Path Configurator (M9834A and M9837A)

How to access Path Configurator

Using Hardkey/SoftTab/Softkey

Using Menus:

1. Press Setup > Internal Hardware > RF IF Path Config....

1. Click Instrument.

2. Select Setup.

3. Select Internal Hardware.

4. Select RF IF Path Config...

No.

Name

 Selection

 Element Name

:SENS:PATH:CONF:ELEM

 Setting

:SENS:PATH:CONF:ELEM

0

Src In Switch

Auto: Set the switch automatically according to the application.

Internal: Use internal source

External: Use Src X In port input

"Module<moduleNo>SourceIn"

ex: "Module1SourcIn"

"Auto", "Internal", "External"

1

Main Atten

Auto: Set the attenuator automatically according to the signal level.

0 dB to 60 dB, 2 dB step

Note: Use Mixer Atten (No. 12) to adjust the signal level though Up-converter path over 20 GHz.

"Module<moduleNo>SourceAttenuator"

ex: "Module1SourceAttenuator"

“Auto“, “0“, “2“, “4“, …, “60“

2

Source Filter

Auto: Set the filter automatically according to the signal frequency.

Filter 1 to Filter 10: See the table below.

Bypass: No filter

“Module<moduleNo>SourceFilter“

ex: "Module1SourceFilter"

“Auto“, “Filter1”, “Filter2”, … “Filter10”, “Bypass”

3

Transfer Switch

Auto:  Set the switch automatically according to the application and signal frequency.. The Port1 is selected over 20 GHz. See Source Path Block Diagram.

All Off: Source is off. Recommended to turn off the state in Power and Attenuator Dialog when you want to turn off the source power.

All On: Source output is both ports 1 and 2 paths

Port 1: Source output is port 1 path

Port 2: Source output is port 2 path.

“Module<moduleNo>TransferSwitch“

ex:  "Module1TransferSwitch"

Auto“, “Port<n>“, “Port<n+1>“, “AllOn“, “AllOff“

Assigned port number should be used in the multi-port configuration.

ex:  Port3, Port4

4

P1 Out Switch/ P2 Out Switch

Auto: Set the switch automatically according to the application and signal frequency.

External : Source output is Src 1 (P1 Out)  / 2 Out (P2 Out)

Internal: Source output is P1/P2 Atten path

“Port<portNo>SourceOut“

Assigned Port number should be used in the multi-port configuration.

ex: "Port1SourceOut"

“Auto“, “External“, “Internal"

5

P1 Out Atten / P2 Out Atten

Auto: Set the attenuator automatically according to the signal level.

0 dB to 30 dB, 2 dB step

“Port<portNo>SourceAttenuator“

Assigned port number should be used in the multi-port configuration.

ex: "Port1SourceAttenuator"

“Auto“, “0“, “2“, “4“, “6“, … , “30“

6

P1 Bypass / P2 Bypass

Auto: Set the switch automatically according to the application and signal frequency.

Bypass 20 GHz: Bypass path (=< 20 GHz). Bypass path is available for test receivers (bx) only

Bypass 44 GHz: Bypass path (>20 GHz). Bypass path is available for test receivers (bx) only.

Bypass Auto: When the receiver frequency is greater than 20GHz, Bypass 44 GHz is selected.

External Amp: Source from frequency converter through the amplifier

External Thru: Source from frequency converter

Internal: Internal Source

“Port<portNo>SourceBypass“

Assigned port number should be used in the multi-port configuration.

ex: "Port3SourceBypass"

"Auto“, “Internal“, “ExternalThru“, “ExternalAmp“, “Bypass20GHz“, “Bypass44GHz“, “BypassAuto“

7

Src Jumper (Src1 Out to RF In)

Open: Select this if the jumper cable on the front panel is disconnected. The source level is defined at the port of Src1 Out. Need to set the P1 Out Switch at External.

Close: Select this if the jumper cable on the front panel is connected.

“Module<moduleNo>SourceJumper“

ex: "Module1SourceJumper"

“Open“, “Closed“

8

BB Atten

Auto: Set the attenuator automatically according to the signal level.

0 dB to 31.5 dB, 0.5 dB step

(M9837A-205) BB In is not available. This selection is not displayed.

“Module<moduleNo>BaseBandAttenuator“

ex: Module3BaseBandAttenuator

“Auto“, “0“, “0.5“, “1“, “1.5“, …., “31“, “31.5“

9

RF Mixer

Auto: Set the mixer path automatically according to the application.

Baseband: BB In Path

Mixer: Mixing BB In and RF signal from Src1 Out.

RF: Src1 Out path

(M9837A-205) BB In is displayed in the dialog box but it is not available. RF only

“Module<moduleNo>SourceMode“

ex: Module1SourceMode

“Auto“, “Baseband“, “Mixer“, “RF"

10

Mixer Filter

Auto: Set the filter automatically according to the signal frequency.

Filter 1 to Filter 19 : See the table below.

Bypass: No filter

When RF Mixer is set at Baseband, AUTO is displayed and the filter behaves as Bypass because of hardware restriction.

“Module<moduleNo>MixerFilter“

ex: "Module1MixerFilter"

“Auto“, “Filter1“,… “Filter19“, “Bypass“

11

Mixer Atten

Auto: Set the attenuator automatically according to the signal level.

0 dB to 90 dB, 5 dB step

If RF Mixer is set to Baseband or Mixer, the attenuator can be set up to 75.

“Module<moduleNo>MixerAttenuator“

ex: Module1MixerAttenuator

“Auto“, “0“, “5“, “10“, …, “90“

If ModuleSourceMode is set to Baseband or Mixer, if the value is larger than 75, the actual attenuator setting is 75.

12

Mixer Switch

Auto: Set the switch automatically according to the application.

All Off: Source is off

All On: Source output is both ports 1 and 2 paths

Port 1: Source output is port 1 path

Port 2: Source output is port 2 path.

“Module<moduleNo>MixerTransferSwitch“

ex: Module3MixerTransferSwitch

Auto“, “Port<n>“, “Port<n+1>“, “AllOn“, “AllOff“

Assigned port number should be used in the multi-port configuration.

ex:  Port3, Port4

13

 Mixer P1 Jumper (RF1 Out to Src1 In)

 Mixer P2 Jumper (RF2 Out to Src2 In)

Open: Select this if the jumper cable on the front panel are disconnected. The source level is defined at the port of  RF1 Out and RF2 Out.

Close: Select this if the jumper cable on the front panel are connected.

"Port<portNo>SourceMixerJumper“

Assigned port number should be used in the multi-port configuration.

ex: "Port2SourceMixerJumper"

“Open“, “Closed“

Power reference plain is changed as below.  Open: RF1/2 Out, Close: Test Port 1/2

Source Filter “Module<moduleNo>SourceFilter“

Note: If you observe the filter shape directly at the receiver, the shape of measurement result looks like a Low pass filter. However, it is optimized to produce the characteristic in the range of table above.

Mixer Filter “Module<moduleNo>MixerFilter“

No.

Name

 Selection

 Element Name

:SENS:PATH:CONF:ELEM

 Setting

:SENS:PATH:CONF:ELEM

0

LO In Switch

This is global setting for all receivers. If "External" is set for either module and Sweep Mode is set at "Auto", internal sweep mode is fixed to the Stepped Sweep.

Auto: The optimal setting is selected internally according to the module configuration.

External:Use the external LO signal from LO In on the front panel.

Internal:Internal LO is used.

“Module<moduleNo>LOSource“

ex: “Module2LOSource“

“Auto“, “Internal“, “External“

1

RF In Switch

Auto: Set the switch automatically according to the application.

Internal: Coupler path

External: R1 In (a[n]), R2 In (a[n+1]), A In (b[n]),  B In (b[n+1]))

Bypass 20 GHz:  Bypass path (=< 20 GHz). Bypass path is available for test receivers (bx) only.

Bypass 44 GHz: Bypass path (>20 GHz). Bypass path is available for test receivers (bx) only.

Bypass Auto:The receiver frequency is equal to or less than 20 GHz- Bypass 20 GHz, The receiver frequency is grater than 20 GHz- Bypass 44 GHz

“ReceiverBypass<recieverNotation>

ex) ReceiverBypassa1, ReceiverBypassb3

“Auto“, “Internal“, “External“

Test receivers (bx) only: "Bypass20GHz", "Bypass44GHz", "BypassAuto"

2

 RF Atten

Coupled: Gain Coupling in Receiver Gain is checked. (Same as IF Gain)

0 dB to 30 dB, 2 dB step (When Gain Coupling is disabled)

Note: Receiver Gain in pull down menu shows Receiver Gain dialog box.

RFAtten value is controlled by the following SCPI commands:
SOURce:POWer:ATTenuation:RECeiver:TEST
SOURce:POWer:ATTenuation:RECeiver:REFerence

SENSe:SOURce:RECeiver:GAIN:COUPling:ALL[:VALue] changes the ‘Gain Coupling’ setting.

3

RF Filter

RF Filter selection is available only for test receivers (bx)

Auto: Bypass is selected

Filter 1 to Filter 13 : See the table below.

Bypass: No filter

Filtered : Select the filter automatically according to the measurement frequency.

“Port<portNo>ReceiverFilter“

Assigned port number should be used in the multi-port configuration.

ex: "Port1ReceiverFilter"

“Auto“, “Filter1“, “Filter2“, … , “filter13“, “Bypass“, “Filtered“

4

Receiver Mixer

Receiver Mixer selection is available only for test receivers (bx)

Auto: Set the mixer path automatically according to the application.

Mixer: Mixer

PassThru: Mixer is not used.

"Port<portNo>Mixer“

Assigned port number should be used in the multi-port configuration.

ex: Port3Mixer

“Auto“, “PassThru“, “Mixer“

5

IF Out Switch

Auto: Set the switch automatically according to the application.

Internal:  Internal IF is used.

External: Output the signal to R1 Out (a[n]), R2 Out (a[n+1]), A Out (b[n]), B Out (b[n+1]) on the front panel.

“IFSwitch <recieverNotation>

ex) IFSwitcha1,IFSwitchb3

“Auto“, “Internal“, “External“

6

IF Gain

Coupled: Gain Coupling in Receiver Gain is checked. (Same as RF Atten)

Auto: Set the gain automatically according to the signal level. (When Gain Coupling is disabled)

6 dB to 26 dB, 2 dB step (When Gain Coupling is disabled)

Note: Receiver Gain in pull down menu shows Receiver Gain dialog box.

“IFGain<recieverNotation>

ex) IFGaina1,IFGainb3

“Auto“, “6“, “8“, “10“, “12“, …, “26“

Note: SENSe:SOURce:RECeiver:GAIN:COUPling:ALL[:VALue] changes the ‘Gain Coupling’ setting.

Filter No.

Lower

Upper

Filter 1

470 MHz

Filter 2

470 MHz

760 MHz

Filter 3

760 MHz

1.2495 GHz

Filter 4

1.2495 GHz

1.98 GHz

Filter 5

1.98 GHz

2.8 GHz

Filter 6

2.8 GHz

4.1 GHz

Filter 7

4.1 GHz

6.13 GHz

Filter 8

6.13 GHz

9 GHz

Filter 9

9 GHz

12.2 GHz

Filter 10

12.2 GHz

18 GHz

Filter 11

18 GHz

22.6 GHz

Filter 12

22.6 GHz

30 GHz

Filter 13

30 GHz

44 GHz