Single-Sideband Phase Noise

(Manual Performance Test)

This manual test verifies that the signal generator's single-sideband phase noise meets specifications.

During this test, a phase noise system is used to measure the single-sideband phase noise of the signal generator. There are four different test setups depending on the carrier frequency being tested:

A Keysight E82X7D Option UNX high performance RF signal generator (reference source) is used to produce carrier frequencies for 255 MHz, 1.0 GHz, 3.2 GHz, 9.6 GHz, and 19.8 GHz. The KeysightN5507A or 70427A downconverter is used to produce a carrier frequency for 600 MHz; this signal is used as the reference source when testing standard models and models equipped with Option UNJ or UNR at 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, and 100 kHz offsets.

E8241A
E8251A
or
E8247C
E8257C
E8267C
Option 520

E8244A
E8254A
or
E8247C
E8257C
Option 540

Test Equipment

Preferred Model

or Alternate Model(s)

X

X

Phase Noise System,
Input: APC 3.5 (m)

E5505A  phase noise system

X

X

External Mixer,
SMA (f) (f) (f)

11970A external mixer

LO In and IF Out are SMA (f) and connect to APC 3.5 (m) cables.

RF In is an SMA (f) but requires an R281A R-Band waveguide which has a 2.4 mm (f) output connector; this is used to connect directly to the RF Output of the signal generator.

 

X

Adapter,
Output: 2.4 mm (f)

R281A R-Band waveguide

X

X

Reference Source
Output: Type-N (f)

E8247C Opt UNR
E8257C Opt UNR
E8267C Opt UNR
E8257D Opt UNR or UNX
E8267D Opt UNR or UNX
8663A
8662A

X
Qty 2

X
Qty 2

Cable,
APC 3.5 (m) to (m)

8120-4921
APC 3.5 (m) to (m) cable

 

X

Cable,
2.4 mm (m) to (f)

8120-6164
2.4 mm (m) to (f) cable

X
Qty 5

X
Qty 5

Cable,
BNC (m) to (m)

8120-1840 BNC (m) to (m) cable
or 10503A BNC (m) to (m) cable

X

X

Adapter,
BNC Tee (m) (f) (f)

E9625A
BNC Tee (m) (f) (f) adapter

 

X

Adapter,
2.4 mm (f) to APC 3.5 (m)

11901D
2.4 mm (f) to APC 3.5 (m) adapter

X
Qty 4

 

Adapter,
APC 3.5 (f) to (f)

A1250-1749
APC 3.5 (f) to (f) adapter

 

 

Connections and Setup Procedures for a
255 MHz Single-Sideband Phase Noise Measurement

 

All test equipment requires a 30 minute warm-up period to ensure accurate performance.

 

Setup with a Carrier Frequency of 255 MHz from the E82X7D Option UNX Reference Source

 

 

  1. Connect all test equipment as shown.

  2. Connect GPIB cables to all GPIB-controlled test equipment.

  3. Preset all test equipment and the signal generator.

  4. Connect the E82X7D or 866XA RF Output to the N5500A or 70420A Reference Input.

  5. Connect the N5500A or 70420A Tune Voltage Output to the E82X7D Option UNX Ext 1 Input or 866XA EFC.

  6. In the E5504A Phase Noise System user interface, change the following parameters:

    1. Select the ”View” pull down menu.

    2. Select ”Display Preferences” and un-check the ”Spurs” box.

    3. Select "OK" to close Display Preferences.

    4. Select the ”Define” pull down menu, select ”Measurement”, and select the following settings:

 

Parameter

Setting

 

 

Type and Range Tab

 

Measurement Type

Absolute phase noise

Start Offset Frequency

1 Hz

Stop Offset Frequency

10 MHz

FFT Averages

4

FFT Quality

Normal

Swept Quality

Normal

 

 

Sources Tab

 

Carrier Source Connected

Test Set

Carrier Source Frequency

255 MHz

Carrier Source Power

7 dBm

Detector Input Frequency

255 MHz

Reference Source Power

10 dBm

VCO Tune Constant

0.1 ppm x Carrier Frequency for E82X7D; 1.275 Hz/Volt for 866XA

VCO Tune Range

1 Volt for E82X7D; 10 Volts for 866XA

VCO Input Resistance

50 ohms for E82X7D; 1E+6 ohms for 866XA

 

 

Cal Tab

 

Measure Phase Detector Constant

Checkmark

Measure VCO Tune Constant

Checkmark

Verify calculated phase lock loop suppression

Blank

Phase Lock Loop Suppression

Use Theoretical Value

 

 

Block Diagram Tab

 

Carrier Source

Manual

Down Converter

None

Reference Source

E8257D Asset Control Module (use the E8257C if the E8257D is not available); 866XA

Phase Detector Mode

Automatic

Test Set Tune Voltage Destination

Reference Source

VCO Tune Mode

DCFM for E82X7D; EFC for 866XA

 

 

Test Set Tab

 

Input Attenuation

0 dB

LNA Low Pass Filter

Auto

LNA Gain

Auto

PLL Integrator Attenuation

0 dB

 

 

Downconverter Tab

 

Input Attenuation

Auto

IF Gain

Auto

Microwave/Millimeter Band

Microwave (0 – 26.5 GHz)

 

 

Graph Tab

 

Title

User specific

Graph Type

Single-sideband phase noise (dBc/Hz)

X Scale minimum

1 Hz

X Scale maximum

100E+6

Y Scale maximum

0

Y Scale minimum

-170

Normalize Trace Data

1 Hz bandwidth

Making the Measurement with a Carrier Frequency of 255 MHz

  1. Set the signal generator frequency to 255 MHz and the power to 7 dBm.

  2. Set the RF Output to on.

  3. Perform a phase noise measurement.

  4. Select the Measure pull down menu and select New Measurement.

  5. Place markers at the specified offsets.

  6. Compare the marker amplitude value to the following specifications:

    If Option UNJ or UNR fails at a carrier frequency of 255 MHz and an offset of 1 kHz, it may not be due to the signal generator. If a failure occurs, a three-source measurement should be performed at this carrier frequency and this offset to identify a true failure. (For information on performing a three-source measurement, refer to the E5505A phase noise system user documentation.)

     

    Offset from Carrier (dBc/Hz)

     

    Standard

    Option UNJ or UNR

    Carrier Frequency

     

    20 kHz

     

    100 Hz

     

    1 kHz

     

    10 kHz

     

    100 kHz

    255 MHz

    -1341

    -100

    -124

    -132

    -136

             1. For instruments with serial number prefixes below MY4330 or US4330, the specification is -136 dBc/Hz.

 

  1. Print out a phase noise plot.

  2. Continue to the next setup and perform the measurement.

 

Connections and Setup Procedures for a
600 MHz Single-Sideband Phase Noise Measurement

All test equipment requires a 30 minute warm-up period to ensure accurate performance.

 

Setup with Carrier Frequency of 600 MHz from the N5507A or 70427A Reference Source

 

 

  1. Connect all test equipment as shown.

  2. Connect GPIB cables to all GPIB-controlled test equipment.

  3. Connect the N5507A or 70427A rear panel 600 MHz output to the N5500A or 70420A low frequency Reference Input.

  4. Connect the N5500A or 70420A Tune Voltage Output to the N5507A or 70427A Voltage Control Input.

  5. Set the signal generator frequency to 600 MHz and the power to 7 dBm.

  6. In the E5505A phase noise system user interface, change the following parameters:

 

Parameter

Setting

 

 

Sources Tab

 

Carrier Source Frequency

600 MHz

Detector Input Frequency

600 MHz

Reference Source Power

20 dBm

VCO Tune Constant

30 Hz/Volt

VCO Tune Range

10 Volts

VCO Input Resistance

600 ohms

 

 

Block Diagram Tab

 

Down Converter

System Control

Reference Source

Manual

Test Set Tune Voltage Destination

Down Converter

VCO Tune Mode

DCFM

 

 

Downconverter Tab

 

Input Frequency

600E+6

Reference Chain Reference

10 MHz

External Tune Enable

Checkmark

 

 

Graph Tab

 

Title

User Specific

Making the Measurement with a Carrier Frequency of 600 MHz

  1. The N5507A or 70427A 10 MHz is manually tuned to change the beat note frequency.

  2. Observe the frequency counter and increase/decrease the Tuning Voltage Center value until the beat note frequency is less than the software specified value.

  3. Click the left-mouse button and select the ”Continue” key.

  4. Place markers at the specified offsets.

  5. Compare the marker amplitude value to the following specifications:

    Offset from Carrier (dBc/Hz)

     

    Standard

    Option UNJ or UNR

    Carrier Frequency

     

    20 kHz

     

    100 Hz

     

    1 kHz

     

    10 kHz

     

    100 kHz

    600 MHz

    -130

    -94

    -118

    -130

    -130

  6. Print out a phase noise plot.

  7. Continue to the next setup and perform the measurement.

 

Connections and Setup Procedures for a
1.0, 3.2, 9.6, or 19.8 GHz Single-Sideband Phase Noise Measurement

All test equipment requires a 30 minute warm-up period to ensure accurate performance.

 

Setup with a Carrier Frequency of 1.0, 3.2, 9.6, and 19.8 GHz

 

 

  1. Connect all test equipment as shown.

  2. Connect GPIB cables to all GPIB-controlled test equipment.

  3. Connect the E82X7D or 866XA RF Output to the N5500A or 70420A Reference Input.

  4. Connect the N5500A or 70420A Tune Voltage Output to the E82X7D Ext 1 input or the 866XA EFC.

  5. Repeat the following steps for frequencies of 1.0, 3.2, 9.6, or 19.8 GHz and proceed to "Making the Measurement".

    1. Set the signal generator frequency to either 1.0, 3.2, 9.6, or 19.8 GHz and the power to 7 dBm.

    2. In the E5505A phase noise system user interface, change the following parameters:

 

Parameter

Setting

 

 

Sources Tab

 

Carrier Source Frequency

1.0, 3.2, 9.6, or 19.8 GHz

Carrier Source Output Connected

Downconverter

Detector Input Frequency

1.0, 3.2, 9.6, or 19.8 GHz

Reference Source Power

10 dBm

VCO Tune Constant

0.1 ppm x Carrier Source Frequency for E82X7D; (5 E-9) x Carrier Source Frequency for 866XA

VCO Tune Range

1 Volt for E82X7D; 10 Volts for 866XA

VCO Input Resistance

50 ohms for E82X7D; 1E+6 ohms for 866XA

 

 

Block Diagram Tab

 

Down Converter

System Control

Reference Source

E8257D Asset Control Module (use the E8257C if the E8257D is not available); 866XA

Test Set Tune Voltage Destination

Reference Source

VCO Tune Mode

DCFM for E82X7D; EFC for 866XA

 

 

Downconverter Tab

 

Input Frequency

1.0, 3.2, 9.6, or 19.8 GHz

 

 

Graph Tab

 

Title

User Specific

Making the Measurement with a Carrier Frequency of 1.0, 3.2, 9.6, or 19.8 GHz

  1. From the Instrument Connections panel, click on ”Optimize Downconverter”.

  2. Perform a phase noise measurement.

  3. Place markers at the specified offsets.

  4. Compare the marker amplitude value to the following specifications:

    Offset from Carrier (dBc/Hz)

     

    Standard

    Option UNJ or UNR

    Carrier Frequency

     

    20 kHz

     

    100 Hz

     

    1 kHz

     

    10 kHz

     

    100 kHz

    1.0 GHz

    -124

    -88

    -112

    -124

    -124

    3.2 GHz

    -120

    -84

    -108

    -120

    -120

    9.6 GHz

    -110

    -74

    -98

    -110

    -110

    19.8 GHz

    -104

    -68

    -92

    -104

    -104

 

  1. Print out the phase noise plot.

  2. Continue to the next setup and perform the measurement.

Entering the Data

The measurement data must be entered into the following form displayed on-screen when the test is run.

 

Enter the measured value from the phase noise system into the "Measured Value" column for the appropriate frequency/offset frequency combination. All values must be entered for the test to complete. Entering a measured value and then clicking in the "Result" column in the form will cause the result to appear.

If the "Guardbanding On" checkbox is not selected, then the overall result would not include uncertainty to calculate PASS/FAIL result. Otherwise, the result will be calculated using the displayed uncertainty and will be in the form of PASS/FAIL/INDETERMINATE. The specification against which the measured value is compared is displayed in the "Specifications" column.

In Case of Difficulty

If this performance test fails, perform the following steps in order:

  1. Check the equipment setup (see above). If the setup is incorrect, make the necessary corrections and rerun the performance test.

  2. Refer to the troubleshooting section of the service guide. If you do not have a printed copy of the service guide (Option OBW), one is available either on the CD-ROM that came with your signal generator shipment or on the Keysight website.

  3. If necessary, obtain service from Keysight Technologies. Refer to Contacting Keysight Technologies.