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Conversion of Spectrum Analyzer to Monitoring Receiver

Question asked by SOLT_guy on Oct 5, 2012
Latest reply on Oct 9, 2012 by sleithem

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Dear Sir:

      I would like to know if Agilent has published any application notes that will tell the reader how to convert a spectrum analyzer to perform monitoring receiver tasks.

      I have read that some spectrum analyzers are limited in their ability to monitor received signals because of "breaks" or "gaps" which occur in the data processing of a continuous RF signal - data stream.

      Can you tell me which Agilent spectrum analyzer models, if any, have overcome this hurdle?

      Thank you for your past replies.

Edited by: SOLT_guy on Oct 9, 2012 7:44 AM

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sleithem Oct 8, 2012 5:38 PM
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Hello,

Customers interested in the measuring receiver capability normally need to perform calibration measurements. The measuring receiver personality will therefore include measurements such as tuned RF-level and RF power. The current offering for a measuring receiver personality from Agilent is the N5531S, which includes the PSA high-performance spectrum analyzer with option 233 (measuring receiver personality), a P-Series power meter (N1911A or N1912A), and an N5532A sensor module. We have an application note that discusses the use of this product and how to make measuring receiver measurements. It can be accessed from this link:

http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5989-8161EN.pdf

These measurements do not require a continuous stream of data. Customers who want a measuring receiver are not interested in streaming- they need to be able to make multiple acquisitions and perform averaging to improve variances and uncertainties. They do not need to worry about "gaps" in the stream because of the averaging that is required. Refer to the application note for more details about the types of measurements.

Customers interested in continuous RF signal data streams are normally performing searches for intermittent pulses or bursts. They do not need a continuous data stream for calibration measurements.

Please let me know if you have any further questions or need additional clarification.
Best Regards,

Scott
Agilent Sales and Technical Support
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- SOLT_guy @ sleithem on Oct 9, 2012 6:44 AM
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  Dear Sir:
  
        Thank you for your reply.
  
         I am interested in having the ability to monitor continuous streams of data. In particular, I would like to be able to capture this data onto a PC for analysis.
  
         I believe in purchasing systems that I can build upon for various applications.    The best types of systems are ones that permit the user the abiltity to expand upon in the future.     Do all the SAs that Agilent sell, all require the user to purchase an option in order to obtain this ability?
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  - sleithem @ SOLT_guy on Oct 9, 2012 11:52 AM
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    Hi,
    
    We do offer the ability to stream data from the analyzer to your PC using the 89601B VSA software. You can obtain more information about the VSA software here:
    
    http://www.agilent.com/find/vsa
    http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5990-6405EN.pdf
    
    You can capture and store data streams and use the VSA software to monitor them using tools like the digital persistence view and triggering on short-lived events (with time delays, if desired). The technical overview (bottom link above) contains more details about these features.
    
    The VSA software is compatible with most spectrum analyzers offered by Agilent. Page 27 of the technical overview contains a table of the compatible analyzers. You will notice that the PSA is compatible, which would allow you to have both a measuring receiver and the ability to store data streams with a single instrument. The signal bandwidth that is captured is only limited by the bandwidth of the digitizer inside the instrument, and the amount of samples stored is limited by the instrument's internal memory.
    
    For example, let's consider the 40 MHz digitizer of the PSA spectrum analyzer. The data acquisition section of the (40 MHz digitizer section in the) specifications guide for the PSA (http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/E4440-90647.pdf) reports that up to 1.2E+08 samples can be stored for signals >20 MHz analysis bandwidth and up to 6E+07 samples can be stored for signals <20 MHz analysis bandwidth.
    
    On the other hand, the 40 MHz digitizer of the PXA (http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/N9030-90017.pdf) with the VSA software can store up to 5.36E+08 samples with 32-bit packing, which corresponds to a little bit over 10 seconds of continuous data for a full 40 MHz span. You can see a graph of the total uninterrupted time that can be acquired versus signal span on page 122 for the 40 MHz digitizer.
    
    Best Regards,
    Scott
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