Atec MG3690B User Manual

Technical Datasheet

RF/Microwave Signal
Generators

MG3690B

RF/Microwave Signal Generator, 0.1 Hz to 70 GHz/325 GHz

Introduction

The MG3690B is the “ideal microwave signal generator” because it offers unsurpassed frequency coverage, leveled output
power, spectral purity, switching speed, modulation performance, size, upgradeability, reliability, and service. Our signal
generators are configurable for a broad range of applications from R&D to manufacturing and depot repair. Anritsu provides
you a total solution including proven reliability and standard 3 year warranty plus pre- and post-sale support that is the best
in the industry.

The Ideal Signal Generator

Specifications

The specifications in the following pages describe the warranted performance of the
g

enerator for 25 ± 10°C. Typical specifications describe expected, but not warranted,

performance based on sample testing.

Frequency Coverage

Model/Option No. Frequency Coverage Output Type

G3691B 2 to 10 GHz K(f)

M

G3692B 2 to 20 GHz K(f)

M

MG3693B 2 to 30 GHz K(f)

G3694B 2 to 40 GHz K(f)

M

G3695B 2 to 50 GHz V(f)

M

MG3696B 2 to 67 GHz* V(f)

ption 4 10 MHz to 2.2 GHz Model No. Dependent

O

ption 5 10 MHz to 2 GHz Model No. Dependent

O

Option 22 0.1 Hz to 10 MHz Model No. Dependent

Operational to 70 GHz

*

Options 4 and 5: Frequency extension down to 10 MHz
Two options are available to extend the 2 GHz low end frequency limit of the base
models down to 10 MHz. Option 4 uses a digital down-converter (DDC) with successive
divide-by-two circuitry. It offers the best phase noise performance of the two choices, at
the expense of some analog performance <500 MHz. In that range, analog sweep mode
is not available, and pulse modulation performance is specified as typical. In addition,
frequency and phase modulation mod index is scaled by the division ratio of each band
of the DDC. Option 5 maintains all analog performance by using a heterodyne mixing
down-converter

.

Option 22: Frequency extension down to DC
If frequency coverage down to 0.1 Hz is desired, Option 22 can be added with either
Option 4 or 5. Option 22 uses Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) for CW and Step Sweep
modes of operation. Modulation and analog sweep are not available in the DDS band.
Frequency resolution <10 MHz is 0.02 Hz. Output power across the complete instrument
frequency range is degraded by 2 dB.

CW Mode

Output: Twenty independent, presettable CW frequencies
(F0 – F9 and M0 –M9).

Accuracy: Same as internal or external 10 MHz time base.

Internal Time Base Stability:

With Aging: <2 x 10–9/day (<5 x10
With Temperature: <2 x 10

–10

x 10

(<2

/deg C with Option 16)

–10

/day with Option 16)

–

8

/deg C over 0˚C to 55˚C

Resolution: 0.01 Hz

External 10 MHz Reference Input: Accepts external 10 MHz ±50 Hz (typical), 0 to

+20 dBm time base signal. Automatically disconnects the internal high-stability time-base
option, if installed. BNC, rear panel, 50

Ω impedance. Selectable Bandwidth for best

phase noise immunity or best phase tracking performance.

10 MHz Reference Output: 1 Vp-p into 50Ω, AC coupled.
Rear panel BNC; 50

Ω impedance.

Phase Offset: Adjustable in 0.1 degree steps.

Electronic Frequency Control (EFC) Input: –5V to +5V input range;

–7

.Fout Hz/V sensitivity (typical); ≤250 Hz Modulation BW; Rear panel BNC;

5 x 10

Impedance

High

Phase-Locked Step Sweep Mode

idth:

Sweep W

sweep range is phase-locked.

Accuracy: Same as internal or external 10 MHz time base.

Resolution (Minimum Step Size): 0.01 Hz

Independently selected, 0.01 Hz to full range. Every frequency step in

Linear/Log Sweep: User-selectable linear or log sweep.
I

n log sweep, step size logarithmically increases with frequency.

Steps: User-selectable number of steps or the step size.

Number of Steps: Variable from 1 to 10,000

Step Size: 0.01 Hz to the full frequency range of the instrument.

(If the step size does not divide into the selected frequency range,
the last step is truncated.)

Dwell Time Per Step: Variable from 1 ms to 99 seconds

Fixed Rate Sweep: Allows the user to set the total time of the sweep,

including lock time. Variable from 20 ms to 99 seconds.

Analog Sweep Mode (Option 6)

Sweep Width: Independently selected from 1 MHz to full frequency range. With Option
4, Digital Down Converter, Analog sweep is only available ≥500 MHz. Analog sweep is
not available <10 MHz with Option 22.

Accuracy: The lesser of ±30 MHz or (±2 MHz + 0.25% of sweep width)
for Sweep Speeds of

≤50 MHz/ms (typical)

Sweep Time Range: 30 ms to 99 seconds

Alternate Sweep Mode

Sweeps alternately in step sweep between any two sweep ranges. Each sweep range
may be associated with a power level.

Manual Sweep Mode

Provides stepped, phase-locked adjustment of frequency between sweep limits. User­selectable number of steps or step size.

List Sweep Mode

Under GPIB control or via the front panel, up to 4 tables with 2000 non-sequential
frequency/power sets can be stored and then addressed as a phase-locked step sweep.
One table of 2000 points is stored in non-volatile memory, all other tables are stored in
volatile memory

.

Programmable Frequency Agility

Under GPIB control, up to 3202 non-sequential frequency/power sets can be stored and
then addressed as a phase-locked step sweep. Data stored in volatile memory.

Markers

Up to 20 independent, settable markers (F0 – F9 and M0 – M9).

Video Markers: +5V or –5V marker output, selectable from system menus. AUX I/O
connector, rear panel.

Intensity Markers: Produces an intensity dot on analog display traces, obtained by a
momentary dwell in RF sweep, in analog sweeps of <1s.

Marker

Accuracy:

Same as sweep frequency accuracy

.

Marker Resolution:
Analog Sweep:

1MHz or Sweep Width/4096 which ever is greater.

Step Sweep: 0.01 Hz.

Sweep Triggering

Sweep triggering is provided for Analog Frequency Sweep, Step Frequency Sweep,

Frequency Sweep, and

List

Auto: Triggers sweep automatically.

External: Triggers a sweep on the low to high transition of an external TTL signal. AUX

I/O connector

, rear panel.

Single: Triggers, aborts, and resets a single sweep. Reset sweep may be selected to be
at the top or bottom of the sweep.

CW Power Sweep.

2

eneral

G

Stored Setups: Stores front panel settings and nine additional front-panel setups in a
n

on-volatile RAM. A system menu allows saving and recalling of instrument setups.
Whenever the instrument is turned on, control settings come on at the same functions
and values existing when the instrument was turned off.

Memory Sequencing Input: Accepts a TTL low-level signal to sequence through ten
s

tored setups. AUX I/O connector, rear panel.

Self-Test: Instrument self-test is performed when Self-Test soft-key is selected. If an
error is detected, an error message is displayed in a window on the LCD identifying the
probable cause and remedy.

Secure Mode: Disables all frequency and power level state displays. Stored setups
saved in secure mode remain secured when recalled. Mode selectable from a system
menu and via GPIB.

P

arameter Entry:Instrument-controlled parameters can be entered in three ways:

keypad, rotary data knob, or the
keypad is used to enter new parameter values; the rotary data knob and the cursor­control key are used to edit existing parameter values. The
cursor-control key move the cursor left and right one digit under the open parameter.
The rotary data knob or the ∧ and ∨ touch pads will increment or decrement the digit
position over the cursor. Controlled parameters are frequency, power level, sweep time,
dwell time, and number of steps. Keypad entries are terminated by pressing the
appropriate soft key. Edits are terminated by exiting the edit menu.

Reset: Returns all instrument parameters to predefined default states or values.
Any pending GPIB I/O is aborted. Selectable from the system menu.

Master/Slave Operation: Allows two output signals to be swept with a user-selected
frequency offset. One instrument controls the other via AUX I/O and SERIAL I/O
connections. Requires a Master/Slave Interface Cable Set (Part No. ND36329).

User Level Flatness Correction: Allows user to calibrate out path loss due to external
switching and cables via entered power table from a GPIB power meter or calculated
data. When user level correction is activated, entered power levels are delivered at the
point where calibration was performed. Supported power meters are
ML2438A, and ML4803A and HP 437B, 438A, and 70100A. Five user tables are
available with up to 801 points/table.

Warm Up Time:

From Standby: 30 minutes.
From Cold Start (0 deg C): 120 hours to achieve specified frequency stability with aging.

∧ and ∨ touch pads of the cursor-control key. The

∧ and ∨ touch pads of the

Anritsu ML2437A,

Instruments disconnected from AC line power for more than 72 hours require
30 days to return to specified frequency stability with aging.

Power: 85-264 Vac, 48-440 Hz, 250 VA maximum

Standby: With ac line power connected, unit is placed in standby when front panel

power switch is released from the OPERATE position.

Weight: 18 kg maximum

Dimensions: 133 H x 429 W x 450 D mm

Warranty: 3 years from ship date

emote Operation

R

All instrument functions, settings, and operating modes (except for power on/standby)
a

re controllable using commands sent from an external computer via the GPIB

(IEEE-488 interface bus).

GPIB Address: Selectable from a system menu

I

EEE-488 Interface Function Subset:

Source Handshake:
Acceptor Handshake: AH1
Talker: T6
Listener: L4
S

ervice Request:SR1

Remote/Local: RL1
Parallel Poll: PP1
Device Clear: DC1
Device Trigger: DT1
C

ontroller Capability:C0, C1, C2, C3, C28

Tri-State Driver: E2

GPIB Status Annunciators: When the instrument is operating in Remote, the GPIB

status annunciators (listed below) will appear in a window on the front panel LCD.

Remote: Operating on the GPIB (all instrument front panel keys except for the SYSTEM
key and the RETURN TO LOCAL soft-key will be ignored).

L

LO (Local Lockout):Disables the RETURN TO LOCAL soft-key. Instrument can

be placed in local mode only via GPIB or by cycling line power.

Emulations: The instrument responds to the published GPIB commands and responses

Anritsu Models 6600, 6700,and 6XX00-series signal sources. When emulating

of the
another signal source, the instrument will be limited to the capabilities, mnemonics, and
parameter resolutions of the emulated instrument.

SH1

Environmental (MIL-PRF-28800F, class 3)

Storage Temperature Range: –40 to +75°C

Operating Temperature Range: 0 to +50°C

Relative Humidity: 5% to 95% at 40°C

Altitude: 4,600 meters, 43.9 cm Hg

EMI: Meets the emission and immunity requirements of

EN61326: 1998
EN55011: 1991/CISPR-11:1990 Group 1 Class A
EN61000-4-2: 1995 – 4 kV CD, 8 kV AD
EN61000-4-3: 1997 – 3 V/m
EN61000-4-4: 1995 – 0.5 kV SL, 1 kV PL
EN61000-4-5: 1995 – 1 kV – 2 kV L-E
EN61000-4-6: 1996
EN61000-4-11: 1994

ibration:

V

Safety Directive: EN 61010-1: 1993 + A1: 92 + A2: 95

Random, 5-500 Hz, 0.015-0.0039g2/Hz PSD
Sinusoidal, 5-55 Hz, 0.33 mm displacement

3

Frequency Switching Time

Spectral Purity

efinitions

D

F

ree Running Mode:

(Step or List Sweep)

tsw= Switching Time, Unlocked

= Locked Time = 1ms + t

t

lk

dw

tdw= Dwell Time, after locking. Selectable, 1 ms minimum

tlk(min) = 2 ms

S

ingle Frequency Trigger Mode:

(List, non-sequential, and CFx modes)

All specifications apply at the lesser of +10 dBm output or maximum specified leveled
o

utput power, unless otherwise noted.

purious Signals

S

Harmonic and Harmonically-related:

Frequency Range Standard

.1 Hz to 10 MHz (Option 22) <–30 dBc

0

0 MHz to

1

100 MHz to ≤2.2 GHz (Option 4)

>

10 MHz to

50 MHz to

>

>2 GHz (2.2 GHz w/Option 4) to ≤20 GHz

>20 GHz to

40 GHz to ≤50 GHz (MG3695B)

>

>40 GHz to ≤67 GHz (MG3696B)

–30 dBc typical with high power Option 15

*

=

20 GHz to 21 GHz and 39 - 40 GHz – 20 dBc typical

00 MHz (Option 4)

≤1

≤50 MHz (Option 5)

GHz (Option 5)

≤2

≤40 GHz

–40 dBc

<

<–50 dBc

–30 dBc

<

<–40 dBc

<–60 dBc*

–40 dBc*

<

<–40 dBc*

<–25 dBc

=

Non-harmonics:

Frequency Range Standard

0.1 Hz to 10 MHz (Option 22) <–30 dBc

0 MHz to

1

10 MHz to ≤2 GHz (Option 5)

2 GHz (2.2 GHz w/Option 4) to ≤67 GHz

>

.2 GHz (Option 4)

≤2

–60 dBc

<

<–40 dBc

<–60 dBc

Switching Time (tsw)

t

(ms)

*

sw

5 ms + 1 ms/GHz step not starting at, or crossing dwell frequencies

7 ms + 1 ms/GHz (typical) step not starting at, or crossing band switching frequencies

8 ms + 1 ms/GHz (typical) step starting at, or crossing band switching frequencies

Band Switching Dwell Frequencies: 2 (2.2 w/Opt. 4), 10, 20, 40 GHz

Filter Switching Dwell Frequencies: 3.3, 5.5, 8.4, 13.25, 25, 32 GHz

<2.2 GHz w/Opt. 4: 12.5, 15.625, 22.5, 31.25, 43.75, 62.5,

125, 175, 250, 350, 500, 700,
MHz

*Not applicable with FM mode active

Condition

1050,

1500

87.5,

Power Line and Fan Rotation Spurious Emissions (dBc):

Frequency <300 Hz

10 to ≤500 MHz (Option 4)

>500 to ≤1050 MHz (Option 4)

≤2200 MHz (Option 4)

>1050 to

0.01 to ≤8.4 GHz

>8.4 to ≤20 GHz

≤40 GHz

>20 to

>40 to ≤67 GHz

<–68 <–72 <–72

<–62 <–72 <–72

<–56 <–66 <–66

<–50 <–60 <–60

<–46 <–56 <–60

<–40 <–50 <–54

<–34 <–44 <–48

Offset from Carrier

300 Hz to 1 kHz >1 kHz

Residual FM (CW and Step Sweep modes, 50 Hz - 15 kHz BW):

ual FM (Hz RMS)

Frequency Range

≤8.4 GHz

>8.4 to 20 GHz <40 <220

>20 to ≤40 GHz

>40 to ≤67 GHz

Resid

Option 3 Standard

<40 <120

<80 <440

<160 <880

Residual FM (Analog Sweep and Unlocked FM modes, 50 Hz - 15 kHz BW):

Resid ual FM (kHz RMS)

Frequency Range

0.01 to ≤20 GHz

>20 GHz to ≤40 GHz

>40 GHz to

≤67 GHz

Unlocked Narrow

FM mode

<5 <25

<10 <50

<20 <100

Unlocked Wide

FM mode or

Analog Sweep (typ.)

AM Noise Floor:

Typically <–145 dBm/Hz at 0 dBm output and offsets >5 MHz from carrier.

4

ingle-Sideband Phase Noise*

S

Single-Sideband Phase Noise (dBc/Hz): (Typical)

requency Range

F

≥0.1 Hz to <10 MHz (Option 22)

0 MHz to <500 MHz (Option 4)

≥1

≥500 MHz to <2.2 GHz (Option 4)

0 MHz to <2 GHz (Option 5)

≥1

GHz to ≤6GHz

≥2

6 GHz to

>

10 GHz to

>

>20 GHz to

40 GHz to

>

0 GHz

≤1

0 GHz

≤2

≤40 GHz

7 GHz

≤6

00 Hz

1

90 (–110) –120 (–125) –130 (–139) –130 (–141)

–

94 (–98) –106 (–115) –104 (–114) –120 (–127)

–

82 (–90) –94 (–102) –92 (–100) –108 (–117)

–

–77 (–85) –88 (–92) –85 (–91) –100 (–108)

77 (–79) –88 (–92) –86 (–90) –102 (–112)

–

–73 (–78) –86 (–91) –83 (–90) –102 (–107)

66 (–72) –78 (–84) –77 (–83) –100 (–104)

–

–60 (–66) –75 (–78) –72 (–77) –94 (–98)

–54 (–60) –69 (–72) –64 (–71) –88 (–92)

Single-Sideband Phase Noise (dBc/Hz) – Option 30: (Typical)

requency Range

F

≥0.1 Hz to <10 MHz (Option 22)

0 MHz to <500 MHz (Option 4)

≥1

≥500 MHz to <2.2 GHz (Option 4)

0 MHz to <2 GHz (Option 5)

≥1

≥2 GHz to ≤6 GHz

>6 GHz to

≤10 GHz

>10 GHz to

>20 GHz to

>40 GHz to

≤20 GHz

≤40 GHz

≤67 GHz

10 Hz 100 Hz 1 kHz 10 kHz 100 kHz 1 MHz

60 (–100)

–

–77 (–82)

–64 (–70)

64 (–68)

–

–54 (–61)

–52 (–60)

–45 (–49)

–45 (–49)

–37 (–41)

Offset from Carrier

kHz

1

Offset from Carrier

90 (–1

–

0) –

1

–99 (–100) –1

–86 (–92) –98 (–106) –98 (–107) –110 (–119) –135 (–143)

83 (–86) –93 (–100) –93 (–100) –100 (–108)

–

–77 (–82) –93 (–98) –93 (–99) –102 (–112) –130 (–136)

–73 (–78) –93 (–96) –93 (–99) –105 (–112) –128 (–136)

–68 (–73) –86 (–91) –86 (–93) –100 (–108) –125 (–135)

–63 (–67) –80 (–85) –80 (–87) –94 (–102) –119 (–129)

–57 (–61) –74 (–79) –74 (–81) –88 (–96) –113 (–123)

120 (–125) –130 (–139) –130 (–141)

0 (–118)

1

–1

0 (–117)

1

0 kHz

1

00 kHz

1

130 (–141)

–

–122 (–129) –142 (–146)

111 (–115)

–

Single-Sideband Phase Noise (dBc/Hz) – Option 3: (Typical)

Frequency Range

≥0.1 Hz to <10 MHz (Option 22)

≥10 MHz to ≤15.625 MHz (Option 4)

>15.625 MHz to

>31.25 MHz to

>62.5 MHz to ≤125 MHz (Option 4)

>125 MHz to

>250 MHz to

>500 MHz to ≤1050 MHz (Option 4)

>1050 MHz to ≤2200 MHz (Option 4)

≥10 MHz to <2 GHz (Option 5)

≥2 GHz to ≤6 GHz

>6 GHz to ≤10 GHz

>10 GHz to ≤20 GHz

>20 GHz to

>40 GHz to ≤67 GHz

*Phase noise is specified and guaranteed only with internal reference. In External Reference mode, the phase noise of the external supplied reference, and the selected external reference bandwidth,

will dictate the instrument phase noise performance. Phase noise is not degraded when adding high power Option 15.

≤31.25 MHz (Option 4)

≤62.5 MHz (Option 4)

≤250 MHz (Option 4)

≤500 MHz (Option 4)

≤40 GHz

10 Hz 100 Hz 1 kHz 10 kHz 100 kHz 1 MHz

–60 (–100) –90 (–110) –120 (–125) –130 (–139) –130 (–141) –130 (–141)

–105 (–118) –126 (–133) –139 (–145) –142 (–148) –141 (–148) –145 (–149)

–99 (–114)

–90 (–111) –114 (–121) –129 (–143) –136 (–146) –136 (–146) –144 (–152)

–88 (–98) –108 (–116) –127 (–130) –135 (–143) –133 (–143) –144 (–148)

–84 (–90) –102 (–110) –125 (–129) –132 (–137) –130 (–135) –143 (–147)

–77 (–83) –99 (–103) –123 (–128) –125 (–131) –124 (–129) –142 (–146)

–71 (–77) –93 (–100) –118 (–122) –121 (–126) –119 (–124) –138 (–144)

–66 (–71) –86 (–96) –112 (–116) –115 (–121) –113 (–119) –135 (–143)

–64 (–78) –83 (–88) –100 (–106) –102 (–1

–54 (–60) –77 (–86) –104 (–108) –108 (–113) –107 (–112) –130 (–136)

–52 (–57) –73 (–81) –100 (–105) –107 (–114) –107 (–113) –128 (–136)

–45 (–49) –68 (–76) –94 (–100) –102 (–108) –102 (–107) –125 (–135)

–45 (–49) –63 (–70) –92 (–94) –98 (–102) –98 (–101) –119 (–129)

–37 (–40) –57 (–69) –86 (–88) –92 (–96) –90 (–95) –113 (–123)

–120 (–127) –134 (–144) –137 (–147) –137 (–147) –145 (–150)

Offset from Carrier

10)

–102 (–108) –1

1

1 (–1

15)

5

RF Output

MG3690B

SSB Phase Noise

L(f ) dBc/Hz

10 GHz

100 Hz 1 kHz 10 kHz 100 kHz 1 MHz

10 MHz

–40

–50

–60

–70

–

80

–

90

–100

–110

–120

–130

–140

–150

Standard
Performance

Ultra-Low
Performance
(with Option 3)

Option 30

Power level specifications apply at 25 ±10˚C.

Maximum Leveled Output Power***:

Model Number Configuration

MG3691B

MG3692B

MG3693B

MG3694B

MG3695B

MG3696B

* ≤2.2 GHz with Option 4

** >2.2 GHz with Option 4

*** For output power with Option 22, 0.1 Hz to 10 MHz coverage, derate all specifications by 2 dB

**** Typical 60 to 67 GHz

w/opt 4 or 5

STD

w/opt 4 or 5

STD
STD

w/opt 4 or 5

STD
STD
STD

w/opt 4 or 5

STD
STD
STD

w/opt 4 or 5

STD
STD

w/opt 4 or 5

STD
STD

Typical MG3690B single sideband phase noise at 10 GHz carrier.

Standard and Ultra-Low performance with Option 3.

Frequency Range

(GHz)

<2* GHz

≥2** to ≤10 GHz

<2* GHz
≥2** to ≤10 GHz
>10 to ≤20 GHz

<2* GHz
≥2** to ≤10 GHz

≤20 GHz

>10 to
>20 to

≤30 GHz

<2* GHz
≥2** to ≤10 GHz

≤20 GHz

>10 to

≤40 GHz

>20 to

<2* GHz

≤20 GHz

≥2** to

≤50 GHz

>20 to

<2* GHz
≥2** to

≤20 GHz

≤67 GHz

>20 to

Output Power

(dBm)

+19.0
+19.0

+19.0
+19.0
+17.0

+15.0
+15.0
+12.0

+6.0

+15.0
+15.0
+12.0

+6.0

+12.0
+10.0

+3.0

+12.0
+10.0

+3.0

Output Power

With Step

Attenuator (dBm)

+18.0
+18.0

+18.0
+18.0
+15.0

+14.0
+14.0
+10.0

+3.0

+14.0
+14.0
+10.0

+3.0

+10.0

+8.0
+0.0

+10.0

+8.0
+0.0****

Output Power

With Electronic

Step Attenuator (dBm)

+15.0
+13.0

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

6