Agilent 5991-4702EN Introduction to the FieldFox RF Analyzer - Application Note c20141027 [11] free download

File name 5991-4702EN Introduction to the FieldFox RF Analyzer - Application Note c20141027 [11].pdf

Keysight Technologies Introduction to the FieldFox RF Analyzer University Engineering Lab Series - Lab 1 Application Note Introduction The Keysight Technologies, Inc. FieldFox RF analyzers are a new generation of portable, handheld instruments which provide a variety of powerful functions all within the same unit. They combine a precision microwave/RF swept frequency source with a tuned phase- sensitive receiver which can be configured by embedded software to create the traditional microwave/RF instruments such as a spectrum analyzer (SA), a network analyzer (NA), or a cable-antenna test (CAT) system. Other functions which use the same microwave/RF platform can also be installed as software packages, such as an RF power meter (PM), and vector voltmeter (VVM). The FieldFox also features very high accuracy measurements with greatly simplified calibration and a wide variety of connectivity options that allow the instru- ment to be controlled and monitored remotely. 2 A quick overview The Keysight N9914A is the 6.5 GHz version of the FieldFox, and its operating range is from 30 kHz to 6.5 GHz for the CAT and VNA modes, and 9 kHz to 6.5 GHz for the SA mode. Other models are available with frequency ranges up to 26.5 GHz. The embedded computer and controller runs a version of Windows CE, so its boot up and shut down bears some resemblance to these systems. When the FieldFox is first turned on, the Windows CE operating system is the first thing that initializes. The microwave/RF source and receiver are controlled by applications that run under this Windows CE operating system. The N9914A referenced in this lab includes three main software applications: a cable-antenna test (CAT), a network analyzer (NA), and a spectrum analyzer (SA). When FieldFox is first turned on, the CAT application is normally loaded and launched first, so this is the starting application that the user will first see upon a cold-start power up. The front panel of the Keysight FieldFox is shown in figure 1. The power switch is the prominent bright white button located in the lower left of the front panel. Pressing this button once will turn on the instrument and start its boot up routine, ultimately ending up in the CAT application. When turned on in the run mode, the power LED below the power button will glow green. Turning the instrument off is a little more complicated. Pressing the power button once will not turn the instru- ment off, but instead move it into a standby mode in which the computer memory remains loaded with its current contents, but the RF systems, display, and user I/O are shut down to conserve power. The standby mode can be recognized by the blank display but the power LED will flash yellow. Pressing the power button again will move the instrument from standby to run mode, with the power LED glowing gree