levels are 20 Vdc and 13 dBm reverse RF power.

8. Q OUT Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602)

This female BNC connector outputs the analog, quadrature-phase component of I/Q modulation from the internal baseband generator. The nominal output impedance of this connector is 50Ω, DC-coupled. The damage levels are > +3.5 V and < −3.5 V. The DC origin offset is typically < 10 mV. The output signal levels into a 50Ω load are as follows:

• 0.5 V

• 0.69 V

• 0.71 V

• Typically 1 V

, typical, corresponds to one unit length of the I/Q vector.

(2.84 dB), typical, maximum crest factor for peaks for π/4 DQPSK with alpha = 0.5.

(3.08 dB), typical, maximum crest factor for peaks for π/4 DQPSK with alpha = 0.35.

maximum.

p-p

If you configure your signal generator with Option 1EM, this output is relocated from a BNC to an SMB connector.

Chapter 2 39

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Rear Panel Overview

9. Q-bar OUT Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602)

This female BNC connector is used in conjunction with the Q OUT connector to provide a balanced baseband stimulus. Balanced signals are signals present in two separate conductors that are symmetrical relative to ground, an d are op posi te in pola rity (180 degrees out o f phas e). The n ominal output i mpedan ce of this connector is 50Ω, DC-coupled. The damage levels are > +2 V and < −2 V. The DC origin offset is typically < 10 mV. The output signal levels into a 50Ω load are as follows:

• 0.5 V

• 0.69 V

• 0.71 V

• Typically 1 V

, typical, corresponds to one unit length of the I/Q vector.

(2.84 dB), typical, maximum crest factor for peaks for π/4 DQPSK with alpha = 0.5.

(3.08 dB), typical, maximum crest factor for peaks for π/4 DQPSK with alpha = 0.35.

maximum.

p-p

If you configure your signal generator with Option 1EM, this output is relocated from a BNC to an SMB connector.

10. EVENT 1 Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602)

This female BNC connector outputs a pulse that can be used to trigger the start of a data pattern, frame, or timeslot. It is adjustable to within plus or minus one timeslot with one bit of resolutio n. With Option 401 installed, an even second output is generated. A marker is output every t wo seconds ind icating the beginn ing of each short code sequence for use in synchronizing CDMA analysis instruments.

There is a marker on/off condition associated with each waveform point. The marker 1 level is +3.3 V CMOS high when positive polarity is selected; –3.3 V CMOS low when negative polarity is selected. The output on the EVENT 1 connector occurs whenever Marker 1 is turned on in the waveform. (Markers are automatically turned on whenever you set them in a waveform segment. When you combine waveform segments that contain Marker 1 into a sequence, the markers are automatically turned off until you toggle them on in either the Edit Selected Waveform Sequence menu or in the Build New Waveform Sequence menu.)

The damage levels for the Event 1 connector are > +8 V and < −4 V. On signal generators wi th Option 1EM, this output is changed from a BNC to an SMB connector. With Option 401 you can select from several different output signals for this connector.

11. EVENT 2 Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602)

This female BNC connector outputs a data enable signal for gating external equipment. The output is applicable when the external data is clocked into internally generated timeslots. Data is enabled when the signal is low. With Option 401 installed, a marker is output on the EVENT 2 connector every

26.67 milliseconds, corresponding to the start of each short code. There is a marker on/off condition associated with each waveform point. The marker 2 level is +3.3 V

CMOS high when positive polarity is selected; –3.3 V CMOS low when negative polarity is selected. The

40 Chapter 2

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Rear Panel Overview

output on the EVENT 1 connector occurs whenever Marker 1 is turned on in the waveform.The output on the EVENT 2 connector occurs whenever Marker 2 is turned on in the waveform. (Markers are automatically turned on whenever you set them in a waveform segment. When you combine waveform segments that contain Marker 2 into a sequence, the markers are automatically turned off until you toggle them on in either the Edit Selected Waveform Sequence menu or in the Build New Waveform Sequence menu.)

The damage levels are > +8 V and < −4 V. On signal generators with Option 1EM, this output is changed from a BNC to an SMB connector. With Option 401 this connector is used for system reset output.

12. PATT TRIG IN Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602)

This female BNC input connector can accept either a CMOS low to CMOS high, or CMOS high to CMOS low edge trigger. The minimum trigger input pulse width, high or low, is 100 ns. The damage levels are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts. If you configure your signal generator with Option 1EM, this input is changed from a BNC to an SMB connector.

The input to the P ATT TRIG IN connector is used to trigger the internal digital modulation pattern generator to start a single pattern output or to stop and re-synchronize a pattern that is being continuously output. The trigger edge is latched and then sampled by the falling edge of the internal data bit clock to synch r onize the trigger with the data bit clock timing. The minimum delay from the trigger edge to the first bit of the frame is 1.5 to 2.5 bit clock periods.

This connector is the source for the external trigger for all of the ARB waveform generator triggers. With Option 401, this connector is used for even second synchronization input.

13. AUX I/O Connector

This female 37-pin connector is active only on instruments with an internal baseband generator (Option 001/601or 002/602); on signal generators without one of these options, this connector is non-functional. This connector provides access to the inputs and outputs described in the following table and shown in

Figure 2-5.

Connector Pin

ALT PWR IN Pin-16 of the Aux I/O connector is used with an internal baseband generator. This pin

accepts a CMOS signal for synchronization of external data and alternate power signal timing. Damage levels are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts.

DATA CLK OUT Pin-6 of the Aux I/O connector is used with an inter nal baseband generato r. This pin

relays a CMOS bit clock signal for synchronizing serial data. Damage levels are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts.

DATA OUT Pin-7 of the Aux I/O connector is used with an inter nal baseband generator. This pin

outputs data (CMOS) fro m t he inte rnal d ata ge nerator or t he ex ternally supplie d sign al at data input. Damage levels are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts.

Description

Chapter 2 41

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Rear Panel Overview

Connector Pin

EVENT 3 Pin-19 of the Aux I/O connecto r is used wit h an internal ba seband ge nerato r. In arbitrary

waveform mode, this pin outputs a t iming signal generated by Marker 3. The marker 3 output level is +3.3 V CMOS regardless of marker polarity settings.The

reverse damage levels for this connect or pin are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts.

EVENT 4 Pin-18 of the Aux I/O connecto r is used wit h an internal ba seband ge nerato r. In arbitrary

waveform mode, this pin outputs a t iming signal generated by Marker 4. The marker 4 output level is +3.3 V CMOS regardless of marker polarity settings. The

reverse damage levels for this connect or pin are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts.

P ATT TRIG IN 2 Pin-17 of the Aux I/O connector accepts a signal that triggers an internal p attern or fra me

generator to start single patte rn output. Minimum pulse width is 100 ns. Damage levels are > +5.5 and < −0.5 V.

SYM SYNC OUT Pin-5 of the Aux I/O connector is used with an internal baseband generator. This pin

outputs the CMOS symbol cl ock for symbol synchronization, one data clock period wide. Damage levels are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts.

BER MEAS TRIG/BER NO DATA

BER ERR OUT Pin-21 is used for bit error rate testing (Option UN7). Damage levels are > +5.5 volts

BER TEST OUT Pin-20 is used for bit error rate testing (Option UN7). Damage levels are > +5.5 volts

Pin-22 is used for bit error rate testing (Option UN7). Damage levels are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts.

and < −0.5 volts

Description

(Continued)

BER SYNC LOSS Pin-4 is used for bit error rate testing (Option UN7). Damage le vels a re > + 5. 5volts and

< −0.5 volts.

BER MEAS END Pin-1 is used for bit error rate testing (Option UN7). Damage le vels a re > +5. 5volts and

< −0.5 volts.

42 Chapter 2

Figure 2-5 AUX I/O Pin Configuration

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Rear Panel Overview

View looking into

rear panel connec to r

14. DIGITAL BUS

This is a proprietary bus used for Agilent Bas eban d Studio products, which require Option 601 or 602 . Thi s connector is not operational for general purpose customer use. Signals are present only when a Baseband Studio option is installed (for details, refer to www.agilent.com/find/basebandstudio).

15. AC Power Receptacle

The power cord receptacle accepts a three-pronged cable that is shipped with the signal generator. The line voltage is connected here.

Chapter 2 43

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Rear Panel Overview

16. GPIB Connector

The GPIB connector allows communications with compatible devices such as external controllers. It is functionally equivalent to the LAN and RS 232 connectors.

17. RS 232 Connector

Table 2-1 RS 232 Connector

Pin Number Signal Description Signal Name

1 No Connection 2 Receive Data RECV 3 Transmit Data XMIT 4+5 V 5 Ground, 0 V 6 No Connection 7Request to SendRTS 8 Clear to Send CTS 9 No Connection

Figure 2-6

View looking into

rear panel conn ector

18. LAN Connector

44 Chapter 2

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Rear Panel Overview

19. TRIG OUT Connector

20. BURST GATE IN Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602)

The female BNC connector accepts a CMOS signal for gating burst power in digital modulation applications. The burst gating is used when you are externally supplying data and clock information. The input signal must be synch ronized with t he extern al data input that will be ou tput dur ing the bur st. The bu rst power envelope and modulated data are internally delayed and re-synchronized. The input signal must be CMOS high for normal burst RF power or CW RF output power and CMOS low for RF off. The leading edges must be synchronous with the DATA CLOCK rising edges. The damage levels are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts.

If you configure your signal generator with Option 1EM, this output is changed from a BNC to an SMB connector. With Option 401, this connector is u sed for system res e t tr igger input.

21. TRIG IN Connector

amage levels are > +5.5 volts and < −0.5 volts.

22. 10 MHz IN Connector

This female BNC connector accepts a −3.5 to +20 dBm signal from an external timebase reference that is within ±10 ppm (standard timebase) or ±1 ppm (high stability timebase). The nominal input impedance is 50Ω. The signal generator detects when a valid reference signal is present at this connector and automatically switches from internal to external reference operation. The signal generator will o nl y automatically switch from internal to external reference operation when the instrument is in its factory default mode where the

Ref Oscillator Source Auto Off On softkey is set to on.

23. SWEEP OUT Connector

Chapter 2 45

E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Rear Panel Overview

24. 10 MHz OUT Connector

This female BNC connector provides a nominal signal level of +3.9 dBm ±2 dB, and an output impedance of 50Ω. The accuracy is determined by the timebase used.

25. BASEBAND GEN REF IN Connector (Option 001/601 or 002/602)

The BASEBAND GEN REF IN connector accepts a 0 to +20 dBm sine wave or TTL square wave signal from an external timebase reference. This digital modulation reference clock is used by the internal baseband generator for both component and receiver test applications (only the internal baseband generator can be locked to this external reference; the RF frequency remains locked to the 10 MHz reference). The nominal input impedance is 50Ω at 13 MHz, AC-coupled.

This connector accepts a TTL or > −10 dBm sine wave external reference at rates from 250 kHz through 100 MHz. The internal clock for the arbitrary waveform generator is locked to this signal when external reference is selected in the ARB setup. The minimum pulse width must be > 10 ns. The damage levels are > +8 V and < −8 V.

This female BNC connector is provided only on signal generators with Options 001/601 and 002/602. On signal generators with Option 1EM, this output is changed from a BNC to an SMB connector.

When using the real-time W-CDMA uplink personality, this connector is used to connect the external baseband generator data clock.

46 Chapter 2

3 Basic Operation

The following list shows the topics covered in this chapter:

• “Using Table Editors” on page 48

• “Configuring the RF Output” on page 50

• “Generating the Modulation Format” on page 58

• “Modulating the Carrie r Signal” on p age 60

• “Creating and Applying User Flatness Correction” on page 61

• “Using the Memory Catalog” on page 68

• “Using the Instrument State Registers” on page 70

• “Using Security Functions” on page 75

• “Enabling Options (E4438C Only)” on page 83

• “Using the Web Server” on page 85

Basic Operation

Using Table Editors

The signal generator table editors enable you to simplify configuratio n tasks , such as creatin g a lis t sweep . This section familiarizes you with basic table editor functionality using the List Mode V alues table editor as an example.

Press

Preset > Sweep/List > Configure List Sweep.

The signal generator displays the List Mode Values table editor, as shown below.

Figure 3-1

Active Function Area

Ta ble Editor Name

Tabl e Items

Cursor

Table Editor Softkeys

Active Function Area displays the acti ve table item while its value is edited. Cursor an inverse video identifier used to highlight specific table items for

selection and editing. Table Editor Softkeys select table items, preset table values, and modify table structures. T able Items values arranged in numbered rows and titled columns (The columns

are also known as data fields. For example, the column below the

Frequency title is known as the Frequency data field).

48 Chapter 3

Basic Operation

Using Table Editors

Table Editor Softkeys

The following table editor softkeys are used to load, navigate, modify, and store table item values. Press

More (1 of 2) to access Load/Store and its associated softkeys. Edit Item displays the selected item in the active function area of the display where the item’s

value can be modified.

Insert Row inserts an identical row of table items above the currently selected row. Delete Row deletes the currently selected row. Goto Row opens a menu of softkeys (Enter, Goto Top Row, Goto Middle Row, Goto Bottom Row, Page Up,

and

Page Down) used to quickly navigate through the table items. Insert Item inserts an identical item in a new row below the currently selected item. Delete Item deletes the item from the bottom row of the currently selected column. Page Up and

Page Down displays table items that occupy rows outside the limits of the ten-row table display

area.

Load/Store opens a menu of softkeys (Load From Selected File, Store To File, Delete File, Goto Row, Page

, and Page Down) used to load table items from a file in the memory catalog, or to store the current table items as a file in the memory catalog. The signal generator accepts a file name with a maximum length of 23 characters (alphanumeric and special characters).

Modifying Table Items in the Data Fields

To modify existing table items:

1. Use the arrow keys or the k nob to m ove the table cu rs or o ver the d esired item. In Fi gure 3-1 on page 48, the first item in the Frequency data field has been selected.

2. Press

3. Use the knob, arrow keys, or the numeric keypad to modify the value.

4. Press

Chapter 3 49

Edit Item.

The selected item is displayed in the active function area of the display.

Enter.

The modified item is now displayed in the table.

Basic Operation

Configuring the RF Output

This section will show you how to create continuous wave and swept RF outputs.

Configuring a Continuous Wave RF Output

Using these procedures, you will learn how to set the following parameters:

• RF output frequency

• frequency reference and frequency offset

• RF output amplitude

• amplitude reference and amplitude of fs et

Setting the RF Output Frequency

1. Press

NOTE You can change the preset condition of the signal generator to a user-defined state. For these

2. Observe the FREQUENCY area of the display (in the upper left-hand corner).

3. Press

4. Press

5. Press

Preset.

This returns the signal generator to the factory-defined state.

examples, however, use the factory-defined preset state (the the Utility menu must be set to Normal).

The value displayed is the maximum specified frequency of the signal generator.

RF On/Off.

The

RF On/Off hardkey must be pressed before the RF signal is available at the RF OUTPUT connector.

The display annunciator changes from RF OFF to RF ON. The maximum specified frequency is now being output at the RF OUTPUT connector (at the signal generator’s minimum power level).

Frequency > 700 > MHz.

The 700 MHz RF frequency is now displayed in the FREQUENCY area of the display and also in the active entry area.

Frequency > Incr Set > 1 > MHz.

This changes the frequency increment value to 1 MHz.

Preset Normal User softkey in

50 Chapter 3

6. Press the up arrow key.

Basic Operation

Configuring the RF Output

Each press of the up arrow key increases the frequency by the increment value last set with the

Incr Set

hardkey. The increment value is displayed in the active entry area.

7. The down arrow decreases the frequency by the increment value set in the previous step. Practice stepping the frequency up and down in 1 MHz increments.

You can also adjust the RF output frequency using the knob. As long as frequency is the active function (the frequency is displayed in the active entry area), the knob will increase and decrease the RF output frequency.

8. Use the knob to adjust the frequency back to 700 MHz.

Setting the Frequency Reference and Frequency Offset

The following procedure set s the RF o utput freq uency as a reference frequency to which all other frequency parameters are relative. The frequency initially shown on the display will be 0.00 Hz (the frequency output by the hardware minus the reference frequency). Although the display changes, the frequency output does not change. Any subsequent frequency changes are shown as incremental or decremental to 0 Hz.

1. Press

2. Press

3. Press

Preset. Frequency > 700 > MHz. Freq Ref Set.

This activates the frequency reference mode and sets the current output frequency (700 MHz) as the reference value. The FREQUENCY area displays 0.00 Hz, which is the frequency output by the hardware (700 MHz) minus the reference value (700 MHz). The REF indicator is activated and the

Freq Ref Off On softkey has toggled to On.

4. Press

RF On/Off.

The display annunciator has changed from RF OFF to RF ON. The RF frequency at the RF OUTPUT connector is 700 MHz.

5. Press

Frequency > Incr Set > 1 > MHz.

This changes the frequency increment value to 1 MHz.

6. Press the up arrow key. This increments the output frequency by 1 MHz. The FREQUENCY area display changes to show

1.000 000 00 MHz, which is the frequency output by the hardware (700 MHz + 1 MHz) minus the reference frequency (700 MHz). The frequency at the RF OUTPUT changes to 701 MHz.

Chapter 3 51

Basic Operation

Configuring the RF Output

7. Press Freq Offset > 1 > MHz. This enters a 1 MHz offset. The FREQUENCY area displays 2.000 000 00 MHz, which is the

frequency output by the hardware (701 MHz) minus the reference frequency (700 MHz) plus the offset (1 MHz). The OFFS indicator is activated. The frequency at the RF OUTPUT connector is still 701 MHz.

Setting the RF Output Amplitude

1. Press

Preset.

2. Observe the AMPLITUDE area of the display. The display reads the minimum power level of the signal generator. This is the normal preset RF output

amplitude.

3. Press

RF On/Off.

The display annunciator changes from RF OFF to RF ON. The RF signal is now being output at the minimum power level at the RF OUTPUT connector.

4. Press

Amplitude > –20 > dBm.

This changes the amplitude to −20 dBm. The new −20 dBm RF output power is now displayed in the AMPLITUDE area of the display and also in the active entry area.

Amplitude is still the active function until you press another front pane l f unction key. You can also change the amplitude using the up and down arrow keys and the knob.

Setting the Amplitude Reference and Amplitude Offset

The following procedure sets the RF output power as an amplitude reference to which all other am plit ude parameters are relative. The amplitude initially shown on the display will be 0 dB (the power output by the hardware minus the reference power ). Although the dis play changes, t he output powe r does not chang e. Any subsequent power changes are shown as incremental or decremental to 0 dB.

1. Press

Preset.

2. Press

3. Press

Amplitude > –20 > dBm. More (1 of 2) > Ampl Ref Set.

This activates the amplitude reference mode and sets the current output power (−20 dBm) as the reference value. The AMPLITUDE area displays 0.00 dB, which is the power output by the hardware (20 dBm) minus the reference value (−20 dBm). The REF indicator is activated and the

Ampl Ref Off On

softkey has toggled to On.

52 Chapter 3

Basic Operation

Configuring the RF Output

4. Press RF On/Off. The display annunciator has changed from RF OFF to RF ON. The power at the RF OUTPUT connector

is −20 dBm.

5. Press

Incr Set > 10 > dB.

This changes the amplitude increment value to 10 dB.

6. Use the up arrow key to increase the output power by 10 dB. The AMPLITUDE area displays 10.00 dB, which is the power output by the hardware (-20 dBm plus

10 dBm) minus the reference power (−20 dBm). The power at the RF OUTPUT connector changes to

−10 dBm.

7. Press

Ampl Offset > 10 > dB.

This enters a 10 dB offset. The AMPLITUDE area displays 20.00 dB, which is the power output by the hardware (−10 dBm) minus the reference power (−20 dBm) plus the offset (10 dB). The OFFS indicator is activated. The power at the RF OUTPUT connector is still −10 dBm.

Configuring a Swept RF Output

The signal generator has two sweep types: step and list.

NOTE List sweep data cannot be saved within an instrument state, but can be saved to the memory

catalog. For instructions on saving list sweep data, see “Storing Files” on page 69. During swept RF output, the FREQUENCY and AMPLITUDE areas of the signal generator’s

display are deactivated, depending on what is being swept.

This section provides an explanation of the differences between step sweep and list sweep. You will learn two ways to configure the signal generator’s RF output to sweep a defined set of frequency and amplitude points. You will create a step sweep and then you will use these points as the basis for a new list sweep.

Step Sweep

When a step sweep is activated, the signal generator sweeps the RF output based on the values entered for RF output start and stop frequencies and amplitudes, a number of equally spaced points (steps) to dwell upon, and the amount of dwell time at each point. The frequency, amplitude, or frequency and amplitude of the RF output will sweep from the start amplitude/frequency to the stop amplitude/frequency, dwelling at equally spaced intervals defined by the

# Points softkey value.

Step sweep provides a linear progression through the start-to-stop frequency and/or amplitude values. You can toggle the direction of the sweep, up or down. When the

Sweep Direction Down Up softkey is set to Up,

Chapter 3 53

Basic Operation

Configuring the RF Output

values are swept from the start frequency/amplitude to the stop frequency/amplitude. When set to Down, values are swept from the stop frequency/amplitude to the start frequency/amplitude.

Configuring and Activating a Single Step Sweep

In this procedure, you will create a step sweep with nine, equally spaced points and the following parameters:

• frequency range from 500 MHz to 600 MHz

• amplitude from −20 dBm to 0 dBm

• dwell time 500 ms at each point

1. Press

2. Press

Preset. Sweep/List.

This opens a menu of sweep softkeys.

3. Press

Sweep Repeat Single Cont.

This toggles the sweep repeat from continuous to single.

4. Press

Configure Step Sweep.

5. Press Freq Start > 500 > MHz. This changes the start frequency of the step sweep to 500 MHz.

6. Press

Freq Stop > 600 > MHz.

This changes the stop frequency of the step sweep to 600 MHz.

7. Press

Ampl Start > -20 > dBm.

This changes the amplitude level for the start of the step sweep.

8. Press

Ampl Stop > 0 > dBm.

This changes the amplitude level for the end of the step sweep.

9. Press

# Points > 9 > Enter.

This sets the number of sweep points to nine.

10. Press

Step Dwell > 500 > msec.

This sets the dwell time at each point to 500 milliseconds.

54 Chapter 3

Basic Operation

Configuring the RF Output

11. Press Return > Sweep > Freq & Ampl. This sets the step sweep to sweep both frequency and amplitude data. Selecting this softkey returns you

to the previous menu and turns on the sweep function.

12. Press

RF On/Off.

The display annunciator changes from RF OFF to RF ON.

13. Press

Single Sweep.

A single sweep of the frequencies and amplitudes configured in the step sweep is executed and available at the RF OUTPUT connector. On the display, the SWEEP annunciator appears for the duration of the sweep, and a progress bar shows the progr ession of the sweep. Th e

Single Sweep softkey can also be used

to abort a sweep in progress.

Activating Continuous Step Sweep

Press

Sweep Repeat Single Cont.

This toggles the sweep from single to continuous. A continuous repetition of the frequencies and amplitudes configured in the step sweep are now available at the RF OUTPUT connector. The SWEEP annunciator appears on the display, indicating that the signal generator is sweeping, and progression of the sweep is shown by a progress bar.

List Sweep

List sweep allows you to create a list of arbitrary frequency, amplitude, and dwell time values and sweep the RF output based on the entries in the List Mode Values table.

Unlike a step sweep that contains linear ascending/descending frequ ency and amplitude values spaced at equal intervals throughout the sweep, list sweep frequencies and amplitudes can be entered at unequal intervals, nonlinear ascending/descending, or random order.

For convenience, the List Mode Values table can be copied from a previously configured step sweep. Each step sweep point’s associated frequency, amplitude and dwell time values are entered into a row in the List Mode Values table, as the following example illustrates.

Configuring a List Sweep Using Step Sweep Data

In this procedure, you will leverage the step sweep points and change the sweep information by editing several points in the List Mode Values table editor. For information on using table editors, see “Using Table

Editors” on page 48.

1. Press

Sweep Repeat Single Cont.

This toggles the sweep repeat from continuous to single. The SWEEP annunciator is turned off. The sweep will not occur until it is triggered.

Chapter 3 55

Basic Operation

Configuring the RF Output

2. Press Sweep Type List Step. This toggles the sweep type from step to list.

3. Press

Configure List Sweep.

This opens another menu displaying softkeys that you will use to create the sweep points. The display shows the current list data. (When no list has been previously created, the default list contains one point set to the signal generator’s maximum frequency, minimum amplitude, and a dwell time of 2 ms.)

4. Press

More (1 of 2) > Load List From Step Sweep > Confirm Load From Step Sweep.

The points you defined in the step sweep are automatically loaded into the list.

Editing List Sweep Points

1. Press

Return > Sweep > Off.

Turning the sweep off allows you to edit the list sweep points without generating errors. If sweep remains on during editing, errors occur whenever one or two point parameters (frequency, power, and dwell) are undefined.

2. Press

Configure List Sweep.

This returns you to the sweep list table.

3. Use the arrow keys to highlight the dwell time in row 1.

4. Press

Edit Item.

The dwell time for point 1 becomes the active function.

5. Press

100 > msec.

This enters 100 ms as the new dwell time value for row 1. Note that the next item in the table (in this case, the frequency value for point 2) becomes highlighted after you press the terminator softkey.

6. Using the arrow keys, highlight the frequency value in row 4.

7. Press

Edit Item > 545 > MHz.

This changes the frequency value in row 4 to 545 MHz.

8. Highlight any column in the point 7 row and press

Insert Row.

This adds a new point between points 7 and 8. A copy of the point 7 row is placed between points 7 and 8, creating a new point 8, and renumbering the successive points.

56 Chapter 3

9. Highlight the frequency item for point 8, then press Insert Item.

Basic Operation

Configuring the RF Output

Pressing

Insert Item shifts frequency values down one row, beginning at point 8. Note that the original

frequency values for both points 8 and 9 shift down one row, creating an entry for point 10 that contains only a frequency value (the power and dwell time items do not shift down).

The frequency for point 8 is still active.

10. Press

11. Press

590 > MHz. Insert Item > -2.5 > dBm.

This inserts a new power valu e at point 8 and shif ts down the o riginal p ower v alues for p oints 8 and 9 b y one row.

12. Highlight the dwell time for point 9, then press

Insert Item.

A duplicate of the highlighted dwell time is inserted for point 9, shifting the existing value down to complete the entry for point 10.

Activating List Sweep for a Single Sweep

1. Press

Return > Sweep > Freq & Ampl

This turns the sweep on again. No errors should occur if all parameters for every point have been defined in the previous editing process.

2. Press

Single Sweep.

The signal generator will single sweep the points in your list. The SWEEP annunciator activates during the sweep.

3. Press

4. Press

More (1 of 2) > Sweep Trigger > Trigger Key.

This sets the sweep trigger to occur when you press the

More (2 of 2) > Single Sweep.

Tr ig g er hardkey.

This arms the sweep. The ARMED annunciator is activated.

5. Press the

Tr ig g er hardkey.

The signal generator will single sweep the points in your list and the SWEEP annunciator will be activated during the sweep.

Chapter 3 57

Basic Operation

Generating the Modulation Format

The modulation format can be turned on prior to or after setting your signal parameters. Perform the following steps to turn the modulation format on:

1. Access the first menu within the modulation format. This menu will show a softkey that has the format’s name associated with off and on. For example,

Off On

. For some formats, the off/on key may appear in additional menus other than the first one.

2. Press the modulation fo rmat off/on key until On is highlighte d.

Figure 3-2 shows the AM modulation form at’ s fi rst menu with of f as the format status, and Figure 3-3 sh ows

an example of the ESG display when the format is active. The modulation format is now generated, however the carrier signal is not modulated until the

key has been set to on. Depending on the modulation format, the signal generator may require a few seconds to build the signal. Within the digital formats, you may see a BaseBand Reconfiguring status bar appear on the display. Once the signal is generated, an annunciator showing the name of the format will appear on the display indicating that the modulation format is active. For digital formats, the I/Q annunciator will appear in addition to the name of the modulation format.

Figure 3-2 Modulation Format Off

First AM Menu Modulation Format is Off

Mod On/Off

58 Chapter 3

Figure 3-3 Modulation Format On

Active Modulation Format Annunciator

Basic Operation

Generating the Modulation Format

First AM Menu Modulation format is On

Chapter 3 59

Basic Operation

Modulating the Carrier Signal

The carrier signal is modulated when the Mod On/Off key is set to on and a modulation format is active. When the key is set to on, the MOD ON annunciator shows in th e di s play. The MOD OFF annun ciator ap pears when the key is set to off. The MOD ON annunciator may be showing even when there are no active modulation formats. This just indicates that the carrier signal will be modulated when a modulation format is turned on.

To Turn the Modulation On

Press the Mod On/Off key until the MOD ON annunciator appears in the display. The carrier signal is now modulated with all active modulation formats. This is the factory default.

To Turn the Modulation Off

Press the Mod On/Off key until the MOD OFF annunciator appears in the display. The carrier signal is no longer modulated or capable of being modulated when a modulation format is active.

Figure 3-4 Carrier Signal Modulation Status

Mod set to On—Carrier is Modulated

AM Modulation Format is Active

Mod set to Off—Carrier is not Modulated

AM Modulation Format is Active

Mod set to On—Carrier is not Modulated

No Active Modulation Format

60 Chapter 3

Basic Operation

Creating and Applying User Flatness Correction

User flatness correction allows the digital adjustment of RF output amplitude for up to 1601 frequency points in any frequency or sweep mode. Using an Agilent E4416A/17A or E4418B/19B power meter (controlled by the signal generator through GPIB) to calibrate the measurement system, a table of power level corrections is created for frequencies where power level variations or losses occur. These frequencies may be defined in sequential linear steps or arbitrarily spaced.

If you do not have an Agilent E4416A/17A or E4418B/19B power meter, or if your power meter does not have a GPIB interface, the correction values can be manually entered into the signal generator.

To allow different correction arrays for different test setups or different frequency ranges, you may save individual user flatness correction tables to the signal generator’s memory catalog and recall them on demand.

Follow the steps in the next sections to create and apply user flatness correction to the signal generator’s RF output.

Afterward, follow the steps in “Recalling and Applying a User Flatness Correction Array” on page 66 to recall a user flatness file from the memory catalog and apply it to the signal generator’s RF output.

Creating a User Flatness Correction Array

In this example, you will create a user flatness correction array. The flatness correction array contains ten frequency correction pairs (amp litude co rrection values fo r specified f requenci es), fr om 500 MH z to 1 GH z.

An Agilent E4416A/17A/18B/19B power meter (controlled by the signal generator via GPIB) and E4413A power sensor are used to measure the RF output amplitude at the specified correction frequencies and transfer the results to the signal generator. The signal generator reads the power level data from the power meter, calculates the correction values, and stores the correction pairs in the user flatness correction array.

If you do not have the required Agilent power meter , or if your power meter does not have a GPIB interface, you can enter correction values manually.

Required Equipment

• Agilent E4416A/17A/18B/19B power meter

• Agilent E4413A E Series CW power sensor

• GPIB interface cable

• adapters and cables, as required

Chapter 3 61

Basic Operation

Creating and Applying User Flatness Correction

Configure the Power Meter

1. Select SCPI as the remote language for the power meter.

2. Zero and calibrate the power sensor to the power meter.

3. Enter the appropriate power sensor calibration factors into the power meter as appropriate.

4. Enable the power meter’s cal factor array.

NOTE For operating information on your particul ar power met er/ sen so r, refer to its operating

guide.

Connect the Equipment

Connect the equipment as shown in Figure 3-5 on page 63.

NOTE During the process of creating the user flatness correction array, the power meter is

controlled by the signal generator via GPIB. No other controllers are allowed on the GPIB interface.

62 Chapter 3

Creating and Applying User Flatness Correction

Figure 3-5 User Flatness Correction Equipment Setup

Basic Operation

Configure the Signal Generator

1. Press

Preset.

2. Configure the signal generator to interface with the power meter. a. Press

b. Press c. For E4417A and E4419B power meters, press

Amplitude > More (1 of 2) > User Flatness > More (1 of 2) > Power Meter > E4416A, E4417A, E4418B,

E4419B.

Meter Address > enter the power meter’s GPIB address > Enter.

Meter Channel A B to select the power meter’s active

channel.

d. Press

Meter Timeout to adjust the length of time before the instrument generates a timeout error if

unsuccessfully attempting to communicate with the power meter.

3. Press

More (2 of 2) > Configure Cal Array > More (1 of 2) > Preset List > Confirm Preset.

This opens the User Flatness table editor and presets the cal array frequency/correction list.

Chapter 3 63

Basic Operation

Creating and Applying User Flatness Correction

4. Press Configure Step Array. This opens a menu for entering the user flatness step array data.

5. Press

6. Press

7. Press

Freq Start > 500 > MHz. Freq Stop > 1 > GHz. # of Points > 10 > Enter.

Steps 4, 5, and 6 enter the desired flatness-corrected frequencies into the step array.

8. Press

Return > Load Cal Array From Step Array > Confirm Load From Step Sweep.

This populates the user flatness correction array with the frequency settings defined in the step array.

9. Press

10. Press

Amplitude > 0 > dBm. RF On/Off.

This activates the RF output and the RF ON annunciator is displayed on the signal generator.

Perform the User Flatness Correction

NOTE If you are not usi ng an Agi le nt E4416A/17A/18B/19B power meter, or if your power meter

does not have a GPIB interface, you can perform the user flatness correction manually. For instructions, see “Performing the User Flatness Correction Manually” on page 65.

1. Press

More (1 of 2) > User Flatness > Do Cal.

This creates the user flatness amplitude correction value table entries. The signal generator enters the user flatness correction routine and a progress bar is shown on the display.

2. When prompted, press

Done.

This loads the amplitude correction values into the user flatness correction array. If desired, press

Configure Cal Array.

This opens the user flatness correction array , where you can view the stored amplitude correction values. The user flatness correction array title displays User Flatness: (UNSTORED) indicating that the current user flatness correction array data has not been saved to the memory catalog.

64 Chapter 3

Basic Operation

Creating and Applying User Flatness Correction

Performing the User Flatness Correction Manually

If you are not using an Agilent E4416A/17A/18B/19B power meter, or if your power meter does not have a GPIB interface, complete the steps in this section and then continue with the user flatne ss correction tutorial.

1. Press

More (1 of 2) > User Flatness > Configure Cal Array.

This opens the User Flatness table editor and places the cursor over the frequency value (1 GHz) for row 1. The RF output changes to the frequency value of the table row containing the cursor and

1.000 000 000 00 is displayed in the FREQUENCY area of the display.

2. Observe and record the measured value from the power meter.

3. Subtract the measured value from 0 dBm.

4. Move the table cursor over the correction value in row 1.

5. Press

Edit Item > enter the difference value from step 3 > dB.

The signal generator adjusts the RF output amplitude based on the correction value entered.

6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 until the power meter reads 0 dBm.

7. Use the down arrow key to place the cursor over the frequency value for the next row . Th e RF output changes to the freq uency value of the table row containing the curs or, as shown in the FREQUENCY area of the display.

8. Repeat steps 2 through 7 for every entry in the User Flatness table.

Save the User Flatness Correction Data to the Memory Catalog

This process allows you to save the user flatness correction data in the signal generator’s memory catalog. With several user flatness correction files saved to the memory catalog, any file can be recalled, loaded into the correction array, and applied to the RF output to satisfy specific RF output flatness requirements.

1. Press

2. Press

Load/Store. Store to File.

3. Enter the file name FLATCAL1 using the alphanumeric softkeys, numeric keypad, or the knob. The maximum file name length is 23 characters (alphanumeric and special characters).

4. Press

Enter.

The user flatness correction array file FLATCAL1 is now stored in the memory catalog as a UFLT file.

Chapter 3 65

Basic Operation

Creating and Applying User Flatness Correction

Applying a User Flatness Correction Array

Return > Return > Flatness Off On.

Press This applies the user flatness correction array to the RF output. The UF indicator is activated in the

AMPLITUDE section of the signal generator’s display and the frequency correction data contained in the correction array is applied to the RF output amplitude.

Recalling and Applying a User Flatness Correction Array

Before performing the steps in this section, complete “Creating a User Flatness Correction Array” on

page 61.

1. Press

2. Press

3. Press

Preset. Amplitude > More (1 of 2) > User Flatness > Configure Cal Array > More (1 of 2) >

Preset List > Confirm Preset.

More (2 of 2) > Load/Store.

4. Ensure that the file FLATCAL1 is highlighted.

5. Press

Load From Selected File > Confirm Load From File.

This populates the user flatness correction array with the data contained in the file FLATCAL1. The user flatness correction array title displays User Flatness: FLATCAL1.

6. Press

Return > Flatness Off On.

This applies the user flatness correction data contained in FLATCAL1.

Returning the Signal Generator to GPIB Listener Mode

During the user flatness correction process, the power meter is controlled by the signal generator via GPIB, and no other controllers are allowed on the GPIB interface. The signal generator operates in GPIB talker mode, as a device controller for the power meter. In this operating mode, it cannot receive SCPI commands via GPIB.

NOTE Before interfacing the signal generator to a remote controller, the signal generator must be

in GPIB listener mode. Press the

GPIB Listener Mode softkey to return the signal generator to

GPIB listener mode from GPIB talker mode. If an RF carrier has been previously configured, you must save the present instrument state

before returning the signal generator to GPIB listener mode.

1. Save your instrument state to the instrument state register. For instruc tions, see “Saving an Instrument State” on page 71.

66 Chapter 3

Basic Operation

Creating and Applying User Flatness Correction

2. Press GPIB Listener Mode. This presets the signal generator and returns it to GPIB listener mode. The signal generator can now

receive remote commands executed by a remote controller connected to the GPIB interface.

3. Recall your instrument state from the instrument state register. For instruc tions, see “Recalling an Instrument State” on page 72.

Chapter 3 67

Basic Operation

Using the Memory Catalog

The signal generator’s interface for stored files is the memory catalog. From the memory catalog, you can view, store, and save files using the signal generator’s front panel or a remote controller. For more information on the memory catalog and performing these tasks remotely, see the E4428C/38C ESG SCPI Command Reference and the E4428C/38C ESG Vector Signal Generator Programming Guide.

The memory catalog may contain the following file types and their associated data:

BIN binary data LIST sweep data from the List Mode Values table including frequency, amplitude, and dwel l

time

STAT instrument state data (controlling instrument operating parameters, such as frequency,

amplitude, and mode)

UFLT user flatness calibration co rrect ion pai r data ( user-defined frequency and corresponding

amplitude correction values)

NOTE You may have additional file types depending on which options you have installed in your

signal generator.

Viewing Stored Files

1. Press Utility > Memory Catalog > Catalog Type. All files in the memory catalog are listed in alphabetical order, regardless of which catalog type you

select. File information appears on the display and includes the file name, file type, file size, and the file modification date and time.

2. Press

3. Press

4. Press

68 Chapter 3

List

The Catalog of List Files is displayed.

Catalog Type > State.

The Catalog of State Files is displayed.

Catalog Type > User Flatness.

The Catalog of USERFLAT Files is displayed.

Basic Operation

Using the Memory Catalog

Storing Files

To store a file to the memory catalog, first create a file. For this example, use the default list sweep table.

1. Press

2. Press

Preset. Sweep/List > Configure L1ist Sweep > More (1 of 2) > Load/Store.

This opens the Catalog of List Files.

3. Press

Store to File.

This displays a menu of alphabet ical soft ke ys for naming the file. Store to: is displayed in the active function area.

4. Enter the file name LIST1 using the alphabetical softkeys and the numeric keypad. The maximum file name length is 23 characters (alphanumeric and special characters).

5. Press

Enter.

The file is now displayed in the Catalog of List Files, showing the file name, file type, file size, and the date and ti me the file was modifi e d .

Chapter 3 69

Basic Operation

Using the Instrument State Registers

The instrument state memory is a section of memory divided into 10 sequences (numbered 0 through 9). Each sequence consists of 1 00 regi s ters ( numbered 00 through 99). Instrument state sequences and registers save and recall signal generator settings, and provide a quick way to reconfigure the signal generator when switching between different instrument and signal configurations.

The signal generator with Option 005 (internal hard drive) has approximately 4 GB available for storing instrument state files, as well as other user data. Without Option 005, the signal generator has 20 MB available for data and instrumen t st ate storag e. Ins trument state files vary in length, depending on the si gnal generator’s configuration.

Data, such as waveform files, arb settings, and table entr ies, are no t stored in instrument state memo ry. Store these data types to the signal generator’s memory. Instrument state memory only saves settings such as frequency, attenuation, power, and so forth.

The following list shows additional signal generator settings that are not saved with the save operation.

FM Deviation List Mode Freq Hostname FTP Server RS-232 Baud Rate List Mode Power IP Address Web Server (HTTP) Remote Language List Mode Dwell Subnet Mask Sockets SCPI (TELNET) System Security Level List Mode Sequence Default Gateway VXI-11 SCPI System Security Level Display Display State On/Off MAC System Security Level State PM Deviation Manual DHCP

W aveform data is stored in NVWFM. If you have a waveform file and want to save signal generator settings associated with that file, you must first select the waveform in volatile waveform memory (WFM1). When you save the signal generator settings associated with that file to instrument state memory, a reference to the waveform file name will also be saved. Refer to “Storing and Loading Waveform Segments” on page 112 for information on saving waveform files.

For more information on storing file data, such as waveform files, arb setups, and table entries, refer to

“Storing Files” on page 69. Refer to the E4428C/38C ESG Signal Generator Programming Guide and the

E4428C/38C ESG Signal Generator Key and Data Field Reference for more information on the s ave and recall function.

The following procedure demonstrates saving settings to the instrument state memo ry.

70 Chapter 3

Basic Operation

Using the Instrument State Registers

Saving an Instrument State

1. Preset the signal generator, then turn on amplitude modulation (the AM annunciator will turn on): a. Press

b. Press c. Press

Frequency > 800 > MHz. Amplitude > 0 > dBm. AM > AM Off On.

2. (Optional) If you want to associate these settings with a waveform file, load the waveform file into WFM1 and select it. Refer to “Storing and Loading Waveform Segments” on page 112 for information on loading waveform files into WFM1.

3. Press

Save > Select Seq > 1 > Enter.

The sequence number becomes the active fun ction. The signal gen erator displays the las t sequence used. Using the arrow keys, set the sequence to 1.

4. Press

Select Reg > 1 > Enter.

The register number in sequence 1 becomes the active function. The signal generator displays either the last register used accompanied by the text: (in use), or (if no registers are in use) register 00 accompanied by the text: (available). Use the arrow keys to select register 01.

5. Press

Save Seq[1] Reg[01].

This saves the instrument state, configured in step 1, to sequence 1, register 01 of the instrument state register. If a waveform is selected or being played, then the name of the waveform file will also be saved in sequence 1, register 01 of the instrument state register.

6. Press

Add Comment to Seq[1] Reg[01].

This enables you to add a descriptive comment to sequence 1 register 01. The comment appears in the Saved States list when the

Recall hardkey is pressed. If you have a waveform associated with the

instrument state, enter the name of the waveform in the comment field. You can then easily identi fy the name of the waveform and associated instrument state when the

Recall hardkey is pressed.

7. Using the letter softkeys, front-panel knob, or numeric keypad, enter a comment and press

8. Press

Edit Comment In Seq[1] Reg[01].

Enter.

If you wish, you can now change the descriptive comment for sequence 1 register 01.

Changes to a previously saved instrument state, f or exampl e an i nstr umen t st at e sa ved in Seq n, Reg nn, can be re-saved by highlighting that register and pressing

Re-SAVE Seq[n] Reg[nn]. The re-save function

overwrites previously saved instrument state settings, with the new settings configuration.

Chapter 3 71

Basic Operation

Using the Instrument State Registers

Recalling an Instrument State

Using this procedure, you will learn how to recall instrument settings saved to an instrument state register. Refer to the “Recalling an Instrument State for a Waveform File” on page 73 for recalling a waveform file and associated signal generator settings.

1. Press

2. Press the

3. Press

Preset.

Recall hardkey.

Notice that the

RECALL Reg.

Select Seq softkey shows sequence 1. (This is the last sequence that you used.)

The register to be recalled in sequence 1 becomes the active function. Press the up arrow key once to select register 1. Your stored instrument state settings are recalled.

Saving an Instrument State for a Waveform File

This procedure applies to the E4438C with Option 001/601 or 002/602 and demonstrates saving signal generator settings associated with a waveform file.

NOTE The save function saves only a reference to a waveform file name; no waveform data is

stored. Use Save function to save signal generator settings and use the Store function to save waveform data.

Signal generator settings such as frequency, power, attenuator level, and so forth, are not saved when a waveform file is saved. Signal generator settings, associated with the waveform file, must be saved to the instrument state memory . I f there is no waveform f ile in NVWFM, create one using the pro cedure, “Creating

Waveform Segments” on page 1 07.

Y o u can save signal generator settings, associated with a waveform file, so that when you load the waveform from NVWFM and play it, the same signal generator settings can be recalled and re-applied to the waveform file.

Set Up the Signal Generator

1. Press

2. Press

3. Press

4. Press

Preset. Frequency > 2 > GHz. Amplitude > – 30 > dBm. Mode > Dual ARB > Wave for m Se gments.

5. Scroll and highlight a waveform file in NVWFM.

72 Chapter 3

6. Press Load Segment From NVWFM Memory > Return.

7. Scroll to the waveform selected in step 3.

Basic Operation

Using the Instrument State Registers

8. Press

Select Waveform > ARB Off On to on. This causes the signal generator to play the waveform.

Saving the Instrument State

Instrument states can be s aved t o any on e of the 10 sequences and 100 registers in instrument state memory. In this procedure, sequence 01 and register 02 are used to store the signal generator settings associated with the waveform file. The Save function saves instrument settin gs and the waveform file name but does not save waveform data. Waveform data can only be saved to NVWFM with the Store function.

1. Press

Save > Select Seq > 01 > Select Reg > 02 > Save Reg.

The signal generator settings associated with the waveform file and the name of the waveform file are now saved in the instrument state memory. The section “Recalling an Instrument State for a Waveform File” on

page 73 describes how to recall this instrument state and associated waveform file.

Recalling an Instrument State for a Waveform File

This procedure applies to signal generators with Option 001/601 or 002 /602 and demonstrates recalling signal generator settings associated with a waveform file. This procedure u ses th e sam e signal generator settings and waveform file used in the previous section, “Saving an Instrument State for a Waveform File”.

1. Press

2. Scroll and select the waveform file used in the previous section.

3. Press

4. Highlight the file selected in step 3.

Mode > Dual ARB > Waveform Segments.

Load Segment From NVWFM Memory > Return > Select Waveform

5. Press

Select Waveform.

The next step recalls the signal generator settings associated with the waveform file. These settings were saved to Seq 01 and Reg 02 in the previous procedure.

6. Press

Recall > Select Seq > 01

7. Press RECALL Reg > 01 > Enter.

The signal generator is now setup with the same settings associated with the waveform previously saved to NVWFM.

Chapter 3 73

Basic Operation

Using the Instrument State Registers

Deleting Registers and Sequences

These procedures describe how to delete registers and sequences saved to an instrument state register.

Deleting a Specific Register within a Sequence

1. Press

2. Press the

3. Press

4. Press

5. Press

Preset.

Recall or Save hardkey.

Notice that the

Select Seq and enter the sequence number containing the register you want to delete. Select Reg and enter the register number you want to delete.

Notice that the

Delete Seq[n] Reg[nn].

Select Seq softkey shows the last sequence that you used.

Delete Seq[n] Reg[nn] should be loaded with the sequence and register you want to delete.

This deletes the chosen register.

Deleting All Registers within a Sequence

1. Press

2. Press the

3. Press

4. Press

Preset.

Recall or Save hardkey.

Notice that the

Select Seq and enter the sequence number containing the registers you want to delete. Delete all Regs in Seq[n].

Select Seq softkey shows the last sequence that you used.

This deletes all registers in the selected sequence.

Deleting All Sequences

CAUTION Be sure you want to delete the contents of all registers and all sequences in the instrument

state register.

1. Press

2. Press the

3. Press

Preset.

Recall or Save hardkey.

Notice that the

Delete All Sequences.

Select Seq softkey shows the last sequence that you used.

This deletes all of the sequences saved in the instrument state register.

74 Chapter 3

Basic Operation

Using Security Functions

This section describes how to use the ESG security functions to protect and remove classified proprietary information stored or displayed in the instrument. All security functions described in this section also have an equivalent SCPI command for remote operation. (Refer to the “System Subsystem (:SYSTem)” chapter of the E4428C/38C ESG Signal Generators SCPI Command Reference for more information.)

Understanding Memory Types

The ESG comprises several memory types, each used for storing a specific type of data. Before removing sensitive data, it is important to understand how each memory type is used in the signal generator. The following tables describe each memory type used in the base instrument, optional baseband generator, and optional hard disk.

Table 3-1 Base Instrument Memory

Memory Type and Size

Main Memory (SDRAM)

64 MB Main

Memory (Flash)

20 MB

Purpose/Contents Data Input Method Location in Instrument and Remarks

Writable During

Normal Operation?

Data Retained

When Powered Off?

Yes No firmware operating memory operating system

(not user)

Ye s Yes factory

calibration/configuration data user file system, which

includes instrument status backup, flatness calibration, IQ calibration, instrument states, waveforms (including header and marker dat a), modulation definitions, and sweep lists

firmware upgrades and user-saved data

CPU board, not battery bac ked.

CPU board (same chip as firmware mem ory, but managed separately)

User data is not stored in this memory if hard disk (Option 005) is installed.

Because this 32-MB memory chip contains 20 MB of user data (described here) and 12 MB of firmware memory, a selective chip erase is performed. User data areas are selectively and completely sanitized wh en you perfor m the Erase and Sanitize function .

Chapter 3 75

Basic Operation

Using Security Functions

Table 3-1 Base Instrument Memory (Continued)

Memory Type and Size

Firmware Memory (Flash)

12 MB

Battery Backed Memory (SRAM)

512 kB

Bootrom Memory (Flash)

128 kB Calibration

Backup Memory (Flash)

512 KB Boards

Memory (Flash)

512 Bytes Micro-

processor Cache (SRAM)

3 kB

Purpose/Contents Data Input Method Location in Instrument and Remarks

Writable During

Normal Operation?

Data Retained

When Powered Off?

No Yes main firmware image factory installed or

firmware upgrade

Yes Yes LAN configuration front panel entry or

Yes Ye s user-editable data (table

editors) last instrument state, last

instrument state backup, persistent instrument state and instrument status

No Yes CPU bootup program and

firmware loader/ updater

No Yes factory

calibration/configuration data backup

no user data

No Yes factory calibrat io n and

information files, code images, and self-test limits

no user data

Yes No CPU data and instruction

cache

remotely

firmware operations CPU board

factory programmed CPU board

factory or service only

memory is managed by CPU, not user

CPU board (same chip as main flash memory, but managed separately)

During normal operation, thi s me m ory cannot be overwritten except for L A N configuration. It is only overwritten during the fi rm ware installation or upgrade process.

Because this 32-MB memory chip contains 20 MB of user data and 12 MB of firmware memory (described here), a sele ctive chip erase is performed . User data areas are selectively and co mp letely sanitized when you perform the Erase and Sanitize function.

The battery can be r em oved to sanitize th e memory, but must be reinstalled for the instrument to operate. The battery is located on the motherb oard.

During normal operation, thi s me m ory cannot be overwritten or erased. This read-only data is programmed at the factory.

motherboard

all RF boards, baseband generator, and motherboard

CPU board, not battery bac ked.

76 Chapter 3

Agilent E4438C User's Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Documentation Overview

1 E4428C Analog Signal Generator Overview

Standard Analog Signal Generator Features

Options

Firmware Upgrades

To Upgrade Firmware

Calibration

Modes of Operation

Continuous Wave

Swept Signal

Analog Modulation

Front Panel Overview

1. Display

2. Softkeys

3. Frequency Key

4. Amplitude Key

5. Knob

7. Save Key

7. Menu Keys

8. Recall Key

9. EXT 1 INPUT Connector

10. EXT 2 INPUT Connector

11. Help Key

12. Trigger Key

13. LF OUTPUT Connector

14. RF OUTPUT Connector

15. Mod On/Off Key

16. RF On/Off Key

17. Numeric Keypad

18. Incr Set Key

19. Arrow Keys

20. Hold Key

21. Return Key

22. Display Contrast Increase Key

23. Display Contrast Decrease Key

24. Local Key

25. Preset Key

26. Standby LED

27. Line Power LED

28. Power Switch

Front Panel Display

1. Frequency Area

2. Annunciators

3. Amplitude Area

4. Softkey Label Area

5. Error Message Area

6. Text Area

7. Active Function Area

Rear Panel Overview

1. AC Power Receptacle

2. GPIB Connector

3. RS 232 Connector

4. LAN Connector

5. TRIG OUT Connector

6. TRIG IN Connector

7. 10 MHz IN Connector

8. SWEEP OUT Connector

9. 10 MHz OUT Connector

2 E4438C Vector Signal Generator Overview

Standard Vector Signal Generator Features

Options

Understanding Baseband Generator Options

Firmware Upgrades

To Upgrade Firmware

Calibration

Modes of Operation

Continuous Wave

Swept Signal

Analog Modulation

Digital Modulation

Front Panel Overview

1. Display

2. Softkeys

3. Frequency Key

4. Amplitude Key

5. Knob