Phase Noise Guide
Agilent Technologies
PSA Series Spectrum Analyzers
Option 226
Manufacturing Part Number: E4440-90328
Supersedes: E4440-90233
Printed in USA
May 2007
© Copyright 2000 - 2007 Agilent Technologies, Inc.
Notice
The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
Agilent Technologies makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material,
including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness
for a particular purpose. Agilent Technologies shall not be liable for errors
contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the
furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
Where to Find the Latest Information
Documentation is updated periodically. For the latest information about
Agilent PSA Spectrum Analyzers, including firmware upgrades, software
upgrades, application information, and product information, please visit the
following Internet URL:
http://www.agilent.com/find/psa
2
Contents
1. Getting Started
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Installing Optional Measurement Personalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Do You Have Enough Memory to Load All Your Personality Options? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
How to Predict Your Memory Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Loading an Optional Measurement Personality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Obtaining and Installing a License Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Viewing a License Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Using the Delete License Key on PSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Ordering Optional Measurement Personalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Starting the Phase Noise Personality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
2. Using the Phase Noise Personality
Using the Phase Noise Personality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Phase Noise Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Log Plot Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Spot Frequency Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Smoothing, Averaging and Filtering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Signal Tracking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Measurement Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Slowly Drifting Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
System Noise Floor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Cancellation and Log Plot Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Background Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Log Plot Cancellation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Creating a DANL Floor Reference Trace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Example Measurement -
Using a DANL Reference for Cancellation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Creating a Signal Phase Noise Reference Trace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Example Measurement -
Using a Phase Noise Measurement for Cancellation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Saving Traces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Restoring Traces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Table of Contents
3. Menu Maps
What You Will Find in This Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Amplitude Menu - Log Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Amplitude Menu - Spot Frequency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
BW/Avg Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Det/Demod Menu - Log Plot and Spot Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Display Menu - Log Plot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Display Menu - Monitor Spectrum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Display Menu - Spot Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
File Menu (1 of 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
File Menu (2 of 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
File Menu (3 of 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
3
Contents
Table of Contents
4. Front-Panel Key Reference
File Menu (4 of 6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
File Menu (5 of 6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
File Menu (6 of 6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Frequency/Channel Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Input Output Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Marker Menu - Log Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Measure Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Meas Setup Menu - Log Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Meas Setup Menu - Monitor Spectrum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Meas Setup Menu - Spot Frequency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Mode Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Mode Setup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Span (X Scale) Menu - Log Plot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Span (X Scale) Menu - Monitor Spectrum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Span (X Scale) Menu - Spot Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Sweep Menu - Log Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Sweep Menu - Spot Frequency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Trigger Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Trace/View Menu - Log Plot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Trace/View Menu - Monitor Spectrum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Trace/View Menu - Spot Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Key Descriptions and Locations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
AMPLITUDE Y Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Monitor Spectrum Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Log Plot Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Spot Frequency Measurements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
BW/Avg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Det/Demod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
FREQUENCY Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Input/Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Marker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Monitor Spectrum Measurements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Spot Frequency Measurements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Log Plot Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Meas Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
MEASURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
MODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Mode Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Preset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
SPAN X Scale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Monitor Spectrum Measurements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Log Plot Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Spot Frequency Measurements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Sweep Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Trace/View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Monitor Spectrum Measurements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
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Contents
Log Plot Measurements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Spot Frequency Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
5. Language Reference
CALCulate Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
CALCulate:LPLot Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
CALCulate:MARKers Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
CONFigure Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Configure the Selected Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Configure Query . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
DISPlay Subsystem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Set the Display Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Control the Display Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Set the Display Reference Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Set the Display Amplitude Scale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
FETCh Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Fetch the Current Measurement Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
FORMat Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Measurement Results format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
INITiate Subsystem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Take New Data Acquisition for Selected Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
INSTrument Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Catalog Query . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Select Application by Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Select Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
MEASure Group of Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
CONFigure, FETCh, MEASure, READ Interactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Phase Noise Log Plot Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Monitor Spectrum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Phase Noise Spot Frequency Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
MMEMory Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Load a Log Plot Reference Trace from Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Store a Log Plot Reference Trace to Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
READ Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Initiate and Read Measurement Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
SENSe Subsystem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Display Average Noise Level—Measurement Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Default Reset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Frequency Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Amplitude Commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Bandwidth Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Detector Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Phase Noise Log Plot Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Monitor Band/Channel Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
RF Power Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Spot Frequency Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Table of Contents
6. Phase Noise Measurement Concepts
5
Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
What is Phase Noise? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Thermal Noise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Other Noise Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
AM Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Residual FM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Single-Sideband Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Phase Noise Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Log Plot Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Spot Frequency Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Improving Phase Noise Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Smoothing, Averaging and Filtering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Signal Tracking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Slowly Drifting Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
System Noise Floor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Advanced Features - AM Rejection and Overdrive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
7. If You Have A Problem
Agilent Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
6
List of Commands
:CALCulate:LPLot:DECade:TABLe[:STATe] OFF|ON|0|1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
:CALCulate:LPLot:DECade:TABLe[:STATe]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
:CALCulate:LPLot:MARKer:TABLe[:STATe] OFF|ON|0|1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
:CALCulate:LPLot:MARKer:TABLe[:STATe]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
:CALCulate:LPLot:MARKer[1]|2|3|4:MODE POSition|DELTa
|RMSDegree|RMSRadian|RFM|RMSJitter|OFF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
:CALCulate:LPLot:MARKer[1]|2|3|4:MODE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
:CALCulate:LPLot:MARKer[1]|2|3|4:TRACe <tracenum> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
:CALCulate:LPLot:MARKer[1]|2|3|4:TRACe? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
:CALCulate:LPLot:MARKer[1]|2|3|4:X <number> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
:CALCulate:LPLot:MARKer[1]|2|3|4:X? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
:CALCulate:LPLot:MARKer[1]|2|3|4:Y? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
:CALCulate:LPLot:TRACe:COPY[A][B] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
:CALCulate:LPLot:TRACe:SWAP[A][B] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
:CALCulate:LPLot:TRACe[1]|2|3:MODE RAW|SMOothed|VIEW|BLANk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
:CALCulate:LPLot:TRACe[1]|2|3:MODE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
:CONFigure:<measurement>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
:CONFigure:MONitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
:CONFigure? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
:DISPlay:MONitor:WINDow:TRACe:Y:DLINe <ampl> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
:DISPlay:MONitor:WINDow:TRACe:Y:DLINe:STATe OFF|ON|0|1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
:DISPlay:MONitor:WINDow:TRACe:Y:DLINe:STATe? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
List of Commands
:DISPlay:MONitor:WINDow:TRACe:Y:DLINe? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
:DISPlay:MONitor:WINDow:TRACe:Y:RLEVel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
:DISPlay:MONitor:WINDow:TRACe:Y:RLEVel? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
:DISPlay:MONitor:WINDow:TRACe:Y[:SCALe]:PDIVision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
:DISPlay:MONitor:WINDow:TRACe:Y[:SCALe]:PDIVision?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
:FETCh:<measurement>[n]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
:FETCh:LPLot[n]?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
:FETCh:MONitor[n] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
:FETCh:SFRequency[n]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
7
List of Commands
List of Commands
:FORMat:MEASure[:DATA] ASCii|REAL32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
:FORMat:MEASure[:DATA]?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
:INITiate:<measurement>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
:INSTrument:CATalog? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
:INSTrument:NSELect <integer> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
:INSTrument:NSELect?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
:INSTrument[:SELect] SA|PNOISE|BASIC|CDMA|CDMA2K|EDGEGSM|NADC
|PDC|WCDMA|CDMA1XEV|NFIGURE|WLAN|MRECEIVE
|TDSCDMA|TDDEMOD|EMC|DEMODULATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
:INSTrument[:SELect]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
:MEASure:LPLot[n]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
:MEASure:MONitor[n] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
:MEASure:SFRequency[n]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
:MMEMory:LPLot:LOAD:TRACe <tracenum>,<filename> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
:MMEMory:LPLot:LOAD:TRACe <tracenum>,<filename> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
:MMEMory:LPLot:STORe:TRACe <tracenum>,<filename> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
:MMEMory:LPLot:STORe:TRACe <tracenum>,<filename> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
:READ:<measurement>[n]?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
:READ:LPLot[n]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
:READ:MONitor[n] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
:READ:SFRequency[n]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
[:SENSe]:DANL:METHod ATTenuator|REMoval. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
[:SENSe]:DANL:METHod? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
[:SENSe]:DEFaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier <freq> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:SEARch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:SEARch:AUTO ON|OFF|1|0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:SEARch:AUTO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:SEARch:SPAN <freq>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:SEARch:SPAN?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:TRACk:DSPan <value> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:TRACk:DSPan?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
8
List of Commands
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:TRACk:INTerval <value> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:TRACk:INTerval? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:TRACk:METHod INTerval|TOLerance|BOTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:TRACk:METHod? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:TRACk:TOLerance <value> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:TRACk:TOLerance?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:TRACk[:STATe] OFF|ON|1|0. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier:TRACk[:STATe]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
[:SENSe]:FREQuency:CARRier? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
[:SENSe]:LPLot:AVERage:[:STATe] ON|OFF|1|0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
List of Commands
[:SENSe]:LPLot:AVERage:COUNt <integer> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
[:SENSe]:LPLot:AVERage:COUNt?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
[:SENSe]:LPLot:AVERage:TCONtrol?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
[:SENSe]:LPLot:AVERage[:STATe]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
[:SENSe]:LPLot:BANDwidth|BWIDth:VIDeo:AUTO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
[:SENSe]:LPLot:BANDwidth|BWIDth:VIDeo:RATio <numeric> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
[:SENSe]:LPLot:BANDwidth|BWIDth:VIDeo:RATio?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
[:SENSe]:LPLot:BANDwidth|BWIDth:VIDeo? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
[:SENSe]:LPLot:BANDwidth|BWIDth[:RESolution]:AUTO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
[:SENSe]:LPLot:BANDwidth|BWIDth[:RESolution]?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
[:SENSe]:LPLot:CANCellation:DELTa <dB> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
[:SENSe]:LPLot:CANCellation:DELTa? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
[:SENSe]:LPLot:CANCellation:TRACe <tracenum> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
[:SENSe]:LPLot:CANCellation:TRACe? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
[:SENSe]:LPLot:CANCellation[:STATe] OFF|ON|0|1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
[:SENSe]:LPLot:CANCellation[:STATe]?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
[:SENSe]:LPLot:DETector[:FUNCtion]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
[:SENSe]:LPLot:DIAG:GRAPh:Y:REFerence <level>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
[:SENSe]:LPLot:DIAG:GRAPh:Y:REFerence? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
[:SENSe]:LPLot:FILTering:NONE|LITTle|MEDium|MAXimum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
[:SENSe]:LPLot:FREQuency:OFFSet:STARt <freq> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
9
List of Commands
[:SENSe]:LPLot:FREQuency:OFFSet:STARt? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
[:SENSe]:LPLot:FREQuency:OFFSet:STOP <freq> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
[:SENSe]:LPLot:FREQuency:OFFSet:STOP? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
[:SENSe]:LPLot:FREQuency:SPAN:BANDwidth
|BWIDth[:RESolution]:RATio <numeric> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
[:SENSe]:LPLot:FREQuency:SPAN:BANDwidth
|BWIDth[:RESolution]:RATio:AUTO ON|OFF|1|0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
[:SENSe]:LPLot:FREQuency:SPAN:BANDwidth
|BWIDth[:RESolution]:RATio:AUTO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
[:SENSe]:LPLot:FREQuency:SPAN:BANDwidth
|BWIDth[:RESolution]:RATio? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
List of Commands
[:SENSe]:LPLot:METHod DANL|PN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
[:SENSe]:LPLot:METHod? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
[:SENSe]:LPLot:SMOoth <percentage> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
[:SENSe]:LPLot:SMOoth? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
[:SENSe]:MONiter:POWer[:RF]:RANGe:AUTo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
[:SENSe]:MONitor:AVERage:COUNt <integer> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
[:SENSe]:MONitor:AVERage:COUNt? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
[:SENSe]:MONitor:AVERage:TCONtrol EXPonential|REPeat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
[:SENSe]:MONitor:AVERage:TCONtrol? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
[:SENSe]:MONitor:AVERage[:STATe] OFF|ON|0|1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
[:SENSe]:MONitor:AVERage[:STATe]?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
[:SENSe]:MONitor:BANDwidth|BWIDth:VIDeo:AUTO?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
[:SENSe]:MONitor:BANDwidth|BWIDth:VIDeo:RATio <value> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
[:SENSe]:MONitor:BANDwidth|BWIDth:VIDeo:RATio? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
[:SENSe]:MONitor:BANDwidth|BWIDth:VIDeo?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
[:SENSe]:MONitor:BANDwidth|BWIDth[:RESolution]:AUTO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
[:SENSe]:MONitor:BANDwidth|BWIDth[:RESolution]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
[:SENSe]:MONitor:DETector[:FUNCtion] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
[:SENSe]:MONitor:DETector[:FUNCtion]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
[:SENSe]:MONitor:FREQuency:SPAN <freq> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
[:SENSe]:MONitor:FREQuency:SPAN:BANDwidth|BWIDth
[:RESolution]:RATio <value> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
10
List of Commands
[:SENSe]:MONitor:FREQuency:SPAN:BANDwidth|BWIDth
[:RESolution]:RATio:AUTO ON|OFF|1|0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
[:SENSe]:MONitor:FREQuency:SPAN:BANDwidth|BWIDth
[:RESolution]:RATio:AUTO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
[:SENSe]:MONitor:FREQuency:SPAN:BANDwidth|BWIDth
[:RESolution]:RATio? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
[:SENSe]:MONitor:FREQuency:SPAN:FULL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
[:SENSe]:MONitor:FREQuency:SPAN:ZERO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
[:SENSe]:MONitor:FREQuency:SPAN? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
[:SENSe]:MONitor:POWer[:RF]:ATTenuation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
[:SENSe]:MONitor:POWer[:RF]:ATTenuation:AUTO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
[:SENSe]:MONitor:POWer[:RF]:ATTenuation:AUTO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
[:SENSe]:MONitor:POWer[:RF]:ATTenuation?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
[:SENSe]:MONitor:SWEep:POINts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
[:SENSe]:MONitor:SWEep:TIME <value> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
[:SENSe]:MONitor:SWEep:TIME:AUTO ON|OFF|1|0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
[:SENSe]:MONitor:SWEep:TIME:AUTO?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
[:SENSe]:MONitor:SWEep:TIME? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
[:SENSe]:POWer[:RF]:MIXer:RANGe[:UPPer] <power> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
[:SENSe]:POWer[:RF]:MIXer:RANGe[:UPPer]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:AVERage:COUNt <integer>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:AVERage:COUNt? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:AVERage:TCONtrol EXPonential|REPeat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
List of Commands
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:AVERage:TCONtrol? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:AVERage[:STATe] ON|OFF|1|0. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:AVERage[:STATe]? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:BANDwidth|BWIDth:VIDeo:AUTO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:BANDwidth|BWIDth:VIDeo:RATio <numeric>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:BANDwidth|BWIDth:VIDeo:RATio? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:BANDwidth|BWIDth:VIDeo? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:BANDwidth|BWIDth[:RESolution]:AUTO?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:BANDwidth|BWIDth[:RESolution]?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
11
List of Commands
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:DETector[:FUNCtion]?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:METHod DANL|PN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:METHod? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:PNOFrequency <freq> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:PNOFrequency:AUTO ON|OFF|1|0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:PNOFrequency:AUTO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:PNOFrequency? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:SOFFset <value> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:SOFFset:BANDwidth|BWIDth[:RESolution] :RATio <value> . . . . . . . . .145
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:SOFFset:BANDwidth|BWIDth[:RESolution] :RATio?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
List of Commands
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:SOFFset? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:SWEep:TIME <value> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:SWEep:TIME:AUTO ON|OFF|1|0. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:SWEep:TIME:AUTO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
[:SENSe]:SFRequency:SWEep:TIME? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
12
1 Getting Started
Getting Started
13
Getting Started
Introduction
Introduction
The Option 226 Phase Noise Measurement Personality is a
downloadable program (DLP) that is used with the PSA Series
spectrum analyzers to make single sideband phase noise
measurements. You need the following equipment to use the utility:
Table 1-1 Equipment/Upgrades Required for Using
Option 226
Analyzer Firmware
E4440A A.10.00 or later
E4443A A.10.00 or later
E4445A A.10.00 or later
The following procedures describe how to install the file and access the
personality.
Getting Started
Specifications
Performance specifications can be found in the “PSA Series
Specifications Guide”.
14 Chapter 1
Getting Started
Installing Optional Measurement Personalities
Installing Optional Measurement
Personalities
When you install a measurement personality, you need to follow a three
step process:
1. Determine whether your memory capacity is sufficient to contain all
the options you want to load. If not, decide which options you want to
install now, and consider upgrading your memory. Details follow in
“Do You Have Enough Memory to Load All Your Personality
Options?” on page 15.
2. Install the measurement personality firmware into the instrument
memory. Details follow in “Loading an Optional Measurement
Personality” on page 19.
3. Enter a license key that activates the measurement personality.
Details follow in “Obtaining and Installing a License Key” on page
19.
Adding measurement personalities requires the purchase of an upgrade
kit for the desired option. The upgrade kit contains the measurement
personality firmware and an entitlement certificate that is used to
generate a license key from the internet website. A separate license key
is required for each option on a specific instrument serial number and
host ID.
For the latest information on Agilent Spectrum Analyzer options and
upgrade kits, visit the following web location:
http://www.agilent.com/find/sa_upgrades
Do You Have Enough Memory to Load All Your Personality Options?
If you do not have memory limitations then you can skip ahead to the
next section “Loading an Optional Measurement Personality” on
page 19. If after installing your options you get error messages relating
to memory issues, you can return to this section to learn more about
how to optimize your configuration.
If you have 64 MBytes of memory installed in your instrument, you
should have enough memory to install at least four optional
personalities, with plenty of memory for data and states.
Getting Started
The optional measurement personalities require different amounts of
memory. So the number of personalities that you can load varies. This is
also impacted by how much data you need to save. If you are having
memory errors you must swap the applications in or out of memory as
needed. If you only have 48 MBytes of memory, you can upgrade your
Chapter 1 15
Getting Started
Installing Optional Measurement Personalities
hardware to 64 MBytes.
Additional memory can be added to any PSA Series analyzer by
installing Option 115. With this option installed, you can install all
currently available measurement personalities in your analyzer and
still have memory space to store more state and trace files than would
otherwise be possible.
To see the size of your installed memory for PSA Series Spectrum
Analyzers:
1. Ensure that the spectrum analyzer is in spectrum analyzer mode
because this can affect the screen size.
Getting Started
2. Press
System, More, Show Hdwr.
3. Read Flash Memory size in the table. If Option 115 is installed (PSA
only), the table will also show Compact Flash Type and Compact
Flash Size.
PSA Flash
Memory Size
64 Mbytes 32.5 MBytes 30.0 MBytes
48 Mbytes 16.9 MBytes 14.3 MBytes
PSA Compact Flash
Memory Size
512 Mbytes (Opt. 115) 512 MBytes
Available Memory
Without Option
B7J and Option
122 or 140
Available Additional Memory for
Measurement Personalities
Available Memory With
Option B7J and Option 122 or
140
If you have 48 MBytes of memory, and you want to install more than 3
optional personalities, you may need to manage your memory
resources. The following section, “How to Predict Your Memory
Requirements” on page 17, will help you decide how to configure your
installed options to provide optimal operation.
16 Chapter 1
Getting Started
Installing Optional Measurement Personalities
How to Predict Your Memory Requirements
If you plan to install many optional personalities, you should review
your memory requirements, so you can determine whether you have
enough memory (unless you have a PSA Series with Option 115). There
is an Agilent “Memory Calculator” available online that can help you do
this, or you can make a calculated approximation using the information
that follows. You will need to know your instrument’s installed memory
size as determined in the previous section and then select your desired
applications.
NOTE If you have a PSA Series analyzer with Option 115, there is adequate memory
to install all of the available optional personalities in your instrument.
To calculate the available memory on your PSA, see:
http://sa.tm.agilent.com/PSA/memory/
Select the “Memory Calculator” link. You can try any combination of
available personalities to see if your desired configuration is compatible
with your installed memory.
NOTE After loading all your optional measurement personalities, you should have a
reserve of ~2 MBytes memory to facilitate mode switching. Less available
memory will increase mode switching time. For example, if you employ
excessive free memory by saving files of states and/or data, your mode
switching time can increase to more than a minute.
You can manually estimate your total memory requirements by adding
up the memory allocations described in the following steps. Compare
the desired total with the available memory that you identified in the
previous section.
1. Program memory - Select option requirements from the table
“Measurement Personality Options and Memory Required” on
page 18.
2. Shared libraries require 7.72 MBytes.
3. Recommended mode swap space is 2 MBytes.
4. Screens - .gif files need 20-25 kBytes each
5. State memory - State file sizes range from 21 kB for SA mode to
40 kB for W-CDMA. The state of every mode accessed since power-on
will be saved in the state file. File sizes can exceed 150 kB each when
several modes are accessed, for each state file saved.
Getting Started
TIP State memory retains settings for all states accessed before the Save State
command. To reduce this usage to a minimum, reduce the modes accessed
before the Save State is executed. You can set the PSA to boot into a selected
mode by accessing the desired mode, then pressing the System, Power
On/Preset, Power On keys and toggle the setting to Last.
Chapter 1 17
Getting Started
Installing Optional Measurement Personalities
Measurement Personality Options and Memory Required
Personality Options
for PSA Series Spectrum Analyzers
a
Option File Size
(PSA Rev: A.10)
cdmaOne measurement personality BAC 1.91 Mbytes
NADC and PDC measurement personalities (not
BAE 2.43 Mbytes
available separately)
W-CDMA or W-CDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA
BAF, 210
5.38 Mbytes
measurement personality
cdma2000 or cdma2000 w/ 1xEV-DV measurement
personality
1xEV-DO measurement personality 204
GSM (with EDGE) measurement personality 202
Shared measurement library
b
Phase Noise measurement personality 226
Noise Figure measurement personality 219
Basic measurement personality with digital demod
hardware
Programming Code Compatibility Suited (8560
B78, 214
4.00 Mbytes
5.61 Mbytes
3.56 Mbytes
n/a 7.72 Mbytes
2.82 Mbytes
4.68 Mbytes
B7J Cannot be deleted
(2.64 Mbytes)
266
1.18 Mbytes
Series, 8590 Series, and 8566/8568)
b
b
b
b
c
c
c
Getting Started
TD-SCDMA Power measurement personality 211
TD-SCDMA Modulation Analysis or TD-SCDMA
212, 213 1.82 Mbytes
5.47 Mbytes
b
Modulation Analysis w/ HSDPA/8PSK measurement
personality
Flexible Digital Modulation Analysis 241
WLAN measurement personality 217
External Source Control 215
Measuring Receiver Personality
233
2.11 Mbytes
3.24 Mbytes
0.72 Mbytes
2.91 Mbytes
b
b
c
b
(available with Option 23A - Trigger support for
AM/FM/PM and Option 23B - CCITT filter)
EMC Analyzer
239
4.06 Mbytes
b
a. Available as of the print date of this guide.
b. Many PSA Series personality options use a 7.72 Mbyte shared measurement library. If
you are loading multiple personalities that use this library, you only need to add this
memory allocation once.
c. Shared measurement library allocation not required.
d. This is a no charge option that does not require a license key.
18 Chapter 1
Getting Started
Installing Optional Measurement Personalities
Memory Upgrade Kits
The PSA 64 MByte Memory Upgrade kit part number is
E4440AU-ANE. The PSA Compact Flash Upgrade kit part number is
E4440AU-115.
For more information about memory upgrade kits contact your local
sales office, service office, or see:
http://www.agilent.com/find/sa_upgrades
Loading an Optional Measurement Personality
You must use a PC to load the desired personality option into the
instrument memory. Loading can be done from a firmware CD-ROM or
by downloading the update program from the internet. An automatic
loading program comes with the files and runs from your PC.
You can check the Agilent internet website for the latest PSA firmware
versions available for downloading:
http://www.agilent.com/find/psa_firmware
NOTE When you add a new option, or update an existing option, you will get the
updated versions of all your current options as they are all reloaded
simultaneously. This process may also require you to update the instrument
core firmware so that it is compatible with the new option.
Depending on your installed hardware memory, you may not be able to
fit all of the available measurement personalities in instrument
memory at the same time. You may need to delete an existing option file
from memory and load the one you want. Use the automatic update
program that is provided with the files. Refer to the table showing
“Measurement Personality Options and Memory Required” on page 18.
The approximate memory requirements for the options are listed in this
table. These numbers are worst case examples. Some options share
components and libraries, therefore the total memory usage of multiple
options may not be exactly equal to the combined total.
Obtaining and Installing a License Key
If you purchase an optional personality that requires installation, you
will receive an “Entitlement Certificate” which may be redeemed for a
license key specific to one instrument. Follow the instructions that
accompany the certificate to obtain your license key.
Getting Started
To install a license key for the selected personality option, use the
following procedure:
NOTE You can also use this procedure to reinstall a license key that has been deleted
during an uninstall process, or lost due to a memory failure.
Chapter 1 19
Getting Started
Installing Optional Measurement Personalities
1. Press System, More, More, Licensing, Option to accesses the alpha
editor. Use this alpha editor to enter letters (upper-case), and the
front-panel numeric keys to enter numbers for the option
designation. You will validate your option entry in the active
function area of the display. Then, press the
Enter key.
2. Press
License Key to enter the letters and digits of your license key.
You will validate your license key entry in the active function area of
the display. Then, press the
3. Press the
Activate License key.
Enter key.
Viewing a License Key
Measurement personalities purchased with your instrument have been
installed and activated at the factory before shipment. The instrument
requires a License Key unique to every measurement personality
purchased. The license key is a hexadecimal number specific to your
measurement personality, instrument serial number and host ID. It
enables you to install, or reactivate that particular personality.
Use the following procedure to display the license key unique to your
personality option that is already installed in your PSA:
Press
Personality key displays the personalities loaded, version
information, and whether the personality is licensed.
NOTE You will want to keep a copy of your license key in a secure location. Press
System, More, then Licensing, Show License, and print out a copy of the
display that shows the license numbers. If you should lose your license key, call
your nearest Agilent Technologies service or sales office for assistance.
System, More, More, Licensing, Show License. The System,
Getting Started
Using the Delete License Key on PSA
This key will make the option unavailable for use, but will not delete it
from memory. Write down the 12-digit license key for the option before
you delete it. If you want to use that measurement personality later,
you will need the license key to reactivate the personality firmware.
NOTE Using the Delete License key does not remove the personality from the
instrument memory, and does not free memory to be available to install
another option. If you need to free memory to install another option, refer to
the instructions for loading firmware updates located at the URL :
http://www.agilent.com/find/psa/
1. Press System, More, More, Licensing, Option. Pressing the Option key
will activate the alpha editor menu. Use the alpha editor to enter the
letters (upper-case) and the front-panel numeric keyboard to enter
the digits (if required) for the option, then press the
20 Chapter 1
Enter key. As you
Getting Started
Installing Optional Measurement Personalities
enter the option, you will see your entry in the active function area of
the display.
2. Press
Delete License to remove the license key from memory.
Ordering Optional Measurement Personalities
When you order a personality option, you will receive an entitlement
certificate. Then you will need to go to the Web site to redeem your
entitlement certificate for a license key. You will need to provide your
instrument serial number and host ID, and the entitlement certificate
number.
Required Information: Front Panel Key Path:
Model #: (Ex. E4440A)
Host ID:
__________________
Instrument
Serial Number:
__________________
System, Show System
System, Show System
Getting Started
Chapter 1 21
Getting Started
Starting the Phase Noise Personality
Starting the Phase Noise Personality
The phase noise personality can be started easily once the program has
been licensed and installed.
Press
MODE, then Phase Noise to start the utility.
Getting Started
22 Chapter 1
2 Using the Phase Noise
Personality
Using the Phase Noise Personality
23
Using the Phase Noise Personality
Using the Phase Noise Personality
Using the Phase Noise Personality
This chapter includes the following:
“Phase Noise Measurements” on page 2-25
— Log Plot Measurements
— Spot Frequency Measurements
— Smoothing, Averaging, and Filtering
— Signal Tracking
“Measurement Considerations” on page 2-28
—Slowly Drifting Signals
— System Noise Floor
— Display Accuracy at 10 dB Per Division
“Cancellation and Log Plot Measurements” on page 2-29
— Creating a DANL Floor Reference Trace
— Using a DANL Reference for Cancellation - Example
Measurement
— Creating a Signal Phase Noise Reference Trace
— Using a Phase Noise Measurement for Cancellation - Example
Measurement
— Saving Traces
—Restoring Traces
Using the Phase Noise Personality
24 Chapter 2
Using the Phase Noise Personality
Phase Noise Measurements
Phase Noise Measurements
Log Plot Measurements
The log plot measurement approximates a logarithmic frequency sweep
with a set of linear sweeps that are pieced together. This gives a display
of dBc/Hz versus logarithmic frequency offset for the single sideband
measurement. Trace 1, which is the yellow trace, displays the
point-by-point data as measured. Trace 2, the cyan blue trace, displays
a smoothed version of trace 1. The amount of smoothing is determined
by the current setting of the smoothing parameter. With the default
settings, marker 1 is set to a frequency offset of 10 kHz, and the phase
noise at that frequency is displayed numerically.
NOTE The trace numbers, trace data and marker data referred to (above)
apply if you are using the factory default settings, but these can be
changed.
If the analyzer is set up to perform single sweeps, the
softkey or the
Restart key allow a measurement to be repeated with a
Measure Log Plot
single key press. This is useful for seeing effects of circuit changes
where the carrier and offset frequencies of interest do not change. The
analyzer can also be set up to perform continuous sweeps. In this case a
new measurement will be started as soon as the previous one has
completed. One way of setting continuous sweeps is to press the
front-panel key followed by the
Meas Control and Measure (Cont).
press
Sweep (Cont) softkey. The other way is to
Sweep
Up to four markers can be used to display various parameters of the
measurement, although the default display only shows data for one
marker. Setting
Marker Table to On allows you to view the data from all
of your markers at once.
Phase noise measurement results can be integrated over a selected
frequency range to get the total RMS (root mean squared) noise in a
given bandwidth. The frequency limits used for integration may be
selected by pressing
Marker then RMS Noise. Use the RPG knob or
front-panel keys to select the starting point of your frequency range,
and then select whether to display the result in radians or in degrees,
or in seconds if
RMS Jitter is selected. Now you can use the RPG knob or
front-panel keys to select the end point of your frequency range. The
results are displayed in radians, degrees or seconds, depending on your
previous selection.
Using the Phase Noise Personality
RMS Residual FM over a specified range can also be displayed using
markers. Using a
Normal marker, use the RPG knob or front-panel keys
to position the marker at the start of your frequency range. Then press
Residual FM, and use the RPG knob (or the front-panel keys) to position
Chapter 2 25
Using the Phase Noise Personality
Phase Noise Measurements
the second marker at the end point of your frequency range. The display
will show your frequency range and the measured RMS residual FM
over this range. RMS phase noise measurements are based on the log
plot data which is a single-sideband measurement. The RMS phase
noise results are mathematically corrected to properly represent the
true RMS phase deviations.
Spot Frequency Measurements
A spot frequency measurement is a single sideband measurement of the
phase error at a specified offset frequency from the main carrier signal.
The average value of the trace points displayed on the screen is
indicated by a magenta pink line. The analyzer is normally set up to
display a continuous sweep, although a single measurement can be
performed by setting
The analyzer can be set up to track a drifting signal by pressing
FREQUENCY/Channel, Signal Track, On. When signal tracking is on, a
trace showing the change in frequency versus time is shown next to the
spot frequency trace.
Sweep to Single.
Smoothing, Averaging and Filtering
Repeatability of the measurement can be improved in several different
ways. Smoothing is used with log plot measurements while trace
averaging is used with spot frequency measurements. Video filtering
can be used with both types of measurements.
The smoothing process averages a number of adjacent trace points from
the raw trace, typically Trace 1, and displays the smoothed result in the
second trace, typically Trace 2, for a log plot measurement. Smoothing
is faster than averaging or filtering, but less accurate than either. Loss
of accuracy is particularly noticeable when a trace has sudden changes
in amplitude, for example when a carrier has a large discrete signal
such as a spurious sideband. To smooth a trace, choose the Smoothing
softkey in
using either the front-panel keys or the RPG knob. While inside the log
plot measurement, each level of smoothing can be tried without having
to make a new measurement.
The averaging process measures each frequency point multiple times,
and then calculates and plots the average value.
Video filtering can be applied to the active trace when making
measurements. Additional video filtering can increase the accuracy and
repeatability of the measurement, but it will also make the
measurement process slower. Filtering changes the ratio of the video
bandwidth to the resolution bandwidth. Filtering is slower than
smoothing or averaging, but is more accurate than either.
Meas Setup, and then adjust it between 0.00% and 16.0%
Using the Phase Noise Personality
26 Chapter 2
Using the Phase Noise Personality
Phase Noise Measurements
Signal Tracking
Signal tracking can be used in all measurements to track a slowly
drifting signal. When it is enabled (
slowly drifting signal by periodically reacquiring the carrier signal.
How often the analyzer will retune to the drifting signal depends on the
measurement being performed, and on analyzer settings such as
tracking mode, drift span, and tolerance. Log Plot and Monitor
Spectrum do not have tolerance or drift span settings.
If the signal is not tracked correctly (such as might happen with a
rapidly drifting signal), the analyzer may not be completely
compensating for the drift, causing the measured phase noise to appear
either higher or lower than it actually is.
On), the measurement will follow a
Chapter 2 27
Using the Phase Noise Personality
Using the Phase Noise Personality
Measurement Considerations
Measurement Considerations
Slowly Drifting Signals
Spot frequency and log plot measurements can be made on slowly
drifting signals by making use of the signal tracking function, although
the measured value will be slightly inaccurate. The maximum drift rate
that can be tracked will depend on analyzer settings such as
Span
and the tracking Mode, although it is unlikely that you will
approach these limits in practice.
System Noise Floor
The system noise floor can have a significant effect on low phase noise
measurements such as those that will typically be found at large
frequency offsets. The system noise floor can be measured using one of
two methods. For greater accuracy, use the Removal method of
measurement, and for greater convenience, use the Attenuation
method. See Cancellation and Log Plot Measurements on page 29 for
more details.
Search
Using the Phase Noise Personality
28 Chapter 2
Using the Phase Noise Personality
Cancellation and Log Plot Measurements
Cancellation and Log Plot Measurements
Many phase noise measurements do not benefit from cancellation. If
the phase noise of your DUT is more than 10 dB higher than the
analyzer noise, then cancellation has almost no effect on the calculated
measurement data. The effectiveness of using the cancellation function
also has a lower limit. When the phase noise of your DUT gets very
close to the analyzer noise (within about 0.1 dB), the logarithmic nature
of the calculation results in large, invalid cancellation values. The
following table shows error cancellation values that will be applied to
the measurement results for various DUT to analyzer phase noise
ratios. Setting the threshold value limits the correction that will be
applied.
Phase Noise of
DUT relative to
Phase Noise of
Analyzer
20 dB 0.043 dB 20.0 dB
10 dB 0.41 dB 10.41 dB
0 dB 3.01 dB 3.01 dB
−5.87 dB 6.87 dB 1.0 dB
−10 dB 10.41 dB 0.41 dB
−16.33 dB 16.43 dB 0.1 dB
−20 dB 20.04 dB 0.04 dB
−26.83 dB 26.84 dB 0.01 dB
Measurement
Error Before
Cancellation
Threshold ∆
Required for
a
Maximum
Cancellation
a. Only considers error due to additive affects of analyzer noise and
DUT noise.
Background Information
When you make a phase noise measurement on a given signal, the
measurement result that you get is actually a combination of three
different noise sources. The first source is the phase noise of the signal
that you are measuring. If this noise is very small, it can be distorted or
even hidden by the two other noise sources which are generated by the
analyzer itself.
Using the Phase Noise Personality
The first internal noise source is the phase noise generated by the
analyzer as a side-effect of measuring an input signal. The second
source is the Displayed Average Noise Level (DANL) of the analyzer.
The DANL is the internally generated noise of the analyzer regardless
Chapter 2 29
Using the Phase Noise Personality
Cancellation and Log Plot Measurements
of whether or not an input signal is present, so the DANL is derived
from the noise figure of the analyzer. The DANL floor is broadly flat
across the spectrum and represents the absolute noise level below
which measurements cannot be made because the signal gets lost in the
analyzer noise.
If you make a measurement without any input signal, that
measurement represents the absolute noise floor (DANL) of the
analyzer. If you reference this absolute noise floor to the carrier
amplitude, the DANL floor becomes a relative limit below which phase
noise sidebands cannot be measured.
At far offset frequencies, the analyzer’s phase noise is often below the
analyzer’s noise floor (DANL). The DANL floor of an analyzer thus
limits the range over which an analyzer can measure phase noise. By
making a log plot measurement of the analyzer’s DANL noise floor, you
are able to characterize the DANL limitation on phase noise
measurements.
Log Plot Cancellation
The Log Plot measurement accuracy on low phase noise DUTs can be
improved by using the cancellation feature to remove the affects of the
analyzer’s internal noise. This is done by comparing a stored reference
measurement with the DUT’s measured phase noise.
The stored reference measurement can be generated two ways.
• If you have a signal source that has much better phase noise then
the analyzer’s phase noise, then you can measure that source and
know that the resulting trace represents the analyzer’s internal
phase noise when an input signal is present.
• If you do not have a good low-phase noise source, you can make a
reference measurement with no input signal. This gives you a
measurement of the analyzer’s noise floor (DANL).
A reference trace from a good source that is relatively free of phase
noise will let you compensate for both the phase noise and the DANL of
the analyzer. A reference trace that is derived from the DANL only
compensates for the DANL portion of the noise, but this may be
adequate for measurement conditions where the analyzer DANL is the
limiting factor (typically for offsets >1 to 10 MHz.)
This reference trace can be saved to the analyzer’s own internal file
system (the C: drive) or to a floppy disk. It can then be automatically
subtracted from any subsequent log plot measurement to give you a
more accurate result.
Using the Phase Noise Personality
General Process
Step 1. Set up the analyzer as needed to measure the test signal’s phase noise.
30 Chapter 2
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