Agilent Technologies 85671A User Manual

User’s Guide

Agilent Technologies 85671A Phase Noise Utility

Manufacturing Part Number: 85671-90010

Printed in USA November 2000

Notice

The information contained in this document is subject to change

without notice.

Agilent Technologies makes no warranty of any kind with regard to

this material, including but not limited to, the implied warranties

of merchantability and tness 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.



prior written permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the

1400 Fountaingrove Parkway, Santa Rosa, CA 95403-1799, USA

Agilent Technologies Software Product License Agreement and

Limited Warranty

Important

License Agreement

Please carefully read this License Agreement before opening the

media envelope or operating the equipment. Rights in the software

are oered only on the condition that the Customer agrees to all

terms and conditions of the License Agreement. Opening the media

envelope or operating the equipment indicates your acceptance

of these terms and conditions. If you do not agree to the License

Agreement, you may return the unopened package for a full refund.

In return for payment of the applicable fee, Agilent Technologies

grants the Customer a license in the software, until terminated,

subject to the following:

Use.

Customer may use the software on one spectrum-analyzer

instrument.

Customer may not reverse assemble or decompile the software

Copies and Adaptations.

Customer may make copies or adaptations of the software:

For archival purposes,or

When copying or adaptation is an essential step in the use of the

software with a computer so long as the copies and adaptations

are used in no other manner.

Customer has no other rights to copy unless they acquire an

appropriate license to reproduce which is available from Agilent

Technologies for some software.

Customer agrees that no warranty, free installation, or free training

is provided by Agilent Technologies for any copies or adaptations

made by Customer.

All copies and adaptations of the software must bear the copyright

notices(s) contained in or on the original.

Ownership.

Customer agrees that they do not have any title or ownership of the

software, other than ownership of the physical media.

Customer acknowledges and agrees that the software is copyrighted

and protected under the copyright laws.

Customer acknowledges and agrees that the software may have

been developed by a third party software supplier named in

the copyright notice(s) included with the software, who shall be

authorized to hold the Customer responsible for any copyright

infringement or violation of this License Agreement.

iii

Transfer of Rights in Software.

Customer may transfer rights in the software to a third party only

as part of the transfer of all their rights and only if Customer

obtains the prior agreement of the third party to be bound by the

terms of this License Agreement.

Upon such a transfer, Customer agrees that their rights in the

software are terminated and that they will either destroy their

copies and adaptations or deliver them to the third party.

Transfer to a U.S. government department or agency or to a prime

or lower tier contractor in connection with a U.S. government

contract shall be made only upon their prior written agreement to

terms required by Agilent Technologies.

Sublicensing and Distribution.

Customer may not sublicense the software or distribute copies or

adaptations of the software to the public in physical media or by

telecommunication without the prior written consent of Agilent

Technologies.

Termination.

Agilent Technologies may terminate this software license for failure

to comply with any of these terms provided Agilent T

echnologies

has requested Customer to cure the failure and Customer has failed

to do so within thirty (30) days of such notice

Updates and Upgrades.

Customer agrees that the software does not include future updates

and upgrades which may be available for Agilent T

echnologies

under a separate support agreement.

Export.

Customer agrees not to export or re-export the software or any

copy or adaptation in violation of the U.S. Export Administration

regulations or other applicable regulations.

Limited Warranty

Software.

Agilent Technologies warrants for a period of 1 year

from the date of purchase that the software product will execute

its programming instructions when properly installed on the

spectrum-analyzer instrument indicated on this package. Agilent

Technologies does not warrant that the operation of the software

will be uninterrupted or error free. In the event that this software

product fails to execute its programming instructions during

the warranty period, customer's remedy shall be to return the

measurement card (\media") to Agilent Technologies for replacement.

Should Agilent Technologies be unable to replace the media within

a reasonable amount of time, Customer's alternate remedy shall be

a refund of the purchase price upon return of the product and all

copies.

Media.

Agilent Technologies warrants the media upon which this product

is recorded to be free from defects in materials and workmanship

under normal use for a period of 1 year from the date of purchase.

In the event any media prove to be defective during the warranty

period, Customer's remedy shall be to return the media to Agilent

Technologies for replacement. Should Agilent Technologies be unable

to replace the media within a reasonable amount of time

, Customer's

alternate remedy shall be a refund of the purchase price upon return

of the product and all copies.

Notice of Warranty Claims.

Customer must notify Agilent Technologies in writing of any warranty

claim not later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the

warranty period.

Limitation of Warranty.

Agilent Technologies makes no other express warranty, whether

written or oral, with respect to this product. Any implied warranty

of merchantability or tness is limited to the 1 year duration of this

written warranty.

This warranty gives specic legal rights, and Customer may also have

other rights which vary from state to state, or province to province.

Exclusive Remedies.

The remedies provided above are Customer's sole and exclusive

remedies. In no event shall Agilent Technologies be liable for any

direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages

(including lost prot) whether based on warranty, contract, tort, or

any other legal theory.

Warranty Service.

Warranty service may be obtained from the nearest Agilent

Technologies sales oce or other location indicated in the owner's

manual or service booklet.

Safety Notes

Caution

Warning

The following safety notes are used throughout this manual.

Familiarize yourself with each of the symbols and its meaning before

operating this instrument.

The

caution

note denotes a hazard. It calls attention to a procedure

which, if not correctly performed or adhered to, could result in

damage to or destruction of the instrument. Do not proceed beyond a

caution

sign until the indicated conditions are fully understood and

met.

The

warning

note denotes a hazard. It calls attention to a

procedure which, if not correctly performed or adhered to, could

result in injury or loss of life. Do not proceed beyond a

warning

sign until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.

Instruction Manual

The

instruction manual

symbol when it is necessary for the user to refer to the instructions in

the manual.

General Safety Considerations

Warning

Before the spectrum analyzer is switched on

properly grounded through the protective conductor of the ac

power cable to a socket outlet provided with protective earth

contact.

Any interruption of the protective (grounding) conductor, inside

or outside the instrument, or disconnection of the protective

earth terminal can result in personal injury.

Caution

Before the spectrum analyzer is switched on,

power circuitry has been adapted to the voltage of the ac power

source.

Failure to set the ac power input to the correct voltage could cause

damage to the instrument when the ac power cable is plugged in.

symbol. The product is marked with this

, make sure it has been

make sure its primary

How to Use This Guide

Key Conventions.

The following key conventions are used in this guide:

Front-panel key

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Softkey

Screen Text

Text shown like this represents a key physically

located on the spectrum analyzer.

Text shown like this represents a softkey. (The

softkeys are located next to the softkey labels, and

the softkey labels are the annotation on the right side

of the spectrum analyzer display.)

Text printed in this typeface indicates text displayed

on the instrument's screen.

vii

Contents

1. Installing and Starting

Copying the Phase Noise Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Labeling a Softkey to Access the Phase Noise Utility .. 1-3

Starting the Phase Noise Utility ............ 1-4

Using the Phase Noise Utility ...... ..... .. 1-5

Making A Log Plot Measurement ........... 1-6

Removing the Phase Noise Utility ........... 1-8

2. Using the Phase Noise Utility

Other Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Specications and Characteristics ........ ...

Functionality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Log Plot Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Spot Frequency Measurements ...........

RMS Phase Noise Measurement .... .......

Smoothing, Averaging, or Filtering . . . . . . . . . .

Signal Tracking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Plotting and Printing .. ...... ...... ..

Saving and Recalling Traces . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Measurement Considerations ...... .......

Osets1MHz........ ...... .....

Slowly Drifting Signals ...............

System Noise Floor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Use of the Bottom Division of the Display

...... 2-9

Frequency Oset Limitations .... ........

2-2

2-5

2-6

2-7

2-8

2-9

2-10

3. Softkey Menus and Descriptions

4. If You Have A Problem

Index

Contents-1

Figures

Tables

1-1. Equipment Used With Phase Noise Utility ...... 1-1

1-2. Conguration Screen ........ ...... .. 1-6

1-3. Log Plot Measurement ...... ........ . 1-7

2-1. 8560 E-Series and EC-Series System Noise Floor

Characteristics .. ...... ........ . 2-4

2-2. Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5

4-1. Log Plot of Drifty or Noisy Signal .. ...... .. 4-2

2-1. Oset Frequency Range Requirements . . . . . . . .

2-10

Contents-2

Installing and Starting

The 85671A Phase Noise Measurement Utility is a down-loadable

program (DLP) that is used with the 8560 E-Series and EC-Series

spectrum analyzers.You need the following equipment to use the

utility:

Phase Noise

Measurement Utility

85671A 85620A 8560A/E/EC (rmware 890720 and later)

Mass Memory Module Spectrum Analyzer

(rmware revision C, 8561A

910116 and later) 8561B/E/EC (rmware 890720 and later)

8562A/B (rmware 870728 and later)

8563A/E/EC

Figure 1-1. Equipment Used With Phase Noise Utility

When you rst receive the phase noise utility on its memory cards you

need to install it in the mass memory module. Once it is in the mass

memory module it can be used by the spectrum analyzer.

The spectrum analyzer has direct access to the mass memory module

using the

front panel of the spectrum analyzer, you will need to label one of the

blank softkeys on the user menu. The following procedures describe

how to copy the le, label the softkeys, and access the utility.

MODULE

key.To access the phase noise utility from the

Installing and Starting 1-1

Copying the Phase Noise Utility

The phase noise utility comes on two memory cards. The le is called

PH_NOIS1

and

the mass memory module.

1. With the spectrum analyzer turned o, attach the mass memory

module to the spectrum analyzer.

2. Insert one of the 86571A memory cards into the module. Make

sure the arrow on the card is facing the matching arrow on the

rim of the module's card slot.

3. Turn on the spectrum analyzer. After it completes its power-on

sequence, press the

Press the

the current contents of the mass memory module. If there are

les starting with

step.

PH_NOIS2

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

UTILITY

. Copy the utility from both memory cards to

MODULE

key on the front panel.

softkey. After a short wait, the screen will list

PH_

do the next step, otherwise skip the next

5. The presence of les starting with

version or a demo version of the utility is already loaded. T

PH_

indicates that an earlier

save time, we recommend that you delete those programs before

continuing. Do one of the following steps.

a. If you

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

process until the demo removes itself, then press

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

If you nd the program

and

press

Press the

do not

USER KEYS

UTILITY

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

CHOOSE DLP

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

EXECUTE NOW

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

CATALOG MEM CARD

nd the program

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

PHASE NOISE

PH_REMOVE

, and

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

EXIT ALL

PH_REMOVE

. Move the cursor to highlight

, then press

MODULE

key so that CARD is underlined.

, press

. Repeat this

MODULE

PH_REMOVE

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

UTILITY

MODULE

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

KEYDEF

and

This will show the contents of the memory card. It should show

the le

7. Move the knob so that

press the

from the memory card to the mass memory module

PH_NOIS1orPH_NOIS2

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

COPY TO MEMORY

PH_NOIS1

softkey. This will copy the utility

(or

PH_NOIS2

) is highlighted and

8. Remove the rst memory card and insert the other memory card.

Press the

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

CATALOG MEM CARD

key so that CARD is underlined.

This will show the contents of the second memory card. Repeat

the above process to copy the contents to the mass memory

module.

1-2 Installing and Starting

10. To verify that the measurement utility is in the mass memory

module, press the

This will show the contents of the mass memory module

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

CATALOG MEM CARD

so that MEM is underlined.

. There

should be more than two pages of phase noise programs displayed

beginning with

using the

PH_

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

. The second page of programs can be viewed

softkey.

Labeling a Softkey to Access the Phase Noise Utility

Label a spectrum analyzer softkey to access the utility which is stored

in the mass memory module. The utility includes the

program which can be run at any time to assign softkeys and to

return the program variables to the default values.

1. With the mass memory module attached to the back of the

spectrum analyzer press the

MODULE

key.

PH_SETUP

2. To verify that the utility is in the mass memory module, press

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

the

UTILITY

. The contents of the mass memory module should

include many les beginning with

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Press

MODULE

and

KEYDEF

to display the user-dened softkeys.

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Now press the

CHOOSE DLP

softkey. This displays a list of the

PH_

down-loadable programs (DLPs) in the mass memory module.

5. Locate and highlight the DLP labeled

the step keys, and the

Press the

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

EXECUTE NOW

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

NEXT COLUMN

softkey to start the setup process below:

PH_SETUP

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

and

, using the knob,

softkeys.

a. Some initialization will automatically be done.

b. You will be asked to press one of the empty softkeys along

the right edge of the display so it can be labeled to access the

utility. Press the key labeled

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

NO KEY

if you do not want to

label a softkey.

The setup routine can be used to label only the rst ve user

keys. If you have other programs in use which are using all of

those softkeys, press the

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

NO KEY

softkey.Follow the manual

procedure below to put the phase noise utility softkeys on the

second page of the user keys menu.

c. You will then be asked to press another softkey so it can be

labeled to access the spot frequency measurement.

One user softkey should now be labeled

labeled

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

MEASURE SPOT FRQ

. The installation is now complete.

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

PHASE NOISE

and another

8. To manually label the user keys do the following:

Press

MODULE

and

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

KEYDEF

. Then use the knob to point to the

desired key label location.

c. Repeat the above process selecting the

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Press

CHOOSE DLP

program, and press

, move the knob to highlight the

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

SELECT

PH_SPOTF

PH_NOISE

program, to

set up the spot frequency measurement.

d. The key labels will not be the same as those assigned by the

automatic setup program.

The automatic setup program should be run to initialize

variables even if it is not used to set up the softkey labels

Installing and Starting 1-3

Starting the Phase Noise Utility

The phase noise utility can be started easily once the program is in

the mass memory module and a spectrum analyzer's user key has

been labeled to access it.

The desired carrier signal should be visible on the spectrum analyzer

before starting the utility. When the utility is started, it nds the

largest signal in the current span and assumes this will be the carrier

frequency.

1. With the mass memory module attached to the spectrum analyzer

press

MODULE

3. Press the

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Press

USER KEYS

The label

installation.

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

PHASE NOISE

. This will display the user-dened softkey menu.

should be on the softkey selected in the

softkey to start the utility.

1-4 Installing and Starting

Using the Phase Noise Utility

Note

The phase noise utility uses a series of softkey menus displayed along

the right edge of the spectrum analyzer display. Use the

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

EXIT ALL

softkey to end the utility.

DO NOT

use other front-panel keys when the utility is running,

except to enter data, or you will exit the utility prematurely.

The phase noise utility main menu allows you to:

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

MEASURE LOG PLOT

Make a phase noise measurement over a range of

oset frequencies.

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

MEASURE SPOT FRQ

Continuously measure phase noise at a single oset

frequency.

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

CONFIG

Set up the measurement parameters

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

RECALL TRACE

Displays a trace that was saved previously. Make sure

the current phase noise measurement state is set the

same as the state of the saved trace.

NNNNNNNNNNNNNN

HELP

Displays textual information associated with the

utility.

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

EXIT ALL

Exits the phase noise utility and recalls the

instrument state that was saved when the phase noise

utility was rst invoked.

Installing and Starting 1-5

+ 37 hidden pages