BNC 7070 User manual

User Manual (September 2017)
7000 Series
Signal Source Analyzer

2 7000 Series User Manual September 2017
WARRANTY
Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation warrants all instruments, including component parts, to
be free from defects in material and workmanship, under normal use and service for a
period of two years. If repairs are required during the warranty period, contact the
factory for component replacement or shipping instructions. Include the serial number of
the instrument. This warranty is void if the unit is repaired or altered by others than
those authorized by Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation.
IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
NOTIFICATION OF COPYRIGHT
THE FIRMWARE IN THIS DEVICE IS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAWS AND
INTERNATIONAL TREATY. YOU MUST TREAT THE FIRMWARE LIKE ANY OTHER
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYRIGHT LAWS PROHIBIT MAKING ADDITIONAL
COPIES OF THE FIRMWARE FOR ANY REASON OTHER THAN SPECIFICALLY
DESCRIBED IN THE LICENSE BELOW. YOU MAY NOT COPY THE WRITTEN
MATERIALS ACCOMPANYING THE PRODUCT.

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Table of Contents
1GENERAL REMARKS 5
1.1 VALIDITY OF THIS MANUAL 5
1.2 AVAILABLE CASING 5
1.2.1 3U Benchtop Case 5
1.3 DATA CONNECTIONS 6
1.4 SIGNAL CONNECTIONS 6
1.5 TRANSPORTATION 6
2SAFETY INFORMATION 7
2.1 SIGNAL SYMBOL 7
2.2 LABELS ON PRODUCTS 7
2.3 GENERAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS 8
3TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 9
3.1 DIMENSIONS9
3.2 CONNECTORS 10
3.2.1 Front Panel 10
3.2.2 Rear Panel 11
3.3 MINIMUM DISTANCES 12
3.4 ENERGIZING AND DE-ENERGIZING 13
3.5 OPERATION CONDITIONS 13
3.6 ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 14
4INTRODUCTION 15
4.1 GENERAL FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS (MODEL OVERVIEW) 15
4.2 OPTIONS 16
5GETTING STARTED 17
5.1 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 17
5.2 UNPACKING THE INSTRUMENT 17
5.3 INITIAL INSPECTION 17
5.4 STARTING THE INSTRUMENT 17
5.4.1 Applying Power 17
5.4.2 Connecting to LAN via DHCP Router 18
5.4.3 Direct Connectivity to Host via Ethernet Cable (no Router) 18
5.4.4 Connecting through USB 18
5.4.5 Connecting through GPIB 18
5.4.6 Using the SCPI Application Programming Interface (API) 19
5.4.7 Installing the 7000 Series Graphical User Interface (7000 Series GUI) 19
5.4.8 Troubleshooting the LAN Interconnection 19
5.4.9 Shutting Down the 7000 Series 19
5.4.10 Perform Firmware Upgrade 20
5.4.11 Serial Number 20

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6USING THE GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (GUI) 21
6.1 STARTING THE 7000 SERIES GUI 21
6.2 ORGANIZATION OF THE GUI 21
6.2.1 Menu Bar 22
6.3 MEASUREMENT TABS 27
6.3.1 General Tab Organization 28
6.4 ABSOLUTE PHASE NOISE MEASUREMENT TAB 28
6.4.1 Measurement Setup 28
6.4.2 Pulsed Signal Phase Noise (with Option PULSE only) 34
6.4.3 Using External References 34
6.4.4 The Plot Window Tabs 35
6.4.5 List of Traces 37
6.4.6 The Marker Window 39
6.4.7 Plot Windows 41
6.4.8 Saving and Loading Traces 43
6.5 GENERAL MEASUREMENT SETTINGS 44
6.5.1 Number of Data Points per Trace 44
6.5.2 Measurement Time (using GUI) 44
6.6 ADDITIVE PHASE NOISE MEASUREMENT 45
6.6.1 Measurement Procedure 46
6.6.2 Additive Phase Noise of a Pulsed Signal (with Option PULSE only) 49
6.7 AMPLITUDE NOISE MEASUREMENT 50
6.7.1 Measurement Procedure 51
6.8 ABSOLUTE PHASE NOISE (HIGH DRIFT) 51
6.8.1 Measurement Procedure 51
6.9 TRANSIENT ANALYZER MEASUREMENT 52
6.9.1 Measurement Procedure 53
6.10 FFT ANALYZER MEASUREMENT 56
6.11 VCO CHARACTERIZATION 57
6.11.1 Measurement Procedure 57
7REMOTELY PROGRAMMING THE 7000 SERIES 59
7.1 ACCESS VIA LAN 59
7.2 USING AND CONFIGURING VXI-11 59
7.3 USING THE USB-TMC INTERFACE WITH VISA 60
7.4 USING THE USB-TMC INTERFACE WITH IVI DRIVERS 60
7.5 USING THE GPIB INTERFACE 61
8MAINTENANCE AND WARRANTY INFORMATION 62
8.1 ADJUSTMENTS AND CALIBRATION 62
8.2 REPAIR 62
8.3 WARRANTY INFORMATION 62
8.4 EQUIPMENT RETURNS 62

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1 General Remarks
The instruments described in this manual are signal source analyzers that analyze electromagnetic
signals from 5 MHz up to 40 GHz with a power from -10 dBm up to +23 dBm. The exact range depends
on the chosen model and options. The instruments are able to perform different types of measurements,
such as absolute and additive phase noise, amplitude noise, transient analysis, spectrum monitoring, and
VCO characterization.
They can be used in a variety of applications such as research and development or manufacturing and
testing of electronic components.
Options, such as low noise internal references, amplitude measurements, measurements of pulsed
signals or a GPIB interface can be added.
1.1 Validity of this Manual
This manual is valid for the following instruments and their extended versions:
•Model 7070 (only serial numbers ending in a number greater than 0230)
•Model 7300 (only serial numbers ending in a number greater than 0230)
•Model 7340
1.2 Available Casing
The instruments are available in the following case.
1.2.1 3U Benchtop Case
Figure 1: Model 7000 Series in 3U benchtop case

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1.3 Data Connections
The instruments may only be connected to a network or a computer by using a shielded LAN or USB
cable. Unless shorter lengths are prescribed, a maximum length of 3 m must not be exceeded for the LAN
and the USB connection.
1.4 Signal Connections
In general, all connections between the instrument and another device should be made as short as
possible and must be well shielded. It is recommended to use high-quality cables with low loss especially
for frequencies above 20 GHz.
1.5 Transportation
The instruments must only be transported with the packaging supplied by the manufacturer. The
instrument can be lifted up or transported in any orientation.

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2 Safety Information
The following information is important to prevent personal injury, loss of life or damage to the instrument.
Please read them carefully. If the instrument is used in a manner not specified by this manual, the
protection provided by the instrument may be impaired.
2.1 Signal Symbol
In this manual, the following symbols are used to warn the reader about risks and dangers.
DANGER denotes a hazard for personal health or life.
WARNING denotes a risk or danger that could damage the
instrument.
2.2 Labels on Products
The following labels are on the products. Familiarize yourself with the meaning of each of the labels before
using the product.
Direct Current (DC)
Alternating Current (AC)
Earth (Ground)
EU label for separate collection of electrical and electronic waste.
Caution, general danger zone. Attend the manual and/or a notice on the
device.

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2.3 General Safety Considerations
FCC notice
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A device, pursuant to Part
15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy. If not installed and used in accordance with the instruction
manual, harmful interference to radio communications may occur.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area may cause harmful interference in which case the user
will be required to correct the interference at his or her expense.
notice
The instrument meets the EMC directive and the Low Voltage Directive described below:
Safety: EN 61010-1.
EMC: EN 61000-6-4 (2006), EN 55022 (2008), EN 61000-6-2 (2005),
EN 61000-4-2 (2009), EN 61000-4-3 (2008), EN 61000-4-4 (2010),
EN 61000-4-5 (2006), EN 61000-4-6 (2009), EN 61000-4-11 (2004)
If products or their components are mechanically and/or thermally
processed in a manner that goes beyond their intended use, hazardous
substances (heavy-metal dust such as nickel) may be released. For this
reason, the product may only be disassembled or opened by specially trained personnel. Improper
disassembly may be hazardous to your health. National waste disposal regulations must be observed.

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3 Technical Specifications
3.1 Dimensions
Dimensions of the 3U benchtop case:
A = 467 mm
B = 153 mm
C = 518 mm
D = 341 mm
E = 400 mm
Weight: 10 kg
Figure 2: Model 7000 Series benchtop case dimensions

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3.2 Connectors
3.2.1 Front Panel
Figure 3: 7000 Series Front Panel View
1 Ventilation Slits Air inflow; leave open.
The front panel interfaces are grouped into three dark gray regions. Similar ports across different regions
are connected with a black line and are labeled once at the end of the line. The three regions are:
Reference region
2/5 REF1/2 IN HIGH These female SMA connectors are the high frequency RF inputs for
external reference channels 1 and 2. They are used for frequencies above 1.3 GHz.
3/4 REF1/2 TUNE port These female BNC connectors are the external reference tune
voltage outputs for channels 1 and 2.
DUT region
6 DUT TUNE port This female BNC connector is the tune voltage output for the Device
under Test (DUT), designed to supply a bias or control voltage for the DUT.
7 DUT RF IN port This female SMA or 2.92 mm connector is the DUT signal input. It is
AC-coupled and has an impedance of 50 ohms.
Reference region (cont’d)
8/9 REF1/2 IN LOW These female SMA connectors are the low frequency RF inputs for
external reference channels 1 and 2. They are used for frequencies below 1.3 GHz.

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Instrument state region
10 Ready LED Indicates that the internal self-test on start-up was successful and that the
instrument is capable of performing measurements.
11 Remote LED Indicates whether the instrument is connected to a computer or not.
12 Power LED Indicates whether the instrument is on or off.
13 Power switch Disconnects the instrument from the DC power input completely.
Do not apply RF power levels above the maximum levels given in
the datasheet to the DUT/REF IN ports.
Do not apply a DC voltage or current to the DUT/REF TUNE outputs
or DUT/REF RF inputs. Applying a DC voltage or current may damage the instrument. In particular,
there is the risk of capacitors remaining charged. Connect DUT to the port after effectively
discharging the DUT's electricity.
3.2.2 Rear Panel
Figure 4: 7000 Series Rear Panel View
1 /2 BASEBAND IN port These female BNC connectors are the baseband signal inputs
used for the FFT analyzer measurement mode. They are AC coupled and have an
input impedance of 1 k ohms.
3 EXT TRIG port This female BNC connector is the external trigger input (TTL). The
maximum allowed DC level is 12 V, and the trigger threshold is 1 V +/- 0.1 V.
4 USB A connector Used for connecting USB devices such as memory sticks. This
function is currently not supported by the instrument.

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5 USB B connector Used for connecting with a controller such as a PC or Laptop.
Communication is via USBTMC protocol.
6 LAN connector This 8 pin RJ-45 Host connector is used for connecting via Ethernet
with a controller, such as a PC or Laptop, with 10Base-T / 100Base-T Ethernet
(automatic data rate selection).
7 GPIB connector (optional) The connection of an external controller through General
Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB) connector enables configuration and control by an
automatic test equipment (ATE) system. This GPIB connector is used solely for
controlling the 7000 Series from an external controller, and cannot be used as a
control connection for other devices.
8 DC IN power receptacle The power receptacle accepts the 4-pin plug from the external
24 V DC power adapter that is supplied with the instrument.
9 Ground Screw
12 FAN Holes Air outflow; leave open.
13 REF IN 10 MHz This female BNC connector is the 10 MHz reference clock input. The
maximum allowed DC level is 12 V, and the maximum allowed AC level is 2 Vpp.
14/15 DC SUPPLY OUT ports These female BNC connectors are the programmable low-
noise DC supply voltage outputs.
The serial number plate shows the serial number and the installed options of the instrument.
3.3 Minimum Distances
For adequate cooling, the minimum distances between the
instrument and another object, such as walls, rack cabinet walls or
other equipment must be respected.
The minimum distances are:
Minimum distance:
A: 150 mm
Figure 5: 7000 Series benchtop case cooling

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3.4 Energizing and de-Energizing
To energize the instrument, apply the following voltage to the following connector.
Position of the power
connector shown on the
left.
Voltage: 24 V DC
Max. current: 2.7 A
Use the supplied power adapter from Berkeley Nucleonics to supply
the Instrument. Apply only a voltage with the values specified
below.
The supplied power adapter has the following specifications:
Input: 100-240 V~, 50-60 Hz, 1.4 A
Output: 24 V DC, 2.7 A
Efficiency Level: VI
To De-energize the instrument, pull out the power cable.
3.5 Operation Conditions
The instrument is designed for use in dry and clean environments. The instrument can also be used in the
field as long as the operating conditions are met. Operation in an environment with high dust content, high
humidity, danger of explosion or chemical vapors is prohibited.
Operating temperature range: 0° C to +40° C
Storage and transportation temperature range: -40° C to +70° C
Operating and storage altitude: 4600 m
In case of condensation, 2 hours are to be allowed for drying prior to operation. Operation is only allowed
from a 3-terminal mains connector with a safety ground connection and a mains plug used in your specific
country. For sufficient ventilation, ensure open ventilation holes.
Figure 6: 7000 Series power connector

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3.6 Environmental Information
Electrical and electronic equipment waste must not be disposed of with unsorted municipal waste, but
must be collected separately. Contact Berkeley Nucleonics Customer Support for environmentally
responsible disposal of the product.
Specially marked equipment has a battery or accumulator that must not be disposed of with unsorted
municipal waste, but must be collected separately. It may only be disposed of at a suitable collection point
or via Berkeley Nucleonics Customer Support.

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4 Introduction
This instruction manual is valid for the Berkeley Nucleonics 7000 Series . Chapters 5 and 6 give you
guidance for a quick and easy setup of your new instrument. Chapter 6 describes the remote operation via
Berkeley Nucleonics graphical user interface (GUI). Chapter 7 describes the remote operation via the
SCPI API. Section 8.1 explains the steps to calibrate the system.
4.1 General Features and Functions (Model Overview)
Berkeley Nucleonics Signal Source Analyzer model overview
Model Range Options available
MODEL 7070 5 MHz – 7 GHz LN, AM, PULSE, GPIB
MODEL 7300 5 MHz – 26.5 GHz LN, AM, PULSE, GPIB
MODEL 7340 5 MHz – 40 GHz LN, AM, PULSE, GPIB
General features include
•Absolute and additive phase noise measurements
•Transient Analysis
•Spectrum Monitoring
•VCO Characterization
•Dual channel supply voltage ports
•Standard internal references
•Long-term support: Software upgrades (firmware, API, GUI) are available to download from
www.BerkeleyNucleonics.com. You can also call our technical specialists for support. You can
continue to use both of these services free of charge for the lifetime of the product.
•Universal LAN VXI-11 and USB 2.0 device interface
•24 months calibration cycle

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4.2 Options
LN: Low noise internal reference
AM: Amplitude noise measurements
PULSE: Measurement and analysis of pulsed RF signals. Supports the following measurement modes:
•Absolute phase noise
•Additive phase noise
GPIB: GPIB interface added
WE3 / WE5: Warranty extension to 3 or 5 years (standard warranty covers 2 years)

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5 Getting Started
5.1 System Requirements
The graphical user interface has minimum system requirements in order to run on one of the supported
operating systems. Since the graphical user interface is Java based, it is also possible to run it on any
operating system that can provide a Java Runtime Environment. Please contact technical support if you
need to run it on a non-Windows computer.
Operating system Windows™ XP SP2, Vista, 7, 8, 10
Hardware requirements min. 4 GB RAM, min. screen resolution of 1280x1024
Remote 10/100/1000M Ethernet or USB 2.0 Port
5.2 Unpacking the Instrument
Remove the instrument materials from the shipping containers. Save the containers for future use.
The standard product package includes:
•Signal Source Analyzer
•Ethernet Cable
•Universal DC power adapter
•Software & Manual CD
•Test Certificate
5.3 Initial Inspection
Inspect the shipping container for damage. If the container is damaged, retain it until contents of the
shipment have been verified against the packing list and instruments have been inspected for mechanical
and electrical operation.
5.4 Starting the Instrument
This section describes installation instructions and verification tests.
5.4.1 Applying Power
Place the instrument on the intended workbench and connect the power adapter to the receptacle on the
rear of the instrument. Make sure to use the power adapter supplied with the instrument.
Using other supplies may lead to malfunction and damage of the
Instrument.

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Use the power switch on the front panel to turn on the 7000 Series. The green LED marked POWER on
the front panel will indicate that the power supply is connected and the instrument is starting. During the
initialization process, the green LED marked READY will start to flash briefly. This indicates that the
machine performs a self-test. Once the READY LED is on steadily, the instrument is ready for operation.
Note, the instrument booting process may take up to 60 seconds (depending on configuration) to
complete.
5.4.2 Connecting to LAN via DHCP Router
Connect the instrument to your local area network (LAN) using the Ethernet cable. By default the
instrument is configured to accept its dynamic IP address from the DHCP server of your network. If it is
configured properly, your network router will assign a dynamic IP address to the instrument.
5.4.3 Direct Connectivity to Host via Ethernet Cable (no Router)
You can connect the instrument to your computer with the Ethernet cable without using a local area
network with DHCP server. To work properly, the network controller (NIC) of your computer must be set
to a fixed IP beginning with 169.254.xxx.xxx (excluding 169.254.1.0 and 169.254.254.255) and network
mask 255.255.0.0 to match the fall-back IP that the 7000 Series will assign itself after network timeout.
The 7000 Series will automatically choose an IP address according to ZEROCONF standard. Therefore,
the exact fall-back address can’t be predicted.
Connection from a NIC that is configured to use DHCP is also possible. After a pre-set timeout, the NIC
will assume that no DHCP is available and self-assign a fall-back IP that will fall into the range
169.254.xxx.xxx.
Alternatively, you may assign the instrument a fixed IP. Please refer to a later section of this manual to
learn how to do this.
5.4.4 Connecting through USB
Connect the (powered on) instrument USB B connector on the rear panel to the computer using a USB
cable. If properly connected, the computer host should automatically recognize your instrument as a
USBTMC device.
Note if you want to work with the graphical user interface, it must be installed with USB support selected.
The GUI will detect all connected instruments automatically. Open the GUI and follow the instructions
given in Chapter 6.
Alternatively, a VISA runtime environment (NI or Agilent or comparable) must be installed.
Use VISA Write to send the *IDN? query and use VISA Read to get the response. The USBTMC protocol
supports service request, triggers and other GPIB specific operations.
5.4.5 Connecting through GPIB
Connect the instrument to the GPIB controller using the rear panel GPIB connector (option GPIB is
required). Once connected properly, use VISA Write to send the *IDN? query and use VISA Read to get
the response. The protocol supports service request, triggers and other GPIB specific operations.

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5.4.6 Using the SCPI Application Programming Interface (API)
Refer to the 7000 Series Programmer's Manual to learn more about applying the API and find
programming examples.
5.4.7 Installing the 7000 Series Graphical User Interface (7000 Series GUI)
Berkeley Nucleonics's graphical user interface (7000 Series GUI) provides an intuitive control of the 7000
Series . The Java based application runs under any operating system, including Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8
and 10 with standard requirements. Only the Java runtime environment must be installed on the computer.
To install the GUI on the computer, insert the 7000 Series Software and Manual CD into the CD/DVD
drive, or download the latest GUI setup file from the Berkeley Nucleonics website. If the setup doesn't start
automatically, double click on the setup.exe to run the installer.
The self-extracting setup provides easy installation, and un-installation, of the software. The setup
program guides you in a few steps through the installation process. In case the Java Runtime
Environment is not installed on the current computer, the setup procedure will assist you with the
installation of the required version. An active internet connection is required for this operation.
5.4.8 Troubleshooting the LAN Interconnection
Software does not install properly
•Make sure your installation CD is not damaged.
•Verify that the Java Runtime Environment is installed and up to date.
Software cannot detect any instrument
•Make sure that you have connected both the computer and the instrument to a common network.
If they are not in the same subnet, the search won't show the instrument. The devices can still be
connected by manually setting the IP address in the connection dialog.
•If a direct connection is used, you may be required to reset your computer Ethernet controller
(depending on the configuration). In such a case, note that detection of the instrument can take a
considerable amount of time if your computer is configured to work with an external DHCP server.
In some cases the detection may even fail completely. Configure your computer network controller
to an appropriate fixed IP address instead.
•Make sure that your software firewall enables the GUI to setup a TCP/IP connection via the LAN.
Under Windows 10 you can do that like this:
Open the Control Panel in your Start menu. Go to System and Security and then to Windows
Firewall. Click on Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall and then on Change Settings.
You can now select the check box for the application on your computer. Click the private and
public check box to narrow down whether you want just networks that are secure to allow this
communication, or also public and non-secure networks to do so. Now your Windows™ Firewall
will not block requests from the GUI.
5.4.9 Shutting Down the 7000 Series
Use the power switch on the front panel to turn the instrument off.

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5.4.10 Perform Firmware Upgrade
If the GUI has internet access, it will check for newer firmware versions upon connection to the instrument.
If there is a newer firmware available, the GUI will notify you. If you confirm the upgrade, the firmware will
automatically be downloaded and installed on the instrument.
If the GUI has no internet access, a firmware upgrade of the instrument can also be done manually via the
GUI. Ensure proper connection and that the correct firmware binary is available. Then navigate to Device
-> Update Firmware and select the appropriate binary (tar file) that you have received from Berkeley
Nucleonics, or downloaded from the Berkeley Nucleonics website. The update will take a few minutes,
and after completion the instrument will reboot. Reconnect to the instrument.
Do not switch off or disconnect the instrument during the firmware
upgrade procedure. Interrupting the procedure can result in a
damaged or non-responsive instrument.
5.4.11 Serial Number
Each instrument is manufactured with a unique serial number shown on the sticker on the rear panel. This
serial number is also internally stored, and determines the instrument configuration and guides the
software accordingly.