Gate Trigger Tab (Input)

Menu Path: Input > Gate Trigger

The Gate Trigger tab sets up a gated trigger for Power Spectrum measurements. The Gate Trigger parameters depend on the Active Input Domain (selected in the Input > Capture tab):

Active Input Domain = Power Spectrum

Active Input Domain = Time

Active Input Domain = Power Spectrum

• Gate Enabled: Enables gating.

• Style: Determines the trigger type and trigger signal.

• PXI Source: Sets the PXI backplane trigger line to use.

• Length: Lets you set the length of time in seconds for the acquisition data to acquire and use for a step in the spectrum once the gate trigger condition occurs. The VSA software may not be able to achieve the length that you set. The length chosen by the VSA software is displayed in the Actual Length textbox.

• Actual Length: Displays the actual length of time in seconds of the acquisition data acquired and used for a step in the spectrum once the gate trigger condition occurs. This may be different from the desired Length parameter if the current resolution bandwidth cannot achieve the specific Length value (in which case the actual length used is what is needed to achieve the resolution bandwidth).

• Level: Sets the trigger level. Note that this parameter is only visible if a trigger type is selected that lets you set the trigger level. For example, if the Free Run trigger type is selected, you cannot set the trigger level and this parameter is not visible on the Gate Trigger tab.

• Slope: Sets the trigger slope.

• Delay: Determines the amount of time used for trigger delay.

• Holdoff Style: Sets the trigger holdoff style.

• Holdoff - Determines the amount of time used for trigger hold-off.

• Gate View result available: Enables an output result that is the time domain data from the acquisition taken closest to the center of the span. When this option is enabled then a Gate Time result can be selected in a trace.

• Peak Hold: Enables a peak hold function that is located before combining high and low side mixing when using double acquisition conversion for image suppression (which is also before the detectors).

 

Active Input Domain = Time

• Input Trigger Channel: Selects which input channel to trigger on.

  Only one channel can be used to trigger the measurement.

• Style: Determines the trigger type and trigger signal.

• Delay (from Trigger to Data): Determines the amount of time used for trigger delay.

• Gate Length: Lets you set the length of time in seconds for the acquisition data to acquire and use for a step in the spectrum once the gate trigger condition occurs. The VSA software may not be able to achieve the length that you set. The length chosen by the VSA software is displayed in the Actual Gate Length textbox.

• Actual Gate Length: Displays the actual length of time in seconds of the acquisition data acquired and used for a step in the spectrum once the gate trigger condition occurs. This may be different from the desired Gate Length parameter if the current resolution bandwidth cannot achieve the specific Length value (in which case the actual length used is what is needed to achieve the resolution bandwidth).

• Level: Sets the trigger level.

• Slope: Sets the trigger slope.

• Holdoff Style: Sets the trigger hold-off style.

• Holdoff: Determines the amount of time used for trigger hold-off.

• Periodic Trigger parameters: These parameters are used to set up and control the Periodic trigger style.

  The Periodic Gate Trigger style is only supported for Power Spectrum Analysis measurements.

  • Period: Specifies the trigger interval.

  • Period Offset: Adds an offset relative to the periodic triggering point.

  • Sync Source: Determines how the first measurement is triggered.

• Time Qualified Trigger (TQT) parameters: These are used to set an additional trigger criterion of time duration, which an event needs to last in order to satisfy the trigger (only shown when connected to an X-Series Analyzer with Real Time Spectrum Analyzer, and only available when Frequency Mask Trigger or IF Mag Style is selected).

  • Time Criteria: A menu of time-qualifying trigger choices using the Time1 and/or Time2 parameters.

  • Time1: Time duration 1, used by the Time Criteria setting for determining when and if to trigger.

  • Time2: Time duration 2, used by the Time Criteria setting for determining when and if to trigger.

• Frequency Mask Trigger parameters: These parameters are used to set up and control the Frequency Mask trigger style--only shown when connected to an X-Series Analyzer with the Real Time Spectrum Analyzer (RTSA) option.

• Trigger Out: Selects the desired trigger output connector to use on the currently connected instrument.

• Display Trigger Reference Line on Active Trace: Determines whether the trigger reference line is shown on the currently selected trace.