This chapter gives a brief overview of the MA276xA and assists you in your first uses of the instrument.
It also provides a starting point for making basic measurement setups. It describes general instrument setup, including selecting the analyzer and setting up frequency, bandwidth, amplitude, span, limit lines, and markers. After measurements are taken, refer to File Management and Saving and Recalling Measurements for instruction in saving, recalling, and managing measurement files. For detailed information about other specific measurements, refer to the appropriate chapter in this guide.

This chapter includes sections that describe resolution bandwidth, video bandwidth, and sweep. For example, in the Spectrum Master, Resolution Bandwidth (RBW) determines frequency selectivity. The spectrum analyzer traces the shape of the RBW filter as it tunes past a signal. The choice of resolution bandwidth depends on several factors. Filters take time to settle. The output of the filter will take some time to settle to the correct value so that it can be measured. The narrower the filter bandwidth (resolution bandwidth), the longer the settling time needs to be, and therefore, the slower the sweep speed.

Spectrum analyzer measurements include the use of additional functions beyond frequency, span, amplitude, and marker functions. Setting Up Advanced Measurements through Adjacent Channel Power cover field measurements including brief examples demonstrating channel power, occupied bandwidth, and adjacent channel power testing.