External Source Control
Personality Guide
Agilent Technologies
PSA Series Spectrum Analyzers
Option 215
This manual provides documentation for the following instruments
with Option 215 Installed:
PSA Series
E4440A (3 Hz - 26.50 GHz)
E4443A (3 Hz - 6.70 GHz)
E4445A (3 Hz - 13.20 GHz)
E4446A (3 Hz - 44.00 GHz)
E4447A (3 Hz - 42.98 GHz)
E4448A (3 Hz - 50.00 GHz)
Manufacturing Part Number: E4440-90624
Supersedes E4440-90327
Printed in USA
June 2008
© Copyright 2005-2008 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 URL listed below.
http://www.agilent.com/find/psa
2
Contents
1. Getting Started
Option 215 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Hardware and Firmware Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Connection Hardware and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Using Option 215 External Sweep Control with >2000 Sweep Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Option 215 Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Frequency Bands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Further Frequency Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Frequency Calculation Examples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Example 1: A Simple Sweep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Example 2: Sweep With An Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Example 3: Viewing Downconverted Signal Outputs Using Source Frequency Sweep
Reversal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Example 4: Second Harmonic Sweep With a Sweep Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Installing Option 215 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Installing Optional Measurement Personalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Do You Have Enough Memory to Load All Your Personality Options? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
How to Predict Your Memory Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Measurement Personality Options and Memory Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Memory Upgrade Kits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Loading an Optional Measurement Personality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Obtaining and Installing a License Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Viewing a License Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Using the Delete License Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Ordering Optional Measurement Personalities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Setting Up Your Signal Analyzer and Signal Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Connecting Your PSA Analyzer to an External Source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Connecting the Cables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Configuring the PSA Series Analyzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Documentation for Option 215 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Spectrum Analyzers with Option 215 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Spectrum Analyzer Updates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Updating the Firmware and Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Table of Contents
2. Measurement Concepts
Why Use the Spectrum Analyzer With a Tracking Source?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Stimulus Response Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Frequency and Amplitude Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Sweep Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Tracking Error. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Power Leveling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Power Slope Correction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Calibration/Normalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Types of Measurement Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Open/Short Calibration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Normalization Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Equations and Conversion Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Converting Return Loss to VSWR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
3
Contents
Table of Contents
3. Menu Maps
What You Will Find in This Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Key to this chapter’s menu map diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Config Ext Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Config Sweep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Normalize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Open/Short Cal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
4. Source Key and Programming Commands
External Source Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Show Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Model Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Serial Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Start Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Stop Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Hardware Connection Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Amplitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Amplitude Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Configure Sweep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Offset Sweep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Harmonic Sweep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Power Sweep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Normalize. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Store Reference Trace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Normalize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Normalized Reference Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Normalized Reference Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Reference Trace Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Open/Short CAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Continue Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Cancel Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Store Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
5. Hints and Tips
FAQs and Helpful Hints and Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Examples Exceeding the Source Frequency Range or the Spectrum Analyzer Frequency
Band. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Example 1: Bad Source Start Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Example 2: Bad Source Stop Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Example 3: Outside Analyzer Frequency Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Example 4: Offset Causes Invalid Source Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Example 5: Offset Causes Bad Source Stop Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Example 6: Offset Causes VALID Negative Source Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
4
Getting Started
1 Getting Started
5
Getting Started
Getting Started
Option 215 Description
Option 215 Description
Option 215 for the PSA series of spectrum analyzers allows you to
control supported external signal generators using the spectrum
analyzer. For details on suitable signal generators, see “Hardware and
Firmware Requirements” on page 7. Using the signal source as a
tracking generator lets you make stimulus-response measurements.
VSWR/Return Loss measurements can be made with the addition of an
external coupler or bridge.
6 Chapter 1
Hardware and Firmware Requirements
Hardware and Firmware Requirements
One of the following Agilent spectrum analyzers and associated
hardware options is required to run Option 215 External Source
Control.
NOTE Option 215 External Source Control requires the gated sweep
functionality that is provided by the more recent LO synthesizer and
front end driver hardware. The part numbers of the boards providing
this gated sweep functionality are shown in Table 1-1.
Getting Started
Table 1-1 Compatible Agilent PSA Series Spectrum Analyzers
Analyzer
Model
Number
E4440A 26.5 GHz A.11.00 or
E4443A 6.7 GHz A.11.00 or
E4445A
E4446A 44.0 GHz A.11.00 or
E4447A 42.98 GHz A.11.00 or
e
Upper
Frequency
Limit
13.2 GHz A.11.00 or
Firmware
later
later
later
later
later
a
Front End
Driver
Any EXCEPT
part numbers
E444060242 or
E444060002
Any EXCEPT
part numbers
E444660059 or
E444660006
b c
LO
Synthesizer
Board
Any EXCEPT
part number
E444060008
d c
Getting Started
E4448A 50.0 GHz A.11.00 or
later
a. Firmware A.11.00 or later is required for MXA support. Firmware
A.07.09 is required for ESG-C and PSG support for all PSA models
except E4447A where firmware A.08.06 or greater is required.
b. Press System, More 1 of 3, Show Hdwr to show the part number of
your front end driver board.
c. If you do not have the required hardware, you can order Option
426 to upgrade the hardware.
d. Press System, More 1 of 3, Show Hdwr to show the part number of
your LO synthesizer board.
e. Option 215 will not run on a model E4445A which has the HA5
“Restricted Performance” option installed.
Chapter 1 7
Getting Started
Hardware and Firmware Requirements
Connection Hardware and Accessories
You will also need:
• An Agilent signal generator that supports LAN connectivity.
Examples of suitable signal generators are the ESG-C, PSG-C,
PSG-D, and the MXG-A. The PSG-A signal generator is not
supported.
NOTE The ESG-C signal generator requires version C.03.72 or later firmware.
The PSG-C signal generator requires version C.03.78 or later firmware.
The PSG-D signal generator requires version C.04.05 or later firmware.
The MXG-A signal generator requires firmware A.01.41 or later
firmware.
• Either one LAN crossover cable, or two LAN cables.
Getting Started
• 3 BNC cables.
• RF cables to connect the signal generator and the PSA to the device
under test (DUT).
• When using a PSG signal generator, you will need a 50 Ω
feedthrough, or a connector tee with a 50 Ω load.
• (Optional) directional coupler or directional bridge for reflection and
VSWR measurements.
• (Optional) open/short devices for reflection and VSWR
measurements.
Using Option 215 External Sweep Control with >2000 Sweep Points
Option 215 lets the analyzer control an external source for
stimulus-response measurements. If you are making measurements
with more than 2000 sweep points, you could see some signal dropouts
because of problems with synchronizing the source. this condition can
be corrected by downloading the latest version of firmware for the
source. The firmware is:
ESG-C: E4438C, E4428C revision C.03.72 or later
PSG-C: E8247C, E8247C, E8257C, E8267C revision C.03.78 or later
PSG-D: E8257D, E8267D revision C.04.05 or later
MXG-A: N5181A, N5182A revision A.01.41 or later
http://www.agilent.com/find/upgradeassistant
8 Chapter 1
Getting Started
Option 215 Limitations
Option 215 Limitations
Frequency Bands
The PSA Series spectrum analyzers have up to six frequency bands
depending on the maximum frequency capability of the model. These
frequency bands are shown in the table below.
Option 215 cannot sweep across PSA frequency band boundaries. Any
frequency sweep required for a measurement must be kept entirely
within one of these bands. One way to work around this limitation is to
write an external control program to break the measurement down into
two or more sweeps, each of which is confined to the bands listed below.
Table 1-2 Frequency Bands in the PSA Series analyzers
(Microwave Preselector On)
Getting Started
Band
Number
0 3.0 Hz - 3.05 GHz 200 MHz
1 2.85GHz - 6.6GHz 400MHz
2 6.2 GHz - 13.2 GHz 400 MHz
3 12.8 GHz - 19.2 GHz 500 MHz
4 18.7 GHz - 26.8 GHz 400 MHz
5 26.4GHz - 31.15GHz 150MHz
6 31.0 GHz - 50.0 GHz N/A
Frequency Range Overlap
with Next
Band
Table 1-3 Frequency Bands in the PSA Series analyzers
(Microwave Preselector Off)
Band
Number
1 3.0 GHz - 6.6 GHz 400 MHz
Frequency Range Overlap
with Next
Band
2 6.2 GHz - 13.2 GHz 400 MHz
3 12.8 GHz - 19.2 GHz 500 MHz
4 18.7 GHz - 26.5 GHz 100 MHz
5 26.4GHz - 31.15GHz 150MHz
6 31.0 GHz - 41.0 GHz 500 MHz
7 40.5 GHz - 50 GHz N/A
Chapter 1 9
Getting Started
Option 215 Limitations
Further Frequency Limitations
The frequency range of your source/spectrum analyzer combination is
limited by the frequency range limits of both instruments, so you have
to look at both instruments to determine this.
In addition, the digital nature of the signal sources and the PSA Series
spectrum analyzers means that signals and traces are read and
recorded as a series of data points. Each data point on a trace or a
measurement corresponds to a frequency ‘bucket’, which is a finite
frequency range into which data falls.
Getting Started
For example, assume we have a ten-point
1
trace over a frequency range
of 3.0 GHz to 4.0 GHz. It will take 10 buckets to cover the 1.0 GHz
range. So, bucket 1 might collect data for all frequencies from
3.0000 GHz to 3.0999 GHz, bucket 2 might collect from 3.1000 GHz to
3.1999 GHz, and so on. This operation is normally not visible because
you have so many trace buckets. However, it does have an effect on the
behavior of Option 215 External Source Control at the limits of its
frequency ranges.
Option 215 External Source Control requires a ‘spare’ bucket at the
beginning and at the end of every sweep on the signal source. In other
words, to make the 1.0 GHz sweep from 3.0 GHz to 4.0 GHz in the
example above, one ‘spare’ bucket is required at the start to ‘catch’ the
data between 2.9000 GHz and 2.9999 GHz, and similarly, another
‘spare’ bucket is required at the end of the sweep.
This means that the number of sweep points on the signal source is
always two higher than that specified on the PSA Series analyzer to
allow for these ‘spare’ buckets.
You need to remember this frequency range limitation when setting up
your Option 215 measurements. Continuing with the 3.0 GHz to
4.0 GHz example sweep above, a problem arises if your signal source
has a maximum frequency of 4.0 GHz. The source can not sweep beyond
4.0 GHz, so the frequency range of the ‘spare’ bucket at the end of the
sweep must fall completely below the 4.0 GHz upper limit of the signal
source. This ‘spare’ bucket therefore ‘catches’ data from 3.9001 GHz to
4.0000 GHz. The previous bucket (3.8001 GHz to 3.9000 GHz)
represents the last bucket actually used in the sweep, so in this
example, the maximum frequency that your 4.0 GHz signal source
could sweep would actually be 3.9 GHz.
In other words, you can never quite reach the full frequency range of
your signal source. How close to the limit you can get depends on the
size of your buckets. This is determined by the number of sweep points
and the range over which you are sweeping. The more sweep points you
use, and the smaller the range of the sweep, the smaller will be the size
of the buckets. Therefore, the closer you will be able to get to the
1. Although a ten-point sweep has been chosen for clarity in this example, the minimum number of sweep points on a PSA is 101
10 Chapter 1
Getting Started
Option 215 Limitations
frequency limits of your signal source. You can approach, but never
quite meet, the frequency limits of your source.
Frequency Calculation Examples
TIP See the Hints and Tips Chapter for examples of frequency settings that
cause errors because they either exceed the frequency range of the
signal source or frequency band of the spectrum analyzer.
Example 1: A Simple Sweep
Suppose that you specify on your PSA Series analyzer that you wish to
sweep from 2.85 GHz to 3.0 GHz using 601 points. What is the actual
range that the signal source will sweep?
First, we need to work out our bucket size, or the bucket width. This is
given by the range in Hertz divided by (number of points minus 1), or
Getting Started
Bucket Width (in Hz)
PSA Frequency Span (Hz)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------=
PSA number of Sweep Points 1–
so
Bucket Width (in Hz)
150,000,000
----------------------------- - 250,000 Hz==
601 1–
Now we can work out the external source’s start frequency using the
following equation:
PSA Start Frequency Sweep Offset Bucket Width–+
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harmonic Number
2,850,000,000 0.00 250,000–+
----------------------------------------------------------------------------=
1
2,849,750,000 2.84975 GHz==
Finally we can calculate the external source’s stop frequency using the
following equation:
PSA Stop Frequency Sweep Offset Bucket Width++
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harmonic Number
3,000,000,000 0.00 250,000++
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------=
1
3,000,250,000 3.00025 GHz==
So if you specify on your PSA Series analyzer that you want to sweep
from 2.85 GHz to 3.0 GHz using 601 points, the signal source itself will
actually sweep from 2.84975 GHz to 3.00025 GHz.
Chapter 1 11
Getting Started
Option 215 Limitations
Example 2: Sweep With An Offset
Suppose that you specify on your PSA Series analyzer that you wish to
sweep from 2.85 GHz to 3.00 GHz using 601 points and a positive
frequency offset of 1.0 GHz. What is the actual range that the signal
source will sweep?
First of all, we need to work out our bucket size, or the bucket width.
This is given by the range in Hertz divided by (number of points minus
1), or
Getting Started
Bucket Width (in Hz)
PSA Frequency Span (Hz)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------=
PSA number of Sweep Points 1–
so
Bucket Width (in Hz)
150,000,000
----------------------------- - 250,000 Hz==
601 1–
Now we can work out the external source’s start frequency using the
following equation:
PSA Start Frequency Sweep Offset Bucket Width–+
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harmonic Number
2,850,000,000 1,000,000,000 250,000–+
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------=
1
3,849,750,000 3.84975 GHz==
Finally we can work out the external source’s stop frequency using the
following equation:
PSA Stop Frequency Sweep Offset Bucket Width++
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harmonic Number
3,000,000,000 1,000,000,000 250,000++
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------=
1
4,000,250,000 4.00025 GHz==
So if you specify on your PSA Series analyzer that you want to sweep
from 2.85 GHz to 3.00 GHz using 601 points and a 1.0 GHz sweep
offset, the signal source itself will actually sweep from 3.84975 GHz to
4.00025 GHz.
12 Chapter 1
Getting Started
Option 215 Limitations
Example 3: Viewing Downconverted Signal Outputs Using
Source Frequency Sweep Reversal
To view down converted mixing products such as lower sideband (LSB)
IF signal from a mixer or frequency converter (DUT) the signal source
can be reverse frequency swept. That is, the source can be swept from a
higher to a lower frequency. Sources are capable of sweep reversal,
however, the analyzer cannot sweep starting at a higher frequency
going to a lower frequency. To measure the negative mixing product of a
DUT using the source/analyzer combination, the LO (offset freq) is
input as a negative value.
Getting Started
If the calculated external source start and external source stop
frequency values are both positive the source sweeps in an “UP”
direction from the calculated start frequency to the calculated stop
frequency. If the calculated external sourced start and external source
stop frequency values are both negative, the source sweeps in a
“DOWN” direction from the absolute value of the external source start
frequency to the absolute value of the external source stop frequency.
Suppose that you wish to perform a first harmonic sweep from
1.90 GHz to 2.10 GHz using 601 points. For this example we will use an
LO frequency of 3.0 GHz. Because we want to look at the
downconverted IF output (LSB) of the mixer, the LO frequency is
defined as the negative offset value used in the calculations.
To perform this measurement we will need to determine the following
test parameters:
• Bucket Width value, determined by the number of points and
analyzer measurement frequency range.
• External source start and stop sweep frequencies specific to this
measurement?
The external source start/stop frequencies and sweep direction can be
calculated using the following formulas:
Chapter 1 13
Getting Started
Option 215 Limitations
Getting Started
fSource (in Hz) (absolute value)
f Analyzer + f Offset - f BucketWidth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------=
Harmonic
sweepdir sign()
f Analyzer + f Offset - f BucketWidth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------=
Harmonic
To determine the bucket size, or the bucket width, use the following
formula. This is given by the range in Hertz divided by (number of
points minus 1), or
Bucket Width (in Hz)
PSA Frequency Span (Hz)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------=
PSA number of Sweep Points 1–
Bucket Width (in Hz)
200 000 000,,
-------------------------------- - 333 333 Hz,==
601 1–
Now we can work out the external source’s start frequency using the
following equation:
PSA Start Frequency Sweep Offset Bucket Width–+
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harmonic Number
1 900 000 000,,, 3– 000 000 000,,,()333 333,()–+
absolute value()
=
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1
Start Frequency 1.100333333 GHz=
We can now work out the external source’s stop frequency using the
following equation:
PSA Stop Frequency Sweep Offset Bucket Width++
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harmonic Number
2 100 000 000,,, 3– 000 000 000,,,()333 333,++
absolute value()
=
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1
Stop Frequency 0.900333333 GHz=
So if you specify on your PSA Series analyzer that you want to perform
a sweep from 1.90 GHz to 2.10 GHz using 601 points and a negative
3.0 GHz sweep offset, the signal source will need to sweep from
1.100333333 GHz to 0.900333333 GHz.
14 Chapter 1
Getting Started
Option 215 Limitations
Example 4: Second Harmonic Sweep With a Sweep Offset
Suppose that you specify on your PSA Series analyzer that you wish to
perform a second harmonic sweep from 2.85 GHz to 3.00 GHz using 601
points, and an offset of 1.0 GHz. What is the actual range that the
signal source will sweep?
First of all, we need to work out our bucket size, or the bucket width.
This is given by the range in Hertz divided by (number of points minus
1), or
Bucket Width (in Hz)
so
Bucket Width (in Hz)
Now we can work out the external source’s start frequency using the
following equation:
PSA Start Frequency Sweep Offset Bucket Width–+
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,850,000,000 1 000 000 000,,, 250 000,–+
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------=
1,425,000,000= 500,000,000 125,000 1 924,875,000 Hz 1.924875 GHz=,=–+
PSA Frequency Span (Hz)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------=
PSA number of Sweep Points 1–
150,000,000
----------------------------- - 250,000 Hz==
601 1–
Harmonic Number
2
Getting Started
Finally we can work out the external source’s stop frequency using the
following equation:
PSA Stop Frequency Sweep Offset Bucket Width++
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harmonic Number
3 000,000,000, 1,000,000,000 250,000–+
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------=
2
1,500,000,000= 500,000,000 125,000 2 000,125,000 Hz 2.000125 GHz=,=++
So if you specify on your PSA Series analyzer that you want to perform
a second harmonic sweep from 2.85 GHz to 3.00 GHz using 601 points
and a 1.0 GHz sweep offset, the signal source itself will actually sweep
from 1.924875 GHz to 2.000125 GHz.
Chapter 1 15
Getting Started
Getting Started
Installing Option 215
Installing Option 215
You must load the desired personality option into the instrument
memory. Loading can be done from a firmware CD-ROM or the internet
location http://www.agilent.com/find/psa_firmware. An automatic
loading program comes with the files and runs from your PC.
NOTE When you add a new option, or update an existing option, you will get
the updated version of all your current options since they are reloaded
simultaneously. This process may also require you to update the
instrument core firmware so that it is compatible with the new option.
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 to do
this.
The approximate memory requirements for the available options can be
found by using the memory calculator on the following internet
location: http://www.agilent.com/find/psa_firmware
You can install an updated version of firmware and your licensed
options using a LAN connection and your PC. Instructions for loading
future firmware updates are available from the following internet
location: http://www.agilent.com/find/psa_firmware
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 17.
2. Install the measurement personality firmware into the instrument
memory. Details follow in “Loading an Optional Measurement
Personality” on page 20.
3. Enter a license key that activates the measurement personality.
Details follow in “Obtaining and Installing a License Key” on
page 20.
Adding measurement personalities requires the purchase of a retrofit
kit for the desired option. The retrofit 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
16 Chapter 1
Getting Started
Installing Option 215
host ID.
For the latest information on Agilent Spectrum Analyzer options and
upgrade kits, visit the following Internet URL:
http://www.agilent.com/find/sa_upgrades
Do You Have Enough Memory to Load All Your Personality
Options?
If you want to operate the instrument with four or fewer personality
options installed, you can skip ahead to the next section, “Loading an
Optional Measurement Personality” on page 20. 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 want to install your 4th or subsequent option, you should check
to see how much memory you have available.
If you have Option 115 (512 MBytes of memory) installed in your
instrument, all personalities can be loaded.
Getting Started
If you don’t have Option 115 installed, depending how much data you
save, you are unlikely to have any memory issues until you want to
install your 4th option. If this is the case, you can either swap the
applications in/out of memory as needed, or you can upgrade your
hardware to Option 115 (512 MBytes of memory).
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.
2. Press the
System key, MORE (1 of 3), and Show Hdwr keys.
3. Read Flash Memory size at the end of the table.
PSA Flash
Memory Size
64 Mbytes 32.5 MBytes 30.0 MBytes
48 Mbytes 16.9 MBytes 14.3 MBytes
Available Memory
With No Options
Available Memory With
Option B7J and/or Option 122
Instruments with Option 115 will additionally show a compact flash file
size of 512 MBytes.
Chapter 1 17
Getting Started
Getting Started
Installing Option 215
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. 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.
For PSA series see: http://www.agilent.com/find/psa_firmware
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 For PSA: 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. The
compare the desired total with the available memory that you identified
in the previous section.
1. Program memory - Select option requirements from the table
“Personality Options” on page 19.
2. For PSA only: shared libraries require 5.68 MBytes
3. For PSA only: recommended mode swap space is 2 MBytes
4. Screens - .gif files need 20-25 kB 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.
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 assessing the desired mode, then pressing the
System, Power On/Preset, Power On keys and toggle the setting to Last.
18 Chapter 1
Getting Started
Installing Option 215
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
Getting Started
b
c
c
c
TD-SCDMA Power measurement personality 211
TD-SCDMA Modulation Analysis or TD-SCDMA
212, 213 1.82 Mbytes
5.47 Mbytes
c
Modulation Analysis w/ HSPA 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.
Chapter 1 19
Getting Started
Installing Option 215
Memory Upgrade Kits
The PSA 512 MByte Memory Upgrade kit p/n is E4440AU Option 115.
For more information about memory upgrade kits contact your local
sales/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 firmware
versions available for downloading:
For PSA, see http://www.agilent.com/find/psa_firmware
Getting Started
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 19.
The approximate memory requirements for the options are listed above.
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.
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.
20 Chapter 1
Getting Started
Installing Option 215
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 instrument:
Press
Personality key displays the personalities loaded, version information,
System, More, More, Licensing, Show License. The System,
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.
Getting Started
Using the Delete License Key
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
Enter key. As you
enter the option, you will see your entry in the active function area of
Chapter 1 21
Getting Started
Installing Option 215
the display.
Getting Started
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. E4406A)
Host ID:
__________________
Instrument
Serial Number:
__________________
System, Show System
System, Show System
22 Chapter 1
Getting Started
Setting Up Your Signal Analyzer and Signal Source
Setting Up Your Signal Analyzer and Signal
Source
50 ohm feedthrough
MUST be connected at the PSA
end of the cable
Trigger
Signal Source drives the sweep of each PSA bucket
Ext Frequency Reference
Trigger Out
(rear panel)
Swept Signal
Source
Sweep Out
(rear panel)
10 MHz Out
(rear panel)
Ext Ref In
(rear panel)
Trigger In
(rear panel)
Spectrum
LAN
Sweep
Drives the start of the PSA sweep
You will need the following equipment to use your PSA Series spectrum
analyzer to control an external signal source:
• A PSA Series analyzer with Option 215 software installed and with
time gating capability.
If you are not sure whether your PSA Series analyzer has Option 215
installed, press
215 Ext Src Control. If you cannot see Option 215 listed, it needs to be
System, More, More, Personality, and look for Option
installed. See “Installing Option 215” on page 16 for instructions on
how to do this. Information about the time gating hardware is found
in “Hardware and Firmware Requirements” on page 7.
Analyzer
Ext Trigger In
(front panel)
sa_ss_connect.vsd
Getting Started
• An Agilent signal generator that supports LAN connectivity.
Examples of signal generators are: the ESG-C, the PSG-C, and the
PSG-D, and the MXG-A. The PSG-A signal source is not supported.
• Either one LAN crossover cable to connect the two instruments
directly if you are not connecting to a local area network, or you need
two LAN cables to connect both instruments to your local area
network
• Three BNC cables.
• Cables to connect to your device under test.
Chapter 1 23
Getting Started
Setting Up Your Signal Analyzer and Signal Source
• You may also need accessories such as an open, short, directional
coupler, or directional bridge, depending on your particular
measurement.
Connecting Your PSA Analyzer to an External Source
Once you have the required equipment and cables, you are ready to set
up your measurement. You will need to connect the PSA analyzer and
the external source, before configuring the analyzer to recognize the
source.
Connecting the Cables
Getting Started
1. Using the first BNC cable, connect the
panel of the external source to the
TRIGGER OUT on the rear
TRIGGER IN on the rear panel of
the PSA. For the PSG signal generator series, the external source
Trigger Out signal must be terminated in 50 Ω. This can be done by:
a. connecting a 50 Ω feedthrough directly to the PSA
TRIGGER IN
connector and then connecting the BNC cable between the other
end of the feedthrough and the external source
TRIGGER OUT
connector.
or
b. connecting a tee to the PSA
TRIGGER IN connector. Then
connecting one output of the tee to a 50 Ω. load and using the
BNC cable to connect the other tee output to the external source
TRIGGER OUT connector.
2. Using the second BNC cable, connect the
panel of the external source to
EXT TRIGGER INPUT on the front panel
SWEEP OUT on the rear
of the PSA Series analyzer.
3. Either connect each instrument to the LAN using two separate LAN
cables, or connect the two instruments together using a single LAN
crossover cable.
4. Using the third BNC cable, connect the
source rear panel to the PSA rear panel
use the external frequency reference, press
Freq Ref to Ext (external).
10 MHz OUT on the external
EXT REF IN. Set the PSA to
System, Reference,
Configuring the PSA Series Analyzer
After the instruments are connected, you need to configure the PSA to
find the IP Address of the external source, so the two instruments can
communicate with each other.
When the analyzer and source instruments are connected using a
“crossover” (cross-pinned) LAN cable setup refer to “IP Address” on
page 47 for more information regarding IP addressing requirements.
Find the IP Address of the external source.
24 Chapter 1
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