6. The Enable Modular BB check box enables using the VectorStar ME7838 Broadband/Millimeter-Wave system with the 3739x BB/mm-Wave Test Set and the 3743A or MA25300A mm-Wave Modules. This is only used on MS4647A VNAs equipped with Option 080/081.
Mixer Setup – Active Channel – Power Sweep – Configure Ports
7. In the Configure Ports area, set the port assignments for the RF, IF, and LO.
• The default assignments are Port 1 = RF, Port 2 = IF, and External Source 1 = LO.
• The port and external source assignments must be unique.
• The assignment options for RF, IF, and LO are:
• Port 1
• Port 2
• External Source (Src) 1
• External Src 2
• External Src 3
• External Src 4
• None
• The changes above are shown in the mixer schematic in the center of the dialog.
Mixer Setup – Active Channel – Power Sweep – Configure X-Axis Display and Number of Points
8. Set the X-Axis display to the required parameter as required. The default is RF.
• Options are RF, IF, or LO.
9. Set the Number of Points (Num Points) for the X-Axis display.
• The initial value is taken from the setting on the FREQUENCY menu and the # of Points button.
• A change on the FREQUENCY menu also changes the setting on the MIXER dialog and a MIXER change changes the FREQUNECY menu setting.
Mixer Setup – Active Channel – Power Sweep – Set RF, LO, and IF Frequency Mode and Value
10. In the Define Mixer Measurements area at the bottom of the dialog box, select the Set Frequency button.
SET FREQUENCY (POWER SWEEP) Dialog Box – Control Areas
1. SET FREQUENCY (POWER SWEEP) Dialog Box.
2. RF Frequency mode and value area.
3. LO Frequency mode and value area.
4. IF Frequency mode and value area.
5. Frequency input field toolbar. The label changes depending whether RF, IF, or LO are selected.
6. RF Mode setting can only be Fixed or Auto. Only one mixer port can be Auto. If fixed, RF CW frequency is input in field below.
7. LO Mode setting can only be Fixed or Auto. Only one mixer port can be Auto. LO CW frequency is input in field below.
8. IF Mode setting can only be Fixed or Auto. Only one mixer port can be Auto. IF CW frequency is input in field below.
9. Conversion setting. Changes based on whether RF is input or output. If RF is input, equations show conversion calculations for IF. If IF is input, equations show conversion calculations for RF.
10. Dialog box control buttons.
12. The mixer schematic drawing shows the current settings for the RF, IF, and LO ports.
Mixer Setup – Active Channel – Power Sweep – RF, LO, and IF Frequency Mode and Value Area
13. In the middle of the dialog box are separate control areas for RF Frequency, LO Frequency, and IF Frequency. Depending on the settings, there is a Mode area and a Frequency area for each port.
14. For each control area, set the frequency mode.
• The frequency options are Fixed or Auto. Swept is not available for Power Sweeps.
• Only one port can be configured as Auto. In this configuration, the instrument calculates the required frequency based on the conversion setting selected in the Conversion area at the bottom of the dialog box and the settings on the other two ports.
• Each Frequency Mode selection provides different input field control immediately below in the next area.
• In the figure above, RF Frequency is set as Swept, LO Frequency is set as Fixed, and IF Frequency is set as Auto.
15. If the RF, IF, and/or LO Frequency Mode is set as Fixed:
• The Fixed Frequency area appears with a single control for CW Frequency.
• Select the CW field and enter the required CW frequency and required units in the field toolbar at the top of the dialog box.
16. If the RF, IF, or LO Frequency Mode is set as Auto:
• No frequency assignment fields are available.
• The frequency is calculated based on the settings for the other two mixer ports and the settings in the Conversion area described below.
Mixer Setup – Active Channel – Power Sweep – Set the Conversion Required
17. Near the bottom of the dialog is the Conversion area.
18. Select the button for the conversion type required from options of:
• If RF is input and IF is output (the default):
• IF = RF - LO which is down conversion with Upper Side Band (USB).
• IF = LO - RF which is down conversion with Lower Side Band (LSB).
• IF = RF + LO which is up conversion.
• If RF is output and IF is input (optional):
• RF = IF + LO which is up conversion.
• RF = LO - IF which is down conversion with Lower Side Band (LSB).
• RF = IF - LO which is down conversion with Upper Side Band (USB).
19. When all settings are complete, select the OK button to return to the central control dialog.
• If any setting is out of range, a warning dialog appears with an error message such as Invalid Frequency Range or Equation Out of Range. Correct the problem as required.
Mixer Setup – Active Channel – Power Sweep – Set the Power Levels
20. Select the Set Power Levels button in the bottom center of the dialog box.
SET POWERS (POWER SWEEP) Dialog Box - Control Areas
1. SET POWERS (POWER SWEEP) Dialog Box
2. Mixer Schematic – Port assignments and power levels are updated automatically.
3. RF Power (dBm) controls.
4. RF Power Mode set as Fixed with option of Swept.
5. RF Power CW Power input field
6. LO Power controls
7. Mode set as Swept with option of Fixed.
8. Swept start and stop power input fields.
9. Dialog box control buttons.
Mixer Setup – Active Channel – Power Sweep – Configuring the RF, IF, and LO Power Settings
21. Separate control areas for Mode and Power are provided for RF Power, IF Power, and LO Power.
• If RF is input and IF is output (the default), power level controls are available for RF and LO Power:
• RF Power can be Swept or Fixed. If Swept is set, the Swept Power Start Power and Stop Power input fields are present.If Fixed is set, the Fixed Power input field is present.
• LO Power can be Swept or Fixed. If Swept is set, the Swept Power Start Power and Stop Power input fields are present.If Fixed is set, the Fixed Power input field is present.
• If RF is output and IF is input (optional by selecting the Reverse IF and RF check box):
• IF Power can be Swept or Fixed. If Swept is set, the Swept Power Start Power and Stop Power input fields are present.If Fixed is set, the Fixed Power input field is present.
• LO Power can be Swept or Fixed. If Swept is set, the Swept Power Start Power and Stop Power input fields are present.If Fixed is set, the Fixed Power input field is present.
22. For each displayed mixer port, select the mode as Swept or Fixed.
23. If Swept is set, enter the Start and Stop Power levels.
24. If Fixed is set, enter the CW Power level.
25. Repeat the two steps above for the remaining mixer port.
26. When all settings are complete, select the OK button to return to the main control dialog box.
• The MIXER SETUP (POWER SWEEP) setup dialog reappears.
Mixer Setup – Active Channel – Power Sweep – Import Channel Setup
27. The final single channel setup is to import the current channel settings.
28. Select the Import Channel Setup button. The ACTIVE CHANNEL SETUP IMPORTED dialog appears and confirms in configuration import as shown below in Figure: ACTIVE CHANNEL SETUP IMPORTED Dialog Box.
ACTIVE CHANNEL SETUP IMPORTED Dialog Box
29. With all settings correct and as required, select the Done button.
30. A dialog report appears with a listing of the required calibrations to support the input mixer configuration. A typical example is shown below.
SUCESS Dialog with Required Calibrations
31. The mixer configuration process is complete.
MIXER SETUP – MULTI-CHANNEL Dialog Box Variants
Full Name
The full name of the mixer setup dialog box varies depending on the type of sweep. See Figure: MULTI-CHANNEL MIXER SETUP Dialog Box for comparison examples. In the procedure sections following, two multi-channel mixer setup example procedures are shown:
