Once configured (as shown in this topic), an external device will appear in, and be controlled from, relevant VNA dialogs as though it were internal to the VNA.
The following links discuss how to set properties for these types of devices:
Configure a PXI SMU (This is an internal device)
Configure an External Switch Matrix
How to access the External Device Configuration dialogVNA Applications have additional methods of launching this dialog. |
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Using Hardkey/SoftTab/Softkey |
Using a mouse |
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Jump to a section below for more information:
External DevicesThe devices that are currently configured appear in this list. The number of devices that can be configured is limited by the specified Interface. New Click to create a new device configuration. The default name is Device<n>, where <n> is the next number for 'Device'. Remove Click to remove the selected device from the list. PropertiesName Enter a device name as it will appear when referring to this device in VNA dialog boxes. Edit the name at any time. Duplicate names are not allowed.
Device Type Select one of the following: (Quotes are used when specifying in a remote program.)
Driver Select the appropriate model to be configured. (Quotes are used when specifying in a remote program.) For Source Device Type choose from:
For SMU Device Type, choose from:
All other device types have only one driver. Active
- Show in UI Check to make the device available for
use in the relevant dialogs. An instrument state that is
saved with an Active device (checked) will include the device
in the state file. Otherwise, if the Active box is cleared, the
device will NOT appear in the state file. Learn
more about Instrument State files. Enable I/O Clear this box to disable communication with the selected device. Do this to configure a device that is not yet connected to the VNA.
Device Properties Click to launch the Properties dialog for relevant Device type:
IO ConfigurationType VISA address that is used to connect the device to the VNA. The "..." button opens the Select VISA Resource dialog box (described below).
Configure Alias and LAN DevicesUse this procedure to configure a device using a LAN interface. Also use for ANY device for which you want to set an alias (easily-recognized) name. The alias name appears in the Available field when Aliases is selected as the Interface.
To Add a LAN Device:
To create an Alias for a connected device:
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Drivers have been created to facilitate the configuration of external source devices commonly used for specific types of measurements such as Spectrum Analyzer (SA) or Modulation Distortion (MOD or MODX). The following is a list of the current drivers for these sources:
The M8190A configuration can be with or without an embedded CPU. However, the preferred M8190A is the configuration without an embedded CPU using a PCIe cable connection to the PNA. A special cable is required: PCIe 4-lane to PCIe 8-lane. In this configuration, the driver must be installed in the PNA for the driver to be seen by the CPU in the PNA. This makes the cable connection to the M8190A an extension of the memory domain of the PNA CPU. This configuration is several times faster than using the USB interface.
The M8190A must have at least one of the following options:
Note: Power up the M8190A first and wait until the LED on the front-panel is lit (green) before powering up the PNA.
The Direct Out outputs are used by the M8190 driver and the Amp Out outputs are used by the M8190 + IQ mixer driver.
The Driver name is M8190.
In the dialog above, M8190PSG is the name assigned to the M8190 driver. With M8190PSG highlighted in the External Devices window, de-select the Active - Show in UI check box, then click on the Device Properties... button to access the following dialog:
Note: Before changing the configuration of this driver, the Active - Show in UI must be de-selected. After changes are made and this dialog is closed, check the Active - Show in UI check box when ready to activate the driver. Otherwise, the setting changes will not be applied.
Timeout (sec) Sets the VISA timeout and will stop processing additional SCPI commands on the first error and will put the measurement into hold.
Dwell per point (ms) Applies a dwell in Hardware List triggering ONLY. Set the time (in milliseconds) the external source will wait before data acquisition.
PSG I/O Configuration - Sets the VISA address of the PSG.
Amplitude I/Q - Sets the amplitude of the I and Q differential outputs from the M8190A. Calibration affects these settings. The M8190A Direct Out outputs are connected to the PSG using four cables of the same length.
DC Offset I/Q - Sets the offset to remove any LO feedthru.
8 GSa/s 14bits (14B option) - Selects the Option M8190A-14B.
12 GSa/s 12bits (12G option) - Selects the Option M8190A-12G.
Digital Upconverter (DUC) - Selects the Option M8190A-DUC.
The Driver name is M8190 + IQ mixer.
In the dialog above, M81_IQ is the name assigned to the M8190 + IQ mixer driver. With M81_IQ highlighted in the External Devices window, de-select the Active - Show in UI check box, then click on the Device Properties... button to access the following dialog:
Note: Before changing the configuration of this driver, the Active - Show in UI must be de-selected. After changes are made and this dialog is closed, check the Active - Show in UI check box when ready to activate the driver. Otherwise, the setting changes will not be applied.
Timeout (sec) Sets the VISA timeout and will stop processing additional SCPI commands on the first error and will put the measurement into hold.
Dwell per point (ms) Applies a dwell in Hardware List triggering ONLY. Set the time (in milliseconds) the external source will wait before data acquisition.
RF output - Selects the IQ mixer output. Select Straight Out, no PNA port to go out of the IQ mixer and not controlled by the PNA, or select one of the PNA ports. The PNA port selections will set the proper path and step attenuation in the PNA automatically. If Straight Out, no PNA port is selected, the IQ mixer output can still be connected to the PNA, but path and step attenuation must be set manually.
The following shows a configuration example where Port 1 (J11) is the source of the LO drive signal and the RF Output of the IQ mixer is re-injected into PNA Port 1 (J10) on the rear panel:
Source power offset - Sets the power offset applied at the source driver level. If a decent value of the RF path budget between the modulated source and the DUT port is set (negative value means attenuation, positive value means amplification: there is power booster added in the path), then (even without modulation power level calibration) the source requested power and the source obtained power at the DUT plane will be aligned.
IQ Mixer LO drive - Selects the LO signal source for the IQ mixer from any PNA port, an external source, or baseband (no LO drive signal). One of four possible M8190A baseband outputs (output of DAC) can be selected: DC or AC output of Channel 1, or DC or AC output of Channel 2.
Power - Sets the power of the LO signal.
Source I/O Configuration for external source LO drive - Sets the address of an external source when used as the LO signal source.
Amplitude I/Q - Sets the amplitude of the I and Q differential outputs from the M8190A. Calibration affects these settings. The M8190A Amp Out outputs are connected to the PSG using four cables of the same length.
DC Offset I/Q - Sets the offset to remove any LO feedthru.
8 GSa/s 14bits (14B option) - Selects the Option M8190A-14B.
12 GSa/s 12bits (12G option) - Selects the Option M8190A-12G.
Digital Upconverter (DUC) - Selects the Option M8190A-DUC.