I would like to be able to create a stepped amplitude waveform over a wide power range (nearly 100 dB).
In the specifications for the N5183A MXG, and I see there is an Amplitude Switching Speed specification of 2 mS (typ in List/Step sweep mode), and an absolute accuracy specification. There are three footnotes however that state:
1. Time from receipt of SCPI command or trigger signal to amplitude settled within 0.2 dB.
2. Specification does not apply when switching from and to amplitudes where ALC levels are < –5 dBm for Option 540 or < 0 dBm for Option 520.
3. Level accuracy applies from –20 dBm to maximum output power between 15 °C and 35 °C.
I am fine with the 0.2dB (note 1), but...
Note 2 implies that the switching spec (2 mS) only applies for output levels > ~ 0 dBm. I need to know what happens below this level...
Note 3 implies that the level accuracy does not apply below -20 dBm. I need to know what happens below this level.
There is a large part of the usable output level range that seems to be unspecified. I need to operate in this unspecified region from around +15 dBm down to -80 dBm. How can I tell whether this instrument is capable of performing my task if it is completely unspecified there?
In the specifications for the N5183A MXG, and I see there is an Amplitude Switching Speed specification of 2 mS (typ in List/Step sweep mode), and an absolute accuracy specification. There are three footnotes however that state:
1. Time from receipt of SCPI command or trigger signal to amplitude settled within 0.2 dB.
2. Specification does not apply when switching from and to amplitudes where ALC levels are < –5 dBm for Option 540 or < 0 dBm for Option 520.
3. Level accuracy applies from –20 dBm to maximum output power between 15 °C and 35 °C.
I am fine with the 0.2dB (note 1), but...
Note 2 implies that the switching spec (2 mS) only applies for output levels > ~ 0 dBm. I need to know what happens below this level...
Note 3 implies that the level accuracy does not apply below -20 dBm. I need to know what happens below this level.
There is a large part of the usable output level range that seems to be unspecified. I need to operate in this unspecified region from around +15 dBm down to -80 dBm. How can I tell whether this instrument is capable of performing my task if it is completely unspecified there?
An Agilent Support Engineer had this to say...
Note 2 is saying that the ALC setting can’t be < 0 dBm for option 520.
The output power is set by the difference between the ALC setting and the attenuator value. The N5183A ALC range is from -32 dBm to +30 dBm and the attenuator values are from 0 dB to 115 dB. For example, if you wanted the output power to be -80 dBm then you can set the ALC to +10 dBm and the attenuator to 90 dB. Of course, there are other combinations of ALC and attenuator to also achieve -80 dBm. To set the attenuator you would need to use the Attenuator Hold function. When you change the power level with the attenuator, it increases the switching time and the typical value of 2 ms doesn’t apply.
Note 3 applies to instruments without an attenuator. For the customer’s application they would need to have option 1E1, add attenuator, if they want the output power to be -80 dBm. In the data sheet there are two Absolute Level Accuracy tables of specifications. The customer would be using the Absolute Level Accuracy with Option 1E1 which has specifications down to -90 dBm.
Regards –
Edited by: tabbott on Apr 10, 2013 9:40 AM
Edited by: tabbott on Apr 10, 2013 10:23 AM
Edited by: tabbott on Apr 10, 2013 10:26 AM