Export Pulse Descriptor Word File
Menu Path:
This selection is grayed out until a pulse table is displayed (Trace > Data > Result Tables > Pulse Table) and selected.
The VSA software's Pulse Demodulator can save (export) Pulse Descriptor Words (PDWs) to a format that can be used to reproduce the pulses in either N5191A/N5193A UXG signal generators or N5192A/N5194A UXG vector adapters.
Save Pulse Descriptor Word File... translates the pulse table for the current measurement into a N5191A/93A or N5192A/94A-compatible PDW CSV file (and phase state file if needed).
See Exporting PDW file for N5192A/94A UXG Vector Adapter for an example.
The saved PDW file is a .csv file (or group of .csv files). The main <PDW_name>.csv file contains the primary pulse parameters used to describe the saved pulses. The export operation may generate additional .csv files if needed to describe the saved pulses.
Save Pulse Descriptor Word File supports the following Pulse Modulation types:
- Continuous Wave (sawtooth)
- Linear FM Frequency Modulation (sawtooth)
- Symmetrical Triangular FM (Triangular FM is Symmetrical selected)
- Barker Phase (phase patterns and codes saved in a separate <PDW_name>.phase.csv file)
Save Pulse Descriptor Word File does not support other modulation types, such as:
- Asymmetrical Triangular FM (Triangular FM is Symmetrical not selected)
- BPSK Binary phase shift keying - A type of phase modulation using 2 distinct carrier phases to signal ones and zeros.
- QPSK Quadrature phase shift keying
- Frank code
- P1, P2, P3, P4
Saved PDW files are formatted specifically for N5191A/93A UXG signal generators or N5192A/94A UXG vector adapters. The VSA software doesn't recognize this format, so saved PDW files cannot be recalled in the VSA software for playback.
The Reference parameter (Pulse Detection Tab) should not be set to Relative to Top Level or Relative to Base Level. In those cases, the threshold depends on the contents of the acquisition (which may be different from what is seen when running the measurement – e.g., overlap processing).
Segmented recordings can only be exported in segmented playback mode.
The entire recording will be exported, regardless of the play start/stop locations set in the Player (Window > Player).
Pulses longer than the acquisition length will not be detected.
