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N5182A MXG RF Output Blanking between triggers

Question asked by snarky on Apr 10, 2012
Latest reply on Apr 11, 2012 by snarky

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I need help trying to blank the RF output of the N5182A MXG between triggers. I am playing a waveform file in the arbitrary waveform generator. The Arb triggering is set for Single Restart on Trigger. Between triggers I would like no RF output, but I still have a carrier. How do I blank the RF output between triggers?

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tabbott Apr 10, 2012 11:28 AM
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Hi -

Look at using a marker on your waveform to blank the RF output.

See pages 168 and 169 in the MXG User’s Guide and also at page 162 Accessing Marker Utilities for the keystrokes to get to keys shown in step 2 on page 168.

http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/N5180-90003.pdf

Regards -
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- snarky @ tabbott on Apr 11, 2012 8:55 AM
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  I have been trying this for two days! I can't seem to get a marker to do what I want. I set a marker on using the range of points. Then, I set the RF blanking to be controlled by the marker. I am monitoring the marker with the Event 1 output. While the MXG shows the marker correctly on it's screen, it seems it is doing something entirely different. The marker does not stay on as long as the MXG indicates it is set for. I am baffled.
  
  Snarky
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  - tabbott @ snarky on Apr 11, 2012 12:12 PM
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    Hi Snarky -
    
    The Trigger starts the waveform playing; you do not want the RF blanked during the waveform.
    
    Don’t you want the RF blanked at the end of the waveform (when it has completed playing)? To blank between end of one waveform and playing of another set the marker on Last Mkr Point (if 200 points set to 200). See page 164 of User’s Guide.
    
    See page 175 of MXG User’s Guide for Trigger Types and explanations:
    Buffered Trigger: An early trigger will cause the waveform to play to the end and then start again. The RF will not be aligned with this early trigger.
    
    Restart on Trigger: The ARB will reset itself and trigger again but there will be some gap in the playback while this is occurring. It will reset itself for every trigger it receives. If your trigger is early the waveform will not have completed playing.
    
    I hope this helps you -
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snarky Apr 11, 2012 1:12 PM
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I have a 210.08Hz trigger pulse that is 952uS wide. My file that I am running has 89600 points. The Arb is set for a 100MHz sample rate. The file is 896uS long. I seem to be having a problem setting a marker to be On for that large of a range (first to last data points). When I attempt this, I observe the marker on the Event 1 output. The marker was high for all of the trigger period except for 24uS. I want the generator to output only while the Arb is running my file and then to be blank (no carrier) otherwise. I am using positive polarity for the marker.

I seem to have got this running for now. I had to set the marker on and then off over that range a couple times. The last time I entered the last data point I tried 89599. Then it seems like the marker as seen from the Event 1 output on the back was doing the right thing now. Strange thing is when I go back and check the last data point on the generator for that marker it shows 89600. I am positive I entered 89599. It's like I had to sneek up on the final data point in the file.

Snarky
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N5182A MXG RF Output Blanking between triggers

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