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33500B Waveform Generator Synchronize the Outputs of a Two Channel

Question asked by lhornburg

on Oct 24, 2012
Latest reply on May 26, 2013 by jpb

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33500B Waveform Generator Synchronize the Outputs of a Two Channel Waveform Generator

33500B Waveform Generator offers multiple ways to synchronize the outputs of a two channel waveform generator. The first method to synchronize the outputs is to setup the channels to have the same frequency (or a multiple) and then phase lock the channels. A phase offset can also be configured. The second method is to use channel coupling or tracking. A third method is to use the optional IQ player. The optional IQ player can be used to play back any two channel waveform. The waveform generator outputs the wave forms as data pairs. The dual wavforms are stored with their amplitude, frequency and any filter settings. Making it easy to recall or share the waveforms.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc0CrkR99b4

For more information:
http://www.agilent.com/find/Trueform
http://www.agilent.com/find/33500b
http://www.agilent.com/find/33509b
http://www.agilent.com/find/33519b
http://www.agilent.com/find/33521b
http://www.agilent.com/find/33522b

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rick Nov 15, 2012 10:39 AM

Hello,

I have an 33522a and can not find the sync internal in the parameters menus as described in the video - do I need a FW upgrade or is this only in the B model?

Thanks!

Edited by: rick on Nov 15, 2012 11:38 AM

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lhornburg

@ rick on Dec 14, 2012 1:37 PM

Hi Rick,

This menu is available in all firmware revs and models of the 33500 series. Are you using a standard waveform, or are you using the arbitrary function?

For a standard waveform press the parameters key, then the blue soft key under phase, and this should take you to the menu which has the Sync Internal function.

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bhomeijer @ lhornburg on Apr 5, 2013 7:46 AM

Hi I was wondering if I could get help with my issue. I have two 33522B function generators and want to generate 4 sine waves that are all phase locked to each other. I saw a thread out there that has you manually set or use burst. Is that the best way, it seems like a kludge.

Thanks!
Brian

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lhornburg

@ bhomeijer on Apr 15, 2013 12:52 PM

It is simple to syncrhonize the two channels in a single box, unfortunately synchronizing with another box takes more work. There are two main methods to syncrhonize multiple boxes together.

Here is an article that covers those methods.

http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5990-3467EN.pdf

One uses burst with an external trigger, the other requires manual phase adjustments using an Oscilloscope.

It would be worthwhile to mention that the manual/scope method is more accurate at high frequencies, due to the slight differences in trig delays in the hardware of the two instruments that the burst method will be affected by.

Here is an old FAQ for the 33220A as well, please note blank key just references soft keys on the 33220A that had no function in the menu being displayed.

http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/editorial.jspx?cc=US&lc=eng&ckey=1625192&nid=-536902257.536883183&id=1625192

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jpb May 18, 2013 2:26 PM

If you do *not* have the IQ player option, is it still possible to play arbitrary waveforms on both channels or are you restricted to playing them on only channel 1?

What dual channel features are available without the IQ player option and which are?

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lhornburg

@ jpb on May 23, 2013 3:07 PM

You can still play arbitrary waveforms on both channels. Think of both channels as two separate function generators with full functionality.

The main thing the IQ player does is allows you create 1 file which contains data for both channels, ensuring they stay in sync at all times.

Without the IQ option, you can create arb waveforms on both channels, but they are completely independent. There are various ways to synchronize them, like FUNC:SYNC:ARB but this simply starts them at the same moment in time. As soon as you change a parameter, they will no longer stay in sync with one another.

Does that answer most of your question or did I make it worse?

Edited by: lhornburg on May 23, 2013 4:07 PM

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jpb @ lhornburg on May 26, 2013 7:00 AM

Thank you for the clarification on the IQ player.

Is the IQ option a hardware or software option?

Is it available for the 33522A as a post purchase upgrade?

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7 Replies

rick Nov 15, 2012 10:39 AM
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Correct Answer
Hello,

I have an 33522a and can not find the sync internal in the parameters menus as described in the video - do I need a FW upgrade or is this only in the B model?

Thanks!

Edited by: rick on Nov 15, 2012 11:38 AM
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- lhornburg @ rick on Dec 14, 2012 1:37 PM
  Mark Correct
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  Hi Rick,
  
  This menu is available in all firmware revs and models of the 33500 series. Are you using a standard waveform, or are you using the arbitrary function?
  
  For a standard waveform press the parameters key, then the blue soft key under phase, and this should take you to the menu which has the Sync Internal function.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
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  - bhomeijer @ lhornburg on Apr 5, 2013 7:46 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Hi I was wondering if I could get help with my issue. I have two 33522B function generators and want to generate 4 sine waves that are all phase locked to each other. I saw a thread out there that has you manually set or use burst. Is that the best way, it seems like a kludge.
    
    Thanks!
    Brian
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    - lhornburg @ bhomeijer on Apr 15, 2013 12:52 PM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      It is simple to syncrhonize the two channels in a single box, unfortunately synchronizing with another box takes more work. There are two main methods to syncrhonize multiple boxes together.
      
      Here is an article that covers those methods.
      
      http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5990-3467EN.pdf
      
      One uses burst with an external trigger, the other requires manual phase adjustments using an Oscilloscope.
      
      It would be worthwhile to mention that the manual/scope method is more accurate at high frequencies, due to the slight differences in trig delays in the hardware of the two instruments that the burst method will be affected by.
      
      Here is an old FAQ for the 33220A as well, please note blank key just references soft keys on the 33220A that had no function in the menu being displayed.
      
      http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/editorial.jspx?cc=US&lc=eng&ckey=1625192&nid=-536902257.536883183&id=1625192
      Like • Show 0 Likes0
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jpb May 18, 2013 2:26 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
If you do *not* have the IQ player option, is it still possible to play arbitrary waveforms on both channels or are you restricted to playing them on only channel 1?

What dual channel features are available without the IQ player option and which are?
Like • Show 0 Likes0
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- lhornburg @ jpb on May 23, 2013 3:07 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  You can still play arbitrary waveforms on both channels. Think of both channels as two separate function generators with full functionality.
  
  The main thing the IQ player does is allows you create 1 file which contains data for both channels, ensuring they stay in sync at all times.
  
  Without the IQ option, you can create arb waveforms on both channels, but they are completely independent. There are various ways to synchronize them, like FUNC:SYNC:ARB but this simply starts them at the same moment in time. As soon as you change a parameter, they will no longer stay in sync with one another.
  
  Does that answer most of your question or did I make it worse?
  
  Edited by: lhornburg on May 23, 2013 4:07 PM
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  - jpb @ lhornburg on May 26, 2013 7:00 AM
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    Thank you for the clarification on the IQ player.
    
    Is the IQ option a hardware or software option?
    
    Is it available for the 33522A as a post purchase upgrade?
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
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33500B Waveform Generator Synchronize the Outputs of a Two Channel

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