Measurement Setup Parameters (Keysight X-Series Analyzers)

This topic provides measurement configuration and setup parameter information that apply to using the Keysight X-Series Signal Analyzer hardware with the 89600 VSA software. This information will help to properly setup the 89600 VSA and Keysight X-Series Signal Analyzer measurement parameters.

Auto-range Criteria	Periodic Trigger
Calibration/Alignment	Preset Setup
- Calibrate	Range
- Quick Cal	Recording
- Auto Calibrate	Saving and Recalling VSA Setups
Custom Channel Configurations	Segmented Capture
External Reference	Timestamp Source
Frequency Bands	Triggering
Mixer Level	Trig Out

Auto-range Criteria

The availability of Auto-Range Criteria choices (located on the VSA's main toolbar) depends on the connected hardware model and IF path. See Auto-Range Criteria for more information.

Range To Peak Power (Default): This choice is supported for all models and IF Paths.

EVM – Meas Based Iteration: This choice is supported for all models and IF Paths.

EVM – Table or Algorithm Based: This choice is supported with the following models and IF paths:

• Models: N9020, N9021, N9030, N9032, N9040, N9041, N9042
• IF Paths: 25 MHz Megahertz: A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz or cycles per second. (Opt B25)*, 140 MHz (Opt B1X), 160 MHz (Opt B1Y), 255 MHz (Opt B2X), 510 MHz (Opt B5X), 1 GHz Gigahertz: A frequency measurement which equals one billion hertz. (Opt H1G or Opt R10), 1.5 GHz (Opt R15), 2 GHz (Opt R20)
  * Not supported with N9032.

 

Calibration/Alignment

Calibrate: Selecting Calibrate (Utilities > Calibration) will initiate a full calibration and alignment.

Quick Cal: Selecting Quick Cal (Utilities > Calibration) will initiate a  smart calibration procedure. The Quick Cal only performs an alignment procedure on sections of the hardware that need re-alignment. Quick Cal is faster than the Calibrate procedure and when completed, the entire instrument is aligned and calibrated. When the  Auto Calibrate check box is selected, a Quick Cal is performed whenever the VSA determines the hardware needs to be re-calibrated.

Auto Calibrate: When Auto Calibrate is selected (Utilities > Calibration), the VSA monitors the calibration status and automatically performs a Quick Cal when required.

 

Custom Channel Configurations

The Custom Channel Configurations dialog (Input > Channels > Custom...) is used to create custom channel mapping configurations, that is, you can reconfigure the hardware input channel to VSA measurement channel connections. The VSA only allows valid channel configuration mappings; "invalid" channel configuration mappings are disallowed (indicated by a red "X") and the "OK" button is disabled "greyed out".

Different X-Series analyzer models and options support different input channel configurations and available measurement types. The following tables can be used to determine what models and options support single and dual instrument configurations and what measurement types are supported.

Supported X-Series Instrument Configurations

Many X-Series instrument models can be used in single and dual instrument hardware configurations. The following table lists the X-series models and options that support single and dual instrument hardware configurations:

X-Series Instrument	Single Instrument Configurations	Dual Instrument Configurations1
UXA (except N9042B)	YES	NO
UXA (N9042B)	YES	YES
PXA	YES	NO
MXA	YES	YES2 except NO when options DP2 & B40 are installed.
EXA	YES	YES2 except NO when options DP2 & B40 are installed.
MXE	YES	NO
PXE	YES	NO
CXA	YES	NO
CXA-m	YES	NO
notes:	1) phase coherence is not supported. 2) only MXA/EXA signal analyzers with "A" model numbers support dual instrument configurations.

Supported Input Channel Measurement Types

Input Channel Type	Single Instrument Configuration (Measurement Type)	Dual Instrument Configuration (Measurement Type)
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).:	1 Channel RF measurement	1 and 2 Channel RF measurements1
Baseband:	1 Channel baseband (I input only) measurement2 2 Channel baseband (I & Q inputs only) measurement2	1 Channel baseband (I input only) measurement2 2 Channel baseband (I & Q inputs only) measurement2
I+jQ:	single I+jQ channel measurement2,3,4	single I+jQ channel measurement2,3,4
External Mixer:	1 Channel measurement2	1 Channel measurement2
notes:	1) two Ch RF measurements require 2 analyzers. 2) all Baseband BBIQ (I, Q, & I+jQ) measurements require option BBA Analog Baseband I/Q Inputs installed. 3) dual I+jQ channel measurements are not supported. 4) for BBIQ (I+jQ) measurements using X-Series signal analyzers, the VSA's Couple Paired Channels setting is always selected and disabled.

Custom Input Channel Configurations: When using the Input Channel Configuration dialog to specify or modify the input channel configuration mapping, only the VSA default set of channel configuration mappings are allowed; "invalid" channel configuration mappings are disallowed and the "OK" button is disabled "greyed out".

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External Reference

The VSA automatically determines whether to use the internal or external frequency reference. The VSA will automatically switch to external frequency reference whenever a valid external reference signal is detected on the Ext Ref In port. When an invalid signal is detected (i.e., the signal frequency is incorrect) the VSA will indicate UNLOCKED.

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Frequency Bands

The 89600 VSA supports the RF frequency band of the X-Series instrument and optional Baseband for instruments with option BBA installed.

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Mixer Level

The 89600 VSA Mixer Level control adjusts the Input Attenuation and ADC Analog-to-Digital Converter Range of the VSA. The default Mixer Level setting set by the 89600 VSA software is represented as 0 dB. Any Mixer Level setting selected is relative to the default Mixer Level setting. The Mixer Level control is not applicable for baseband hardware option BBA. For more information on Mixer Level control, see Mixer Level.

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Periodic Trigger

Periodic triggering specifies that triggering will occur at regularly spaced intervals.

Periodic Trigger is not supported for the following X-Series Signal Analyzer models/configurations:

• Aux Wideband path when using N9040B-H1G.
• N9041B Option EDC Configuration

When Periodic Trigger is selected (Input > Trigger > Trigger tab), the following parameters are also available:

• Delay: In periodic trigger mode, the value entered specifies an amount of delay from the periodic triggering point to the beginning of the acquisition data.
  

• Period: Specifies the trigger interval.
  

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

• Sync Source: Selects a sync trigger source.

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Preset Setup Parameters

The following table lists the Keysight X-Series Signal Analyzer's unique preset setup parameters and their default values. This table includes the parameters for the dual-channel baseband option, BBA.To preset the VSA, select File > Preset > Preset Setup. (Any parameters not listed here are set to the standard Preset Setup values.)

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Range

Input range can be selected by choosing a Full Scale Range in the 89600 VSA.  After specifying the range, the VSA sets the optimal attenuator, ADC gain, and optional preamp on/off setting for the VSA to optimize dynamic range primarily for noise and secondarily for intermodulation distortion.

Input Range Overload Condition

For 2-Ch Baseband measurement configurations, out-of-band input signals will cause an unexpected ADC Overload condition, ("OV" trace indicator) when the following conditions occur:

1. The Out-of-Band signal frequency "f_o" is greater than the current VSA measurement bandwidth (20 MHz maximum) but less than the maximum hardware analog input channel bandwidth (40 MHz). Therefore: VSA BW < f_o < 40 Mhz.
2. Out-of-Band signals are combined with the VSA Measurement In-Band signals to determine the range level. An unexpected range overload will occur when the additional Out-of-Band signals cause the combined VSA measurement range level to exceed the current VSA measurement Range setting.
   This Range Overload condition may seem unexpected because the Out-of-Band signals are not shown on the VSA Trace window hiding the over range signals from view.

Analyzer	Min/Max Input Range
UXA (N9042B)	-22 dBm to +30 dBm, non-preamp in 2 dB steps, -40 dBm to -20 dBm, Low Noise Amplifier in 2 dB steps
UXA	-22 dBm to +30 dBm, non-preamp in 2 dB steps, -42 dBm to +30 dBm, preamp f < 3.6 GHz in 2 dB steps -56 dBm to +30 dBm, preamp f > 3.6 GHz in 2 dB steps
PXA (N9032B)	-22 dBm to +30 dBm, non-preamp in 2 dB steps, -40 dBm to -20 dBm, Low Noise Amplifier in 2 dB steps
PXA	-22 dBm to +30 dBm, non-preamp in 2 dB steps, -42 dBm to +30 dBm, preamp f < 3.6 GHz in 2 dB steps -56 dBm to +30 dBm, preamp f > 3.6 GHz in 2 dB steps
MXA	-20 dBm to +30 dBm, non-preamp in 2 dB steps, -40 dBm to +30 dBm, preamp f < 3.6 GHz in 2 dB steps, -56 dBm to +30 dBm, preamp f > 3.6 GHz in 2 dB steps
MXE	-20 dBm to +30 dBm, non-preamp in 2 dB steps, -40 dBm to +30 dBm, preamp f < 3.6 GHz in 2 dB steps, -54 dBm to +30 dBm, preamp f > 3.6 GHz in 2 dB steps
PXE	-22 dBm to +30 dBm, non-preamp in 2 dB steps, -40 dBm to +30 dBm, preamp in 2 dB steps,
EXA	-20 dBm to +20 dBm in 10 dB or opt 2 dB steps, -20 dBm to +22 dBm w/Opt FSA in 10 dB or opt 2 dB steps, -40 dBm to +20 dBm, preamp f < 3.6 GHz in 10 dB or opt 2 dB steps, -56 dBm to +20 dBm, preamp f > 3.6 GHz in 10 dB or opt 2 dB steps
CXA	-20 dBm to +20 dBm in 10 dB or opt 2 dB steps, -20 dBm to +22 dBm w/Opt FSA in 10 dB or opt 2 dB steps, -40 dBm to + 20 dBm, preamp in 10 dB or opt 2 dB steps,
CXA-m	-40dBm to -20dBm in 10dB steps (f < 7.58GHz) -20dBm to +20dBm in 10dB or opt 2dB steps w/Opt FSA (f < 7.58GHz) -40dBm to +20dBm in 10dB in 10dB steps (f > 7.58GHz) non-preamp f < 7.58 GHz in 2 dB steps, non-preamp f > 7.58 GHz in 10 dB steps, preamp in 10 dB steps

The minimum practical input range setting is -54 dB since the minimum supported attenuator step size is 2 dB and the step size is referenced from 0 dB.

The input range choices are limited by the mechanical attenuator step size of the instrument.  The standard EXA/CXA/CXA-m step size is 10 dB, with an option for a 2 dB step size.  The standard UXA/PXA/MXA/MXE/PXE step size is 2 dB.  

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Recording

The 89600 VSA records time data from the X-series analyzer hardware to the system hard drive. For most recording purposes, the length of time waveform recording is limited to the capture size. For actual capture size limits, see the analyzer hardware spec sheet.

 

Saving and Recalling VSA Setups

The VSA's state is not automatically saved when the 89600 VSA is closed; select File > Save > Save Setup before closing the application. When a saved setup is recalled into the 89600 VSA , the VSA state is restored from the setup.

 

Segmented Capture

Segmented capture is possible when the hardware has the following:

• Option DP4
• A wideband Digital IF (DIF) signal path that supports segmented capture (and has the right option to enable it). Currently supported analysis signal paths for segmented capture are:
  • 255 MHz Analysis Bandwidth
  • 510 MHz Analysis Bandwidth
• Hardware instrument software version A.21.10 or later

Supported trigger types when segmented capture is enabled

• IF Mag.

The segmented capture feature will be disabled when the hardware does not support it or a signal path is selected that does not support it. When in Auto mode for the Signal Path, enabling segmented capture will constrain the measurement to only signal paths that support segmented capture which can result in the bandwidth and other parameters being limited because of selecting a signal path that supports segmented capture.

Not supported with the N9032B PXA or N9042B UXA.

See Segmented Capture (Input > Capture) for more details on using segmented capture.

Timestamp Source

Getting timestamps from X-Series Signal Analyzers is supported with the following requirements and conditions:

• Firmware version A.37.01 or greater

• IF Path supported timestamps: 140 MHz, 160 MHz, and 255 MHz IF Paths (option B1X, B1Y, or B2X) with X-Series Analyzers

• Supported trigger styles

  • Free-run
  • External
  • Periodic
  • FMT

The Timestamp Source > Analyzer Instrument choice will be disabled when the hardware does not support it or an IF path or trigger style is selected that does not support it. See Timestamp Source (Input > Capture) for more details on using timestamps.

Triggering

The following trigger parameters are available for RF settings:

Parameter	Applies To
Amplitude Offset	Frequency Mask
Criteria	Frequency Mask
Delay	IF Mag (Video), External, External TTL, Periodic (see  Slope and Hold-off Style Interactions), ADC Magnitude Positive trigger delay is limited to 128 sec.  Negative trigger delay is limited to the maximum length of the time capture or 128 sec, whichever is less.
Edit...	Frequency Mask
Frequency Offset	Frequency Mask
Holdoff	IF Mag (Video), External, External TTL except in Free Run (see Slope and Holdoff Style Interactions)
Holdoff Style	Below Level or Above Level or conventional
Level	IF Mag, External (External TTL is fixed at 2 V), ADC Magnitude
Mask(s) to Apply	Frequency Mask
Period	Periodic
Period Offset	Periodic
RBW	Frequency Mask
Slope	IF Mag (Video), External, External TTL, ADC Magnitude
Style	Free Run, IF Mag (Video), External, External TTL, Periodic, Frequency Mask, ADC Magnitude
Sync Source	Periodic
Time Criteria	Frequency Mask, IF Mag
Time1	Frequency Mask, IF Mag
Time2	Frequency Mask, IF Mag
Window Type	Frequency Mask

The following  trigger parameters are available for two-channel baseband (BBIQ) settings:

Parameter Type	Freerun	Channel	Channel Mag	External	External TTL
Delay (See  Slope and Hold-off Style Interactions) The maximum length of the time capture for the MXA is limited to 4 MegaSamples at any sample rate (~21.4 Sec maximum).	N/A	Seconds	Seconds	Seconds	N/A
Holdoff Style	N/A	Conventional	Below Level	Conventional	Conventional
Holdoff (See Slope and Hold-off Style Interactions)	N/A	N/A	Seconds	N/A	N/A
Level	N/A	Volts	Volts	N/A	N/A
Slope	N/A	Positive/Negative	Positive/Negative	Positive/Negative	Positive/Negative

 

Slope and Hold-off Style Interactions

When triggering on a positive slope with hold-off style set to Above Level, there is an additional interaction between trigger Hold-off and negative Trigger Delay. The sum of these two values is limited to the maximum capture depth, which is ~88 msec for spans greater than 10 MHz, and ~266 msec for spans 10 MHz and below. In addition, the trigger hold-off is limited to 80% of the maximum capture depth.

For example, at a measurement span above 10 MHz, where the maximum time capture length is 88.8 msec, the maximum trigger hold-off is limited to 80% of 88.8 msec, or ~71 msec.  And, since the sum of the hold-off and the trigger delay must be less than the time capture length, the maximum negative trigger delay for a hold-off value of 71 msec would be ~17.8 msec.

Negative slope triggering + hold-off for external trigger is not supported by the 89600 VSA for X-Series Signal Analyzers.

Selecting the External Trigger Input Port

You can specify the external trigger input port (Trigger1 In or Trigger2 In) using the External Trigger Location hardware parameter.

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Trig Out

Not all X-Series Analyzers models and options support the 89600 VSA Trig Out feature.

Refer to the Measurements book "Trig Out" topic's Unsupported Hardware table for more information.

See Also

Hardware Configuration

Measurement Configuration

ADC Setup

About Keysight X-Series Signal Analyzers