Input Extensions (Keysight FieldFox Analyzers)
This topic lists and describes the Input Extensions that are unique to the Keysight 89600 Series VSA with Keysight FieldFox Handheld Analyzers. The Input Extensions are configured in the Extensions tab of the dialog (click ). The Keysight FieldFox analyzer must be configured as an Analyzer Configuration and that configuration set as the Current Analyzer Configuration. A parameter is changed by clicking the text box following the extension. For True/False values, a check in the check box sets the value to True. A cleared check box sets the value to False.
The Input Extensions typically do not need to be changed. The default values are set to perform standard measurements. Click to preset all input extension parameters across all logical instruments and channels.
Input Extensions with Keysight FieldFox Analyzers
The following are the extensions for the FieldFox analyzers:
Some extensions or some of the extension selections may not be available for all FieldFox analyzers. Also some extension selections require the proper options to be installed in the analyzer. If the extension or extension selection is unavailable, the extension will not enable the parameter to be changed.
|
Parameter |
Values |
Default |
|---|---|---|
|
Auto, Off, On, High |
Auto |
|
|
True/False |
False |
|
|
Auto, Pack32, Pack64 |
Auto |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
Bw15Hz, Bw60Hz |
Bw15Hz |
|
|
Trig1, Trig2 |
Trig2 |
|
|
String containing the name of the IF path |
Hardware dependent |
|
|
Off, On |
On |
|
|
Off, On |
Off |
|
|
-10dBm to 0dBm |
-10dBm |
|
|
Standard, LowNoise, PreSelectorBypass |
Standard |
|
|
BestCloseIn, BestWideOffset , FastTuning |
BestCloseIn |
|
|
Auto, Manual |
Auto |
|
|
Same as DIF path's min/max range |
0dB |
|
|
Same as Max Mixer Level |
-10dBm |
|
|
Same as DIF path's min/max range |
-780dB |
|
|
Off, On |
Off |
|
|
RFIO1, RFIO2, RFIO3, RFIO4, 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). Input, RF Input2 |
RFIO1 |
|
|
Auto, Lowband, Narrowband, Medium, Wideband, Wideband Extended, Aux Wideband |
Auto |
Adc Dither
The Adc Dither parameter selects either to improve the distortion or signal-to-noise ratio measurement performance. Selecting Adc Dither will improve the measurement distortion performance but at the expense of decreased signal to noise ratio performance. Adc Dither is implemented by applying an out of band random dither signal to the input of the ADC Analog-to-Digital Converter.
This is the same as the Off mode.
Dither is turned off.
Dither is applied at 6% of full scale.
Dither is applied at 18% of full scale. The High setting is only valid for some analyzer models. In other analyzers the High mode is the same as the On mode.
Baseband Adc Dither
This only applies to FieldFox analyzers that have Option BBA Analog Baseband I/Q Inputs installed.
Turns on the Baseband Adc Dither.
Turns off the Baseband Adc Dither.
Capture Bit Packing
The Capture Bit Packing parameter specifies the resolution of the recorded measurement data. The Capture Bit Packing setting affects the available maximum capture time.
The VSA will use 32 bits/Data Point for measurement spans greater than 40 MHz Megahertz: A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz or cycles per second. and 64 bits/Data Point for measurement spans less than or equal to 40 MHz.
The hardware will capture complex data at 32 bits per complex data point (16 bits for the real part and 16 bits for the imaginary part). The data is converted to a floating point data type before saving to the disc file.
The hardware will capture complex data at 64 bits per complex data point (32 bits for the real part and 32 bits for the imaginary part). The data is converted to a floating point data type before saving to the disc file.
For measurement spans greater than 40 MHz, 32 bit packing is sufficient because at these bandwidths the input noise of the ADC will dominate the measurement results. However, for narrower spans the processing gain will drive down the noise floor so that the dominating factor will be the quantization noise introduced by 32 bit packing. In this case, 64 bit packing can be used to provide a lower noise floor for input signals.
However, when the dominating factor is the noise on the input signal or when a lower noise floor is not needed, bit packing can be switched to 32bits/Point to enable longer recording times.
Extended Capture
Current instruments allow up to 5M points (depending on the signal path) with a live acquisition. Starting with VSA20.0, the extended capture enhancement allows users to use deep capture capability (with DP2-capable DIF hardware) with live acquisitions. With this capability, the maximum capture length will go up to 134M points.
This setting is transparent to the user. No Input Extension parameter is visible in the GUI, and nothing needs to be set for extended capture to be enabled. When the user requests more than 5M points, the VSA will automatically switch from a regular IQ Pairs request to a Deep Capture request where VSA will offload chunks of data directly from the XSA DIF board. Extended capture is recommended to be used with the VSA embedded inside an XSA instrument to avoid long transfer delays via LAN Local Area Network: A communications network that serves users within a local geographical area, typically over distances of around 100m. Wireless LANs use wireless communicaitons to network devices so there is no need for data cabling..
External Reference Lock Bandwidth
The External Reference Lock Bandwidth parameter is used to specify the external reference signal bandwidth. Set the External Reference Lock Bandwidth to when the external reference signal has superior phase noise.
The external reference BW is only applied to FieldFox analyzers that have the low phase noise reference boards installed. The setting is overridden and the default value is applied for instruments that do not have the low phase noise reference board installed.
External Trigger Location‡
The External Trigger Location parameter specifies which external trigger port is to be used. Some Keysight FieldFox analyzers provide 2 external trigger input ports:
Specifies the Trigger 1 input port
Specifies the Trigger 2 input port.
‡ Not available for Keysight CXA analyzers.
IF Path
The IF Path parameter is used to specify which IF signal path to use. When IF Path Auto is On, the value is set by VSA software. The parameter value is a string containing the name of the IF path. This name is formatted as three fields separated by underscore: bandwidth_pathType_model.
- Bandwidth - an integer value in Hz. This is a required field.
- PathType - StandardN or AlternateN, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. Path type is model specific. Alternate paths are available depending on instrument model and options. This field is optional for the default pathType, which is Standard1.
- Model- the instrument model. When setting IF Path, this field is optional for the default value, which is the instrument model of the current hardware configuration.
Only bandwidth is returned for a standard IF path. Bandwidth and path type are returned for an alternate path. In most cases the value of IF Path will be only the bandwidth (e.g., “1000000000” for a standard 1 GHz Gigahertz: A frequency measurement which equals one billion hertz. IF path).
IF Path Auto
The IF Path Auto parameter is used to specify how the measurement analog IF path is selected.
The VSA automatically selects the best IF path for the specified measurement span, trigger type and segmented capture.
Path is set by IF Path parameter.
Instrument User Corrections
The Instrument User Corrections parameter specifies whether the input channel corrections defined in the FieldFox analyzer are applied to data captured from the analyzer. Any correction (Correction 1 - Correction 6) designated as On will be applied when Instrument User Corrections is set to On.
The Instrument User Corrections parameter works with the RF input and the External Mixer input. This parameter does not apply to the Baseband or I+jQ inputs.
When using the Auto Range feature with the RF Input, Instrument User Corrections must be set to in order for Auto Range to work correctly.
This allows you to recall vendor corrections for external mixers into the FieldFox analyzer and have these corrections applied when using the 89600 VSA software to connect to the analyzer.
Max Mixer Level dBm
The Maximum Mixer Level parameter can be used to adjust the maximum mixer level power. This sets the maximum allowed value for auto ranging where the VSA software adjusts the mixer level power and ADC range to optimize the measurement based on distortion or signal-to-noise performance for the selected logical channel. Please see the Mixer Level (Input Analog Tab) for more details.
Microwave Path Control
The Microwave Path Control parameter is used to bypass the Microwave Pre-selector signal path. The Microwave Path Control parameter only has an effect when Option MPB is installed. The Microwave Pre-selector bypass should be selected for measurements when the IF amplitude and phase flatness is the most important signal characteristic, such as for demodulation measurements when the measurement span is greater than a few megahertz.
The Microwave Pre-selector is included in the measurement signal path for the high frequency bands.
The Microwave Pre-selector is bypassed resulting in a lower noise floor. This selection requires Option LNP.
The Microwave Pre-selector switching is not included in the measurement signal path for the high frequency bands.
Phase Noise Optimization
The Phase Noise Optimization setting will affect the phase noise distribution on the VSA's LO. The Phase Noise Optimization functions the same but the applicable frequency ranges are different depending on the particular FieldFox analyzer model.
Range: Control
The Range: settings display the current value of the FieldFox analyzer's parameters such as mechanical attenuation, IF Gain, Preamp state, and Max Mixer Level. In manual mode, it also allows the user to set the above parameters.
Range Control allows the user to select the control mode auto or manual. By default, it is set to auto mode. By selecting manual mode, the user is allowed to change any of the range related parameters such as mechanical attenuation, IF gain, preamp state, or mixer level.
In manual control mode, the Auto Range function will be disabled.
If Range:Control is set to auto, range-related parameters such as mechanical attenuation, IF Gain, Preamp state, and Max Mixer Level will be set to values used by the VSA auto range algorithm.
By selecting manual mode, the user is allowed to change any of the range-related parameters such as mechanical attenuation, IF Gain, Preamp state, and Max Mixer Level.
Range: IF Gain (dB)
If Range:Control is set to auto, this will be set to a nominal IF gain value used by VSA auto range algorithm.
If in manual mode, this value can be set by the user. The min/max values will be coerced to the currently selected DIF path’s min/max values. In both modes, this will show the current value that is being set by VSA.
Range: Max Mixer Level (dBm)
This is the same as Max Mixer Level parameter which is pre-existing. With the current addition, this can only be changed by the user if Range:Control is set to Auto.
If in manual mode, this value can be set by the user.
Range: Mechanical Attenuation (dB)
If Range:Control is set to auto, this will be set to a nominal mechanical attenuation value used by VSA auto range algorithm.
If in manual mode, this value can be set by the user. The min/max values will be coerced to the currently selected DIF path’s min/max values. In both modes, this will show the current value that is being set by VSA.
Range: Preamplifier
If Range:Control is set to auto, this will be set to a nominal preamp on or off value used by VSA auto range algorithm.
If in manual mode, this value can be set to on/off by the user. In both modes, this will show the current value that is being set by VSA.
RF Input Port
The RF Input Port parameter selects one of the analyzer's RF Input/Output ports. A port is only selectable if the connected hardware supports it.
RF Input/Output port. It provides half or full duplex IO capability depending on the hardware.
RF Input/Output port. It provides half or full duplex IO capability depending on the hardware.
RF Input/Output port. It provides half or full duplex IO capability depending on the hardware.
RF Input/Output port. It provides half or full duplex IO capability depending on the hardware.
RF Input port.
RF Input2 port.
Signal Path (Deprecated)
This property is deprecated. Use IF Path and IF Path Auto to set the signal path.
The Signal Path parameter is used to specify the measurement analog signal path. Each signal path is optimized for the maximum available span. The available signal paths are determined by the installed options.
The VSA determines the optimal signal path for the specified measurement span.
The VSA restricts the maximum span to 10 MHz and uses the 10 MHz signal path. No option is required for this setting.
The VSA restricts the maximum span to 25 MHz and uses the 25 MHz signal path. Option B25 is required for this setting.
The VSA restricts the maximum span to 40 MHz and uses the 40 MHz signal path. Option B40 is required for this setting.
The VSA restricts the maximum span to 140MHz, 255MHz, 510MHz and uses the respective signal paths, with respective options B1X, B2X, B5X.
The VSA restricts the maximum span to 160 MHz and uses the 160 MHz signal path. Option B1Y is required for this setting.
The VSA restricts the maximum span to 1GHz and uses the 1GHz signal path. Option H1G is required for this setting.
If a Digital IF Signal Path setting is chosen and the required option is not installed, the VSA will select the best available setting.
See Also
