Holzworth Instrumentation HA7701A User manual

HA7701A
PHASE NOISE
ANALYZER
User Manual 1.04
Holzworth Instrumentation Inc.
2540 Frontier Ave., Suite 200
Boulder, CO 80301 USA
www.holzworth.com

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Table of Contents
1.0 HA7701A CONFIGURATION SUMMARY................................................................................. 4
2.0 PERFORMANCE SUMMARY................................................................................................... 5
2.1 DUT INPUT (RF SIGNAL INPUT FOR ADDITIVE MODE)....................................................5
2.2 SUPPLY & TUNE VOLTAGE................................................................................................ 5
2.3 PHASE NOISE MEASUREMENTS.......................................................................................5
2.4 INPUT DAMAGE THRESHOLD.............................................................................................5
2.5 INSERTION LOSS DATA ...................................................................................................... 6
2.5.1 LO Insertion Loss (DUT/Signal Input to Internal Mixer LO port).......................................6
2.5.2 RF Insertion Loss - Absolute Mode (DUT Input to Internal Mixer RF port).......................7
2.5.3 RF Insertion Loss - Additive Mode (Signal Input to RF Mixer)..........................................7
2.5.4 RF Insertion Loss - Additive Mode (Signal Input to RF Output)........................................ 8
2.5.5 RF Insertion Loss - Additive Mode (RF IN to Mixer RF)................................................... 8
2.6 ABSOLUTE MEASUREMENT SENSITIVITY........................................................................9
2.7 ADDITIVE MEASUREMENT SENSITIVITY........................................................................ 11
2.7.1 Additive Measurement Sensitivity (+16dBm LO Power)................................................. 12
2.7.2 Additive Measurement Sensitivity (+13dBm LO Power)................................................. 13
2.7.3 Additive Measurement Sensitivity (+10dBm LO Power)................................................. 14
3.0 PHASE NOISE ANALYZER INSTALLATION ........................................................................ 15
3.1 HARDWARE INSTALLATION............................................................................................. 15
3.2 INSTRUMENT COMMUNICATION..................................................................................... 15
4.0 HOLZWORTH PNA SOFTWARE APPLICATION.................................................................. 16
4.1 USB, RS-232, AND GPIB COMMUNICATION..................................................................... 17
4.1.1 GPIB COMMUNICATION.............................................................................................. 17
4.1.2 DETERMINING INSTRUMENT VIRTUAL COM PORT................................................. 18
4.2 ETHERNET COMMUNICATION.......................................................................................... 19
4.2.1 LAN CONNECTION...................................................................................................... 19
4.2.2 DIRECT PC CONNECTION (DHCP)............................................................................. 19
4.2.3 ASSIGNING A STATIC IP ADDRESS........................................................................... 20
4.3 GUI OVERVIEW.................................................................................................................. 22
4.4 FIRMWARE UPDATES........................................................................................................ 24
4.5 MEASUREMENT................................................................................................................. 25
4.5.1 MEASUREMENT SETUP.............................................................................................. 25
4.5.2 FREQUENCY SPAN (OFFSET ADJUSTMENT)........................................................... 26
4.5.3 TRIGGER/AVERAGING/BANDWIDTH ......................................................................... 26
4.6 INPUTS ............................................................................................................................... 27
4.7 OUTPUTS............................................................................................................................ 27
4.8 ACQUIRING DATA.............................................................................................................. 28
4.9 TRACE/CALCS.................................................................................................................... 28
4.9.1 SMOOTHING................................................................................................................ 29

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4.9.2 SPUR DISPLAY............................................................................................................ 29
4.9.3 RIGHT CLICK FUNCTIONS.......................................................................................... 30
4.10 MARKERS......................................................................................................................... 31
4.11 LIMITS (Pass/Fail Limit Lines) ........................................................................................... 32
4.11.1 LIMIT CONTROLS & CONFIGURATION .................................................................... 32
4.12 DISPLAY............................................................................................................................ 33
4.12.1 PLOT DISPLAY RANGES........................................................................................... 33
4.12.2 PLOT DISPLAY OPTIONS.......................................................................................... 33
4.12.3 PLOT DISPLAY LABELS ............................................................................................ 34
4.12.4 MISCELLANEOUS OPTIONS..................................................................................... 34
4.13 FILE MENU........................................................................................................................ 35
4.13.1 SAVE/LOAD DATA (HOLZWORTH TRACE FILE, .HTF)............................................ 35
4.13.2 IMPORT/EXPORT DATA (COMMA SEPARATED VALUE, .CSV) .............................. 35
4.13.3 GENERATE REPORT................................................................................................. 35
4.13.4 EXPORT PLOT AND PRINT....................................................................................... 35
4.14 SYSTEM MENU................................................................................................................. 36
5.0 MEASUREMENT EXAMPLES & GUIDELINES ...................................................................... 37
5.1 ABSOLUTE MEASUREMENT ............................................................................................. 37
5.2 ADDITIVE MEASUREMENT................................................................................................ 39
6.0 CONTACT INFORMATION .................................................................................................... 42
APPENDIX A: ASCII PROGRAMMING COMMANDS .................................................................. 43
APPENDIX B: ETHERNET CONFIGURATION COMMANDS....................................................... 56
APPENDIX C: GPIB CONFIGURATION COMMANDS................................................................. 58

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1.0 HA7701A CONFIGURATION SUMMARY
A simplified block diagram of the HA7701A internal configuration is shown below. The HA7701A
was designed to accommodate two measurement modes, Absolute and Additive. The signal path is
internally switched to route the signal path for the selected measurement mode.
Absolute measurements utilize a delay line discriminator to allow for measurement of less stable
sources, such as free running VCO's. Additionally, the configuration allows for use of an external
delay line so that users can optimize the measurement for different DUT's.
Additive measurements bypass the internal delay line and route signal to the RF output on the front
panel where the DUT will be placed in the system. Care must be taken to optimize the power levels
presented at the internal mixer and also to account for phase shift caused by the DUT or lengths of
RF cable that are used in the measurement setup.

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2.0 PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
The HA7701A is designed for high speed and precise phase noise measurements. The
specifications outlined here capture the baseline performance and features that are currently
available from the HA7701A phase noise analyzer.
2.1 DUT INPUT (RF SIGNAL INPUT FOR ADDITIVE MODE)
DESCRIPTION
SPECIFICATION
DUT Input Connector
SMA (female), 50 ohm
DUT Input Frequency Range
2GHz to 20GHz
DUT Input Power Level
+17 dBm to +24 dBm (frequency dependent , refer to section 2.4)
2.2SUPPLY & TUNE VOLTAGE
DESCRIPTION
SPECIFICATION
DUT Tune Voltage
Voltage Tune Range
Max Current
For Vcc control of some DUTs
0V to +20V
5mA
DUT Power Supply
Voltage Supply Range
Maximum Current
Integrated power supply
0V to +12V
500mA
2.3 PHASE NOISE MEASUREMENTS
DESCRIPTION
SPECIFICATION
Carrier Frequency Range
2GHz to 20GHz
Measurement Parameters
SSB Phase Noise
Offset Frequency Range
1 Hz –40 MHz (Settable to 0.1Hz Offset)
Absolute Measurement
VCO/RF Source measurement. Use internal or external delay line
Additive Measurement
Multi-port device measurement (amplifier, downconverter, etc.)
Spurious Analysis
Provides spurious performance data based on a user settable Spur Threshold
2.4 INPUT DAMAGE THRESHOLD
The HA7701A internal mixer (phase detector) will be the point of failure due to excessive RF power.
DESCRIPTION
SPECIFICATION
Phase Detector Damage Level
+23dBm @ 25C (derated linearly to +20dBm @ 100C)
The following section's insertion loss data should be used to set power levels for measurements
and ensure that the internal phase detector is not damaged due to excessive RF power.

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-9
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
2000 5000 8000 11000 14000 17000 20000
Loss (dB)
Frequency (MHz)
2.5 INSERTION LOSS DATA
Data in this section outlines the insertion loss through the signal pathways internal to the
instrument. Driving the internal mixer (phase detector) with appropriate power levels is essential to
both Absolute and Additive phase noise measurement modes.
2.5.1 LO Insertion Loss (DUT/Signal Input to Internal Mixer LO port)
Internal Mixer LO Drive Level: +10 to +16 dBm
NOTE: The loss through this path is shown as measured with the supplied copper jumper cable
installed connecting LO OUT to LO IN.

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-24
-23
-22
-21
-20
-19
-18
-17
2000 5000 8000 11000 14000 17000 20000
Loss (dB)
Frequency (MHz)
-15
-14
-13
-12
-11
-10
-9
-8
-7
-6
-5
2000 5000 8000 11000 14000 17000 20000
Loss (dB)
Frequency (MHz)
2.5.2 RF Insertion Loss - Absolute Mode (DUT Input to Internal Mixer RF port)
The data below represents the insertion loss in Absolute (Delay Line) measurement mode with the
HA7701A internal delay line.
2.5.3 RF Insertion Loss - Additive Mode (Signal Input to RF Mixer)
NOTE: The loss through this path is shown as measured with the supplied copper jumper cable
connecting RF OUT to RF IN.

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-6
-5.5
-5
-4.5
-4
-3.5
-3
2000 5000 8000 11000 14000 17000 20000
Loss (dB)
Frequency (MHz)
-9
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
2000 5000 8000 11000 14000 17000 20000
Loss (dB)
Frequency (MHz)
2.5.4 RF Insertion Loss - Additive Mode (Signal Input to RF Output)
NOTE: Account for the loss in this path to ensure an appropriate input power level is set for the
DUT.
2.5.5 RF Insertion Loss - Additive Mode (RF IN to Mixer RF)

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2.6 ABSOLUTE MEASUREMENT SENSITIVITY
Absolute measurement sensitivity is inherently affected by delay line length. Sensitivity can be
optimized for different DUT's by using an external delay line. This section will demonstrate the
effect of the delay line on the measurement sensitivity and useful offset frequency.
Consider the measurement offset frequency range of concern for the DUT when determining
whether an external delay line is necessary. As delay line length increases, performance is
increased at lower offset frequencies, however the maximum useful offset frequency is reduced.
The opposite is also true: as delay line length decreases the performance is decreased at lower
offsets, however performance at higher offset frequencies is increased. The following measurement
illustrates the affect of different delay line lengths on Absolute phase noise measurements.
The example measurements uses an ultra low phase noise Holzworth HSM synthesizer as the
DUT. The hardware configurations are shown in the block diagrams below.
Measurement details and results begin on next page...