Agilent Technologies E5500A User manual

Agilent Technologies E5500A/B
Phase Noise Measurement System
User’s Guide
Part number: E5500-90004
PrintedinUSA
June 2000
Supersedes September 1999
Revision A.01.05

ii Agilent Technologies E5500 Phase Noise Measurement System
Notice
The information contained in this document is subject to change without
notice.
Agilent Technologies makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this
material, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Agilent Technologies
shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or
consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or
use of this material.
Agilent Technologies assumes no responsibility for the use or reliability of
its software on equipment that is not furnished by Agilent Technologies.
This document contains proprietary information which is protected by
copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be
photocopied, reproduced, or translated to another language without prior
written consent of Agilent Technologies Company.
U.S. Government Restricted Rights
The Software and documentation are provided with "Restricted Rights".
Use,duplication or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to the
restrictions set forth in subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical
Data and Computer Software clauses in DFARS 252.227-7013 or as set
forth in subparagraph (c)(1) and (2) of the Commercial Computer Software -
Restricted Rights clauses at 48 CFR 52.227-19, as applicable. The
Contractor for the Software is Agilent Technologies Company, 3000
Hanover Street, Palo Alto, California 94304.
Trademarks
Windows NT 4.0is a U.S trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
Pentium is a U.S. trademark of Intel Corporation
© Copyright Agilent Technologies Company 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Agilent Technologies Company
Santa Rosa Systems Division
1400 Fountaingrove Parkway
Santa Rosa, CA 95403-1799, U.S.A.

Agilent Technologies E5500 Phase Noise Measurement System iii
Software License
Terms The following terms govern your use of the enclosed software programs
("Software") unless you have a separate written agreement with Agilent
Technologies.
License Grant
Agilent Technologies grants you a license to Use one copy of the version of
the Software identified in your documentation on any one product. "Use"
means storing, loading, installing,executing or displaying the Software. You
may not modify the Software or disable any licensing or control features of
the Software. Additional coppies of the software may be used for the sole
purpose of viewing previously measured data.
Ownership
The Software is owned and copyrighted by Agilent Technologies or its third
party licensors. Your license confers no title or ownership in the Software
and should not be construed as a sale of any rights in the Software. Agilent
Technologies' third party licensors may protect their rights in the event of
any violation of these terms.
Copies and Adaptations
You may only make copies or adaptations of the Software for archival
purposes or when copying or adaptation is an essential step in the authorized
Use of the Software
You must reproduce all copyright notices in the original Software on all
authorized copies or adaptations. You may not copy the Software onto any
bulletin board or similar system.
No Disassembly or Decryption
You may not disassemble, decompile or decrypt the Software unless Agilent
Technologies' prior written consent is obtained. In some jurisdictions,
Agilent Technologies' consent may not be required for disassembly or
decompilation. Upon request, you will provide Agilent Technologies with
reasonably detailed information regarding any disassembly or
decompilation.
Transfer
Your license will automatically terminate upon any transfer of the Software.
Upon transfer, you must deliver all copies of the Software and related
documentation to the transferee. The transferee must accept these License
Terms as a condition to the transfer.

iv Agilent Technologies E5500 Phase Noise Measurement System
Third Party Software
Software may include third party software. Those third parties may protect
their rights in the event of any violation of these License Terms.
Termination
Agilent Technologies may terminate your license upon notice forfailure to
comply with any of these License Terms. Upon termination, you must
immediately destroy the Software, together with all copies, adaptations and
merged portions in any form.
Export Requirements
You may not export or re-export the Software or any copy or adaptation in
violation of any applicable laws or regulations.

Agilent Technologies E5500 Phase Noise Measurement System v
What You’ll Find in This Manual…
•Chapter 1, “Getting Started with the Agilent Technologies E5500 Phase
Noise Measurement System”
•Chapter 2, “Welcome to the HP E5500 Phase Noise Measurement
System Series of Solutions”
•Chapter 3, “Your First Measurement”
•Chapter 4, “Phase Noise Basics”
•Chapter 5, “Expanding Your Measurement Experience”
•Chapter 6, “Absolute Measurement Fundamentals”
•Chapter 7, “Absolute Measurement Examples”
•Chapter 8, “Residual Measurement Fundamentals”
•Chapter 9, “Residual Measurement Examples”
•Chapter 10, “FM Discriminator Fundamentals”
•Chapter 11, “FM Discriminator Measurement Examples”
•Chapter 12, “AM Noise Measurement Fundamentals”
•Chapter 13, “AM Noise Measurement Examples”
•Chapter 14, “Baseband Noise Measurement Examples”
•Chapter 15, “Evaluating Your Measurement Results”
•Chapter 16, “Advanced Software Features”
•Chapter 17, “Error Messages and System Troubleshooting”
•Chapter 18, “Reference Graphs and Tables”
•Chapter 19, “Connect Diagrams”
•Chapter 20, “System Specifications”
•Chapter 21, “Phase Noise Customer Support”
•Appendix A, “Connector Care and Preventive Maintenance”

vi Agilent Technologies E5500 Phase Noise Measurement System
Limited Warranty
Software Agilent Technologies warrants that the software will perform substantially
in accordance with the written materials for a period of one (1) year from the
date of receipt.
Agilent Technologies does not warrant that the operation of the software will
be uninterrupted or error free. In the event that this software product fails to
execute its programming instructions during the warranty period, the
customer’s remedy shall be to return the media to Agilent Technologies for
replacement. Should Agilent Technologies be unable to replace the media
within a reasonable amount of time, Customer’s alternate remedy shall be a
refund of the purchase price upon return of all copies of the software.
Media Agilent Technologies warrants the media upon which this product is
recorded to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal
use for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase. In the event any
media prove to be defective during the warranty period, Customer’s remedy
shall be to return the media to Agilent Technologies for replacement. Should
Agilent Technologies be unable to replace the media within a reasonable
amount of time, Customer’s alternate remedy shall be a refund of the
purchase price upon return of the product and all copies.
Notice of Warranty
Claims Customer shall notify Agilent Technologies in writing of any warranty claim
not later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the warranty period.
Limitation of
Warranty Agilent Technologies makes no other express warranty, whether written or
oral, with respect to this product.
Any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness is limited to one (1) year
duration of this written warranty.
This warranty gives specific legal rights, and Customer may also have rights
which vary which vary from state to state, or province to province.
Exclusive Remedies The remedies provided above are Customer’s sole and exclusive remedies.
In no event shall Agilent Technologies be liable for any direct, indirect,
special, incidental, or consequential damages (including lost profit) whether
based on warranty, contract, tort, or any other legal theory.
Assistance For assistance, call your local Agilent Technologies Sales and Service
Office (refer to “Service and Support” on page -vii).

Agilent Technologies E5500 Phase Noise Measurement System vii
Service and Support
Any adjustment, maintenance, or repair of this product must be performed
by qualified personnel. Contact your customer engineer through your local
Agilent Technologies Service Center. You can find a list of Agilent
Technologies Service Centers on the web at
http://www.agilent.com/find/tmdir.
If you do not have access to the Internet, one of these Agilent Technologies
centers can direct you to your nearest Agilent Technologies representative:
United States: Agilent Technologies Company
Test and Measurement Call Center
PO Box 4026
Englewood, CO 80155-4026
[phone] (toll-free in US)
Canada: Agilent Technologies Canada Ltd.
5150 Spectrum Way
Mississauga, Ontario L4W 5G1
[phone]
Europe: Agilent Technologies European Marketing Centre
Postbox 999
1180 AZ Amstelveen
The Netherlands
(31 20) 547 9900
Japan: Yokogawa-Agilent Technologies Ltd.
Measurement Assistance Center
9-1, Takakura-Cho, Hachioji-Shi
Tokyo 192, Japan
(81) 426 56 7832
(81) 426 56 7840 (FAX)
Latin America: Agilent Technologies Latin American Region
Headquarters
5200 Blue Lagoon Drive, 9th Floor
Miami, Florida 33126, U.S.A.
[phone]
[phone] (FAX)
Australia/New
Zealand: Agilent Technologies Australia Ltd. 31-41 Joseph Street
Blackburn, Victoria 3130
Australia
1 800 629 485 (toll-free)
Asia-Pacific: Agilent Technologies Asia Pacific Ltd.
17-21/F Shell Tower, Times Square
1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
(852) 2599 7777
(852) 2506 9285 (FAX)

Agilent Technologies E5500 Phase Noise Measurement System -i
Notice ..................................................... ii
SoftwareLicenseTerms....................................iii
WhatYou’llFindinThisManual….............................. v
LimitedWarranty ............................................vi
Software ................................................vi
Media ..................................................vi
NoticeofWarrantyClaims..................................vi
LimitationofWarranty.....................................vi
ExclusiveRemedies .......................................vi
Assistance...............................................vi
Service and Support . ........................................ vii
1. Getting Started with the Agilent Technologies E5500 Phase Noise
Measurement System
WhatYou’llFindinThisChapter… ............................1-1
Introduction................................................1-2
TrainingGuidelines .........................................1-3
2. Welcome to the Agilent Technologies E5500 Phase Noise Measurement
System Series of Solutions
WhatYou’llFindinThisChapter… ............................2-1
IntroducingtheGraphicalUserInterface .........................2-2
SystemRequirements ........................................2-4
3. Your First Measurement
WhatYou’llFindinThisChapter… ............................3-1
DesignedtoMeetYourNeeds .................................3-2
AsYouBegin ...........................................3-2
AsYouProgress .........................................3-2
E5500Operation;AGuidedTour ..............................3-3
RequiredEquipment......................................3-3
HowtoBegin ...........................................3-3
StartingtheMeasurementSoftware .............................3-4
MakingaMeasurement ......................................3-5
BeginningtheMeasurement................................3-7
ConnectDiagramExample ................................3-8
MakingtheMeasurement..................................3-8
Sweep-Segments ........................................3-9
Congratulations .........................................3-9
ToLearnMore ..........................................3-9
4. Phase Noise Basics
WhatYou’llFindinThisChapter ..............................4-1
WhatisPhaseNoise? ........................................4-2
5. Expanding Your Measurement Experience
WhatYou’llFindinThisChapter ..............................5-1
StartingtheMeasurementSoftware .............................5-2
UsingtheAssetManagertoAddaSource........................5-3

-ii Agilent Technologies E5500 Phase Noise Measurement System
UsingtheServerHardwareConnectionstoSpecifytheSource ....... 5-8
Testing the Agilent/HP 8663A Internal/External 10 MHz . . . ....... 5-10
DefiningtheMeasurement ............................... 5-11
SelectingaReferenceSource ............................. 5-13
SelectingLoopSuppressionVerification .................... 5-14
Setup Considerations for the Agilent/HP 8663A
10MHzMeasurement ............................... 5-14
BeginningtheMeasurement .............................. 5-16
Sweep-Segments....................................... 5-28
CheckingtheBeatnote .................................. 5-28
MakingtheMeasurement ................................ 5-29
Testing the Agilent/HP 8644B Internal/External 10 MHz . . . ....... 5-33
DefiningtheMeasurement ............................... 5-34
SelectingaReferenceSource ............................. 5-36
SelectingLoopSuppressionVerification .................... 5-37
Setup Considerations for the Agilent/HP 8663A
10MHzMeasurement ............................... 5-37
BeginningtheMeasurement .............................. 5-39
Sweep-Segments....................................... 5-51
CheckingtheBeatnote .................................. 5-51
MakingtheMeasurement ................................ 5-52
ViewingMarkers.......................................... 5-56
OmittingSpurs............................................ 5-57
DisplayingtheParameterSummary ........................... 5-59
ExportingMeasurementResults .............................. 5-60
ExportingTraceData ................................... 5-61
ExportingSpurData .................................... 5-62
ExportingX-YData .................................... 5-63
6. Absolute Measurement Fundamentals
WhatYou’llFindinThisChapter.............................. 6-1
ThePhaseLockLoopTechnique .............................. 6-2
UnderstandingthePhase-LockLoopTechnique ............... 6-3
ThePhaseLockLoopCircuit .............................. 6-3
WhatSetstheMeasurementNoiseFloor? ....................... 6-6
TheSystemNoiseFloor .................................. 6-6
TheNoiseLeveloftheReferenceSource .................... 6-7
SelectingaReference ....................................... 6-8
UsingaSimilarDevice ................................... 6-8
UsingaSignalGenerator ................................. 6-9
TuningRequirements .................................... 6-9
EstimatingtheTuningConstant .............................. 6-11
TrackingFrequencyDrift ................................... 6-12
EvaluatingBeatnoteDrift ................................ 6-12
ChangingthePTR ......................................... 6-14
TheTuningQualifications ............................... 6-14
MinimizingInjectionLocking................................ 6-16

Agilent Technologies E5500 Phase Noise Measurement System -iii
AddingIsolation........................................6-16
IncreasingthePLLBandwidth.............................6-16
InsertingaDevice..........................................6-18
AnAttenuator..........................................6-18
AnAmplifier ..........................................6-18
EvaluatingNoiseAbovetheSmallAngleLine ...................6-20
DeterminingthePhaseLockLoopBandwidth ................6-20
7. Absolute Measurement Examples
WhatYou’llFindinThisChapter ..............................7-1
StableRFOscillator .........................................7-2
RequiredEquipment......................................7-2
DefiningtheMeasurement.................................7-3
SelectingaReferenceSource...............................7-5
SelectingLoopSuppressionVerification......................7-6
SetupConsiderationsfortheStableRFOscillatorMeasurement ...7-6
BeginningtheMeasurement................................7-8
CheckingtheBeatnote ...................................7-19
MakingtheMeasurement.................................7-20
Free-RunningRFOscillator ..................................7-24
RequiredEquipment.....................................7-24
DefiningtheMeasurement................................7-25
SelectingaReferenceSource..............................7-27
SelectingLoopSuppressionVerification.....................7-28
Setup Considerations for the Free-Running RF
OscillatorMeasurement...............................7-28
BeginningtheMeasurement...............................7-31
CheckingtheBeatnote ...................................7-42
MakingtheMeasurement.................................7-44
RFSynthesizerusingDCFM .................................7-48
RequiredEquipment.....................................7-48
DefiningtheMeasurement................................7-49
SelectingaReferenceSource..............................7-51
SelectingLoopSuppressionVerification.....................7-52
Setup Considerations for the RF Synthesizer using
DCFMMeasurement .................................7-52
BeginningtheMeasurement...............................7-55
CheckingtheBeatnote ...................................7-66
MakingtheMeasurement.................................7-68
RFSynthesizerusingEFC ...................................7-72
RequiredEquipment.....................................7-72
DefiningtheMeasurement................................7-73
SelectingaReferenceSource..............................7-75
SelectingLoopSuppressionVerification.....................7-76
SelectingaReferenceSource..............................7-77
Setup Considerations for the RF Synthesizer using
EFCMeasurement ...................................7-77