Agilent Technologies X Series User manual

Agilent X-Series
Signal Analyzer
N9000A CXA Functional
Tests
This manual provides documentation for the
following X-Series Analyzer:
CXA Signal Analyzer N9000A

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Manual Part Number
N9000-90017
Supersedes:None
Print Date
August 2009
Printed in USA
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3
Warranty
This Agilent technologies instrument product is warranted against defects in material and workmanship for
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4

Contents
5
Table of Contents
1. Functional Tests
Functional Test Versus Performance Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Contents of this Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Before Performing a Functional Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Test Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2. Displayed Average Noise Level (DANL)
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3. Frequency Readout Accuracy
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4. Second Harmonic Distortion (SHD)
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5. Amplitude Accuracy at 50 MHz
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Testing Preamp Option (P03, P07) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6. Frequency Response (Flatness)
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
7. Frequency Response (Flatness), Preamp On
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
8. Scale Fidelity
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

6
Contents
Table of Contents

7
Functional Tests
1 Functional Tests
Functional tests are tests of various instrument parameters that give a high degree of confidence that the
analyzer is operating correctly. They are recommended as a check of analyzer operation for incoming
inspection or after a repair. Measurement uncertainty analysis is not available for functional tests, and the
analyzer is checked against limits that are wider than the published specifications. The functional tests
are designed to test an analyzer operating within the temperature range defined by the analyzer
specifications using a minimum set of test equipment. If a test does not pass, performance verification
tests must be run to determine whether a problem exists.

8 Chapter1
Functional Tests
Functional Test Versus Performance Verification
Functional Tests
Functional Test Versus Performance Verification
Functional tests use a minimum set of test equipment to check a much smaller range of parameters (and
a limited number of data points for each parameter) than do performance verification tests. Functional
tests use limits that are wider than the published specifications; measurement uncertainty analysis is not
available for functional tests.
NOTE If a functional test does not pass, you must run performance verification tests to
determine whether a problem exists.
Performance verification tests span a wide range of instrument parameters and provide the highest level
of confidence that the instrument conforms to published specifications. These tests can be time
consuming and require extensive test equipment.

Chapter 1 9
Functional Tests
Contents of this Document
Functional Tests
Contents of this Document
This chapter includes the following:
•“Before Performing a Functional Test” on page 10 (what to do first).
•“Test Equipment” on page 11 (a list of the equipment required for all of the tests).
Subsequent chapters describe the following Functional Tests:
•“Displayed Average Noise Level (DANL)” on page 15
•“Frequency Readout Accuracy” on page 19
•“Second Harmonic Distortion (SHD)” on page 21
•“Amplitude Accuracy at 50 MHz” on page 25
•“Frequency Response (Flatness)” on page 31
•“Frequency Response (Flatness), Preamp On” on page 35
•“Scale Fidelity” on page 39
Each functional test includes:
• Test limits (pass/fail criteria)
• A description of the test
• The equipment required for the test
• A figure showing how to connect the equipment
• Step-by-step instructions
• One or more tables in which to record the measurement results

10 Chapter1
Functional Tests
Before Performing a Functional Test
Functional Tests
Before Performing a Functional Test
1. Ensure that you have the proper test equipment.
2. Switch on the unit under test (UUT) and let it warm up (in accordance with warm-up requirements in
the instrument specifications).
3. Allow sufficient warm-up time for the required test equipment (refer to individual instrument
documentation for warm-up specifications).
4. Ensure that the analyzer’s frequency reference is set to Internal:
a. Press the Input/Output, More, Freq Ref In keys.
b. If the Freq Ref In softkey does not show Internal, press the Freq Ref In softkey and select Internal.
5. Following instrument warm-up, perform the auto align routine:
Press System, Alignments, Align Now, All.
NOTE Functional test accuracy depends on the precision of the test equipment used. Ensure that
all of the test equipment is calibrated before running a functional test.