Harmonic Table (External Mixer)

The Harmonic Table specifies the characteristics of the external mixer. An external mixer uses a particular harmonic of the LO, supplied by the X-Series Analyzer, to downconvert the RF Radio Frequency: A generic term for radio-based technologies, operating between the Low Frequency range (30k Hz) and the Extra High Frequency range (300 GHz). signal to the Intermediate Frequency (IF), which is then sent back to the analyzer.

The Harmonic selected, along with the IF and the range of the LO, determine the frequency band of the mixer. When the Signal Path parameter is set to Auto (default), the IF path (each path uses a different IF frequency) is chosen automatically based on the measurement span. In this case, the Min and Max frequencies shown in the Harmonic Table are based on the IF path with the highest IF frequency (most conservative). When the Signal Path parameter is set to something other than Auto, the frequency range will be calculated based on the IF path selected.

Some mixers cannot cover their entire frequency band with a single sweep of the LO, so the band is split into two parts, each with a different harmonic and possibly a different LO Doubler setting.

The LO Doubler check box determines whether the LO signal provided from the X-Series Analyzer is doubled in frequency.