Equipment Setup

The N7621B Signal Studio for Multitone Distortion software supports three general system configurations. Each system requires an PSG/MXG/EXG/ESG vector signal generator, an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG), and a spectrum or signal analyzer. The three systems are designed around the modulation capabilities of the PSG/MXG/EXG/ESG vector signal generators and are:

Common 10 MHz Reference

In all configurations the hardware must share a common 10 MHz reference.

This reference can be provided by the signal generator, the spectrum/signal analyzer, or by a house standard. The N7621B software always configures the external arbitrary waveform generator to use an external 10 MHz reference. The PSG/MXG/EXG/ESG signal generator has an auto sensing 10 MHz reference input. That is to say, the signal generator will automatically use an external reference if one is connected. The software verifies a common 10 MHz reference during a correction measurement or during the self test.

Possible System Configurations

In configurations that use an MXA/PXA signal analyzer, the N7621B Signal Studio for Multitone Distortion software turns off the signal analyzer's Auto Align feature to prevent the possibility of long communication delays during alignment. This is the recommended setting while the Multitone Distortion software is running. If you need to align your MXA/PXA, you can perform a manual alignment (Align Now), but understand that the software cannot communicate with the instrument during the alignment.

PSG Signal Generator with Wideband IQ option (015,016,H16,HBQ) and an external Arb (N824xA, M933xA, N603xA, M8190A)

Connections:

M8190A Channel 1+ Direct Out to the PSG Wideband I input
M8190A Channel 1– Direct Out to the PSG Wideband I– input
M8190A Channel 2+ Direct Out to the PSG Wideband Q input
M8190A Channel 2– Direct Out to the PSG Wideband Q– input
M8190A Channel 2 Sample Mrk Out to the PSG Gate/Pulse/Trigger input
M8190A Sync Mrk Out 2 to the PSG ALC Hold Input (E8267D only)
PXA 10 MHz reference output to the PSG 10 MHz input
PSG 10 MHz output to the M8190A 10 MHz reference clock input
PSG RF output to the PXA RF input

Connections:

N8241A Channel 1+ output to the PSG Wideband I input
N8241A Channel 1– output to the PSG Wideband I– input
N8241A Channel 2+ output to the PSG Wideband Q input
N8241A Channel 2– output to the PSG Wideband Q– input
N8241A Marker 4 output to the PSG Gate/Pulse/Trigger input
N8241A Marker 3 output to the PSG ALC Hold Input (E8267D only)
PXA 10 MHz reference output to the PSG 10 MHz input
PSG 10 MHz output to the N8241A AUX 10 MHz reference input
PSG RF output to the PXA RF input

N6030A Channel 1+ output to the PSG Wideband I+ input
N6030A Channel 1– output to the PSG Wideband I– input
N6030A Channel 2+ output to the PSG Wideband Q+ input
N6030A Channel 2– output to the PSG Wideband Q– input
N6030A Marker 4 output to the PSG Gate/Pulse/Trigger input
N6030A Marker 3 output to the PSG ALC Hold Input
PXA 10 MHz reference output to the PSG 10 MHz input
PSG 10 MHz output to the N6030A 10 MHz reference input
PSG RF output to the PXA RF input

Connections:

N8241A Channel 1+ output to the PSG Wideband I input
N8241A Channel 1– output to the PSG Wideband I– input
N8241A Channel 2+ output to the PSG Wideband Q input
N8241A Channel 2– output to the PSG Wideband Q– input
N8241A Marker 4 output to the PSG Gate/Pulse/Trigger input
N8241A Marker 3 output to the PSG ALC Hold Input (E8267D only)
PSA/ESA 10 MHz reference output to the PSG 10 MHz input
PSG 10 MHz reference output to the N8241A AUX 10 MHz reference input
PSG RF output to the PSA/ESA RF input

N6030A Channel 1+ output to the PSG Wideband I+ input
N6030A Channel 1– output to the PSG Wideband I– input
N6030A Channel 2+ output to the PSG Wideband Q+ input
N6030A Channel 2– output to the PSG Wideband Q– input
N6030A Marker 4 output to the PSG Gate/Pulse/Trigger input
N6030A Marker 3 output to the PSG ALC Hold Input
PSA/ESA 10 MHz reference output to the PSG 10 MHz input
PSG 10 MHz reference output to the N6030A 10 MHz reference input
PSG RF output to the PSA/ESA RF input

Be sure to enable the spectrum analyzer 10 MHz reference output.

Connections:

N8241A Channel 1+ output to the PSG Wideband I input
N8241A Channel 2+ output to the PSG Wideband Q input
N8241A Marker 4 output to the PSG Gate/Pulse/Trigger input
N8241A Marker 3 output to the PSG ALC Hold Input (E8267D only)
PSA/ESA 10 MHz reference output to the PSG 10 MHz input
PSG 10 MHz reference output to the N8241A AUX 10 MHz reference input
PSG RF output to the PSA/ESA RF input

N6030A Channel 1+ output to the PSG I input
N6030A Channel 2+ output to the PSG Q input
N6030A Marker 4 output to the PSG Gate/Pulse/Trigger Input
N6030A Marker 3 output to the PSG ALC Hold Input (E8267D only)
PSA/ESA 10 MHz reference output to the N6030A 10 MHz reference input
PSG RF output to the PSA/ESA RF input

Be sure to enable the spectrum analyzer 10 MHz reference output.

N8241A Channel 1+ output to the N8212A Wideband I+ input
N8241A Channel 1– output to the N8212A Wideband I– input
N8241A Channel 2+ output to the N8212A Wideband Q+ input
N8241A Channel 2– output to the N8212A Wideband Q– input
N8241A Marker 4 output to the N8212A Gate/Pulse/Trigger input
N8241A Marker 3 output to the N8212A ALC Hold Input
PSA/ESA 10 MHz reference output to the N8212A 10 MHz input
N8212A 10 MHz reference output to the N8241A AUX 10 MHz reference input
N8212A RF output to the PSA/ESA RF input

Be sure to enable the spectrum analyzer 10 MHz reference output.

N8241A Channel 1+ output to the N8212A Wideband I+ input
N8241A Channel 1– output to the N8212A Wideband I– input
N8241A Channel 2+ output to the N8212A Wideband Q+ input
N8241A Channel 2– output to the N8212A Wideband Q– input
N8241A Marker 4 output to the N8212A Gate/Pulse/Trigger input
N8241A Marker 3 output to the N8212A ALC Hold Input
N8201A 10 MHz reference output to the N8212A 10 MHz input
N8212A 10 MHz reference output to the N8241A AUX 10 MHz reference input
N8212A RF output to the N8201A RF input

Signal Generator with external IQ and an external Arb (N824xA, M933xA, N603xA, M8190A)

Be sure to enable the spectrum analyzer 10 MHz reference output.

Connections:

N8241A Channel 1+ output to the PSG I input
N8241A Channel 2+ output to the PSG Q input
N8241A Marker 4 output to the PSG Gate/Pulse/Trigger input
N8241A Marker 3 output to the PSG ALC Hold Input (E8267D only)
PXA 10 MHz output to the PSG 10 MHz input
PSG 10 MHz output to the N8241A AUX 10 MHz reference input
PSG RF output to the PXA RF input

N6030A Channel 1+ output to the PSG I input
N6030A Channel 2+ output to the PSG Q input
N6030A Marker 4 output to the PSG Gate/Pulse/Trigger Input
N6030A Marker 3 output to the PSG ALC Hold Input (E8267D only)
PXA 10 MHz output to the PSG 10 MHz input
PSG 10 MHz output to the N6030A 10 MHz reference input
PSG RF output to the PXA RF input

Be sure to enable the spectrum analyzer 10 MHz reference output.

Connections:

N8241A Channel 1+ output to the MXG I input
N8241A Channel 2+ output to the MXG Q input
N8241A Marker 4 output to the MXG Pulse input
PXA 10 MHz output to the MXG 10 MHz reference input
MXG 10 MHz output to the N8241A AUX 10 MHz reference input
MXG RF output to the PXA RF input

N6030A Channel 1+ output to the MXG I input
N6030A Channel 2+ output to the MXG Q input
N6030A Marker 4 output to the MXG Pulse Input
PXA 10 MHz output to the MXG 10 MHz reference input
MXG 10 MHz output to the N6030A 10 MHz reference input
MXG RF output to the PXA RF input

Be sure to enable the spectrum analyzer 10 MHz reference output.

Connections:

N6030A Channel 1+ output to the PSG I input
N6030A Channel 2+ output to the PSG Q input
N6030A Marker 4 output to the PSG Gate/Pulse/Trigger Input
N6030A Marker 3 output to the PSG ALC Hold Input (E8267D only)
PSA/ESA 10 MHz reference output to the N6030A 10 MHz reference input
PSG RF output to the PSA/ESA RF input

Be sure to enable the spectrum analyzer 10 MHz reference output.

Connections:

N6030A Channel 1+ output to the ESG I input
N6030A Channel 2+ output to the ESG Q input
N6030A Marker 1 output to the ESG External 2 Input
PSA/ESA 10 MHz reference output to the N6030A 10 MHz reference input
ESG RF output to the PSA/ESA RF input

Arb only (N824xA, M933xA, N603xA, M8190A)

Be sure to enable the spectrum analyzer 10 MHz reference output.

With the N7621B Multitone Distortion software and a dual-channel M8190A, you can select Channel 1, Channel 2, or Both as the active channel.

When both channels are active, the signal is directed to both output channels. Using corrections in this mode is not advised because corrections may not behave as expected.

Connections:

M8190A Channel n+ Direct Out to the non-inverting port of the M8190A-801 phase matched balun
M8190A Channel n– Direct Out to the inverting port of the M8190A-801 phase matched balun
Output of the M8190A-801 balun (labeled "Input" on some balun models) to the PXA RF input
M8190A Sample Clock Out to the M8190A Sample Clock In
M8190A Channel 2 Sample Mrk Out to the PSG Gate/Pulse/Trigger input
M8190A Sync Mrk Out 2 to the PSG ALC Hold Input (E8267D only)
PXA 10 MHz reference output to the M8190A 10 MHz reference clock input

Be sure to enable the spectrum analyzer 10 MHz reference output.

Connections:

N6030A/N8241A Channel 1+ output to the to the PSA RF input

PSA 10 MHz reference output to the N6030A/N8212A 10 MHz input

The N8241 External 10 MHz Reference Input is not supported. Use the Auxiliary 10 MHz reference input as illustrated above.

Signal Generator with internal Arb (PSG/ESG/MXG/EXG)

Be sure to enable the spectrum analyzer 10 MHz reference output.

Connections:

MXA/PXA 10 MHz output to the MXG 10 MHz reference input
PSG RF output to the MXA/PXA RF input

The analyzer provides the 10 MHz reference in these configurations.

Vector Signal Generator	PSG Series
	E8267C
	E8267C Option 015
	E8267D
	E8267D Option 015
	E8267D Option H16
	X-Series
	N5182A MXG
	N5172B EXG
	N5182B MXG
	ESG Series
	E4438C
	LXI Series
	N8212A
	N8212A Option 016
Arbitrary Waveform Generator	PSG/ESG Internal AWG (Options 001, 002, 601, or 602)
	MXG Internal AWG (Options 651, 652, 654, 656, or 657)
	EXG Internal AWG (Options 653 or 655)
	M8190A Arbitrary Waveform Generator
	N603xA Arbitrary Waveform Generator
	N824xA Arbitrary Waveform Generator (Option SL1 is not supported by this application.)
	M933xA Arbitrary Waveform Generator
Signal/Spectrum Analyzer	XA-Series
	N9010A EXA Signal Analyzer
	N9020A MXA Signal Analyzer
	N9030A PXA Signal Analyzer
	N9010B EXA Signal Analyzer
	N9020B MXA Signal Analyzer
	N9030B PXA Signal Analyzer
	N9040B UXA Signal Analyzer
	SA-Series
	E440xA ESA Spectrum Analyzer
	E444xA PSA Spectrum Analyzer
Other	N8201A Option H02 Down Converter

Step 8 - Equipment Setup

Hardware Connections

Common 10 MHz Reference

Possible System Configurations

PSG Signal Generator with Wideband IQ option (015,016,H16,HBQ) and an external Arb (N824xA, M933xA, N603xA, M8190A)

Signal Generator with external IQ and an external Arb (N824xA, M933xA, N603xA, M8190A)

Arb only (N824xA, M933xA, N603xA, M8190A)

Signal Generator with internal Arb (PSG/ESG/MXG/EXG)