Agilent ESA-E Series Spectrum Analyzer Performance Guide Using the 89601A Vector Signal Analysis Software
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Agilent ESA-E Series Spectrum Analyzer Performance Guide Using the 89601A Vector Signal Analysis Software Application Note Table of Contents 89601A vector signal analysis software Introduction . .2 The 89601A vector signal analysis Simplify the characterization of your Product Overview . .2 software provides flexible tools for signal with the zero-span spectrum ESA-E/89601A Features . .3 making RF and modulation quality analysis tools in the 89601A analysis Performance Summary . .4 measurements on digital communica- software. Match your measurement Time and Waveform . .5 tions signals. span to your signal bandwidth, thus Measurement, Display, and Control . .7 maximizing analysis signal–to-noise Software Interface . .9 Analyze a wide variety of standard ratio (SNR), with the wide selection Vector Modulation Analysis and non-standard signal formats with of spans available in the 89601A (Option 89601A-AYA) . .10 the 89601A software. Twenty-three software. FFT-based resolution 3G Modulation Analysis standard signal presets cover GSM, bandwidths down to less than 1 Hz (Option 89601A-B7N) . .14 GSM (EDGE), cdmaOne, cdma2000, provide all the resolution needed for Dynamic Links to EEsof ADS W-CDMA, and more. For emerging frequency domain investigations. A (Option 89601A-105) . .20 standards, the 89601A software power spectral density (PSD) func- Appendix A: series offers 24 digital demodulators tion is useful for estimating the level Required hardware and software . .22 with variable center frequency, of the noise floor when calculating Appendix B: symbol rate, filter type, and filter SNR. And, a spectrogram display is PC to ESA-E spectrum analyzer alpha/BT. A user-adjustable adaptive provided for monitoring the wide- interface configuration . .23 equalizer is also provided. band behavior of hopping signals over time. Quickly evaluate and troubleshoot Introduction digitally modulated signals with the ESA-E/89601A combination modulation analysis tools in the In the ESA-E/89601A combination, This guide characterizes the perform- 89601A software. Examine symbol use the ESA-E Series to perform ance of the ESA-E Series spectrum behavior with trellis/eye diagrams. general-purpose RF spectrum meas- analyzers and the 89601A vector signal Use the constellation and vector urements, one-button RF power analysis (VSA) software combination. diagrams for an overall indication of measurements, and more. Use the This combination adds the flexible signal behavior and to obtain clues to 89601A to measure the modulation digital demodulation and analysis the cause of a problem. Take advan- quality of your digitally modulated capabilities of the 89601A software to tage of the EVM, EVM spectrum, and communication signal. Or, use it to the frequency coverage and general- EVM time capabilities for a more sen- extend testing and evaluation of purpose spectrum analysis capabilities sitive examination of signal errors. GSM, cdma2000 (including code of the ESA spectrum analyzers. domain power or CDP measure- Perform time domain analysis using ments), and Bluetooth™ signals the 89601A software RF scope capa- measured by the one-button measure- Product Overview bility. Evaluate pulse shape with the ment personalities in the ESA. main time display, select specific ESA-E Series spectrum analyzers portions of a burst for analysis with This combination can measure active The ESA-E Series general purpose, the time gating feature, and use signals or signals captured in the portable spectrum analyzers offer a statistical tools like CCDF and ESA-E Series’ memory. The ESA wide range of performance, features, CDF to characterize the noise-like alone, or the ESA-E/89601A combina- and flexibility. The 1 ms RF sweep time, behavior of your modern communica- tion can examine the active signals. and up to 40 measurements per second tions signal. Switching between the two products give you virtual real-time measurement is facilitated by an easy disconnect/ response. A continuously phase-locked restart menu selection in the 89601A synthesizer operating over the entire user interface. sweep provides improved frequency accuracy, stability, and repeatability. The 89601A software runs on a PC Up to 108 dB typical third-order dynam- connected to the ESA-E via GPIB ic range (+12.5 dBm TOI) and the 5 dB and provides hardware control, step attenuator let you see low-level modulation analysis, evaluation, and distortion. Analysis is enhanced by troubleshooting along with complete –166 dBm sensitivity (typical, with 1 Hz results displays. The controls and dis- RBW and optional built-in pre-amp) play of the ESA-E are disabled while and fast measurement speed. operating with the 89601A software. 2 ESA-E/89601A Features The ESA-E/89601A combination 89601A feature availability Alias protection vs. time capture requires a PC for the software’s When the 89601A software is used length: The 89601A software lets operation. Detailed configuration with the ESA-E spectrum analyzers, you choose signal sampling modes to requirements for the ESA, the soft- almost all of the features of the trade-off alias protection for more ware, and the PC are provided in 89601A and its options (see signal capture time. Setting the alias Appendix A. Appendix B contains Appendix A for details) are available. protect parameter to true provides information on GPIB interface maximum alias protection but hardware and the cables needed to These include: restricts the signal capture time to connect the PC to the ESA. 8.28 ms maximum. Signal capture •recording of time waveforms, time can be extended to 10 seconds ESA-E feature availability allowing you to re-analyze signals (for span < 10 kHz, see performance When the ESA-E is controlled by and store them for future compar- features section for details) by setting 89601A software, users have control isons the alias protect parameter to false. of the following features via the •24 flexible digital demodulators This mode offers minimum alias 89601A software: settable in center frequency, symbol protection near the center frequency rate, filter type, and filter α/BT of the analysis span. However, alias Frequency: The center frequency of •a complete set of vector signal products can be reduced by band the ESA-E is controlled and the analysis and modulation analysis limiting the input signal to the analy- 89601A software displays its displays including: constellation, sis span. To change the alias protect current setting. eye diagram, EVM spectrum, EVM parameter go to the utilities menu Span: Only zero-span is available. time, error screens, multiple trace and click: Hardware>[ADC 1]>ESA> Maximum setting is 10 MHz. Zero- displays, and a spectrogram display Configure>Alias Protect. This parameter span control and the display of its •flexible marker capabilities includ- defaults to false (minimum alias current setting are provided by the ing time gating, integrated band protection/maximum signal capture 89601A software. power, and offset (delta) markers time). Input attenuation: Available through •a link to Agilent signal sources for input range feature of 89601A download and playback of signals in Selectable inputs for external software. the signal capture memory frequency reference: The software Triggering: IF magnitude, external •complete save and recall of your lets you choose between external TTL, level, delay, and slope. signals, trace data, and measure- frequency reference inputs. Use the External reference: 10 MHz or 1 to ment screens 10 MHz reference for best phase error 30 MHz. •easy cut and paste to other PC and EVM results. Using the variable Calibration applications external frequency input will degrade Overload detection phase error and EVM performance The 89601A software’s swept for lower symbol rate signals like All other functions, including display, spectrum analysis capability is not NADC, PDC, and TETRA, but will markers, and all one-button tests are supported. allow you to use reference frequencies normally disabled. You can suspend from 1 MHz to 30 MHz. the 89601A software operation and Additional feature availability gain immediate front panel access to When the 89601A software is Spurious performance all ESA-E features, including display, controlling the ESA-E, three additional When the 89601A software and the markers, and all one-button tests, features are provided: ESA-E spectrum analyzers are used using the disconnect capability pro- together, measurements may be vided in the 89601A control menu. Disconnect/restart: This control affected by spurious responses allows the user to suspend the caused by out-of-span signals. Of 89601A software control of the particular importance are signals ESA-E without exiting the 89601A within ±16 MHz of the analyzer’s software. The user can then operate center frequency that may affect the ESA-E from its front panel. multi-carrier modulation analysis Immediate restart of 89601A control measurements. To avoid these spuri- of the ESA-E with automatic reset to ous responses the input signal should the last measurement state is also be band limited to the analysis span. provided. 3 Performance Summary1,2 Frequency range3 Overall range depends on ESA-E model The following is a summary of the Center-frequency 1 Hz features and capabilities provided by tuning resolution the ESA-E Series spectrum analyzers in combination with the 89601A Frequency span range Alias protection enabled < 50 kHz to 10 MHz software. These are nominal values Alias protection disabled (default) < 50 Hz to 10 MHz and are not warranted. Frequency points