Keysight PXA N9030A Installation and operation manual

Option NF2, Noise Floor Extension Upgrade
Keysight N9030A PXA Signal Analyzer
Installation Note

Notices
© Copyright 2012-2019 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
N9030-90064
Edition
Edition 1, April 2019
Supersedes: October 2014
Printed in USA/Malaysia
Published by:
Keysight Technologies, Inc.
1400 Fountaingrove Parkway
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Installation Note N9030-90064 3
Option NF2, Noise Floor Extension
Option NF2, Noise Floor Extension
Products Affected: N9030A, PXA Signal Analyzer
Serial Numbers: All with Option NFE currently installed
To Be Performed By: (X) Keysight Service Center
(X) Personnel Qualified by Keysight
(X) Customer
Estimated Installation Time:
Estimated Adjustment Time:
Estimated Verification Time:
0.5 Hours
0.5 Hours
0.5 Hours

4Installation Note N9030-90064
Introduction
Introduction
This installation note explains how to install the license for Option NF2, Noise Floor Extension, and
perform the necessary alignments and performance verification tests.
All early PXAs were shipped with Option NFE, Noise Floor Extension, as a standard licensed option.
Option NF2 is the enhanced version of NFE, and is also a licensed option, and is standard on all new
PXAs shipped in the late 2014 timeframe.
When Option NF2 is installed on an early PXA that already contains Option NFE, both NFE and NF2
will appear in the instrument Show System screen.
Following the licensing of NF2, and installation of instrument software, the Show System screen
will list:
N9030A-NF2 Noise Floor Extension, instrument alignment
N9030A-NFE Noise Floor Extension, factory alignment
Instrument alignment means Option NF2 has an alignment process built into the instrument
software that can be executed from the front panel. This routine will automatically run the first time
Option NF2 is installed.
Factory alignment means Option NFE requires the Keysight N8714A software to adjust the
instrument.
Although NFE and NF2 are both licensed, the instrument software will only use Option NF2.
Installing this kit requires that the analyzer have instrument software version A.14.07 or later
installed. The latest instrument software version can be obtained from:
http://www.keysight.com/find/xseries_software
Software and test equipment is required for performance verification testing. Information on how to
obtain this software can be found at:
http://www.cal.software.keysight.com/
Instrument software revision A.14.07 or later is required to install this upgrade.
The instrument must have an alignment performed and the performance tested to assure the
instrument meets specifications following the license installation. The X-Series Performance
Verification and Adjustment Software must be used to verify performance. All performance
verification tests are automated. This software is included in the N7814A, Keysight X-Series
Signal Analyzer Calibration Application software.

Installation Note N9030-90064 5
Introduction
Installation Kit Parts List
Tools Required
• Keysight Calibration and Adjustment Software, N7814A (revision E.13.00 or later)
• Test equipment and computer supported by the X-Series Performance Tests and Adjustment
Software
• Microsoft Windows based personal computer with internet access and USB port
• USB storage device with >2GB free memory
Initial Instrument Functionality Check
Power on the instrument and allow the instrument to boot up. Run an alignment 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.
Quantity Description Part Number
1 Entitlement Certificate 5964-5178
1 Entitlement Certificate Envelope 5967-7169
1 Installation Note This note

6Installation Note N9030-90064
Installation Procedure
Installation Procedure
Update Instrument Software
1. Check the currently-installed version of the instrument software by pressing System, Show,
System. Look for the entry for “Instrument S/W Revision”.
2. If the currently-installed instrument software revision is earlier than A.14.07, it will be
necessary to upgrade the software.
3. Even if the currently-installed instrument software revision is A.14.07 or later, Keysight
recommends that the analyzer be upgraded to the latest version of instrument software.
4. Go to the following website and determine whether or not the analyzer has the latest
instrument software already installed:
http://www.keysight.com/find/xseries_software

Installation Note N9030-90064 7
Installation Procedure
Licensing the New Options
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 one of the analyzer’s USB ports. Connect a mouse to
another 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.
Figure 1 USB Storage Device Configuration Menu

8Installation Note N9030-90064
Installation Procedure
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. Since the license file contains multiple
licenses, multiple “Successful License Installation” messages will appear. Wait until all
licenses have been consumed before removing the USB Storage Device.
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 analyzer folder:
C:\Program Files\Agilent\licensing.

Installation Note N9030-90064 9
Installation Procedure
Verify the Installation and Perform Alignment
1. Cycle power on the signal analyzer
2. As the analyzer boots up, you will see a message similar to Figure 3 below prompting you to
characterize the noise floor of the analyzer.
Figure 3 Characterize Noise Floor Prompt
3. Press OK to start the alignment. A progress indicator will appear on screen as shown in Figure
4below.
Figure 4 Characterize Noise Floor Progress Indicator

10 Installation Note N9030-90064
Installation Procedure
4. The characterization will take approximately 10 minutes for a 26.5 GHz analyzer and up to 30
minutes for a 50 GHz analyzer with Options P50 and MPB.
5. After the characterization has completed, press Mode, Spectrum Analyzer, Mode Preset.
6. Press FREQ, 1 GHz, SPAN, 100 MHz, AMPTD, Ref Level, −50 dBm.
7. Press BW, 100 kHz, Trace/Detector, More 1 of 3, Detector, Average, Sweep/Control, Sweep
Time, 10 s.
8. Press Mode Setup, Noise Reduction, Noise Floor Extension (Off).
9. Note the level of the displayed noise.
10.If instrument software version is > A.18.00, press Mode Setup, Noise Reduction, Noise Floor
Extension (Full). If instrument software version is < A.18.00, press Mode Setup, Noise
Reduction, Noise Floor Extension (On). Note that the level of the displayed noise should be at
least 10 dB lower than the level noted in the previous step. The noise will have higher
peak-to-peak variation than when Noise Floor Extension is Off, but the average of the noise
should still be more than 10 dB below the level noted in the previous step.