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REMARKS
LAB REPORT NO. 5 BY
INSTRUCTOR

LAB TITLE Using the Vector Signal Analyzer and Time

Domain Measurements

NAME OF THE Prerak Patel

STUDENT

STDUENT ID CO721524

DATE OF 01-23-2018
SUBMISSION

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LAB 1: Using the Vector Signal Analyzer and Time Domain
Measurements

Objective: To learn using the VSA and its main properties; and utilizing the
VSA for time domain measurements and analyses.

Section A: Using the Vector Signal Analyzer

a. To load the 89600 Vector Signal Analyzer application: Click Start > (All)
Programs > Agilent 89600B VSA > Vector Signal Analyzer Or Double-click the
VSA icon on the desktop.

The application checks for installed hardware to establish system configuration and
presets. If no hardware is detected a warning message is shown and the analyzer will
initialize using the simulated hardware configuration and associated presets.

The following figure shows the initial display with simulated signals and default
configuration. If your analyzer includes measurement hardware, the trace displayed
will be different.

When you are using a demo license, the trace grid displays Demo License,
Limited Functionality as shown below:

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The VSA application is now ready for use.

b. Main Measurement Process

Analyzing signals with the 89600B generally starts with this sequence:
1. Preset the analyzer.
2. Choose an Input to the analyzer: RF, baseband, or file.
3. Range the analyzer for the expected signal power.
4. Set Frequency and Span to include the signal(s) of interest.
5. Configure the Display for the number and orientation of measurement traces.
6. Choose the desired TraceData.
7. Choose a Trace Format.
8. Scale or Autoscale the trace.
9. Apply Marker features to yield measurement results.

Step 1. Preset the analyzer

Click File> Preset to recall a "safe" initial instrument setup

The selection Preset Setup will initialize the vector signal analyzer and many of its
parameters, but will not reset the demodulator setup, data registers, math functions or
other instrument states that have been saved. Preset Menu/Toolbars will set any
menu/toolbar customization back to the factory-shipped state. Custom setups can be
saved under File, Save.

Preset Display Appearance will set any display customization, colors, fonts, etc., back to
the factory shipped state. Custom display setups can be saved under File, Save.

Preset All is a complete system preset to the factory-shipped state.

The file menu also allows you to:

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 Save/recall instrument setups. Save/recall custom menus and toolbars.
 Save/recall display setups (appearance). Save/recall I/Q demodulation state
definitions
 Copy trace data to a data register
 Save/recall recorded signals.
 Print the active trace.
 Close (exit) the VSA window

Step 2. Choose an Input to the analyzer: RF, baseband, or file

The Input menu configures the analyzer to accept data from the VXI hardware or from a
data file referred to as a "recording".

The Input menu is also accessed to setup:

 The input channel (when the optional second channel is available).
 Set up and control signal recording and playback.

Step 3. Range the analyzer for the expected signal power

Set the range for the maximum total signal power at the input of the analyzer and the
system will conveniently configure all attenuators and gain stages to maximize dynamic
range and minimize analyzer distortion. Range can also be set directly on the
measurement grid. Just click the Range field and step the value or type a value in
directly.

Failure to set the range above the power of the signal will result in an "overload"
condition and significant measurement distortion.

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Step 4. Set Frequency and Span to include the signal(s) of interest.
Moving now to the MeasSetup menu and select Frequency. Next, click Frequency and
set the Center and Span, or Start and Stop frequencies (select the Show Center/Span
check box to enter center frequency and span; clear it to enter the start and stop
frequency).

These parameters can also be set directly on the measurement grid by clicking on the
field and stepping the value using the up/down keys on the keyboard or entering the value
directly.

The MeasSetup menu is also used for:

 Setting resolution bandwidth and time parameters
 Averaging
 Turning on and setting up the Analog and Digital Demodulators.

Step 5. Configure the Display for the number & orientation of measurement traces

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There are six measurement grids that can be configured and displayed. From the Display
menu, select Layout to specify which of the 6 grids to be displayed.
The display tool bar can also be used to select the layout as well as the "active" trace.
The View/Overlay Trace item can be selected to lay traces on top of each other for direct
comparison.

Other aspects of the display like color and fonts can be set under Display Appearance.
These setups can then be saved under the File menu

Step 6. Choose the Desired Trace Data.

The real flexibility of the vector signal analyzer is realized here. There are many choices
of data to be analyzed, the most common of which would be frequency or time.
To select data, click Trace > Data and choose from the list, or click the data field on the
measurement grid and step through the choices. Other trace data types will be made
available when demodulation is turned on

Step 7. Choose a Trace Format

For any trace data type, a number of formats may be appropriate. For example, a log
magnitude format is useful on frequency domain data. The analyzer allows virtually any
format to be applied to any data.

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Click Trace > Format or double-click the format field on the measurement grid and
select from the pop-up menu.

Step 8. Scale or Autoscale the trace

A good first step to scaling a trace is to Autoscale. Do this by clicking on the Trace menu
and choosing Autoscale. Another easy way is to right-click the measurement grid and
select Autoscale from the pop-up menu.

Specific scaling and scale units can be specified under Trace, and X-scale or Y-scale.
Shown here is the Y-scale dialog box

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At this point in the process, repeat steps 6, 7, and 8 until all traces to be used are defined
and scaled.

Step 9. Apply Marker features to yield measurement results

Measurements can be made directly from the scaled grids, but using markers will be
more precise. Full access to marker capability is gained under the Marker menu.

A quicker way to start using a marker is to click the (marker tool) and then click the trace.
This will drop a marker on the trace and the mouse can be used to position the marker.

Section B: Time Domain Measurements

Background:

To start the signal acquisition process, both in the frequency & time domains:
1. First, preset the analyzer and configure the display layout by clicking Display >
Layout. Here you have a choice of viewing a single measurement grid or up to 6
grids at a time. Select Stack 2. Next, view the frequency domain on trace A by
clicking on the measurement grid or the Trace A button. Then click the Trace >
Data > Spectrum. Set-up trace A's format by choosing Trace > Format > Log
Mag. These parameters can also be adjusted directly on the display grid by
double-clicking on these fields and then choosing from the pull-down menu.
2. To set up trace B for the time domain, click the B measurement grid. Then click
Trace > Data > Raw Main Time. Set-up trace B's format by choosing Trace,
Format, and Real.

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To set signal parameters:
1. From the MeasSetup menu, select the appropriate Frequency.
2. From the MeasSetup menu or the measurement grid, adjust the Frequency
parameters for Center Frequency and Span. For most measurements, choose a
span that includes all significant modulation sidebands.:

For baseband signals do not "span in" on the signal (Zoom Mode). Instead leave
the start frequency at zero Hertz and reduce the stop frequency as necessary
(Baseband Mode).

3. To scale the signal, click Trace and then Autoscale or choose Y Scale or X Scale
to set specific scales and units from the pop-up menus. Scaling can also be
performed directly on the measurement grid by clicking on the scale parameters.
4. For best sensitivity, go to the Input menu or the Range field on the measurement
grid, and adjust the Range for the lowest setting without indication of overload.

To analyze a recorded file:

1. Click Input > Data From > Recording.
2. Click File > Recall > Recall Recording. The program prompts you for the
location and name of the recorded file. Once the recording has been loaded,
playback can be started by and stop at any time.

Measurements:
1. Load the signal bstqpsk.htm from the " File\Recall\Recall
Demo\Help\Signals\QPSK" directory.
2. Set up the display using the process shown above.
3. Autoscale the traces.

The display should look something like this, with the frequency domain on trace A and
the time domain on trace B.

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As the signal plays back, the modulated RF burst will scroll by making analysis difficult.
You can stabilize the playback by clicking the pause key or by applying a trigger.

Triggering
Time-variant signals like RF bursts will generally require stabilization via triggering for
reliable analysis results.
Triggering controls for both live signals and recorded signals are found by clicking the
Input menu and then Trigger… This will bring up the Input Properties window.

The Playback Trigger

On the Input Properties window, select the Playback Trigger tab. Change the trigger
Type from FreeRun to Magnitude and set the Mag Level to 500 mV. To view the
beginning of the burst, set a Delay of -1 mSec (pretrigger).
Trigger hold-off will prevent retriggering on complex signals like this one. Set Hold-off
to 2 mSec.

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Shown here is the triggered burst with display of Grid 2X3.

Triggering On Live Signals

The trigger modes found under the Trigger tab of the input properties menu are much
like those of an oscilloscope. Triggering can be from the measurement channels as well
as an external trigger input. The IF Mag type trigger is unique because it is both a level

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and frequency qualified trigger. All triggers have adjustable level, hold-off, and pre and
post delay.

To measure peak power:

1. View the signal in the time domain only by clicking Trace, Data, and Raw Main
Time.
2. A useful format for viewing the power of a RF burst is log magnitude. Click
Trace > Format > Log Mag or double-click the format field of the Y-axis in the
measurement grid and select Log Mag from the pull-down menu.
3. To change the units of the Y-scale to dBm, click Trace > Y-scale. From the pop-up
menu click Y-Unit > Power.

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4. Stabilize the signal using triggering, click Input > Trigger.. > Playback Trigger,
and set the trigger parameters found in the pop-up window.

Note : To clearly see the beginning of the burst, use pretriggering by entering a
negative value for trigger Delay. Find the peak power with a marker by right-
clicking on the measurement grid, and selecting Peak from the pop-up menu.

5. Read the peak carrier value from the marker at the top of the display.
12.869 dBm.

Shown here is the recorded signal bstqpsk.dat in the time domain displayed in a log
magnitude format. This is a useful way to see the power envelope of a signal. The marker
can be used to measure power or voltage at an instant in time. The time axis is relative to
the beginning of the acquisition record or the trigger point.

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Average Power in the Time Domain

Average power of the burst can be calculated in the time domain by the band power
marker feature. There are several ways to turn the band power marker on. Here is one
simple way:
1. Click the area tool.
2. Left-click and drag over the portion of the time domain trace that you would like
averaged.

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3. Select Band Power Marker from the pop-up window. Band power markers are
then turned on and the resulting average over time is shown at the top of the
display.

4. The maximum average power is: 4.731 dBm.

Conclusions: In this lab we learn basics of Vector Signal Analyzer and utilizing the
VSA for time domain measurements and analyses.

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