Agilent The Easy Way to Make Pulse Signal Measurements with HSA and Power Sensor - Application Note 5991-144 free download

File name The Easy Way to Make Pulse Signal Measurements with HSA and Power Sensor - Application Note 5991-144

Keysight Technologies The Easy Way to Make Pulse Signal Measurements Using the Keysight N934xC Handheld Spectrum Analyzer and U2020 X-Series USB Peak and Average Power Sensors Application Note Introduction From R&D and manufacturing, to maintenance and repair services, power measurements are ubiquitous in the RF and microwave world. Along with their growing presence, the need to perform peak power measurements is increasing, especially in military and communication applications. These measurements are necessary to test the pulsed transmissions of radar, GSM and WiMAXTM communication devices, and TD-LTE base stations. While traditional transmission testing in the field has typically relied on the use of a laptop PC, Keysight Technologies' N934XC handheld spectrum analyzer (HSA) and U2020 X-Series peak power sensors offers an alternative solution which makes testing transmissions easier. For example, when you're working in field, the long boot-up time for a laptop PC can be an inconvenience. Additionally, laptop PC software typically includes capabilities, such as multiple channels, feeds, and traces mathematics--functionality that is mainly desired by labs and production lines instead of field applications. The N934xC HSA-based solution provides streamlined functions to address the specific needs of the field engineer. That purpose-driven focus is another reason the N934xC/U2020 X-series solution makes peak power measurement setup in the field simpler. The Keysight U2020 X-series USB peak and average power sensors enable peak power measurements that have the same accuracy as measurements obtained using traditional peak power meters, while providing the advantages of being a very compact and portable form factor. The U2020 X-series is provided with free PC-based software N1918A Power Analysis Manager. This software enables powerful measurement capability and flexibility. With the built-in internal zeroing and calibration features, U2020 X-series sensors do not require a calibration source. Nor do the sensors need to be disconnected from the DUT while the sensor performs zeroing and calibration. These features make measurement preparation easier. This application note briefly discusses the principle of the peak power sensor and explains how easy it is to quickly set up peak power measurements using the N934xC HSA/U2020 X-series solution. Principle of Peak Power Sensors Power meters (or power sensors), are one of the simplest instruments in the RF and microwave test and measurement world. As shown in Figure 1, in concept the USB peak power sensor can be separated into two functional parts: