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 SETUP Dialog Boxes – Power-Based Sweep (1 of 2) below.
3. CONFIGURATON 1 SETUP Dialog Box for RF/IF related Paths NOTE: When Dual Source Architecture is selected on the MIxer Wizard Configuration screen, the Configure External Sources Button is disabled.
4. Configuration 1 Dialog Boxes for External Source Address, Frequency, and Power.
5. CONFIGURATON 2 SETUP Dialog Box for Isolation LO to Output NOTE: When Dual Source Architecture is selected on the MIxer Wizard Configuration screen, the Configure External Sources Button is disabled.
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. For each configuration area (Configuration 1, Configuration 2, and Configuration 3), the Setup button for that area displays the setup dialogs for that configuration.
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
Setup 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
Setup button – Links to the CONFIGURATION 2 SETUP dialog box for Isolation LO 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. See Figure: MIXER SETUP CONFIGURATION Dialog Box – Power Sweep 6
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. Modular BB Selections – Only for MS4647B VNAs with Option 8x and ME7838 Series peripheral equipment. Note: All selections are dependent on installed options and model number.
5. Dual Source Architecture (Only for MS464xB VNAs with Option 31) When this feature is selected in Power Sweep mode, the measurement selections do not change.
6. Configuration 1 Measurements for Conversion Gain/Loss Swept LO.
7. Setup button to Configuration 1 dialogs
8. Configuration 2 Measurements for Compression Pout versus Pin Swept RF.
9. Setup button to Configuration 2 dialogs.
10. Calibration Required Area display.
11. Dialog control buttons. Save Setup stores the mixer wizard configuration as a .mwzd file so that it can be recalled at a later time using Recall Setup.
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.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Make Modular BB Selection
8. At the top right of the dialog, make a selection from the Modular BB drop down list.
• Modular BB: Select opens drop down list for selecting various broadband types. This requires using the VectorStar ME7838 Series Broadband/mmWave system with the 3739x BB/mmWave Test Set and two 3743x or MA25x00A mmWave Modules. This is only used on MS4647B VNAs equipped with Option 8x.
2. Mixer Schematic with port, frequency, and power assignments.
3. Port Assignments – Each must be unique selecting from None, Port 1, Port 2 (or Port 1-4 for 4-Port), 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 RF, 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.
The mixer schematic drawing shows the current settings for the RF, IF, and LO ports.
Configuration 1 – SET FREQUENCY (POWER SWEEP) Setup Dialog Box (1 of 2)
1. Frequency input field toolbar. The label changes depending whether RF, IF, or LO are selected.
2. RF Frequency mode and value area.
3. Mode set as Fixed. Any combination of the RF, IF, and LO ports can be set as Fixed. When selected, a CW Frequency field appears.
4. LO Frequency mode and value area.
5. Mode set as Fixed. Any combination of the RF, IF, and LO ports can be set as Fixed. When selected, a CW Frequency field appears.
6. IF Frequency mode and value area.
7. Mode set as Auto. Only one of the three ports can be set as Auto. If selected, the instrument determines the frequency settings based on the other two values and the Conversion type setting and is displayed in the mixer schematic absent of a frequency label (as shown in the illustration above).
8. Harmonic LO: The harmonic LO entry allows one to describe any frequency multiplication and/or division that may be present between the synthesizer providing the LO signal and the DUT's fundamental frequency converter. This entry can also be used when the DUT is a harmonic mixer or sampler that has implicit frequency multiplication in the LO path.
Note: A label showing the Harmonic LO ratio is displayed at the mixer schematic LO port when multiplier/divisor (M/N) ratio is not equal to 1.
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.
Mixer Setup – Multi-Channel – Power Sweep – Configuration 1 – Set Frequency – Set RF, LO, and IF Mode and Values
16. In the middle of the dialog box are separate control areas for RF Frequency, LO Frequency, and IF Frequency.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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 – Harmonic LO
The harmonic LO entry allows one to describe any frequency multiplication and/or division that may be present between the synthesizer providing the LO signal and the DUT's fundamental frequency converter. This entry can also be used when the DUT is a harmonic mixer or sampler that has implicit frequency multiplication in the LO path.
20. Set the Harmonic LO multiplier/divisor ratio. A label showing the Harmonic LO ratio is displayed at the mixer schematic LO port when multiplier/divisor (M/N) ratio is not equal to 1.
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.
• 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.
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.
SUCCESS 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.
