Hi,
I need to measure a 100GHz signal. I do not have any instrument which can measure 100GHz directly. but I have a N9020A spectrum analyzer(26.5GHz). :)
Is there any method which I can use to measure 100GHz signal without buying a new instrument. Are there any instrument options in 9020A which I can buy from Agilent and use for my measurements.
Thank you
I need to measure a 100GHz signal. I do not have any instrument which can measure 100GHz directly. but I have a N9020A spectrum analyzer(26.5GHz). :)
Is there any method which I can use to measure 100GHz signal without buying a new instrument. Are there any instrument options in 9020A which I can buy from Agilent and use for my measurements.
Thank you
Unfortunately, the N9020A analyzer does not have an external mixing option. Both the N9030A and the N9010A with option 532 or 544 support external mixing with option EXM, but the N9020A does not support external mixing.
One option for you is to trade in your N9020A for an N9010A with option 532 or 544 and EXM, or for an N9030A with option EXM. This would change the performance of your analyzer, but you would receive some credit for trading in your N9020A. You could then purchase an external mixer in order to measure up to 100 GHz.
Another option would not require you to buy a new analyzer, but it would require an external mixer and a signal source to generate the LO. The main limitation is bandwidth of the signal. For example, let me suggest the 11970W as the external mixer (http://www.home.agilent.com/en/pd-1000001194%3Aepsg%3Apro-pn-11970W/waveguide-harmonic-mixer-75-to-110-ghz?cc=US&lc=eng). Here is a link to the user manual, which has specifications for the 11970W on page 21: http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/11970-90040.pdf
On page 15 of the user manual, the 3 dB bandwidth of the IF output from the mixer is reported as DC to 1.3 GHz. As long as your signal is within this 1.3 GHz bandwidth, you should not have any problems analyzing it with this external mixer and your N9020A. The center of the IF is therefore at 650 MHz.
Now let's look at page 21 again. The LO harmonic number used for this mixer is 18. For an input RF signal at 100 GHz and an IF of 650 MHz, you would need an LO at (100 GHz - 650 MHz) / 18 = ~5.519 GHz. The manual also states that the best accuracy will occur for an input LO power of 14.5 to 16.0 dBm. Therefore, you would need a signal source that can produce a CW tone at 5.52 GHz and power level of 14.5 to 16.0.
The connections for this setup would be as follows- your 100 GHz signal would go into the RF input of the mixer (a WR-10 waveguide flange). Your 5.52 GHz source tone would go into the LO input (SMA connector). The IF output would be centered at 650 MHz and would go from the mixer (SMA connector) to the RF input of your N9020A signal analyzer. You would then be able to make spectrum- and signal-based measurements with your analyzer. All swept measurements would be possible with this configuration (up to 1.3 GHz bandwidth as I mentioned).
Depending upon the measurements required, you may be limited by the analysis bandwidth in your N9020A. If you need I/Q data or wish to demodulate your signal, you will need to ensure that the analysis bandwidth in your N9020A is wide enough for the bandwidth of your signal. Currently, you can have up to 160 MHz of analysis bandwidth in the N9020A. If you need to upgrade your bandwidth in the N9020A, here is a useful link to the online bandwidth upgrade tool: http://www.agilent.com/find/BW-selector
No other options for your analyzer would be required with this configuration. Note that you will need to pay attention to the measurement accuracy of both the mixer and the signal analyzer for this measurement.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions about any of this.
Best Regards,
Scott