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Automation using VSA Software on 89611 VSA with E4443A PSA

Question asked by sushio on Jun 14, 2007
Latest reply on Jun 15, 2007 by Dr_joel

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Hi all,

What we have now is the 89611 VSA+E443A PSA with software ver 7.1.
I have been able to use the examples in help file in Macro function to
make the VSA sweep and save data automatically.

"
Sub Main
     Dim filename,index
     index = 1
     filename = â€œC:\Temp\testâ€ + Cstr(index) + â€œ.matâ€

Do
     Measurement.Start
     Measurement.WaitForMeasDone
     Display.Traces.ActiveTrace.SaveFile filename, â€œmatâ€, True
     Filename = â€œC:\Temp\testâ€ + Cstr(index) + â€œ.matâ€
     Index = index + 1
Loop Until index > 101
End Sub
"

This will do the sweep and save the trace of data into a matlab file format.

However, my question is can I select a certain points from the trace
and then only save those points into the file to save a huge storage
space?

I have done it with other spectrum analyzer using GPIB. Basically,
after each sweep, search for the maximum using marker, and then
store the value at the marker. However, I haven't seen any related
example in VSA doing that. Does anyone know if this is possible in
VSA or not?

Any suggestions will be much appreciated! Thank you all.

No one else has this question

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Steve_Ashby Jun 14, 2007 3:29 PM

Adding a line like

Display.Traces.Item(2).Marker.MoveTo(vsaMkrMovePeak);

Should move the marker to the peak of trace 2, and then

MarkerYValue = Display.Traces.Item(2).Marker.Y;

Should read back the amplitude. There are a lot of marker things you can do - look at the 89600 COM API help file marker section for more.

Hope that helps,

Steve

Actions

sushio Jun 14, 2007 4:55 PM

"
Adding a line like

Display.Traces.Item(2).Marker.MoveTo(vsaMkrMovePeak);

Should move the marker to the peak of trace 2, and then

MarkerYValue = Display.Traces.Item(2).Marker.Y;

Should read back the amplitude. There are a lot of marker things you can do - look at the 89600 COM API help file marker section for more.

Hope that helps,

Steve
"

Thank you very much, Steve. Very useful information!

Another related question, is it possible to measure the amplitude
of certain points without actually sweeping through the entire
spam? The purpose here is to measure the amplitudes at certain
frequencies with minimum measuring time being used.

One way is to sweep through the entire frequency range of interest
, and then store the whole trace or select certain points using
marker function as you described above. However, the sweeping
over the whole spam could be fairly time consuming.

The other way, which I guess, is to sweep a relatively smaller spam
at one specified center frequency and then proceed to the next
frequency of interest and so on. Although I kind of expect that the
data transferring time would be the same disregard of the size of the
spam, is this correct?

It seems to me the first method is the only way to do this. It will save
data space, but in terms of saving measuring time, there is not much
I can do. Any suggestions or opinions?

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Dr_joel

Jun 15, 2007 2:51 PM

If your stimulus is CW, you can use a network analyzer (!) with segemented list to measure the power at just the frequencies you want. With this type of measurements, things like IMD measurements are between 100 and 1000 times faster than with a spectrum analyzer.

So, what are you trying to measure that requires only a few frequencies?

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3 Replies

Steve_Ashby Jun 14, 2007 3:29 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Adding a line like

Display.Traces.Item(2).Marker.MoveTo(vsaMkrMovePeak);

Should move the marker to the peak of trace 2, and then

MarkerYValue = Display.Traces.Item(2).Marker.Y;

Should read back the amplitude. There are a lot of marker things you can do - look at the 89600 COM API help file marker section for more.

Hope that helps,

Steve
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sushio Jun 14, 2007 4:55 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
"
Adding a line like

Display.Traces.Item(2).Marker.MoveTo(vsaMkrMovePeak);

Should move the marker to the peak of trace 2, and then

MarkerYValue = Display.Traces.Item(2).Marker.Y;

Should read back the amplitude. There are a lot of marker things you can do - look at the 89600 COM API help file marker section for more.

Hope that helps,

Steve
"

Thank you very much, Steve. Very useful information!

Another related question, is it possible to measure the amplitude
of certain points without actually sweeping through the entire
spam? The purpose here is to measure the amplitudes at certain
frequencies with minimum measuring time being used.

One way is to sweep through the entire frequency range of interest
, and then store the whole trace or select certain points using
marker function as you described above. However, the sweeping
over the whole spam could be fairly time consuming.

The other way, which I guess, is to sweep a relatively smaller spam
at one specified center frequency and then proceed to the next
frequency of interest and so on. Although I kind of expect that the
data transferring time would be the same disregard of the size of the
spam, is this correct?

It seems to me the first method is the only way to do this. It will save
data space, but in terms of saving measuring time, there is not much
I can do. Any suggestions or opinions?
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Dr_joel Jun 15, 2007 2:51 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
If your stimulus is CW, you can use a network analyzer (!) with segemented list to measure the power at just the frequencies you want. With this type of measurements, things like IMD measurements are between 100 and 1000 times faster than with a spectrum analyzer.

So, what are you trying to measure that requires only a few frequencies?
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions

Automation using VSA Software on 89611 VSA with E4443A PSA

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