Agilent Technologies HP 83711A User manual

Printed in USA March 2000
Notice
Hewlett-Packard to Agilent Technologies Transition
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Technologies. The two products are functionally identical, only our name has changed. The
document still includes references to Hewlett-Packard products, some of which have been
transitioned to Agilent Technologies.

2Chapter1
Contacting Agilent
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(tel) 1 877 894 4414
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User's Guide
HP 83711A/12A and
HP 83711B/12B
Synthesized CW
Generators

HP part number: 83711-90131
Printed in US
AJuly 1997 Supersedes April 1995
Notice.
The information contained in this document is subject to change without
notice
.
Hewlett-P
ackard makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material,
including but not limited to
,the implied warranties of merchantability and
tness for aparticular purpose
.Hewlett-P
ackard 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.
c
 Copyright Hewlett-Packard Company 1995, 1997
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, adaptation, or translation without prior
written permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the copyright laws
.
1400 F
ountaingrove P
arkway, Santa Rosa, CA 95403-1799, US
A

The HP 83711A/12A and HP 83711B/12B
Synthesized CW Generators
The HP 83711A/12A and HP 83711B/12B synthesized CW generators are
referred to as \synthesizers" throughout this manual. The HP 83711A/11B
has a carrier frequency range of 1 GHz to 20 GHz and the HP 83712A/12B has
acarrier frequency range of 10 MHz to 20 GHz. Specication information can
be found in Chapter 4, \Specications and Options
."
The
HP 83711A/12A and HP 83711B/12B Synthesized CW Generators User's
Guide
is written to accommodate the novice and the expert user
.If you
are unfamiliar with the synthesizer
,Chapter 2, \P
erforming Fundamental
Synthesizer Operations
," is useful. If you are familiar with the synthesizer
,
Chapter 3, \Generating Signals with the Synthesizer" section is helpful. If
you are looking for specic, detailed information about the synthesizer
,refer
to the remaining chapters as needed.
Notes
1. This manual applies to instruments with rmware revision 10.0 or greater
.
2. If you have an HP 83711A/12A instrument with rmware revision number
<
10.0, refer to the
HP 83711A/12A Synthesized Signal Generator User's Guide
(5960-7088).
3. T
oview rmware revision, press
4
SPCL
5
,
4
1
5
,
4
HZ
5
(ENTER).
iii

The Synthesizer at a Glance
The following gure and accompanying text explains some features of the
HP 83711A and HP 83711B
.The HP 83712A andHP 83712B are nearly
identical.
HP 83711B Synthesized CW Generator
iv

1.
The
4
MSG
5
ke
yallows you to displa
y
an
yerror messages on the front panel displa
y
.
Error messages are generated when you
perform ake
ystroke sequence that is not
valid, try to operate the synthesizer in a
mode that is not allowed, etc
.
2.
The
4
SHIFT
5
ke
ychanges the function
of some of the ke
ys. When you press the
4
SHIFT
5
keyand then press another ke
y
,
the synthesizer performs the function printed
in blue above the ke
y
.
3.
The
4
RECALL
5
/SA
VE ke
yis used to
save most of the synthesizer operating
parameters in one of nine nonvolatile register
locations so that the
ycan be recalled and
used at a later time
.
4.
The Automatic L
evel Control ke
ys select
the method used to regulate the synthesizer
output power level. Either internal leveling,
external power meter leveling, or external
diode detector leveling can be selected.
Additional external equipment is required
when either external power meter leveling or
external diode detector leveling is used.
5.
These ke
ys set the carrier frequenc
y and
RF output power level of the synthesizer
.
6.
The displa
y shows the current values of
synthesizer parameters as well as the status
of man
yof the synthesizer functions. The
displa
y shows the current carrier frequenc
y
and output power level. The annunciators
that appear below the parameters are only
visible when their associated function is active
.
7.
The
4
(
5
and
4
)
5
ke
ys move the cursor
that is over one of the digits in the display
either to the right or left when pressed. The
digit that is under the cursor will be modied
when the knob is rotated. If no cursor
appears in the displa
y, parameter entry or
modication has been inhibited.
8.
The
RF OUTPUT
connector mates with a
Type-N male connector on non-Option 1E9
instruments. The connector mates with a
female APC-3.5 mm precision connector on
instruments with Option 1E9 installed.
9.
The knob is used to increase or decrease
the digit under the cursor (
9
)in the
displa
yin steps of one
.
10.
The data entry ke
ys are used to enter
and modify various synthesizer parameters.
The
4
B
A
CKSP
ACE
5
keycancels all or
part of an erroneous parameter entry before
it has been terminated. The terminator ke
ys
(the right-most column of ke
ys) are used to
choose the units for the entered parameter
as well as to terminate the parameter entry
.
The
4
*
5
, 4
+
5
, and
4
STEP SIZE
5
keys
are used to increase or decrease a parameter
in predetermined steps.
11.
The Automatic L
evel Control voltage input
(AL
CIN) connector is used as the feedback
path to the synthesizer when its RF output
power level is being leveled externally
.
12.
The 4
SPCL
5
key is used to initiate the
activation of several special functions available
in the synthesizer. Special functions are
additional functions that are not activated b
y
pressing afront panel ke
yorshifted ke
y
.
13.
The POWER switch (LINE on an HP
83711A/12A) turns the synthesizer either on
or o.
Synthesizer rear panel features are depicted and described in detail in
Chapter 5, \Front/Rear P
anel," in this book.
v

In This Book
This book is divided into the following chapters:

Chapter 1
, \Installing and V
erifying the Synthesizer
," contains procedures
for installing the synthesizer and verifying its operation.

Chapter 2
,\P
erforming Fundamental Synthesizer Operations
," familiarizes
you with the fundamental operation of the synthesizer
.

Chapter 3
,\Generating Signals with the Synthesizer
," explains how to
generate CW signals and level signals
.

Chapter 4
,\Specications and Options
," contains alist of the synthesizer
performance specications as well as the various mechanical, electrical,
warranty
,and documentation options that are available
.

Chapter 5
,\Front/Rear P
anel," contains entries that explain dierent
aspects of the synthesizer front and rear panel. (F
or example
,you turn to
this chapter for information on the RF connectors).

Chapter 6
,\K
eys/Shifted Functions
," contains entries on the function of
each key on the synthesizer front panel as well as the shifted or alternate
function of certain keys
.
 Chapter 7
,\Special Functions
," contains entries on the special functions
available in the synthesizer
.Special functions are hidden during normal
instrument operation and can only be invoked by typing aspecic key
sequence on the synthesizer front panel.

Chapter 8
,\Error Messages
," contains atable that lists all of the error
messages that might be generated during use of the instrument. Each table
entry contains asequence that can be followed to recover from the error
condition.

Chapter 9
,\Legal and Regulatory Information," contains information
related to safety and SCPI conformance information. The product warranty
is also contained in this chapter
.
vi

Contents
1. Installing and V
erifying the Synthesizer
Installing the Syn
thesizer ...............
1-3
T
o Unpac
kthe Syn
thesizer .............
1-3
T
o Install the Syn
thesizer .............
1-5
V
erifying Syn
thesizer F
unctionalit
y..........
1-7
If Y
ou Encoun
ter aProblem .......... . . .
1-8
Mec
hanical or Electrical Damage ..........
1-8
P
o
w
er-up Problems ................
1-9
Self T
est F
ailures .................
1-11
2. P
erforming Fundamental Synthesizer Operations
T
oEn
ter Data with the Numeric Keypad ..... . . .
2-3
T
oMo dify Data with the Knob ...... . . . ...
2-4
T
oMo dify Data with the Arro
wKeys .... . . . ..
2-6
T
oSa
v
eand Recall Syn
thesizer States ...... . ..
2-8
Programming Example .............. .
2-9
T
oRead the Con
ten
ts of the Error Queue .......
2-10
Programming Example ........ . ......
2-11
T
oSet the HP-IB Address .... . .........
2-12
Programming Example ...... . . . . . ....
2-12
If Y
ou Encoun
ter aProblem ... . . . .......
2-13
Data Entry Problems . ..............
2-13
Programming Problems . . . . . .........
2-15
3. Generating Signals with the Synthesizer
T
oGenerate aCW Signal ............. .
3-3
T
oGenerate Millimeter Signals ............
3-4
T
oUse External Dio de Detector Lev
eling .. . . . . . .
3-7
Programming Command ....... . . . . . . .
3-10
Related T
asks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3-10
To Use External P
ower Meter Lev
eling . . . . . . . . .
3-11
Programming Commands . .. . . . . . . . . . . .
3-13
Related T
asks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3-13
To Use the Lev
el Correct Routine . . . . . . . . . . .
3-14
Related T
asks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3-19
To Use Previously Stored Lev
el Correct Data . . . . . .
3-20
Contents-1

Related T
asks .............. . . . . .
3-21
If Y
ou Encounter aProblem ............
..
.3-22
Ann
unciators T
urned On ..............
3-22
RF Output Problems ...............
3-23
4. Specications and Options
HP 83711A/11B Specications ....... . . . . .
4-3
F
requency ......... . . . . . . . ....
4-3
RF Output ......... . . . . . . . ....
4-4
Spectral Purit
y....... . . . . . . . ....
4-6
HP 83712A/12B Specications ....... . . . . .
4-9
F
requency ....... . . . ..........
4-9
RF Output ....................
4-10
Spectral Purit
y..................
4-13
General ....... . . . . . .........
4-17
F
ron
tP
anel Connectors .. . . . . . . . .....
4-18
Rear Panel Connectors . ..............
4-19
Options . . . . ..................
4-20
Electrical Options . . . ..............
4-20
Option 1E1 -Add Output Step A
tten
uator .....
4-20
Option 1E5 -Add High Stabilit yTimebase .....
4-20
Option 1E8 -1Hz F
requency Resolution ......
4-20
Option 1E9 -3.5 mm RF Output Connector ....
4-21
Mec
hanical Options ................
4-21
Option 1CM -Rac
kMoun
tKit ..........
4-21
Option 1CP -Rac
kMoun
tand Handle Kit .....
4-21
Option 1CR -Rac
kSlide Kit ...........
4-21
W
arran
t
yOptions ........ . . . . . . . ..
4-22
Option W30 -Tw
oAdditional Y
ears Return-to-HP
Service .............. . . . . .
4-22
Option W32 -Three Y
ear Return-to-HP Calibration
Service .............. . . . . .
4-22
Do cumen
tation Options . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
4-22
Option OB0 -Delete Operating Do cumen
tation ...
4-22
Option OB1 - Extra Op erating Do cumen
tation . . . 4-23
Option OBV - Comp onen
t-Level Information P
acket
(CLIP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23
Option OBW - Service Do cumen
tation . . . . . . .
4-23
Option OBX - Comp onen
t-Lev
el Information P
acket
(CLIP)/Service Do cumen
tation . . . . . . . .
4-23
Contents-2

5. Front/Rear P
anel
Ann
unciators ............... . . . . .
5-3
See Also .................... .. .5-5
Connectors .................. . . .
5-6
Coaxial Connectors ................
5-7
HP-IB Connector ............. . . . .
5-8
Displa
y............. . . . . . . . ..
5-11
See Also ............. . . . . . . . .
5-12
Knob .............. . . . . . . . ..
5-13
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command .......... . . .
5-13
See Also ............. . . . . . . . .
5-14
PO
WER Switc
h......... . . . .......
5-15
See Also .....................
5-15
P
o
w
er Cables ....................
5-16
6. K
eys/Shifted Functions
)
. . . . .....................
6-3
Equiv
alentSCPI Command .............
6-4
See Also . . . ..................
6-4
(
... . .....................
6-5
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command .............
6-6
See Also ... . .................
6-6
*
...................... . ..
6-7
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Commands ............
6-7
See Also .....................
6-8
+
...................... . . .
6-9
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Commands ............
6-9
See Also ........... . . . . . . . ...
6-10
ADDRESS .............. . . . . . ..
6-11
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command .......... . . .
6-11
See Also ............. . . . . . . . .
6-11
BA
CK SP
A
CE .......... . . . . . . . ..
6-12
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command . . . . . . . . . . . ..
6-12
See Also .....................
6-12
ENTER (Hz) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-13
Equivalent SCPI Command . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-13
See Also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-14
ENTRY OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-15
Equivalent SCPI Command . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-15
See Also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-15
EXT DIODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-16
Contents-3

External Dio de Detector Lev
eling ..........
6-16
Applications .................
..
.. 6-17
Adv
an
tages of Dio de Detector Lev
eling ........
6-18
Disadv
an
tages of Dio de Detector Lev
eling ......
6-18
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command .............
6-19
See Also ............. . . . . . ...
6-19
EXT METER ............. . . . . . . .
6-20
External P
o
w
er Meter Lev
eling ....... . . . .
6-20
Applications .............. . . . . .
6-22
External Equipmen
tLimitations ..........
6-22
P
o
w
er Meter .......... . . . . . . . .
6-22
P
o
w
er Sensor ........ . . . .......
6-22
Adv
an
tages of P
o
w
er Meter Lev
eling .........
6-23
Disadv
an
tages of P
o
w
er Meter Lev
eling ........
6-23
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Commands ........... .
6-24
See Also .............. . . . . . . .
6-24
FREQ ......... . . . ...........
6-25
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command ..... . . . .....
6-26
See Also ........ . . . ..........
6-26
INT LEVEL .......... . .........
6-27
Adv
an
tages of In
ternal Lev
eling .... . ......
6-28
Disadv
an
tages of Internal Lev
eling ..........
6-28
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Commands . . ..........
6-29
See Also .... . ................
6-29
LOCAL ..... . . . ..............
6-30
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command . . . . .........
6-30
See Also .... . . . ..............
6-30
L
VL CR .................. . . . .
6-31
Equiv
alent SCPI Command .............
6-34
See Also . ....................
6-34
L
VL CR ON/OFF . .................
6-35
Equiv
alent SCPI Commands ............
6-36
See Also ........... . . . . . . . . . .
6-36
MSG .......................
6-37
Equivalent SCPI Command . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-37
See Also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-37
MULTIPLIER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-38
Equivalent SCPI Command . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-39
See Also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-39
Numeric Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-40
See Also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-40
Contents-4

PO
WER LEVEL .............. . . . .
6-41
Equivalent SCPI Command ..............6-42
See Also ................. . . . .
6-42
PRESET .................. . . . .
6-43
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Commands ............
6-44
See Also ............. . . . . . ...
6-44
R
CL CR ............ . . . . . . . ...
6-45
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command .......... . . .
6-46
See Also ............. . . . . . . . .
6-46
RECALL .............. . . . . . . . .
6-47
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command .......... . . .
6-47
See Also ........... . . . .......
6-47
RF ON/OFF ....................
6-48
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command .............
6-48
See Also .............. . . . . . ..
6-48
SA
VE .............. . . . . . . . ..
6-49
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command ..... . . . .....
6-49
See Also ........ . . . ..........
6-49
SA
VE CR ....... . . . ...........
6-50
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command ....... . .....
6-51
See Also .......... . ..........
6-51
SHIFT .... . ..................
6-52
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command . . ...........
6-52
See Also .... . ................
6-52
SPCL ..... . . . ...............
6-53
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command . . . . .........
6-53
SPCL OFF (kHz) ... . . . ............
6-54
Equiv
alentSCPI Command .............
6-54
See Also . ....................
6-55
SPCL ON (MHz) ..................
6-56
Equiv
alentSCPI Command .............
6-56
See Also . . . ..................
6-56
STEP SIZE ........... . . . . . . . . . .
6-57
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Commands ............
6-57
See Also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-58
Contents-5

7. Special Functions
A
TTEN HOLD ON/OFF ............. .
7-3
Applications .................. .
7-4
Adv
an
tages ................ . . . .
7-4
Disadv
an
tages ................ . . .
7-5
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command .......... . . .
7-5
See Also ..............
..
..
..
...7-5
CLEAR DISPLA
Y............ . . . . .
7-6
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command .......... . . .
7-7
See Also ............. . . . . . . . .
7-7
ERASE MEMOR
Y............ . . . . .
7-8
Application ............ . . . .....
7-8
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command .............
7-8
See Also .....................
7-9
PWR MTR ADDRS ............. . . . .
7-10
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command ........... . .
7-11
See Also ........ . . . ..........
7-11
PWR MTR SELECT ....... . . . ......
7-12
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command ..... . . . .....
7-12
See Also .......... . ..........
7-13
REMOTE LANGUA
GE ......... . .....
7-14
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command . ............
7-14
See Also .... . ................
7-14
SELF TEST .... . ...............
7-15
Equiv
alen
tSCPI Command . . . . .........
7-16
See Also .... . . . ..............
7-16
Service-Related Special F
unctions . . . . .......
7-17
See Also . .................. . .
7-17
SHO
W INF
O................... .
7-18
Equiv
alent SCPI Command .............
7-18
See Also . . . ..................
7-18
8. Error Messages
Error Messages List .................
8-3
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-5
Contents-6

9. Legal and Regulatory Information
Safet
ySym
bols ............ . . . . . . .
9-3
Miscellaneous Sym
bols ...............
9-4
Safet
yConsiderations ................
9-5
Before Applying P
o
w
er ............. . .
9-5
Safet
yEarth Ground ........... . . . . .
9-5
Cleaning the Product ............... .. 9-6
Certication .............. . . . . . .
9-7
W
arran
t
y........... . . . . . . . ....
9-8
Limitation of W
arran
t
y......... . . . . .
9-8
Exclusiv
eRemedies ............ . . . .
9-9
Assistance ............ . . . ......
9-10
Index
Contents-7

Figures
1-1. Line Fuse Removal and Replacement ...........1-10
3-1. Millimeter-Wave Equipment Setup .............3-4
3-2. External Diode Detector Leveling Setup . .........3-8
3-3. External P
ower Meter Leveling Setup ...........3-11
3-4. Level Correct Routine Equipment Setup . .........3-15
4-1. Typical Maximum A
vailable Output P
ower from 1to 20
GHz, at 25

Cwith Output Step Attenuator (Option 1E1)
Installed ...................... 4-4
4-2. Typical Output Level A
ccuracy and Flatness at +10 and
0
85
dBm ........................4-5
4-3. Typical single-sideband phase noise at 1GHz, 10 GHz and 20
GHz, 25

C, CW mode. Osets less than 100 Hz require
the high stability timebase
, Option 1E5. . .......4-6
4-4. Typical 2nd Harmonic Levels Measured at Output P
ower of +6
dBm .....
..
.................4-7
4-5. Typical Residual FM Measured in 50 Hz -15 kHz Bandwidth,
CW Mode
,with High Stability Timebase (Option 1E5) ..4-8
4-6. Typical Maximum A
vailable Output P
ower from 1to 20
GHz, at 25

CwithOutput Step Attenuator (Option 1E1)
Installed . .....................4-10
4-7. Typical Maximum A
vailable Output P
ower from 0.01 to 1GHz
at 25

C. ....................
..4-11
4-8. Typical Output Level A
ccuracy and Flatness at +10 and
0
85
dBm .................. .. .. ..4-12
4-9. Typical single-sideband phase noise at 50 MHz, 1GHz, 10 GHz
and 20 GHz, 25

C, CW mode
.Osets less than 100 Hz
require the high stability timebase
,Option 1E5. .....4-14
4-10. Typical 2nd Harmonic Levels Measured at Output P
ower of +6
dBm .......... .. .. .. .. ......4-15
4-11. Typical Residual FM Measured in 50 Hz - 15 kHz Bandwidth,
CW mode
, with High Stability Timebase (Option 1E5) .. 4-16
5-1. Synthesizer Display Annunciators . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
5-2. Synthesizer Connectors - Front P
anel ....
....... 5-6
5-3. Synthesizer Connectors - Rear P
anel . . . . ........ 5-6
5-4. HP-IB Connector and Cable . . . . . . . ......... 5-8
5-5. Synthesizer Display ..........
.. .. .. .. . 5-11
5-6. P
ower Cable and Line (Mains) Plug P
art Numbers . . . ... 5-17
Contents-8

Contents
6-1. External Diode Detector Leveling Setup ..........6-17
6-2. External P
ower Meter Leveling Setup ........... 6-21
Contents-9

T
ables
4-1. Osets (HP 83711A only) .................4-6
4-2. Osets (HP 83711B only) .................4-6
4-3. Osets (HP 83712A only) .. ...............4-13
4-4. Osets (HP 83712B only) .. ...............4-13
5-1. HP-IB Interface Cables A
vailable . ............5-8
6-1. PRESET Conditions ................... 6-43
7-1. Service-Related Special Functions .............7-17
9-1. Hewlett-P
ackard Sales and Service Oces .........9-11
Contents-10

1
Installing and V
erifying the
Synthesizer

Installing and V
erifying the Synthesizer
This chapter contains procedures for properly installing your HP 83711A/12A
or HP 83711B/12B synthesizer and procedures for functional verication of
the instrument.
1-2