Micronix MSA538 User manual

Ver.1.09 / Nov. / 2016
MICRONIX CORPORATION
3.3GHz/8.5GHz Handheld Signal Analyzer
MSA538(E/TG)/MSA558(E)
Operating manual
OM-12014
All manuals and user guides at all-guides.com
all-guides.com

–I–
Before Using the Product
· Please use following the below notes described on the back panel.
· For safe use
1) When abnormal sound, abnormal smell or smoke is found, stop using and remove the battery and AC
adapter.
2) Never use this product by wet hands, or the electric shock, a fire or the damage is caused.
3) Never use this product when thundering, or the damage by lightning may be caused.
4) Never use any AC adapter other than specified, or the damage is caused. And connect the power cable to
three-terminal outlet for protecting from static electricity, or this product or a device under test may be
damaged.
5) Never use any battery other than specified, or this product is damaged. When removing or installing the
battery, do it after turning off the power and disconnecting AC adapter.
6) Be sure to charge the battery by the specified way.
Moreover, an explosion, a fire or smoking may happen if the handling of the battery is improper.
Please read the notes of the handling of battery.
· Set clock function
The time information is set at Japan standard time. Set the year, month, day and time when MSA500 series is
used for the first time. (Refer to “24.4 Setting of clock” for the details.)
All manuals and user guides at all-guides.com

–II–
· Quality assurance
Warranty
If the defect by our responsibility occurs within one year after delivered, it shall be repaired free of
charge. However, this warranty does not cover such defect that :
1) is caused by a fire or natural disasters.
2) is caused by inappropriate handling such as dropping while moving the unit delivered.
3) is caused by handling in contradiction to usage or precautions described in the operating manual.
4) is caused by modification or misuse.
We will not be responsible for direct or indirect damage caused by use or defect of this product.
Warm-up time
Warm up the product for ten minutes at least after turning on the power in order to stabilize the internal
circuit.
Precautions for storage
1) Store this unit avoiding direct sunlight or dust.
2) Store this unit in a place where temperature is -20°C to 60°C, humidity is less than 60°C/70%RH and
also variation of temperature and humidity is small.
After service
Please contact us without hesitation if you have any questions about this product:
MICRONIX CORPORATION
2987-2, KOBIKI-CHO, HACHIOJI-SHI, TOKYO 193-0934 JAPAN
TEL. [phone] FAX. [phone]
URL: http://www.micronix-jp.com/ E-mail: [e-mail]
All manuals and user guides at all-guides.com

1. Outline ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1
1.1 Product outlines --------------------------------------------------- 1
1.2 Standard accessories ----------------------------------------------- 2
1.3 Lineup of five models ---------------------------------------------- 2
2. Specifications --------------------------------------------------------- 3
2.1 Performances ---------------------------------------------------- 3
2.2 External view --------------------------------------------------- 8
3. Explanation of Panel -------------------------------------------------- 9
4. Explanation of Screen ------------------------------------------------ 12
4.1 SWEEP MODE ------------------------------------------------- 12
4.2 REAL TIME MODE (Single view) --------------------------------- 13
4.3 REAL TIME MODE (Dual view) ----------------------------------- 14
5. Function Menu ------------------------------------------------------- 15
6. Preparing for Operation ---------------------------------------------- 24
6.1 Stand --------------------------------------------------------- 24
6.2 Connection to power supply --------------------------------------- 24
6.3 Battery charge -------------------------------------------------- 25
6.4 Installation of battery -------------------------------------------- 25
7. Measurement Mode <OPERATIONMODE> -------------------------- 26
7.1 MAIN-MEASUREMENT mode ------------------------------------ 27
7.2 Time Domain MESUREMENT mode ------------------------------- 28
7.3 SUB-MESUREMENT mode -------------------------------------- 28
8. Center Frequency <FREQ> ------------------------------------------- 29
8.1 Setting with step keys ( [F1], [F2] ) --------------------------------- 29
8.2 Setting with encoder --------------------------------------------- 29
8.3 Setting with numeric key ----------------------------------------- 29
8.4 Set to marker position -------------------------------------------- 31
8.5 AUTO Tuning -------------------------------------------------- 31
9. Frequency Span <SPAN> --------------------------------------------- 31
10. Reference Level <REFER> ------------------------------------------ 33
10.1 Setting of reference level ---------------------------------------- 33
10.2 Change of unit of amplitude axis ---------------------------------- 33
10.3 Setting of step size of reference level ------------------------------- 33
10.4 On-off setting of offset ------------------------------------------ 33
10.5 Setting of offset level ------------------------------------------- 33
10.6 Setting of input impedance --------------------------------------- 34
10.7 Reference level setting range for each unit --------------------------- 34
10.8 Relation between reference level and ATT/AMP (at dBm) --------------- 35
10.9 Reference level function menu in TIME DOMAIN measurement --------- 36
Contents
All manuals and user guides at all-guides.com

10.10 Setting of reference level in TIME DOMAIN measurement ------------ 37
10.11 Setting of offset level in TIME DOMAIN measurement --------------- 37
10.12 On-off setting of offset in TIME DOMAIN measurement -------------- 37
11. Display Scale <SCALE> --------------------------------------------- 37
11.1 Setting with function key ---------------------------------------- 37
11.2 Display Scale function menu in TIME DOMAIN measurement ---------- 37
12. Resolution/Video Bandwidth <BW> ---------------------------------- 39
12.1 RBW MANUAL mode ------------------------------------------ 39
12.2 RBW AUTO mode --------------------------------------------- 39
12.3 VBW MANUAL mode ------------------------------------------ 39
12.4 VBW AUTO mode --------------------------------------------- 39
12.5 ALL AUTO mode ---------------------------------------------- 40
13. Sweep Axis / Detection Mode <SWEEP> ----------------------------- 40
13.1 MANUAL mode ----------------------------------------------- 40
13.2 AUTO mode -------------------------------------------------- 40
13.3 ALL AUTO mode ---------------------------------------------- 40
13.4 Setting of Detection mode ---------------------------------------- 41
14. Trigger Function <TRIG> ------------------------------------------- 41
14.1 Setting of Trigger source (SWEEP MODE) -------------------------- 41
14.2 Setting of Trigger source (REAL TIME MODE) ---------------------- 41
14.3 Trigger source select menu --------------------------------------- 42
14.4 Channel power trigger select menu --------------------------------- 43
15. Hold / Run <HOLD/RUN> ------------------------------------------ 44
16. Calculation Function <CALC> -------------------------------------- 44
16.1 NORMAL mode ----------------------------------------------- 44
16.2 MAX HOLD mode --------------------------------------------- 44
16.3 MIN HOLD mode ---------------------------------------------- 45
16.4 AVERAGE mode ---------------------------------------------- 45
16.5 OVER WRITE mode ------------------------------------------- 45
16.6 SPURIOUS FREE mode (MSA558/558E) --------------------------- 45
17. Marker & peak search <MKR> -------------------------------------- 47
17.1 Setting of marker ----------------------------------------------- 47
17.2 Setting of marker for I/Q vs. Time measurement of REAL TIME MODE --- 48
17.3 Normal peak search --------------------------------------------- 48
17.4 Zone peak search ----------------------------------------------- 49
17.5 Change for unit at maker level ------------------------------------ 49
18. Save / Load <SAVE/LOAD> ----------------------------------------- 50
18.1 Selection of storage device --------------------------------------- 50
18.2 Save function -------------------------------------------------- 51
18.3 About file name ------------------------------------------------ 52
18.4 Load function ------------------------------------------------- 52
All manuals and user guides at all-guides.com

18.5 Delete function ------------------------------------------------ 54
18.6 Presetting (Initialization) ----------------------------------------- 54
19. Measuring Function <MEAS> --------------------------------------- 55
19.1 Channel power measurement <CH POWER> ------------------------ 56
19.2 Adjacent channel leakage power measurement <ACP> ----------------- 57
19.3 Occupied bandwidth measurement <OBW> ------------------------- 58
19.4 Electric field strength measurement <EFS ANT> ---------------------- 59
19.5 Magnetic field strength measurement <MFS PROBE> ----------------- 64
19.6 Noise measurement <NOISE> ------------------------------------ 65
20. EMI Test (MSA538E/558E) ------------------------------------------ 66
20.1 Additional function for EMI test ----------------------------------- 66
20.2 EMI test ------------------------------------------------------ 67
21. Screen Control <DSPL> --------------------------------------------- 70
21.1 Setting of color of screen display ---------------------------------- 70
21.2 ON/OFF switching of LCD backlight ------------------------------- 70
21.3 Adjustment of brightness of LCD backlight -------------------------- 70
22. Tracking Generator Mode (MSA538TG) ----------------------------- 71
22.1 Specification of T.G. function ------------------------------------- 71
22.2 Description of I/O connector -------------------------------------- 71
22.3 ON/OFF Switching of TG function --------------------------------- 72
22.4 Normalizing function -------------------------------------------- 72
23. Storage and print of screen image <COPY> -------------------------- 73
23.1 Selection of image area ------------------------------------------ 73
23.2 Print on printer -------------------------------------------------- 73
23.3 Storage into USB memory ----------------------------------------- 73
23.4 Transferring internal data to USB memory in a lump sum ---------------- 73
23.5 USB printer (option) --------------------------------------------- 74
23.6 USB memory --------------------------------------------------- 74
24. Utility Function <UTIL> -------------------------------------------- 75
24.1 Label function ------------------------------------------------- 75
24.2 Menu off ----------------------------------------------------- 76
24.3 Buzzer setting ------------------------------------------------- 76
24.4 Setting of clock ------------------------------------------------ 77
25. USB device Function ------------------------------------------------ 78
25.1 Outline ------------------------------------------------------- 78
25.2 How to connect ------------------------------------------------ 78
25.3 Installation of driver -------------------------------------------- 78
25.4 Explanation of Command ---------------------------------------- 79
25.5 Input of frequency ---------------------------------------------- 87
25.6 Transfer of spectrum data ----------------------------------------- 88
25.7 Writing of original compensation data -------------------------------- 88
All manuals and user guides at all-guides.com
all-guides.com

26. Option -------------------------------------------------------------- 91
27. Basis Performance Test (MSA538/538E/538TG/558/558E) ------------- 94
27.1 Frequency characteristics ---------------------------------------- 94
27.2 Accuracy of reference level --------------------------------------- 95
27.3 Display accuracy of center frequency ------------------------------- 95
27.4 Display accuracy of frequency span -------------------------------- 96
27.5 Linearity of amplitude axis --------------------------------------- 96
All manuals and user guides at all-guides.com

－ 1 －
1. Outline
1.1 Product outlines
MSA500 series signal analyzer offers both the real time system based on Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and
the conventional sweep system. Each strong point of both systems is effectively usable.
The features are as follows.
1) Real time plus Sweep system
In real time system, the spectrum which occurs in an instant won’t be missed. It is optimum for analyzing a
noise and a transitional phenomenon. On the other hand, the sweep system is suitable for observing at wide
frequency range. Various applications can be covered by making good use of advantage of each system.
2) Sufficient analysis functions
In real time system, Spectrogram analysis and OverWrite analysis can be performed besides Spectrum
analysis. Furthermore, time domain analysis is also available.
3) Time domain analysis expanding analyzer capability
In real time system, time domain analyses such as power vs. time, frequency vs. time, phase vs. time, IQ vs.
time and Q vs. I are possible.
4) Fast OverWrite analysis of 720 frames/sec
Since OverWrite analysis in real time system is processed at high speed as 720 frames/sec, even unnecessary
spectrum which appears rarely isn’t missed.
5) Powerful trigger functions
In real time system, powerful trigger functions such as channel power trigger, power trigger, IF level trigger
and external trigger can be used.
6) Real time operation by 20MHz maximum span
Since a signal can be observed with maximum span of 20MHz in real time system, the modulation signals of
almost all of wireless communications can be captured.
7) Large memory of 16K frames and high speed USB communication
In real time system, data can be captured for a long time because the IQ memory is as large as 16K frames
(64M bytes). Moreover, IQ data can be transmitted to PC at speed of 19ms/frame.
8) Average noise level -162dBm/Hz
The average noise level of -162dBm/Hz at [MSA538/538TG/538E] and -157dBm/Hz at [MSA558/558E] is
achieved. At span 20kHz in real time mode, it is -140dBm and –135dBm respectively.
9) Compact and lightweight 1.8kg
The dimensions are as small as 162(W)x71(H)x265(D)mm, and the weight is only 1.8kg including the
battery. It is very convenient for outdoor use and on business trip.
All manuals and user guides at all-guides.com

－ 2 －
10) Four-hour battery operation
Lithium-ion battery MB400 (option) fully charged enables about four-hour battery operation at backlight off.
11) Data storage into USB memory
USB memory can be used as an external memory. The screen image is stored by BMP format. And the
spectrum waveform, IQ data and setting parameters are stored by CSV format. Moreover, the screen image
is copied on the optional USB printer as it is.
12) Functions comparable to a bench type
・ Measuring functions : Channel power, Adjacent channel power, Occupied bandwidth, Electric field strength,
Magnetic field strength and Noise measurement
・ Calculation functions : MaxHold, MinHold, Averaging, OverWrite
・ Marker measurement and peak search function
1.2 Standard accessories
1. AC adaptor MA400
2. Carrying case
3. Accessory pouch
4. Operating manual
1.3 Lineup of five models
Model Contents
MSA538 20kHz to 3.3GHz
The most popular model
MSA558 20kHz to 8.5GHz
Covering almost all wireless systems
MSA538TG
20kHz to 3.3GHz
With TG from 5MHz to 3.3GHz
MSA538E 20kHz to 3.3GHz
With 3.3GHz EMI measurement
MSA558E 20kHz to 8.5GHz
With 8.5GHz EMI measurement
All manuals and user guides at all-guides.com

－ 3 －
2. Specifications
2.1 Performances
■ Frequency section
MSA538/538E/538TG MSA558/558E
Frequency range 20kHz to 3.3GHz 20kHz to 8.5GHz
Center frequency
Setting
resolution
100Hz
Allows rotary encoder, numeric key and function key.
Accuracy Sweep mode : ±(30+20T)kHz ±1dot@span≦10MHz, ※1
±(60+300T)kHz ±1dot@span≧20MHz, ※1
T: sweep time (s)
Real time mode : ±0.5ppm ±1dot
Frequency span
Setting range Sweep mode:
0Hz (zero span), 100kHz to 2GHz (1-2-5
step) and 3.3GHz (full span)
Real time mode:
20kHz to 20MHz (1-2-5 step)
Sweep mode:
0Hz (zero span), 100kHz to 5GHz (1-2-5
step) and 8.5GHz (full span)
Real time mode:
20kHz to 20MHz (1-2-5 step)
Accuracy Sweep mode : ±3% ±1dot @ one step slower sweep time than AUTO, ※1
Real time mode : ±0.1% ±1dot
Display dots 501dots
Resolution bandwidth ※Valid only in sweep mode, 3dB bandwidth
Setting range 300Hz to 3MHz (1-3 step) and AUTO ＜MSA538/538TG/558＞
300Hz to 3MHz (1-3 step) and AUTO, in addition 9kHz(6dB), 120kHz(6dB) and
1MHz(6dB) ＜MSA538E/558E＞
Accuracy ±5%
Selectivity 1：4.5 (typical)@3dB:60dB
Video bandwidth ※Valid only in sweep mode, 3dB bandwidth
Setting range 100Hz to 3MHz (1-3 step) and AUTO
SSB phase noise -95dBc/Hz (typical)@100kHz offset
Spurious response less than -60dBc＠sweep mode, applied to 5dB lower signal from REF level,
spurious free mode at MSA558/558E
less than -60dBc＠real time mode, applied to 5dB lower signal from REF level,
to be no signal of ( REF-35dB) or more outside center frequency
±200MHz at MSA558/558E
Residual responses -80dBm (typical)@REF level ≦-15dBm
Harmonics -40dBc (typical)@≧10MHz
Reference frequency
Temperature
stability
±0.2ppm@0 to 50℃
Aging rate ±0.5ppm@ 1 year
※1 : 23±5°C, less than 28°C/70%RH
All manuals and user guides at all-guides.com