Agilent Technologies 81200 User Manual

Agilent 81200

The 81200 Data Generator/
Analyzer Platform

Configuration Guide
Release 2.1

Simplify your verification and characterization process

The Agilent Technologies 81200
data generator/analyzer platform

The Agilent 81200 is a modular plat­form consisting of front-ends, mod­ules, mainframes and user interfaces,
which can be tailored to your specific
test needs. This guide aims to help
you choose the right components. In
this context, two different fundamen­tal possibilities in configuring the sys­tem must be considered. These depend
on how you want to integrate the
Agilent 81200 into your test environ­ment:

a) Using the 81200 as a "proprietary
system" means that the 81200 will not
be combined with other VXI modules
in a standard VXI system. It can how­ever, be controlled by a LAN or a
GPIB interface. If a "proprietary sys­tem" is desired, follow steps 1-3, 4a
and 5 to configure your system (fig­ure 1).

b) If Agilent 81200 modules are com­bined with other VXI modules then
an "open VXI system" (the standard
VXI system), is achieved. For this
configuration, please follow steps 1-3,
4b and 5 (figure 1).

For information on upgrading an
existing Agilent 81200, please refer to
page 8.

On each page you'll find tables where
you can enter your choice as a
reminder for ordering.

STEP 1: Selecting the number
of channels required

Figure 2 shows that three different
generator front-ends and four differ­ent analyzer front-ends are available.
To select the correct front-end, the
following should be checked:

• speed

• data format

• levels

• memory depth

Please note that some of the lower
speed front-ends have two outputs or
two inputs and support a maximum
memory depth of 512 Kbit per chan­nel, not 1024 Kbit. SMA cables are
not included.

For more details, consult the Agilent

81200 Data Generator/Analyzer
Platform, data sheet, p/n 5965-3415E.

STEP 2: Choosing the modules

The generator and analyzer front­ends can be fitted together as follows:

• Generator front-ends can be fitted
(any mix) in the Agilent E4831A
Clock and Data Generator Module
or the Agilent E4841A Data
Generator/Analyzer Module.

• Analyzer front-ends only fit into
the Agilent E4841A module. Any
mix of analyzer and generator
front-ends is acceptable, provided
that the same sequence is needed
for the generator and analyzer.

• At least one clock module is essen­tial; either an Agilent E4805A
Central Clock Module or the
Agilent E4831 Clock & Data
Generator Module. These modules
can drive up to eleven or six
Agilent E4841A modules respec­tively.

• The sequence of segments and the
segment types (pattern, pause,
PRBS/PRWS) is the same for all
the channels within one module.
For example, if you need to set up
PRBS and control channels, make
sure you run PRBS from one mod­ule and the control signals from
another module.

Figure 1: Configuring an Agilent 81200 Data Generator/Analyzer Platform

2

STEP 1 STEP 2

Front-ends

The front-ends determine
generator/analyzer function
and input/output characteristics.

System Configuration

You are then ready to configure your system
using the attached Agilent 81200 Configuration
Sheets on page 9.

Modules

A choice of modules provide
front-end-housing, clock
and sequencing capability,
or or combination of these features.

STEP 3

Decision: “Open VXI System”

Integrating the Agilent 81200 modules
with other VXI test equipment to a
open VXI system or use the Agilent 81200
as “proprietary system”

Propretiary System

STEP 4a

Mainframe(s) & System Configuration

There is a choice of two mainframes.
Both include software, PC, hard disk and floppy drive.
The larger frame can be augmented with one or two expander frames.

STEP 4b

Requirements for intergration
into an “open VXI system”:

VXI controller and slot 0 commander
recommendations and additional requirements
for operating the Agilent 81200 modules
in a open VXI environment.

STEP 5

Choose your user interfaces, support
options, hardware and software accessories

3

Product Description Model Number Quantity

Generator front-ends Generator front-ends 660MHz, RZ/NRZ, 3.5 Vpp, variable transition times SMA (f). Agilent E4838A

Generator front-end 330 MHz, RZ/NRZ, variable transition times SMA (f). Agilent E4842A
Generator front-end 660 MHz, RZ/NRZ, single channel, 2.5 Vpp SMA (f). Agilent E4843A
Dual generator front-end 200 Mbit/s, NRZ, 3.5 VPP SMA (f). Agilent E4846A

Analyzer front-ends Differential analyzer front-end 660 Msa/s, 1 GHz bandwidth, 50Ω SMA (f). Agilent E4837A

Single analyzer front-end 660 Msa/s, 1 GHz bandwidth, 50Ω SMA (f). Agilent E4844A
Dual analyzer front-end 330 Msa/s, 1 GHz bandwidth, 50Ω SMA (f). Agilent E4845A
High impedance dual analyzer front-end 330 Msa/s, 350 MHz bandwidth, 50Ω SMA (f). Agilent E4847A

Modules 660 MHz data generator/analyzer module – holds four front-ends, any mix Agilent E4841A

660 MHz clock and data generator module – holds two generator front-ends, any mix.

Clocks up to six Agilent E4841A modules. Agilent E4831A

660 MHz central clock module, which clocks up to eleven Agilent E4841A modules Agilent E4805A

and up to two Agilent E4805s.

Required in all systems that include analyzer front-ends, and for all systems with seven Agilent E4805A

or more Agilent E4841As.

8-line trigger input for TTL signals. When branching on external events Agilent E4805A

(hardware signals) other than VXI-ECL trigger lines or compare errors is required. Opt 002

Deskewprobe, includes Agilent 1144A 880 MHz active probe and a BNC (f) to SMA (m) Agilent E4805A

adapter (part number 1250-1200). Opt 003

Which clock module?

The Agilent E4831A Clock & Data
Generator Module can be an eco­nomic way of building pulse or
data generators as it includes slots
for two front-ends. Please remem­ber that the Agilent E4831A can
only be used for generator chan­nels. For applications needing
many channels, analyzer channels
or more than two looping levels,
use the Agilent E4805A Central
Clock Module.

STEP 3: Decision - VXI integration
or not

If you want to combine the Agilent
81200 modules with other VXI
modules to achieve an "open VXI
system," then go to STEP 4b.

If you want to use the Agilent
81200 as a “proprietary system,”
meaning the Agilent 81200 will not be
combined with other VXI modules in
one system, then go to STEP 4a.

STEP 4a: Selecting the mainframe

If you’ve made the decision to config­ure a "proprietary system," you are
now in the position to select a main­frame. Two mainframes are available,
the Agilent E4840A small frame with
three free slots and the Agilent
E4849B mainframe with 10 free
slots. Both mainframes include a
built-in PC running Windows NT

4.0®. The user software is also
installed. All modules and front-ends
ordered with the mainframes come
factory installed.

Figure 2: Front-ends and modules

Figure 3: Mainframes and expanders

Generator-only systems.

(Two looping levels)

Agilent E4838A 660 MHz/MRZ

Agilent E4842A 330 MHz RZ/NRZ

(variable transitions)

Agilent E4843A 660 MHz RZ/NRZ

Agilent E4846A Dual 200 Mb/s, NRZ

Front - ends Clock module Data generator/

+

Agilent
E4831A
Clock & data
generator module

+

Generator systems or generator/analyzer systems.

Analyzer front ends

(Five looping levels)

analyzer modules

Up to six Agilent E4841A
modules can be added when
more generator front-ends are needed.

Agilent E4837A 660 MSa/s, differential

Agilent E4844A 660 MSa/s

Agilent E4845A Dual 330 MSa/s

Agilent E4847A High-impedance
dual 330 MSa/s

Up to 8 front-ends

Agilent E480A

3 free slots

3-slot PC

9 free slots

VXI bus

extender

Embedded PC

+

VXI bus

extender

12 free slots

Agilent E4805A
Central clock module

Up to 36 front-ends

Agilent E4849B

3-slot PC

10 free slots

(+)

VXI bus

extender

12 free slots

+

Agilent E4841A
Data generator/
analyzer module(s)

4

Expander frames

For more module slots, one or two
Agilent E4848B expander frames can
be connected. To do this, a VXI exten­der module (Agilent E4849B Opt 002)
is required. The module occupies one
of the otherwise free slots and is con­nected to a corresponding VXI exten­der that is supplied as part of the
expander frame.

Note that, when one or two expander
frames are fitted, an Agilent E4805A
Central Clock Module must be includ­ed in all frames. The Agilent E4831A
Clock & Data Generator Module is
unsuitable for systems with expander
frames.

Personalized system configuration

Now you are in a position to config­ure your system to meet your specific
requirements with the Agilent 81200
Configuration Sheets. For configura­tion instructions, please consult the
box on page 9. If you do not fill out
the configuration sheets, your system
will be delivered with the convention­al configuration pre-installed. Now go
to STEP 5.

STEP 4b: Integrating Agilent 81200
modules with other VXI test equip­ment

To run the Agilent 81200 modules in
a standard VXI test system with other
VXI test equipment, it is necessary
that a controller with the operating
system Windows NT 4.0® is present,
on which the Agilent E4873A User
Software for the Agilent 81200 can
run. Therefore, either an embedded
VXI controller, or a Slot 0 command
module has to be installed in the
mainframe. The command module
has to be connected to an external
PC, on which the Agilent E4873A
User Software is running. For operat­ing the Agilent 81200 platform in a
VXI test system, the following list,
comprising of VXI controllers, com­mand modules and frames, is recom­mended. Please also refer to figure 4.

VXI Controller:

• Agilent E6235A VXI PC

• National Instruments VXIpc-850

Command modules:

• Agilent E1406A GPIB Slot 0
command module

• Agilent E8491B IEEE-1394 PC link
to VXI

• National Instruments MXI-2
Interface

Frames:

• Agilent E8403A VXI Mainframe, C-Size

Please consider the power require­ment of the modules and front-ends
when you configure your VXI test sys­tem. For details about power require­ments, consult Agilent 81200 Data
Generator / Analyzer Platform, data
sheets, p/n 5965-3415E, or download
the power requirement calculation
table (MS Excel) for the Agilent 81200
from:

www.agilent.com/find/81200_configinfo

It is necessary to order the Agilent
E4873A User Software for the Agilent
81200 separately.

Expander frames

For more module slots, one or two
Agilent E4848B expander frames can
be connected. To do this, a VXI exten­der module Agilent E1482B is
required. The module occupies one of
the otherwise free slots and is con­nected to a corresponding VXI exten­der that is supplied as part of the
expander frame.

Note that, when one or two expander
frames are fitted, an Agilent E4805A
Central Clock Module must be includ­ed in all frames. The Agilent E4831A
Clock & Data Generator Module is
unsuitable for systems with expander
frames.

Product Description Model Number Quantity

Mainframes Small mainframe – 3 free slots. Agilent E4840A

Mainframe – 10 free slots Agilent E4849B
VXI extender module (E1482B, 1 slot) Agilent E4849B
Required if 1 or 2 expander frames Opt 002
are needed
Expander frame Agilent E4848B

Software Agilent 81200 User Software Agilent E4873A

5 licenses of Agilent 81200 User Software Agilent E4873A

Opt 005

Figure 4: Recommended Standard VXI Interfaces

Open VXI Interfaces

VXI Mainframe
with E1406A GPIB
Slot 0 Command Module

Any PC running MS Windows NT 4.0®

VXI Mainframe
with Agilent E6235A
VXI-PC

VXI Mainframe
with Agilent E8491A
IEEE-1394 PC-link to VXI

VXI Mainframe
with National
Instruments
VXIpc- 850

STEP 5: Choosing the user inter­face, support options, installation
options, and test accessories

User Interface

The compact choice is the display
and entry panel that mounts onto the
front of the mainframe and hinges for
optimum viewing/connector access. It
can only be used when connected to
the frames Agilent E4840A and
Agilent E4849B in the “proprietary
system.”

Alternatively, a VGA display, PC key­board and mouse provide a larger,
higher resolution display and stan­dard-sized keys.

Support, documentation and rackmount
options

Please consult the table below.
We recommend that a CD-ROM drive
is ordered so that user software
upgrades can be installed.

Figure 5: User interfaces

Product Description Model Number Quantity

Agilent E4840A/49B
Agilent E4840A/49B

User interface options 5" x 4" display and entry panel Opt 001

Interface options 15" VGA monitor Opt 003

17" VGA monitor Opt 004
21" VGA monitor Opt 005
Keyboard, US/English Opt 006
Mouse (two button) Opt 007
CD-ROM SCSI drive – includes SCSI-2 cable and termination Opt 008

Documentation options Additional user manual set Opt OB1

Japanese localization Opt ABJ
CD-ROM Service Guide (part number E4849-91022) Opt OBW

Rackmount options Rack flange kit (part number E8400-80923)

(Only for the Agilent E4849B and Agilent E4848B) Opt AX4

Support options One year on-site warranty Opt W01

Five year return repair service Opt W50
Software update notification service (12 per year) Opt +NAO
Commercial calibration with test report Agilent E4805A/31A/41A Opt UK6
Five year return calibration with service Agilent E4805A/31A/41A Opt W52

5

The following user interfaces are available
as Agilent E4840/49B mainframe options:

Option 001 display and entry panel
Includes 5"x 4" flat VGA display,
miniature keyboard and touch pad

Option 003/004/005:
15"/17"/21" Ultra VGA displays

Option 006 keyboard (U.S./ English)
and option 007 mouse