5GNR Analyzer Measurement Guide : 5GNR Analyzer (Option 888) : Setting Trace Parameters
 
Setting Trace Parameters
Traces are not used in all 5GNR analyzer measurements. Field Master Series instruments can display up to 6 traces simultaneously in 5GNR RF-based measurements (refer to 5GNR Measurement Setup). Traces can be enabled from the TRACE menu by selecting the trace from the available selections, or you can select a trace in the left side status panel to make it active. Each trace can have a separate trace type, mode, and detector. When working with traces in a 5GNR spectrum measurement, refer to the TRACE Menu.
TRACE Menu
The TRACE menu is only available for RF-based measurements. Refer to 5GNR Measurement Setup.
TRACE Menu
 
SELECT
Selects traces 1 through 6. Selecting a trace that is off turns the trace on. The trace type will be Clear/Write, the trace mode will be Active, and the detector type will be Peak. Selecting a trace will draw the trace on top of all other traces. This feature is not available in the spectrogram measurement view because all spectrogram data is created from a single trace.
TYPE
Selects one of the following types of traces:
• Clear/Write: Clears the trace after each sweep is complete and writes a new trace.
• Average: The exponential average of all N traces, where N is the AVERAGES number set below. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table.
• Max Hold: Represents the maximum value since sweeping began. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table.
• Min Hold: Represents the minimum value since sweeping began. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table.
• Rolling Average: Is the rolling average of the last N traces, where N is the AVERAGES number set below. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table.
• Rolling Max Hold: Is the maximum rolling average value of the last N traces, where N is the AVERAGES number set below. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table.
• Rolling Min Hold: Is the minimum value of the last N traces, where N is the AVERAGES number set below. The number of sweeps is displayed in the status panel TRACES table.
• T1-T2: This type appears only when Trace 5 is enabled.
• T2-T1: This type appears only when Trace 6 is enabled.
In trace math, the T2-T1 or T1-T2 operation performs a division of the linear powers (Watts) of trace 2 divided by trace 1 and vice versa, this is equivalent to the subtraction of the log powers (dBm). The operation does not change depending on the amplitude units and the resulting math trace is always in dB. When a math trace is enabled, a secondary Y axis appears on the right side of the trace window. Most measurements are incompatible with dB values and will stop updating when a math trace is the active trace. Limit lines on math traces interpret their values as (dB).
MODE
Selects one of the following trace modes:
• Active: Displays the selected trace as it is updating.
• Hold/View: Displays the trace and it is not updating. It displays the last sweep from when the trace mode was set to hold/view. If the frequency or bandwidth settings are changed while a trace is in hold/view mode, the data will be blanked from the screen. In order to see data again, set the trace mode to active.
• Blank: Does not display the trace and is not updating. It is the same as if the trace was off.
 
DETECTOR TYPE
Selects one of three detector types. Several detection methods tailor the function of the instrument to meet specific measurement requirements. There are often more measurement points across the screen than display points. The various detection methods are different ways of dealing with how measurement points will be shown at each display point (see “Trace Detector Types” section in Spectrum Analyzer Measurement Guide (10580-00447).
• Peak: This method causes the highest amplitude measurement point to be shown for each display point, assuring that a narrow peak is not missed.
• RMS/Avg: In the default case, when the VBW/AVERAGE type is set to Linear, this method detects the average power of measurement points that go into the display point. When VBW/AVERAGE type is set to Log, the traditional average of log (power), such as dBm, is displayed for the detector, as well as for VBW and trace average.
• Negative: This method causes the lowest amplitude measurement point to be shown for each display point. This method is also useful when looking at modulated signals, to see if some frequencies are not being used.
• Sample: Shows the transient amplitude of the center of sampled data for each display point. This method is useful when measuring low-level signals and noise measurements. Only available in zero span and RSSI measurements. When Sample detector is selected, all traces must use sample detection.
• Normal: Normal detector type, also referred to as Rosenfell, shows the random noise than positive peak and avoids the missed-signal problem of the Sample Mode. Should the signal both rise and fall within the bucket interval, then the algorithm classifies the signal as noise. An odd-numbered data point displays the maximum value encountered during its bucket. An even-numbered data point displays the minimum value encountered during its bucket. If the signal is NOT classified as noise (does NOT rise and fall) then Normal is equivalent to positive peak.
CLEAR
Clears the currently active trace data.
AVERAGES
Sets the number of trace sweeps (N) to average. Available when the trace type is set to one of the averaging modes.
PRESET DETECTORS
Sets all trace detectors to Peak.
PRESET TRACES
Presets cursor and trace setup to Clear/Write, Active, with Peak Detector.
Trace Detector Types
The figure below illustrates how the available detector types determine a trace data point from the sampled data
Peak Detector
Shows the maximum amplitude of sampled data for each display point, assuring that a narrow peak is not missed.
Peak Detector Type
RMS/Avg
In the default case, when the VBW/AVERAGE type is set to Linear, this method shows the linear average amplitude of sampled data for each display point, before converting to display units. When VBW/AVERAGE type is set to Log, this method shows the traditional average of log (power), such as dBm for each display point, before converting to display units. Not available in zero span.
RMS/Avg Detector Type
Negative
Shows the minimum amplitude of sampled data for each display point. This method is also useful when measuring modulated signals to see if some frequencies are not being used.
Negative Detector Type
Sample
Shows the transient amplitude of the center of sampled data for each display point. This method is useful when measuring low-level signals and noise measurements. Only available in zero span and RSSI measurements.
Sample Detector Type
Note 
When Sample detector is selected, all traces must use sample detection.