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Step Control Slave
Function Group
FREQUENCY
Menu Map
2
Description
This
softkey
lets you designate the synthesizer as the slave in
a dual synthesizer measurement system. A dual synthesizer
system (two-tone measurement system) facilitates accurate device
characterizations by providing one
timebase
reference for both
sources.
Figure S-l shows the connections required for
a two-tone system. On
the message line, the status message
EXT REF appears indicating the
synthesizer has an external
timebase
reference. The start and stop
frequencies of the slave can be offset above or below those set on the
master for fixed offset two-tone measurements.
To synchronize properly for swept offset measurements, the 0 to 10
volt sweep ramp must be actively sweeping on the slave. If a CW
frequency is selected as the fixed LO frequency, the sweep ramp is
deactivated and the proper synchronization does not occur. Select a
center frequency with zero span to keep the slave’s voltage sweep
ramp active and ensure proper synchronization.
For synthesized step sweep measurements, set the number of sweep
points on the slave the same as on the master synthesizer. If the
master synthesizer is connected to a network analyzer, the analyzer
automatically sets the master synthesizer’s step size to match
the number of points displayed on the analyzer. Since the slave
synthesizer is not connected to the analyzer, set the slave to match
the master synthesizer. Allow the master to trigger the slave’s steps,
set
Step Swp Pt Tsig Ext
on the slave synthesizer.
For ramp sweep measurements, on the slave set the sweep time
equivalent to the master synthesizer. If the
master is connected to a
network analyzer, the slave’s sweep time is slightly longer than the
master’s because the analyzer does not stop the sweep precisely on
the last point. Use the following formula to determine the slave’s
sweep time for a system controlled by an analyzer.
SweepTimeMaste,
x 1.03 =
SweepTimesl,,,
For fixed-offset ramp sweep measurements the same sweep time must
be set on both the master and the slave. Since the master’s sweep
time is typically determined by the measurement configuration, set
the slave to match the master.
For more accurate ramp sweeps, select
Sup
Span Cal Always on
both the master and slave synthesizers. When this feature is active it
calibrates the frequency at the end of every frequency band.
S-66
Operating and Programming Reference
HP 8360
User’s Handbook