Keysight PXA N9030A Installation and operation manual

Keysight PXA Signal Analyzer
Frequency Range Upgrade
from RF or Microwave to
Millimeter Wave Frequency
Installation Note
NOTICE: This document contains references to Agilent
Technologies. Agilent’s former Test and Measurement
business has become Keysight Technologies. For more
information, go to www.keysight.com.

Notices
© Copyright 2014-2015 Keysight Technologies, Inc.
The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
Keysight Technologies makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including but
not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
Keysight Technologies 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.
Manual Part Number
N9030-90066
Edition
Edition 1, October 2015
Printed in USA/Malaysia
Published by:
Keysight Technologies, Inc.
1400 Fountaingrove Parkway
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Installation Note N9030-90066 3
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to
Millimeter Wave Frequency
Introduction
This installation note explains how to upgrade the frequency range of an RF or microwave PXA
signal analyzer to either 44 GHz or 50 GHz.
The final frequency range of the instrument will be determined by the upgrade option number the
customer orders.
Products Affected: PXA N9030A
Serial Numbers: All
To Be Performed By: (X) Keysight Service Center
( ) Personnel Qualified by Keysight
( ) Customer
Estimated Installation Time:
Estimated Adjustment Time:
Estimated Verification Time:
6.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
Varies with installed options
Option Ordered Description
N9030AK-F04 PXA Upgrade from 3.6 GHz to 44 GHz
N9030AK-F05 PXA Upgrade from 3.6 GHz to 50 GHz
N9030AK-F08 PXA Upgrade from 8.4 GHz to 44 GHz
N9030AK-F09 PXA Upgrade from 8.4 GHz to 50 GHz
N9030AK-F11 PXA Upgrade from 13.6 GHz to 44 GHz
N9030AK-F12 PXA Upgrade from 13.6 GHz to 50 GHz
N9030AK-F13 PXA Upgrade from 26.5 GHz to 44 GHz
N9030AK-F14 PXA Upgrade from 26.5 GHz to 50 GHz

4Installation Note N9030-90066
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Upgrading the analyzer to a millimeter frequency requires replacing most assemblies and cables
from the input connector through the Front End Control assembly.
Many analyzers will currently contain the Option MPB and LNP switches, and this kit contains
replacement switches and cabling. If the instrument does not currently contain the MBP or LNP,
options, these MPB/LNP replacement parts will not be used.
Early instruments will require re-imaging the disk drive. This is because the disk recovery partition
on early instruments does not contain code for the millimeter wave instruments. The millimeter
wave instruments began shipping about 2 years after the RF and microwave units.
The new maximum frequency range will be licensed, and you will need to apply frequency range
labels to the instrument, and perform the necessary adjustments and performance verification
tests.
IMPORTANT Although the maximum frequency range of the instrument will be upgraded
with this kit, the instrument's optional internal preamp frequency will not be
updated.
The option is licensed for one instrument model number/serial number
combination. The license file that is downloaded from the web will only install
on the designated instrument.
A software upgrade to the latest revision, or if the software is already the
latest version, a re-installation of the current software is required. The
procedure that follows tells you when to install the software. This assures
that after licensing to the new frequency range, any software related
changes to the instrument files will be performed by the software
installation.
To verify the current version, press System, Show, System and look for the
“Instrument S/W Revision”
The latest revision of the X-Series Signal Analyzers software may be
downloaded from:
http://www.keysight.com/find/xseries_software.

Installation Note N9030-90066 5
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Contents
Quantity Description Part Number
1Installation Note This note
1Option Upgrade Entitlement Certificate 5964-5178
1J1, 2.4mm input connector N9030-60011
1A9, Attenuator A, 10dB 33326-60013
1A10, Attenuator B, 60dB 33325-60020
1Shield, Magnetic, Attenuator A N9020-00043
1Shield, Magnetic, Attenuator B N9020-00044
2Attenuator Bracket N9020-00047
1W2 Cable assembly, J1 to A9 Input (Semi Rigid) N9020-20173
1W4, Cable, semi-rigid, Attenuator A- Attenuator B N9020-20068
1W6, Cable, semi-rigid, Attenuator B to Low Band Switch N9010-20004
1W56, Cable, semi-rigid, Low band Switch assembly J3 to YTF input (for
instruments without MPB)
N9010-20005
1W57, Cable, semi-rigid, YTF output to Front End assembly J9
(for instruments without MPB)
N9010-20006
1W3, Cable, semi-rigid, Cal In to attenuator, Reference assembly J701 to
Attenuator A
N9020-20072
1W20, Cable, semi-rigid, Front End assembly J4 To YTO N9020-20152
1W8 Cable assembly, A11J2 to A13J2 (Semi Rigid) N9020-20131
1W17, Cable, semi-rigid, LO Out/IF In to W29 (option EXM) N9020-20167
1W30, Cable, coax, Ext IF Out, A13J13 to Front End Control J903 8121-2025
1SW4, Switch, Transfer, Microwave Preselector Bypass 87222-60031
1SW3, Switch, Transfer Low Noise Path 87222-60029
1Bracket, Bypass N9020-00021
1W51, Cable, semi-rigid, Input attenuator B to Switch 3 port 1 N9020-20171
1W52, Cable, semi-rigid, Switch 3 port 4 to A11 Low Band Switch J1 N9020-20125
1W54, Cable, semi-rigid, Switch 3 port 3 to A11 Low Band Switch J3 N9020-20127
1W55, Cable, ribbon, Low Band Switch Bypass Control.
Switch 3 to A15 Front End Controller J802
N9020-60177
1W59, Cable, semi-rigid, Switch 3 Port 2 to Switch 4 Port 1 N9020-20151
1W60, Cable, semi-rigid, Switch 4 Port 4 to YTF Input N9020-20128

6Installation Note N9030-90066
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Tools Required
— Personal computer with internet access and USB port
— LAN connection to instrument (allows factory to control unit)
— Disk drive re-initialization software.
— USB storage device with > 2 GB free memory
—USBmouseandkeyboard
— T-10 TORX Driver
— T-20 TORX Driver
— 5/16-inch torque wrench
— 1/4-inch open end wrench
— Keysight Calibration and Adjustment Software, N7814A (revision E.12.00 or later)
— Test equipment + computer supported by the Keysight Calibration and Adjustment Software
— PXA Signal Analyzer Service Guide.
1W61, Cable, semi-rigid, YTF Output to Switch 4 Port 3 N9020-20129
1W62, Cable, semi-rigid, Switch 4 Port 2 to A13A1 J9 N9020-20130
1Connector Body for switch cable 1252-1873
1A11 Low band Switch N9020-60051
1Low Band Switch Bracket N9020-00013
1A12, YTF Preselector 5087-7326 or
N9030-60024
1A12MP1 Gap Pad 5022-7179
1A13 Front End assembly N9030-60010
1A15 Front End Controller N9020-60172
19 Screw, M3 x 0.5, 8 mm long 0515-0372
15 Screw-Machine W/Crest-Cup-Con-Washer M2.5 x 0.45, 6 mm long 0515-1934
2Screw-Machine 90-DEG-flat-HD M3 x 0.5, 8 mm long 0515-1035
1Label, Frequency Upgrade, 44 GHz N9020-80138
1Label, Frequency Upgrade, 50 GHz N9020-80139
1Rear panel frequency range upgrade label, 544/ 44 GHz N9020-80148
1Rear panel frequency range upgrade label, 550 / 50 GHz N9020-80149
Quantity Description Part Number

Installation Note N9030-90066 7
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Initial instrument Functionality Check
Power on the instrument and allow the instrument to boot up, run the alignments and display the
measurement screen. The instrument will probably display a spectrum analyzer screen and you will
see the instrument sweeping.
There should be no alignment failures. If there are failures, investigate and fix the problem before
continuing.
Analyzer Information
1. Press System, Show, System. Make note of the following information from the Show System
screen:
Product Number _______________
Serial Number _______________
Instrument S/W Revision _______________
Computer System _______________
2. Confirm that the Product listed on the Option Upgrade Entitlement Certificate is appropriate
for the Product Number noted above. For example, if the Product listed on the Option Upgrade
Entitlement Certificate is N9030AK-F09, the Product Number noted above should be N9030A.
3. Press System, Show, Hard ware. Note the Part #, Matl Rev, OF Rev, and Hw Id of the Front End
Controller in the table below.
4. Refer to the data in step 3 above. If the HW ID of the Front End controller is 41, it will be
necessary to perform the Replace A15 Front End Controller procedure.
5. Refer to the Computer System information in step 1. If the Computer System is Windows XP
perform the following to determine the SW revision of the disk image. If the instrument is
running Windows 7, skip this step.
On the PXA front panel, press File, Minimize. Press Start and right click My Computer.
Select Properties.
Select Support Information
The disk image information software revision is listed as xSA: A.xx.xx
Record the xSA revision for your instrument______________________
If you recorded A.07.06 or earlier, will need to re-image the disk drive.
Assembly Name Part # Matl Rev Rev OF Rev Hw Id
Front End Controller

8Installation Note N9030-90066
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Remove the Existing Calibration Files
This step is required to assure that if a disk recovery is performed, the recovery process will not
chose a cal file previously created for the old frequency range.
1. On the PXA front panel, press File, Minimize.
2. Press Start, Computer, Calibration E:, and Align Data Storage.
3. Locate and delete all CurrentPhysics_xxxx.bak files
Re-image the Disk Drive (if required)
The hard drive only needs to be re-imaged if the operating system is Windows XP and the xSA
revision from step 5 is A.07.06 or earlier.
Re-imaging is required to assure the recovery partition software version on the disk drive is new
enough to support the millimeter wave instruments.
The hard drive re-imaging procedure can be found at:
http://mktwww.srs.is.keysight.com/field/service/signal/pxa/hd_reimage/index.html
Select the latest Windows XP (WXP) version in the list of available images.
License Installation Procedure over USB
1. Locate the Option Upgrade Entitlement Certificate (5964-5178) from the kit.
2. Redeem the Option Upgrade Entitlement Certificate by following the instructions on the
Certificate.
3. After redeeming your Option Upgrade Entitlement Certificate you will receive an email with an
attached License File.
4. Locate a USB storage device. Perform a virus scan on this device before use.
5. Save the License File to the root directory of the USB storage device.
6. Connect the USB storage device to the signal analyzer USB port. Windows will detect the new
hardware and may display the configuration menu shown in Figure 1. This menu may be
configured according to your preferences.

Installation Note N9030-90066 9
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Figure 1 USB Storage Device Configuration Menu

10 Installation Note N9030-90066
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
7. The signal analyzer will automatically consume the License File. (This may take a few minutes)
When the License File is consumed the Keysight License Manager will display a “Successful
License Installation” message as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2 Successful License Installation
Alternate Installation Procedure
The License File can be manually installed over USB or LAN by placing the license file in the
following folder on the signal analyzer
C:\Program Files\Agilent\licensing
Verify the License Installation
1. Cycle power on the signal analyzer and wait until the analyzer boots to the measurement
application screen. The instrument will fail RF Alignment and the noise floor will appear
bumpy.
2. Press System, Show, System to display a list of installed options.
3. Verify that the installed option list contains the newly installed N9030A-544 or N9030A-550.

Installation Note N9030-90066 11
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Hardware Removal and Installation
You will be removing almost all front end assemblies, including the option MPB/LNP switches if
present; from the input connector to the A15 Front End Control assembly. The only assembly that
will remain is the A20 YTO.
1. Power down the instrument, wait till the standby light comes on, and remove the power cord.
2. Remove the instrument outer case, top brace, front frame assembly and right side chassis (RF
side bracket). Save all screws for reuse. If the instrument contains option EXM, External
Mixing, be careful and disconnect the semi rigid cable behind the front panel EXT MIXER
connector.
Remove both input attenuators and attenuator brackets
3. Disconnect all semi rigid cables from both input attenuators.
4. Remove the W3, semi rigid calibrator cable from A16 Reference board J701.Discard this cable.
5. Remove both attenuators by removing the attenuator brackets with the attenuator still
attached. Unplug the ribbon cable from both attenuators. The ribbon cable will be used for the
new attenuators. Discard the attenuator/bracket.
6. Remove the input connector assembly with the W2 cable still attached, by removing the two
screws that attach the connector bracket to the instrument frame. Discard.
7. Locate the 2.4 mm input connector in the kit and install it on the instrument frame using the
screws just removed.
Remove the A13 Front End assembly (as if you were replacing the A13 assembly)
8. Disconnect all semi rigid and flex coax cables from the top of the assembly. Also disconnect all
cables (except the bottom cable) on the right side of the Front End assembly.
9. Remove the 50 ohm load from A13A1J8 if present. Only instruments WITHOUT Option EXM,
external mixing have this load attached. This load will be used on the replacement mm-wave
front end assembly.
10.Disconnect the ribbon cable that attaches to the A15 Front End Control assembly. Only
disconnect the end from the A13 Front End assembly. This cable will be re connected to the
new Front End.
11.Remove the A13 Front End assembly from the instrument by removing the mounting screws.
Save the screws for reuse.

12 Installation Note N9030-90066
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Remove the Option MPB and LNP switches (if present)
12.Remove all semi rigid cables that attach to the MPB/LNP switches. Remove both ends of the
cables if possible. You will probably need to wait until the A11 Low Band switch removal step
to remove some cables completely. These cables will not be reused.
13.Remove the wire harness from the wire harness on the two bottom coax switches by
disconnecting the connectors. Leave the wire harness connected at the A15 Front End Control
assembly. This cable will be reused.
14.Remove the top switch/bracket combination. Discard
15.Remove the ribbon cable from the A11 Low Band switch connector header. Leave the ribbon
cable connected at the A15 Front End Control assembly. This cable will be reused.
16.Remove the middle switch/bracket. The attenuator will probably still be attached. Discard
17.Remove the bottom switch/bracket. Discard.
Remove the A11 Low Band Switch
18.Remove all semi rigid cables from the Low Band Switch.
19.Remove the two screws holding the Low Band switch bracket to the chassis and remove the
Low Band Switch/bracket
Remove the A12 YTF assembly
20.Disconnect all semi rigid cables from the YTF. If Option MPB/LNP was present, you already
removed these cables. Discard the cables.
21.Disconnect the wire harness from the YTF header. This wire harness will be reused.
22.Remove the YTF by removing the 4 mounting screws on the instrument chassis. If the gap pad
is stuck to the instrument frame, remove the gap pad.
Replace the A15 Front End Controller (only if the hardware ID is 42.
See the Analyzer Information section previously).
23.Remove all cables from the A15 Front End Controller
24.Remove the Front End Controller assembly.
25.Locate the Front End Controller in the kit, install this assembly, and replace all cables. Some of
the cables will need to removed again, however, reattaching the cables prevents loss of cables
and aids in cable routing.
Reposition the A20 YTO Assembly
26.Remove and discard the semi-rigid cable from the YTO (W20).
27.Remove the two screws holding the YTO to the bottom of the chassis, and remove the YTO.
28.Re-attach the YTO to the bottom of the chassis using the pair of mounting holes approximately
2.5 cm further back from the original mounting holes. This allows additional room, between
the YTO and the YTF, that is necessary when installing the YTF cable later.

Installation Note N9030-90066 13
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Install the A12 YTF assembly
29.Locate the replacement YTF and Gap pad in the kit. Refer to figure 16-50 in the service guide.
Install the gap pad (1) (5022-7179) into the recess in the base of the YTF Preselector (2). Peel
back one corner of the clear plastic backing on the pink side of the gap pad. Remove the blue
backing from the other side. Install the gap pad as shown with the pink side exposed. Carefully
peel off the clear backing and smooth the gap pad into the recess.
30.Position the YTF with the label pointing towards the outside of the instrument, over the
mounting holes in the instrument chassis.
31.Locate four of the 0515-0372 screws (M3 x 8mm long) in the kit, and install the YTF. Torque to
9 inch-pounds. See figure 16-49 in the service guide.
Install the A11 Low band Switch Assembly
32.Locate the replacement A11 Low Band switch assembly and the Low Band Switch Bracket
(N9020-00013) in the kit.
33.Refer to the PXA Service Guide, Chapter 16, RF Area (Options 543, 544 and 550). See figure
16-47 that shows how to mount Low Band Switch to Bracket.
34.Refer to figure 16-46 in the service guide. Place the switch/bracket into place in the chassis.
Loosely install the first 0515-0372 screw closest to the front of the instrument.
35.Locate the loose end of the W11 wire harness that was removed from the YTF earlier. Route
the harness between the YTF and the Low Band Switch bracket. Install the harness connector
into the YTF connector header.
36.Install the second screw into the switch bracket and torque both mounting screws to
9inch-pounds.
Assemble the Attenuators onto brackets and install the attenuators
37.In the retrofit kit, locate Attenuator bracket, N9020-00047. Locate Attenuator magnetic Shield,
N9020-00044. Locate A10 Attenuator 33325-60020, and locate 2, 0515-0372 screws.
38.Refer to Figure 3. With the attenuator positioned with the ribbon cable connector pointing up,
place magnetic shield item 6 onto attenuator, then place Attenuator bracket over magnetic
shield, align the mounting holes and secure together with 2, 0515-0372 screws. Torque to 9
inch -pounds.

14 Installation Note N9030-90066
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Figure 3 Attenuator Installation
39.Install the attenuator assembly into the instrument as shown in Figure 3. This is attenuator “B”
(A10) attenuator, and it mounts toward the front of the instrument. Secure with 2, 0515-0372
screws from the kit (3). Torque to 9 inch-pounds.
40.Attach the attenuator ribbon cable that controls this attenuator.
41.In the retrofit kit, locate Attenuator bracket, N9020-00047. Locate Attenuator magnetic Shield,
N9020-00043. Locate A9 Attenuator 33326-60013, and locate 2, 0515-0372 screws.
42.Refer to Figure 3. With the attenuator positioned with the ribbon cable connector pointing up,
place magnetic shield item 5 onto attenuator, then place Attenuator bracket over magnetic
shield, align the mounting holes and secure together with 2, 0515-0372 screws. Torque to 9
inch-pounds.
43.Install the attenuator assembly into the instrument as shown in Figure 3. This is attenuator “A”
(A9) attenuator, and it mounts toward the rear of the instrument. Secure with 2, 0515-0372
screws from the kit (4). Torque to 9 inch-pounds.
44.Attach the ribbon cable that controls this attenuator.
45.Locate the semi rigid cable, N9020-20068 in the kit. Attach this W4 cable between the output
of Attenuator A and input of Attenuator B. See Figure 3.

Installation Note N9030-90066 15
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Install the replacement A13 Front End Assembly
46.Locate the A13 Front End assembly in the kit. The A13 is secured to a metal shipping fixture.
Remove the metal fixture.
47.Refer to the Replacement procedure in the service guide, and Figures 16-63 and 16-64. Do not
forget the install the 50 ohm termination onto A13A1J8 if this termination was removed from
the microwave version of this Front End assembly (instruments WITHOUT Option EXM,
External Mixing, require the load).
48.See Figure 4. If the instrument contains Option EXM, locate the semi rigid cable N9020-20167
in the kit. This is W17. Connect the end with the SMA male connector to A13A1J8, with the
female connector pointing towards where the front panel would be. Torque to 10 inch-pounds.
Figure 4 Orientation of W17
49.If the instrument contains Option EXM, locate the flexible coax cable 8121-2025 in the kit and
install this cable between A13A1J13 and A15, Front End Control assembly, J903. Discard the
cable already connected at Front End Controller J903 if present. Do not replace the front frame
assembly at this time.

16 Installation Note N9030-90066
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Install the option MPB and LNP switches if the instrument originally contained these
options
Installing Switches and Control Cables
50.Refer to Figure 5. Locate the two switches and the switch bracket in the kit.
Figure 5 Bracket Mount to Switches
51.Attach the switches (2) and (4) to the bracket with the 0515-1934 screws. Note that the
switch with the wire pigtail (4) mounts below the switch without the pigtail (2).
Torque to 6 inch-lbs.

Installation Note N9030-90066 17
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
52.Refer to Figure 6. In the kit, locate the empty connector body 1252-1873 (2). Plug the empty
connector body into the existing switch wire harness connector (1) that has the orange, black,
green wires. Plug the wire harness that has the yellow, black, green wires into the bottom
switch harness.
Figure 6 Switch Wiring
53.Locate the ribbon cable N9020-60177 (3) in the kit and install it onto the top switch. Note the
cable must have a fold in it as shown. Ribbon cable (4) is the existing W7 cable removed from
the Low Band Switch assembly earlier. Notice how this cable will be routed between the
switches. The other end of this cable should still be attached to the Front End Control
assembly. Notice the fold in the ribbon cable.

18 Installation Note N9030-90066
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
54.Refer to Figure 7. Position the switch/bracket assembly into the frame. Route W7 ribbon cable
between the switches. Notice the position of the other ribbon cable W55 and wire harness
W12. Secure the switch assembly with two 0515-1035 screws (1). Torque to 9 inch-lbs. Insert
W7 ribbon cable into Low Band Switch header. Ensure the locking tabs are engaged.
Figure 7 Cable Routing

Installation Note N9030-90066 19
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
Installing Semi-Rigid Cables
55.Refer to Figure 8. Locate W52 N9020-20125 (1), and W54 N9020-20127 (2), in the kit and
install them as shown. Torque cables to 10 inch-lbs.
Figure 8 W52 and W54 Cable Installation

20 Installation Note N9030-90066
Frequency Range Upgrade from RF or Microwave to Millimeter Wave Frequency
56.Refer to Figure 9. Locate W60 N9020-20128 (1) in the kit and install it as shown. Locate W61
N9020-20129 (2), and install it as shown. Locate W59 N9020-20151 (3) and install it. Locate
W62 N9020-20130 (4) and install it. Torque cables to 10 inch-lbs.
Figure 9 W60, W61, W62, and W59 Cable Installation