Agilent Technologies N4010A Installation and operating instructions

Agilent N4010A Wireless Connectivity
Test Set Performance Guide Using the
89601A Vector Signal Analysis Software
and the 89607A WLAN Test Suite Software
Application Note

Table of Contents
Introduction… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Product Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
N4010A/89601A Features . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Performance Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Time and Waveform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Measurement, Display, and Control. . . . . 7
Software Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Vector Modulation Analysis
(Option 89601A-AYA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Wireless LAN Modulation Analysis
(Option 89601A-B7R) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Wireless LAN Test Suite Software
(89607A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Appendix:
Required hardware and software . . . . 19
Related Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Introduction
This guide characterizes the
performance of the N4010A wireless
connectivity test set and the
89601A vector signal analysis VSA)
software combination. The N4010A/
89601A combination adds the
flexible digital demodulation and
analysis capabilities of the 89601A
software to the frequency coverage
and capabilities of the N4010A.
This guide also characterizes the
performance of the N4010A and the
89607A wireless LAN WLAN) test
suite software combination. The
N4010A/ 89607A combination allows
for quick and accurate standards-
based transmitter testing for
IEEE 802.11b/g formats.
Product Overview
N4010A wireless connectivity
test set
The N4010A is a test set designed to
quickly and accurately measure
emerging wireless connectivity
formats in the 2.4 GHz band. The
N4010A offers two bandwidth
selections of 5 and 22 MHz, making
the N4010A an ideal test platform
for Bluetooth™ and WLAN RF
measurements. The N4010A with
Bluetooth Option 101 is an effective
measurement tool for development,
integration, pre-qualification, and
volume manufacturing. Use Option
N4010A-101, with eight different
Bluetooth RF cases, for making
transmitter and receiver measure-
ments as defined in the Bluetooth 1.1
RF test specification. The Bluetooth
test set also includes an internal test
sequencer to shorten test and devel-
opment time. The N4010A with
WLAN Option 102 includes integrat-
ed source and receiver hardware to
verify that 802.11b/g modules and
devices meet their RF design
requirements.
89601A VSA software
The 89601A VSA software provides
flexible tools for making RF and
modulation quality measurements
on digital communication signals.
Analyze a wide variety of standard
and non-standard signal formats
with the 89601A software. Standard
signal presets cover GSM, EDGE,
cdmaOne, cdma2000, W-CDMA,
Bluetooth, 802.11a/b/g, and more.
For emerging standards, the 89601A
software series offers 24 digital
demodulators with variable center
frequency, symbol rate, filter type,
and filter alpha/BT. A user-adjustable
adaptive equalizer is also provided.
2

Quickly evaluate and troubleshoot
digitally modulated signals with the
modulation analysis tools in the
89601A software. Examine symbol
behavior with trellis/eye diagrams.
Use the constellation and vector
diagrams for an overall indication of
signal behavior and to obtain clues
to the cause of the problem. Take
advantage of the EVM, EVM
spectrum, and EVM time capabilities
for more sensitive examination of
signal errors.
Perform time domain analysis using
the 89601A software RF scope
capability. Evaluate pulse shape
with the main time display, select
specific portions of a burst for
analysis with the time gating
feature, and use statistical tools
such as CCDF and CDF to character-
ize the noise-like behavior of your
modern communication signal.
Simplify the characterization of your
signal with the zero-span spectrum
analysis tools in the 89601A analysis
software. With the wide selection
of spans available in the 89601A
software, match your measurement
span to your signal bandwidth, to
maximize signal-to-noise ratio SNR)
analysis. FFT-based resolution
bandwidths down to less than 1 Hz
provide all the resolution needed for
frequency domain investigations.
A power spectral density PSD)
function is useful for estimating
the level of the noise floor when
calculating SNR. Additionally, a
spectrogram display is provided for
monitoring the wideband behavior
of hopping signals over time.
89607A WLAN test suite software
The 89607A standards-based test
suite provides the convenience of
automatic, one-button test set-up
and execution. It also provides you
with the confidence of knowing your
design is being tested based on
the techniques, parameters, and
specifications set down in the IEEE
802.11a/b/g standards.
The 89607A WLAN test suite
software is ideal for characterizing
overall physical PHY) layer per-
formance of your WLAN transmitter.
Evaluate your transmitter design
against the IEEE standards. Take
advantage of its standardized tests
to qualify parts or do acceptance
testing. Use the software for
manufacturing test; you can even
modify the pass/fail limits to add
some margin between what IEEE
requires and what test you do.
N4010A/89601A/89607A
combination
In the N4010A/89601A combination,
the N4010A can be used as a wire-
less connectivity test set to link with
other Bluetooth devices and check
for correct operation by making
parametric measurements on the
device under test. Use the 89601A to
extend the testing capabilities of
the N4010A by measuring and
graphically displaying modulation
quality of your Bluetooth signal.
With the N4010A and Option
89601A-B7R or 89607A software,
the N4010A/89601A/89607A
combination can be used to test and
troubleshoot WLAN modules and
devices. The N4010A with Option
89601A-B7R can be used for flexible
modulation analysis to quickly
locate design problems. The N4010A
with the 89607A software can be
used test WLAN modules to the
specifications set down in the IEEE
802.11b/g standards with one-
button pass/fail testing.
This combination can measure
active signals or signals captured in
the N4010A’s memory. The N4010A
or the N4010A/89601A combination
can examine active signals. Switching
between the two products is
facilitated by an easy disconnect/
restart menu selection in the
89601A user interface.
The 89601A/89607A software runs
on a PC connected to the N4010A
via LAN, USB, or GPIB and provides
hardware control, modulation analy-
sis, evaluation, and troubleshooting
along with complete results displays.
The controls and display of the
N4010A are disabled while operat-
ing the 89601A/89607A software.
3

N4010A/89601A Features
The N4010A/89601A combination
requires a PC for the software’s
operation. Detailed configuration
requirements for the N4010A, the
software, and the PC are provided in
the appendix.
N4010A feature availability
When the N4010A is controlled by
the 89601A software, users have
control of the following features via
the 89601A software
Frequency: the center frequency of
the N4010A is controlled and the
89601A software displays its
current setting
Span: zero-span only. Maximum
setting is 22 MHz. Zero-span
control and the display of its
current setting are provided by the
89601A software
Triggering: IF magnitude, external
TTL, level, delay, and slope
External reference: 10 MHz
Disconnect/restart: pause the
89600 software to gain immediate,
direct access to all of the N4010A’s
features by using the disconnect
capability on the VSA software’s
control menu
89601A feature availability
When the 89601A software is used
with the N4010A, almost all of the
features of the 89601A and its
options are available. See the
appendix for details.)
These features include
• recording of time waveforms,
allowing you to re-analyze signals
and store them for future
comparisons
• 24 flexible digital demodulators
settable in center frequency,
symbol rate, filter type, and filter
α/BT
• a complete set of vector signal
analysis and modulation analysis
displays including: constellation,
eye diagram, EVM spectrum, EVM
spectrum, EVM time, error screens,
multiple trace displays, and a
spectrogram display
• flexible marker capabilities
including time gating, integrated
band power, and offset delta)
markers
• a link to Agilent signal sources for
download and playback of signals
in the signal capture memory
• complete save and recall of your
signals, trace data, and measure-
ment screens
• easy cut and paste to other PC
applications
The 89601A software’s swept
spectrum analysis capability is not
supported.
4

Performance Summary
The following is a summary of the
features and capabilities provided
by the N4010A in combination with
the 89601A software. These are
nominal values and are not
warranted.
Frequency range
Option N4010A-101 or 102 2.381 to 2.519 GHz (for 22 MHz span)
Center-frequency tuning resolution 1 MHz
Frequency span range < 10 kHz to 22 MHz
Frequency points per span
Calibrated points 51 to 102,401
Displayable points 51 to 131,072
Resolution bandwidth (RBW)
The range of available RBW choices is a function of the selected
frequency span and the number of calculated frequency points.
Users may step through the available range in 1-3-10 sequence
or directly enter an arbitrarily chosen bandwidth.
RBW range < 100 Hz to > 1.68 MHz
RBW shape factor
The window choices below allow you to optimize the RBW shape as
needed for best amplitude accuracy, dynamic range, or response to
transient signal characteristics.
Window Selectivity Passband Rejection
(3:60 dB) flatness
Flat top 0.41 0.01 dB > 95 dBc
Gaussian top 0.25 0.68 dB > 125 dBc
Hanning 0.11 1.5 dB > 31 dBc
Uniform 0.0014 4.0 dB > 13 dBc
Input range 2.37 to 2.53 GHz –70 to +23 dBm
Amplitude accuracy ±0.5 dB
S/N ratio
0 dBm input > 44 dB (22 MHz bandwidth)
> 50 dB (5 MHz bandwidth)
5

Time and Waveform Time record characteristics
In the 89601A software, measurements are based on
time records (for example, blocks of waveform samples
from which time, frequency and modulation domain data
is derived.) Time records have these characteristics:
Time record length = (number of frequency points – 1)/span,
with RBW mode set to arbitrary, auto-coupled
Time sample resolutions = 1/(k x span)
Where k = 1.28 for time data = zoom
Time capture characteristics
In time capture mode, the 89601A software captures
the incoming waveform in real time (i.e. gap free)
into high speed time capture memory. This data may
then be replayed through the software at full or
reduced speed, saved to mass storage, or transferred
to another software application.
When post-analyzing the captured waveform, users
may adjust measurement span and center frequency
in order to zoom in on specific signals of interest, as
long as the new measurement span lies entirely
within the originally captured span.
Time capture memory size 500 ksamples (complex samples for spans
≤5 MHz; real samples for spans > 5 MHz)
Time capture length versus span 5 ms, 5 MHz < span ≤22 MHz
50 ms, spans ≤5 MHz
6

Measurement,
Display, and Control
Triggering
Trigger types
Vector signal analyzer Free run, IF magnitude, external TTL
Internal trigger range –65 to +23 dBm for 5 MHz bandwidth
–60 to +23 dBm for 22 MHz bandwidth
Pre-trigger delay range 4.5 ms or time capture length, whichever is shorter
Post-trigger delay range 5.2 ms
Trigger hold-off 20 ns to 0.65 ms
Averaging
Number of averages, maximum > 108
Overlap averaging 0 to 99.99%
Average types
Vector signal analyzer application rms (video), rms (video) exponential, peak hold,
time, time exponential
Time gating
Provides time-selective frequency-domain analysis on
any input or analog demodulated time-domain data.
When gating is enabled, markers appear on the time
data; gate position and length can be set directly.
Independent gate delays can be set for each input
channel. See time specifications for main time length
and time resolution details.
Gate length, maximum Main time length
Gate length, minimum = window shape/(0.3 x freq. span)
where window shape is equal to:
Flat-top window 3.8
Gaussian-top window 2.2
Hanning window 1.5
Uniform window 1.0
7

Marker functions Peak signal track, frequency counter, band power
Band power markers
Markers can be placed on any time, frequency, or
demodulated trace for direct computation of band
power, rms square root (of power), C/N, or C/No,
computed within the selected portion of the data.
Trace math
Trace math can be used to manipulate data on each
measurement. Applications include user-defined
measurement units, data correction, and normalization.
Operands Measurement data, data register, constants, jω
Operations +, –, x, /, conjugate, magnitude, phase, real,
imaginary, square, square root, FFT, inverse FFT,
windowing, logarithm, exponential, peak value,
reciprocal, phase unwrap, zero
Trace formats Log mag (dB or linear), linear mag, real (I), imag (Q),
wrap phase, unwrap phase, I-Q, constellation,
Q-eye, I-eye, trellis-eye, group delay
Trace layouts 1 to 4 traces on one, two, or four grids
Number of colors User-definable palette
Spectrogram display
Types Color – normal and reversed
Monochrome – normal and reversed
User colormap – 1 total
Adjustable parameters Number of colors
Enhancement (color-amplitude weighting)
Threshold
Trace select When a measurement is paused any trace in the
trace buffer can be selected by trace number. The
marker values and marker functions apply to the
selected trace.
Z-axis value The z-axis value is the time the trace data was
acquired relative to the start of the measurement.
The z-axis value of the selected trace is displayed
as part of the marker readout.
Memory Displays occupy memory at a rate of 128 traces/MB
(for traces of 401 frequency points)
8

Software Interface
The 89601A software appears to
other Windows® software as an
ActiveX® object. Implemented
according to the industry-standard
Component Object Model COM), the
software exposes a rich object model
of properties, events, and methods,
as fully described in the 89601A
documentation.
Software development environments
that are capable of interacting with
COM objects include Agilent VEE,
Microsoft® Visual Basic®, Microsoft
Visual C++®, MATLAB®, National
Instruments® LabVIEW, and others.
In addition, many end-user applica-
tions are able to interact directly
with COM objects using built-in
macro languages such as Visual
Basic for Applications VBA). For
example, in Microsoft Excel®, a VBA
macro could be used to set up the
instrument, collect the measurement
data, and automatically graph the
results.
Macro language
The 89601A’s built-in Visual Basic script interpreter allows many
types of measurement and analysis tasks to be easily automated.
Scripts may be developed using any text editor, or may be recorded
automatically from a sequence of menu selections. Completed
scripts may be named and integrated onto the analyzer’s toolbar,
allowing them to be launched with a single button press.
Remote displays
To operate the 89601A/N4010A combination or view its displays
from a remote location, the use of commercially-available remote
PC software such as Microsoft NetMeeting®or Symantec
pcAnywhere®is recommended.
Remote programming
Beginning with Microsoft Windows NT®4.0, COM objects on
one PC are accessible from software running on another PC.
This capability, known as Distributed COM (DCOM), makes
the 89600 object model fully programmable from any other
PC having network connectivity to the N4010A’s host PC.
File formats
For storage and recall of measured or captured waveforms,
spectra, and other measurement results:
ASCII Tab-delimited (.txt), comma-delimited (.csv)
Binary Agilent standard data format (.sdf, .cap, .dat)
Binary Agilent E3238 time snapshot (.cap) and time
recording (.cap) files under 2 Gsa in size.
No additional calibration.
MATLAB 5 MAT-file (.mat)
Source
In source mode the 89601A software can control a signal
generator via GPIB or LAN. Control is provided via the
VSA GUI. Frequency and level control of CW signals is
provided. Arbitrary signals may be downloaded from the
time capture memory to the signal generator for replay.
The same time record may be played over and over
contiguously. A window function can be applied to
smooth start-up and finish of replay.
Compatible sources ESG-D or ESG-DP (firmware version B.03.50 or
later), with the Option E44xxA-UND internal dual
arbitrary waveform generator (firmware version
1.2.92 or later). E4438C with internal baseband
generator Option E4438C-001 or E4438C-002.
E8267C vector signal generator with Option
E8267C-002 internal baseband generator.
Signal types CW (fixed frequency sinewave)
Arbitrary
Frequency range Determined by signal generator
Level range –136 to 20 dBm in 0.02 dBm steps
For all other specifications see the technical
data sheet for the signal generator used.
9

Vector Modulation Analysis
(Option 89601A-AYA)
Note that analysis and presets are
only valid over the frequency range
of the N4010A-101/102.
Signal acquisition
Note: Signal acquisition does not require
an external carrier or symbol clock
Data block length Adjustable to 4096 symbols
Samples per symbol 1 – 20
Symbol clock Internally generated
Carrier lock Internally locked
Triggering Single/continuous, external, pulse search
(searches data block for beginning of TDMA burst
and performs analysis over selected burst length)
Data synchronization User-selected synchronization words
Supported modulation formats
Carrier types Continuous and pulsed/burst (such as TDMA)
Modulation formats 2, 4, 8, and 16 level FSK (including GFSK)
MSK (including GMSK)
QAM implementation of BPSK, QPSK, OQPSK,
DQPSK, D8PSK, π/4DQPSK, 8PSK, 3π8PSK (EDGE)
8
16QAM, 32QAM, 64QAM, 128QAM, 256QAM
(absolute encoding)
16QAM, 32QAM, 64QAM
(differential encoding per DVB standard)
8VSB, 16VSB
Single-button presses for
Cellular CDMA (base), CDMA (mobile), CDPD, EDGE, GSM,
NADC, PDC, PHP (PHS), W-CDMA
Wireless networking Bluetooth, HIPERLAN/1 (HBR), HIPERLAN/1 (LBR),
802.11b
Digital video DTV8, DTV16, DVB16, DVB32, DVB64
Other APCO 25, DECT, TETRA, VDL mode 3
Filtering
Filter types Raised cosine, square-root raised cosine, IS-95
compatible, Gaussian, EDGE, low pass, rectangular,
none
Filter length 40 symbols: VSB, QAM, and DVB-QAM where
α< 0.2
User selectable alpha/BT Continuously adjustable from 0.05 to 10
User-defined filters User-defined impulse response,
fixed 20 points/symbol
Maximum 20 symbols in length or 401 points
10