VectorStar™ MS4640A Series Microwave Vector Network Analyzers : Application Menus - Mixer Setup : MULTI-CHANNEL – Power-Based Sweep
 
MULTI-CHANNEL – Power-Based Sweep
 
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• Application Menu Variants for Mixer Setup.
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• MAIN | Application | APPLICATION | Mixer Setup (Active Channel) | MIXER SETUP Dialog Box | MIXER SETUP CONFIGURATION Dialog Box | Sweep Type = Power Sweep
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Menu Set
The multi-channel mixer setup provides additional measurement capability over multiple channels and consists of one central control dialog box with multiple supporting dialog boxes. The multi-channel mixer setup dialog for power-based sweeps is similar to the controls for the active channel version described above. Additional parameters can be measured, which require addition dialogs to configure the mixer. The relationships between the main and supporting dialog boxes in shown in Figure: MULTI-CHANNEL MIXER SETUPRD Dialog Boxes – Power-Based Sweep below.
MULTI-CHANNEL MIXER SETUPRD Dialog Boxes – Power-Based Sweep 
1. MIXER SETUP CONFIGURATION [Frequency-Based Sweep] Dialog Box
2. SELECT CHANNEL Dialog Box
3. CONFIGURATON 1 SETUP Dialog Box for RF/IF related Paths
4. Configuration 1 Dialog Boxes for External Source Address, Frequency, and Power.
5. CONFIGURATON 2 SETUP Dialog Box for Isolation LO to Output
6. Configuration 2 Dialog Boxes for External Source Address, Frequency, and Power.
7. CONFIGURATON 3 SETUP Dialog Box for Isolation LO to Input
8. Configuration 3 Dialog Boxes for Frequency and Power.
 
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Available Measurements
The table below lists the available power-based mixer measurements. On the main dialog box, check boxes allow individual measurement selections. Within each of the two configuration areas (Configuration 1 and Configuration 2), selection of any one measurement within a configuration area enables the Next button for that area. Selecting the Next button displays the multiple support dialogs for that configuration area.
Available Measurements for Power-Based Sweep
Measurement
Response
Display
Format
Channel
Configuration 1 – Conversion Gain/Loss – Swept LO Response selection is based on port configuration.
Conversion Gain/Loss, Swept LO
B2/1
Magnitude
Channel 1
Next button – Links to the CONFIGURATION 1 SETUP Dialog Box for Conversion Gain/Loss, Swept LO.
Configuration 2 – Pout versus Pin – Swept RF – Response selection is based on port configuration.
Compression, Pout versus Pin, Swept RF
B2/1
Magnitude
Channel 2
Next button – Links to the CONFIGURATION 2 SETUP dialog box for Isolation LP to Output.
 
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Channel Assignments
Two channels are required to support all measurements. See Table: Available Measurements for Power-Based Sweep above for the default channel assignments. Skipped measurements do not change the channel assignment. For example, if the default channel settings are used and the Conversion Gain/Loss, Swept LO measurement is not used, the remaining Compression, Pout versus Pin, Swept RF measurement is set to Channel 2. The starting channel can be changed to any of the 16 channels. If Channel 16 is assigned, and another channel is required, the Channel assignment rolls over to Channel 1.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Procedure
1. On the APPLICATION menu, select the Mixer Setup (Multi-Channel) button. The MIXER SETUP CONFIGURATION dialog box appears.
2. In the Define Setup area at the top of the box, select the Power Sweep radio button. The appearance and controls change for power sweep as shown in the figure below. The control areas are shown in the figure below.
MIXER SETUP CONFIGURATION Dialog Box – Power Sweep
1. Select Sweep Type
2. Select Starting Channel
3. Reverse RF and IF – Standard is RF is input and IF output. Reverse is RF as output and IF as input.
4. Enable Modular Broadband.
5. Configuration 1 Measurements for Conversion Gain/Loss Swept LO.
6. Next button to Configuration 1 dialogs
7. Configuration 2 Measurements for Compression Pout versus Pin Swept RF.
8. Next button to Configuration 2 dialogs.
9. Calibration Required Area display.
10. Dialog control buttons.
 
3. For Frequency Sweeps, see Previous above.
4. If a power-based mixer setup has been previously saved, select the Recall Setup button near the bottom of the dialog box. A RECALL MIXER CONFIGURATION SETUP dialog box appears. Navigate as required and select the appropriate MWZD file. Once open, proceed with the procedure below to modify it as required.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Set the Starting Channel
5. The default starting channel is Channel 1. To change the default, select the Starting Channel button.
• The SELECT CHANNEL dialog box appears (see Figure: MIXER SETUP ACTIVE CHANNEL Dialog Box – Frequency Sweep – Control Locations above).
• If Channel 16 is selected, and another channel is required, the setup automatically rolls over to assign Channel 1 to the next channel.
6. Select the required starting channel. The focus autoreturns to the MIXER SETUP CONFIGURATION (POWER SWEEP) dialog box.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Reverse IF and RF
7. If required, on the right side of the dialog box, select the check box for Reverse the IF and RF.
• The default non-selected check box provides RF as input on Port 1 and IF as output on Port 2.
• If selected, the RF is set as output on Port 1 and IF as input on Port 2.
• See Figure: Standard and Reversed IF and RF Ports above for examples of default and reversed RF/IF port assignments.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Enable Modular BB
8. If required, also on the right, select the check box for Enable Modular-BB (Broadband).
• This is only available for MS4647A VNAs equipped with Option 080/081 Modular Broadband/Millimeter-Wave (mm-Wave).
• This installation also requires the ME7838A configuration with the 3739x Test Set and two 3743A or MA25300A mm-Wave Modules.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Configuration 1 – Initial Settings
9. Select the required measurements in the Configuration 1 Conversion Gain/Loss area.
• The available measurement is Conversion Gain/Loss (Swept LO).
• See Table: Available Measurements for Power-Based Sweep above for more information on measurements.
• At least one measurement must be selected to make the Next button available.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Configuration 1 – Set Frequency
10. When all selections have been made, select the Next button.
• The CONFIGURATION 1 SETUP (FREQUENCY SWEEP) dialog box appears.
CONFIGURATION 1 SETUP (POWER SWEEP) – Controls
1. CONFIGURATION 1 SETUP (POWER SWEEP) Setup Dialog Box.
2. Mixer Schematic with port, frequency, and power assignments.
3. Port Assignments – Each must be unique selecting from None, Port 1, Port 2, or External Sources 1 through 4.
4. Port Assignment pull down field
5. Power Assignments
6. PowerPoints – Number of power measurement points.
7. Configure External Sources – Links to CONFIGURE EXT. SOURCE ADDRESSES dialog box to configure GPIB addresses.
8. Set Frequency Button – Links to the SET FREQUENCY (POWER SWEEP) setup dialog to set frequency mode and value for IRF, IF, and LO.
9. Set Power Levels Button – Links to the SET POWERS (POWER SWEEP) setup dialog.
10. Dialog Completion Buttons
 
11. Use the controls on the dialog box to set the following parameters:
• Select the Port 1 or Port 2 button to change port assignments.
• Select the LO field to select the source for LO as External Src (Source) 1, External Src 2, External Src 3, External Src 4, or None.
• Change the PowerPoints (Number of Power Points) field to the required measurement points. The initial value is taken from the setting on the FREQUENCY menu.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Configuration 1 – Set External Source Addresses
12. When ready, select the Configure External Sources button. The CONFIGURE EXT. SOURCE ADDRESSES dialog box appears.
Configuration 1 – CONFIGURE EXT. SOURCE ADDRESSES Dialog Box
 
13. Change the address settings as required.
• The mixer dialog uses the settings made on the REMOTE INTER. menu.
• MAIN | System | SYSTEM | Remote Interface | REMOTE INTER.
• Changes made in the mixer dialog are applied to the REMOTE INTER. men.
14. When all changes are complete, select the Apply button. The CONFIGURATION 1 SETUP dialog box reappears.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Configuration 1 – Set Frequency
15. When ready, select the Set Frequency button. The SET FREQUENCY (POWER SWEEP) dialog box appears as shown in Figure: Configuration 1 – SET FREQUENCY (POWER SWEEP) Setup Dialog Box below.
Configuration 1 – SET FREQUENCY (POWER SWEEP) Setup Dialog Box
1. Multi-Channel – SET FREQUENCY (POWER SWEEP) Setup Dialog Box
2. Mixer schematic showing mixer and VNA port assignments, frequency values, and power values.
3. RF Frequency Mode and Value Settings
4. RF Mode set as Fixed with Fixed CW Frequency field. For all ports, only one port can be set as Auto. If a port is set as Auto, its value is calculated based on the two other ports and the conversion setting.
5. LO Frequency Mode and Value Setting
6. LO Mode set as Fixed with Fixed CW Frequency input field.
7. LO CW Frequency field tool bar with value and units. Appears for RF, IF, and LO input as required.
8. IF Frequency Mode and Value Settings
9. IF Mode set as Fixed with Fixed CW Frequency field.
10. Conversion setting radio buttons. If default RF as input and LO as output, calculates IF. If RF as output and IF as input is set, calculates RF.
 
16. The mixer schematic drawing shows the current settings for the RF, IF, and LO ports.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Configuration 1 – Set Frequency – Set RF, LO, and IF Mode and Values
17. In the middle of the dialog box are separate control areas for RF Frequency, LO Frequency, and IF Frequency.
18. For each control area, set the frequency mode.
• The frequency options are Fixed or Auto. Swept is unavailable.
• Only one port can be configured as Auto. In this configuration, the instrument calculates the required frequency based on the conversion setting selected (described below) in the Conversion area at the bottom of the dialog box and the settings on the other two ports.
19. 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.
• At the top of the dialog in the field toolbar, enter the required starting frequency and required units from GHz, MHz, kHz, or Hz.
• Note that the field toolbar name changes depending on whether RF, IF, or LO is selected.
20. 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 – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Configuration 1 – Set Frequency – Set the Conversion Required
21. Near the bottom of the dialog is the Conversion area.
22. Select button for the conversion type required from options provided which depend on whether IF and RF were reversed.
• If the default RF as input and IF as output was selected above:
• IF = RF - LO which is down conversion with Upper SideBand (USB).
• IF = LO - RF which is down conversion with Lower Side Band (LSB).
• IF = RF + LO which is up conversion.
• If reverse was selected above with IF as input and RF as output:
• 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).
23. When all settings are complete, select the OK button to return to the setup central control dialog.
• The CONFIGURATION 1 SETUP (POWER SWEEP) setup dialog reappears.
• See Figure: CONFIGURATION 1 SETUP (POWER SWEEP) – Controls above.
• 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 – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Configuration 1 – Set Power Levels
24. On the CONFIGURATION 1 SETUP (POWER SWEEP) setup dialog box, select the Set Power Levels button.
• The SET POWERS (FREQUENCY SWEEP) dialog box appears as shown below in Figure: SET FREQUENCY (POWER SWEEP) Dialog Box – Control Areas.
Configuration 1 – SET POWERS (POWER SWEEP) Setup Dialog Box
1. Multi-Channel – Configuration 1 – SET POWERS (POWER SWEEP) Dialog Box
2. Mixer Schematic with mixer and VNA port assignments and power settings.
3. Port Assignments
4. Power Settings – Note that only the driving ports have assigned power settings. The port and naming assignments depend on the user configuration.
5. RF Power (dBm) input field for CW Power.
6. LO Power (dBm) input fields for Swept Power.
7. Dialog Control buttons.
 
25. Depending on the configuration enter the required power levels for RF, LO and/or IF in the provided fields.
• Note that the power setting appears on the Mixer Schematic and also in the POWER menu.
26. When all settings are complete, select the OK button to return to the Configuration 1 setup control dialog box.
• The CONFIGURATION 1 SETUP (POWER SWEEP, CONVERSION GAIN/LOSS, Swept LO) setup dialog box reappears.
• See Figure: CONFIGURATION 1 SETUP (POWER SWEEP) – Controls above.
27. Inspect all settings in Configuration 1 and make any final changes as required.
28. When all settings are complete, select the OK button to return to the MIXER SETUP CONFIGURATION (POWER SWEEP) main control dialog box.
• The MIXER SETUP CONFIGURATION (POWER SWEEP) reappears.
• See Figure: MIXER SETUP CONFIGURATION Dialog Box – Power Sweep above.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Configuration 2 – Initial Settings
29. If required, in the Configuration 2 area, select the Compression (Pout versus Pin) measurement.
• At least one measurement must be selected to make the Next button available.
• See Table: Available Measurements for Power-Based Sweep above for more information on measurements.
30. Select the Next button in the Configuration 2 area.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Configuration 1 – Set Frequency
31. When all selections have been made, select the Next button.
• The CONFIGURATION 2 SETUP (FREQUENCY SWEEP) dialog box appears.
• See Figure: CONFIGURATION 1 SETUP (POWER SWEEP) – Controls above for a dialog box example.
32. Set parameters as required:
• VNA Port Assignment
• External Source Assignment
• Number of Power Measurement Points
33. When all selections have been made, select the Configure External Sources button.
• The CONFIGURE EXT. SOURCE ADDRESSES dialog box appears.
• See Figure: Configuration 1 – CONFIGURE EXT. SOURCE ADDRESSES Dialog Box above for a dialog box example.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Configuration 2 – Set External Source Addresses
34. Use the controls on the dialog box to set the GPIB addresses for External Source 1 through External Source 2.
• The mixer dialog uses the settings made on the REMOTE INTER. menu.
• MAIN | System | SYSTEM | Remote Interface | REMOTE INTER.
• Changes made in the mixer dialog are applied to the REMOTE INTER. men.
35. When all changes are complete, select the Apply button. The CONFIGURATION 2 SETUP mixer setup dialog box reappears.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Configuration 2 – Set Frequency
36. When ready, select the Set Frequency button. The SET FREQUENCY (POWER SWEEP) dialog box appears.
• See Figure: Configuration 1 – SET FREQUENCY (POWER SWEEP) Setup Dialog Box above for a dialog box example.
37. The available mixer ports to configure for frequency depend on the settings.
38. For each mixer port, set the mode as Swept or Fixed as required. In some cases, some options may be unavailable.
39. For each mixer port, set the Start/Stop Frequency or CW Frequency as required. All settings are presented in the mixer schematic.
40. When all changes are complete, select the OK button. The CONFIGURATION 2 SETUP mixer setup dialog box reappears.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Configuration 2 – Set Power Levels
41. When ready, select the Set Power Levels button. The SET POWERS (POWER SWEEP) dialog box appears.
• See Figure: Configuration 1 – SET POWERS (POWER SWEEP) Setup Dialog Box above for a dialog box example.
42. The available mixer ports to configure for power depend on the settings. Some settings and/or some ports may be unavailable.
43. For each mixer port, set the mode as required.
44. If Swept is set, enter the Swept Power Start and Swept Power Stop power settings.
45. If CW is set, enter the CW Power setting.
46. When ready, select the OK button. The CONFIGURATION 2 SETUP mixer setup dialog box reappears.
• See Figure: Configuration 1 – SET POWERS (POWER SWEEP) Setup Dialog Box above for a dialog box example.
47. Check all settings and when ready, select the OK button. The MIXER SETUP CONFIGURATION (POWER SWEEP) dialog box appears.
• See Figure: MIXER SETUP CONFIGURATION Dialog Box – Power Sweep above.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Completing the Configuration
48. The Calibration Required area on the dialog box becomes available. Make a note of the required calibrations. 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
49. The mixer configuration process is complete.
50. To save the setup, select the Save Setup button.
• A standard Windows Save dialog box appears to save the setup as a MWZD file.
• Navigate to the required folder, and select Save.