Agilent Technologies 8960 User manual

1
To perform the 8960 Operational Verification tests requires that the 10 MHz
timebases be connected together. Connect the 10 MHz Reference Output of the 8960
to the 10 MHz Ref In of the ESG E4433B. Connect the 10 MHz Ref Out of the ESG
E4433B to the 10 MHz Ref In of the VSA E4406A with BNC cables.
The RF In/Out Connector of the 8960 will be alternately connected to either the RF
Out of the ESG E4433B (RX Test) or the RF Input of the VSA E4406A (TX Test) with
a low loss Type-N cable.
Agilent Technologies 8960
Operational Verification (Manual
Procedure)
Test Equipment Setup
Use the following procedure to manually test an 8960 that is running an
E1960A GSM Test Application. A test record is included to assist in
collecting test data. Make a copy of the test record to use.
The test equipment required for 8960 Operational Verification is:
ESG E4433B Digital Signal Generator
VSA E4406A Transmitter Tester
Manual
Verification
10 MHz
Ref In
10 MHz
Ref Out
10 MHz
Ref In
10 MHz
Ref Out
RF In/Out
ESG
E4433B VSA
E4406A
8960
Audio In
Hi LF Out RF Out
(RX Test) RF In
(TX Test)

2
Test Data Record for 8960 with E1960A GSM Test Application
Functional Verification Expected Limit (Note 1) Pass Fail
Analog Generator Level Accy
±
2.0 dB
Analog Generator Spectral Purity
Harmonics
≤
-25 dBc
Sub-Harmonics
≤
-40 dBc
Analog Audio Generator Accuracy ±0.03V
GSM Generator
Amplitude Flatness ±.6 dBm
Peak Phase Error (PGSM/EGSM) < ±4 Deg
(DCS/PCS) < ±6 Deg
RMS Phase Error < ±2 Deg.
Frequency Error
(18 Hz) <
±
.04 ppm
Analog Audio Analyzer Accuracy ±0.04V
Analog Analyzer RF Power Meter
±
1.6 dBm
GSM Analyzer Frequency Measurement Accy. < ±24 Hz
GSM Analyzer Residual Phase Error
RMS Error < ±2 Deg
Peak Error < ±8 Deg
GSM Analyzer PVT Accy Expected Limit (Note 1) Pass Fail
PVT Offset 0usec and 542.8usec (0 dB) ±2 dB
PVT Offset -10usec ≤8 dB
PVT Offset 552.8usec ≤8 dB
GSM Analyzer ORFS Measurement Expected Limit (Note 1) Pass Fail
ORFS Offset ±100 kHz ≤-6 dB
ORFS Offset ±200 kHz ≤-33 dB
ORFS Offset ±250 kHz ≤-38 dB
ORFS Offset ±400 kHz ≤-67 dB
ORFS Offset ±600 kHz ≤-76 dB
ORFS Offset ±800 kHz ≤-78 dB
ORFS Offset ±1000 kHz ≤-78 dB
ORFS Offset ±1200 kHz ≤-79 dB
Note 1 - Expected test limit levels may vary according to test instrument source
used. Expected limits listed may require modification.
8960 Operational Verification
Test Record Manual
Verification

3
8960 Operational Verification
Analog Generator Level Accuracy
Analog Generator Level Accuracy is a test to insure that the 8960 can set a basic level
and then step in 10 dB increments accurately.
The expected limit is:
RF Generator Output Level, RF In/Out (2 sources) - ± 2.0 dB
The current operating firmware in the 8960 does not allow manual operation of
amplitude or frequency using incremental steps for either Signal Generator 1 or 2; a PC
with controlling software is required.
Connect the 8960 RF In/Out Connector to the E4406A RF Input.
On the 8960 press the ‘Local’ button and the ‘System Configure’ button .
The GPIB address must be set to: 14
Manual
Verification

4
8960 Operational Verification
Analog Generator Level Accuracy, cont.
On the 8960 perform the following set up functions:
1. Press the blue ‘SHIFT’ button and the ‘PRESET’ button (front
panel buttons not shown above).
2. Press the display ‘Operating Mode’button and set mode to
Test using the knob.
3. Press the display ‘Test Function’ button and set function to
CW using the knob.
4. Press the ‘RF Gen Freq’ button and set frequency to 939 MHz
using the number keypad and the knob.
5. Press the ‘ RF Gen Power’ button and set power to -10 dBm
using the number keypad and the knob.
Manual
Verification

5
On the E4406A, press the ‘Preset’ System button, the ‘MODE’ Control
button and set to ‘Basic’ Mode .
On the E4406A, press the ‘FREQUENCY’ Control button and set the
Center Frequency to 939 MHz.
8960 Operational Verification
Analog Generator Level Accuracy, cont.
Manual
Verification

6
On the E4406A, press the ‘ZOOM’ button, the ‘Marker’ button, and the ‘Search’
button. Select the ‘TRACE’ screen button and set the trace to Spectrum
Average.
On the E4406A, press the ‘MEASURE’ Control button.
8960 Operational Verification
Analog Generator Level Accuracy, cont.
Manual
Verification

7
8960 Operational Verification
Analog Generator Level Accuracy, cont.
Step the 8960 down in amplitude in 10 dB increments to -80 dBm.
Insure that each level step is accurate within ± 2 dB.
Manual
Verification
On the 8960 perform the following set up functions:
1. Press the ‘RF Gen Freq’button and set frequency to 1805.2
MHz.
2. Press the ‘ RF Gen Power’ button and set power to -10 dBm.

8
8960 Operational Verification
Analog Generator Level Accuracy, cont.
On the E4406A set Center Frequency to 1.8052 GHz. Step the 8960 down in
amplitude in 10 dB increments to -80 dBm. Insure that each level step is
accurate within ± 2 dB.
Manual
Verification
On the 8960 perform the following set up functions:
1. Press the ‘RF Gen Freq’button and set frequency to 1930.2 MHz.
2. Press the ‘ RF Gen Power’ button and set power to -10 dBm.

9
8960 Operational Verification
Analog Generator Level Accuracy, cont.
On the E4406Aset Center Frequency to 1.9302 GHz. Step the 8960
down in amplitude in 10 dB increments to -80 dBm. Insure that each
level step is accurate within ± 2 dB.
Manual
Verification
Important Note:
The 8960 contains 2 complete signal generator sources (these are very
similar to the E4432/33B Signal Generator).
The operating firmware of the 8960 only provides for operation of 1
source using the manual user interface (front panel) in the analog mode.
It is not possible to test the second source in a analog mode using any
manual method.
However….the second source can be tested manually in a GSM
transmit mode. See the test titled “GSM Generator Amplitude Flatness.
Peak Phase Error, RMS Phase Error, and Frequency Error --- Source 2”
in this section.
Testing source 2 in an analog mode requires using the Verification
Automated Software.

10
8960 Operational Verification
Analog Generator Spectral Purity
Analog Generator Spectral Purity is a test to insure that the 8960 has harmonics and
spurious signals within specification.The test is run by setting the 8960 to a carrier
frequency of 300 MHz and power level of -10 dBm. Harmonics and spurious are
checked at 450MHz, 600 MHz, 750 MHz, and 900 MHz. The expected limits are:
Spectral Purity Harmonics - ≤-25 dBc
Sub-Harmonics - ≤-40 dBc
Non-Harmonics - ≤-55 dBc <1500 kHz
≤-68 dBc >1500 kHz
The current operating firmware in the 8960 does not allow manual operation of
amplitude or frequency using incremental steps for either Signal Generator 1 or 2, a PC
with controlling software is required.
Connect the 8960 RF In/Out Connector to the E4406A RF Input.
Manual
Verification
On the 8960 perform the following set up functions:
1. Press the blue ‘SHIFT’ button and the ‘PRESET’ button (front panel buttons not
shown above).
2. Press the display ‘Operating Mode’button and set mode to Test using the
knob. 3. Press the display ‘Test Function’ button and set function to CW using
the knob. 4. Press the ‘RF Gen Freq’button and set frequency to 300 MHz
using the number keypad and the knob.
5. Press the ‘ RF Gen Power’ button and set power to -10 dBm using the number
keypad and the knob.

11
8960 Operational Verification
Analog Generator Spectral Purity
On the E4406A, press the ‘Preset’ System button, press the ‘Mode’ Control
button and set to ‘Basic’ Mode.
Manual
Verification
ON the E4406A make the following settings: Center Freq: 300 MHz Span: 10
kHz
Press the ‘ZOOM’ button, the ‘Marker’ button, and the ‘Search’ button. Select
the ‘TRACE’ screen button and set the trace to Spectrum Average. The 8960
amplitude should equal -10 dBm ± 2 dB.

12
On the E4406A set the center frequency to 450 MHz. Press the
‘AMPLITUDE’ button and set Ref Value to -50 dBm. The Sub-Harmonic
expected limit is: ≤-50 dBm.
8960 Operational Verification
Analog Generator Spectral Purity Manual
Verification
On the E4406A set Center Frequency to 600 MHz. The Harmonic expected
limit is: ≤-35 dBm

13
On the E4406A set the Center Frequency to 750 MHz. The Sub-Harmonic
expected limit is: ≤-50 dBm
8960 Operational Verification
Analog Generator Spectral Purity Manual
Verification
On the E4406A set the Center Frequency to 900 MHz. The Harmonic
expected limit is: ≤-35 dBm .

14
The Audio Generator test checks to insure that the 8960 has an audio source
signal with reasonable performance of accuracy.
The test is run by setting the 8960 in the audio generator mode and looping an
audio signal from the Audio Out BNC connector to the Audio In Hi BNC
connector to measure level accuracy of the audio output. The audio generator
expected limits are:
Level Accuracy - ±0.03V
Connect the 8960 Audio Out Connector to the Audio In Hi Connector with a
BNC cable.
8960 Operational Verification
Audio Generator Accuracy
Begin the test procedure by pressing the blue ‘SHIFT’ button and RESET.
Manual
Verification

15
Press the Instrument Select button. Press the knob and activate the
Audio Generator screen
8960 Operational Verification
Audio Generator Accuracy,cont.
Set audio amplitude to 1.414 V. Set audio frequency to 1 kHz.
Manual
Verification

16
The Analog Audio measurement screen should appear. The
expected limits are: Level Accuracy: ± 0.03V
8960 Operational Verification
Audio Generator Accuracy,cont.
Manual
Verification
Press the ‘Measurement Selection’ button. Use the knob and select
Analog Audio, push the knob to start selection.

17
8960 Operational Verification
GSM Generator Amplitude Flatness, Peak Phase Error,
RMS Phase Error, and Frequency Error
Source 1
GSM Generator tests check to insure that the 8960 has a GSM Digital signal within a
reasonable specification.The test is run by setting the 8960 to a traffic channel of 30 and
power level of -10 dBm. The E4406A is then set in a digital measurement mode and
checks the 8960 GSM signal for Amplitude Flatness (PVT), Peak Phase Error, RMS
Phase Error, and Frequency Error. The expected limits are:
Amplitude Flatness - < ± .6 dBm
Peak Phase Error - < ±8 degrees in PGSM & EGSM Bands
< ±12 degrees in DCS and PCS Bands
RMS Phase Error - < ±2 degree in PGSM and EGSM Bands
Frequency Error - < ± .04 ppm + TB
Manual
Verification
On the 8960 perform the following set up functions:
1. Press the blue ‘SHIFT’ button and the ‘PRESET’ button (front panel buttons not
shown above).
2. Press the display ‘Operating Mode’button and set mode to Test using the
knob.
3. Press the display ‘Test Function’ button and set function to BCH + TCH using
the knob.
4. Press the ‘Broadcast Chan’ button and set the channel to 1 using the number
keypad and the knob.
5. Press the ‘ Cell Power’ button and set power to -10 dBm using the number
keypad and the knob.

18
Go to Screen 2 of 3. Set the Traffic Channel to 124 .
Go to Screen 3 of 3. Set the expected burst to TSC0.
8960 Operational Verification
GSM Generator Amplitude Flatness, Peak Phase Error,
RMS Phase Error, and Frequency Error, Source 1 cont.
Manual
Verification

19
On the E4406A set the Center Frequency to 959.8 MHz (channel 124). The
Burst RF Spectrum should appear.
8960 Operational Verification
GSM Generator Amplitude Flatness, Peak Phase Error,
RMS Phase Error, and Frequency Error, Source 1 cont.
On the E4406A, press the ‘MODE’ Control button and set Mode field to GSM.
Manual
Verification

20
On the E4406A, press the ‘AMPLITUDE’ Control button. Set ‘Scale/Div’ field
to be .3 dB and the ‘Ref Value’ field to be -9 dBm. The display shown above
should appear. The expected PVT limits are: <± .6 dB flatness
8960 Operational Verification
GSM Generator Amplitude Flatness, Peak Phase Error,
RMS Phase Error, and Frequency Error, Source 1 cont.
On the E4406A, press the PVTbutton.
Manual
Verification