8
Upgrading an existing Agilent
81200 data generator/analyzer
platform
The Agilent 81200 Data Generator/
Analyzer Platform can be extended or
adapted as needed. Front-ends, modules and expander frames can be
added at any time. Orders for individual units are supplied with the installation instructions.
User software upgrades
Revisions and enhancements to the
user software will be available from
time-to-time on CD-ROM, for which
an external CD drive is needed such
as the Agilent E4840A/49B Opt 008.
The operating system should not be
upgraded because the user software
is specified for operation on Windows
NT Rev 4.0 US-English localization.
Example configurations (for a "proprietary
system")
Here are some example configurations, providing an overall impression
of the scope of the Agilent 81200
Data Generator/Analyzer Platform.
Clock generators, pulse/pattern
generators
Requirements
A single or multi-channel generator
with:
• independent phase and duty cycle
adjustment
• variable slopes
• frequency f and f/n simultaneously
• up to 660 MHz
Example configuration
• Agilent E4840A three-slot mainframe
• Option 001 display and entry
panel
• Agilent E4831A clock/data generator
• Two Agilent E4838A front-ends
• SMA cables (Agilent 15442A)
Extensions
If more than two channels are needed,
add one or two Agilent E4841A modules with up to four front-ends each.
For data rates below 200 Mbit/s
(NRZ) the Agilent E4846A dual-output front-end can be used instead of
the Agilent E4838A. This can economize on the number of front-ends and
modules required.
For data rates up to 660 MHz, the
Agilent E4843A front-ends should be
used.
Data generators
Requirements
Similar to those of the pulse/pattern
generators, additional requirements are:
• deep, segmentable, loopable
memory for generating many
vectors
• bus, control and clock signals from
a single source
Example for 20 channels
• Agilent E4849B mainframe
• Option 001 display and entry
panel
• Agilent E4805A clock module
• 5 Agilent E4841A modules
• 20 Agilent E4838A front-ends
For data rates below 200 Mb/s, the
Agilent E4846A dual-output front-end
can be used instead of the Agilent
E4838A. This way, control channels
can be accommodated economically.
As an alternative to the display and
entry panel, a full-size monitor, keyboard and mouse can be ordered. See
figure 4 for details.
Data generator/analyzer
Example for 16 channels
• Agilent E4849B mainframe
• Option 001 display and entry
panel
• Agilent E4805A clock module
• 4 Agilent E4841A modules
• 8 Agilent E4843A front-ends
• 8 Agilent E4844A front-ends
With the above configuration, eight
data generator channels and eight
analyzer channels are provided. Other
mixes are feasible, as the Agilent
E4841A can accept any mix of frontends.
Note however, that all front-ends
within a module have the same
sequence. Thus, when connecting to
I/O ports (where analysis must take
place at a different time from data
generation), the generator front-ends
should use different Agilent E4841A
modules to the analyzer front-ends.
For more than eight channels, the
Agilent E4849B mainframe should be
ordered, instead of the Agilent
E4840A. For I/O applications where
there is not enough signal to drive
25Ω (that is the effective resistance of
a generator channel connected to an
Agilent E4844A or Agilent E4845A
analyzer front-end), the Agilent
E4847A analyzer front-end with selectable high-impedance should be used.
Product Description Model Number Quantity
Software Agilent 81200 user software Agilent E4873A
upgrade to latest revision. Opt 001