Pausing and Single-Stepping a Measurement
When continuous sweep is selected, functions as a pause/continue button. Click to pause the measurement; click again to continue the measurement.
When single sweep is selected, functions as a single-sweep button. Click to perform a single measurement sweep. Clicking when a sweep is in progress has no effect. The VSA will wait until the sweep is finished before beginning a new sweep.
When hardware triggering is enabled (set to anything besides ) and is clicked, the VSA waits for the measurement hardware to trigger before performing the single sweep.
When playback triggering is enabled (set to anything besides ) and , the VSA immediately searches for the next trigger.
The measurement control buttons in the toolbar or in the selected measurement. To start or pause multiple measurements, use the buttons on the Measurements dialog.
menu only apply to theViewing paused data
When a measurement is paused, the most recent measurement data is preserved in RAM. Due to this, the "paused" data can be viewed in different ways. In fact, these operations can still be performed:
- Any time-gating operation
- Any Trace menu operation
- Most marker operations
- Any Window menu operation
For example, a different trace data types (from the main menu, click band power calculation.
), different coordinates (click ), or change the scaling or units (click or ) can still be selected. Or a marker added and any marker operation performed such as theChanging measurement parameters
When a measurement is paused, be aware of the following when changing measurement parameters (measurement parameters are located under
on the main menu):- Measurement changes take effect immediately, which may make the measurement data questionable. Because of this, the VSA shows the DATA? trace indicator when you change most measurement parameters.
- Some measurement changes clear any existing data.
- Changes to time-gating parameters are permitted. These changes take effect immediately and yield a valid answer.
Changing input parameters
Input changes take effect immediately, which may make measurement data questionable for a paused measurement. The VSA shows the DATA? trace indicator when most Input parameters are changed during a paused measurement.
Averaged measurements
The operation of
remains the same for averaged measurements:- If continuous sweep is selected, pauses (or resumes) the averaged measurement.
- If single sweep is selected, performs the next sweep and combines the results with the current average.
When Repeat Averaging is enabled, and for non-continuous average types that stop when the number of averages N (specified by Count) are completed, the behavior of is slightly different, as shown in the following table:
Repeat Averaging |
Sweep |
Clicking Pause/Single... |
---|---|---|
OFF |
single |
Adds another average to the total (N + 1). |
|
|
|
OFF |
continuous |
Performs another N averages (includes the results from previous averages). |
|
|
|
ON |
single |
If N averages have not been reached, adds another average to the total (N + 1); otherwise, performs the first sweep of a new, averaged measurement. |
|
|
|
ON |
continuous |
Pauses or resumes the averaged measurement. |
See Also
Selecting an Averaging Type (Averaging)
Disconnecting from Measurement Hardware
Configuring Measurement Sweep Mode
Starting and Stopping a measurement
Configuring Multiple Measurements