Having played with a few of these incredible machines, you are more constrained by time to learn than time on the jobsite.
Its all there, and its like anything else so complex, it takes time to get it to do what you want.
The nice thing about Software defined test instruments, is WHEN you get it right, you can save the settings to a keyfob or disk for future use.
Most have built-in presets. I like to back everything up to a CD or DVD for permanent reference. That way youve got a benchmark you can use to show a customer your calibrations, external to the machine.
You will however, be spending some serious time learning the machine. But you need not have to learn it a second time.
Marc
James M. Atkinson wrote:
Roger, The EXA and MXA is Agilent first major push into the use to a software define instruments where the BWO and sweep circuits are replaced with high speed digitizers and a block convertor. You would use a EXA or MXA in a similar fashion to that of the ESA or PSA (thier flagship swept spectrum analyzers). A software defined instrument used in the format as a spectrum or vector analyzer has been around for over ten years, but most TSCM people could not justify paying $140,000 for a highly fragile, 75 pound instrument. The big benefit of a software defined instrument is that once you split the incoming signal into a I and Q signals, and then digitize them the kinds of measurements you can make with them is almost limitless. For example you can display a segment of the RF spectrum in a frequency v. amplitude as a conventional spectrum analyzer display, or as a frequency v./ time in several different formats, or as a phase or constellation display, actual data display, chips, or other data inside the signal. As a TSCM instrument the software defined instrument is quite valuable in capturing data bursts where you set up on a set of frequencies that you know that a bug is using, and you capture the spectrum only when that band lights up. For example, in September/October 1999 I purchased two Tektronix 3086 Real Time Spectrum Analyzers, and mounted them in a shock mounted anti-vibration Hardigg rack as they were not suitable for field use due to their construction and special measures had to be taken to protect them. These instruments were the very first widely produced software defined instruments and what you got was a Windows 95 PC with a modest hard drive, multiple serial ports, digitizer boards, down converters, etc. The actual digitize bandwidth was 30 MHz, and with a little mod you could tweak this up to just over 100 MHz of bandwidth. What this means is that if anything at all pops up on the air within this bandwidth the instrument will capure it without regard for how long the signal was present, so in the case of a burst device that is only in the air for a few milli-seconds every couple of hours these RTSA's will capture it, albeit with a moderately narrow bandwidth. By using two or more instruments you can monitor two or more times as much RF real estate, but you are still restricted to the "bandwidth" of the instruments so that even if you have only of the newer RTSA that goes up to 8.5 GHz you still can only watch 30 MHz or so at a time (up to 120 MHz if you are clever with equipment mods). If you are stalking digital signals that are only present for short times, or signals that create only a very small elevation of the noise floor these types of instruments are invaluable, and since they have been around for the last decade the designs have become much more refined, and the equipment reduced in size and more reliable.. -jma At 10:29 AM 11/1/2007, rogelio villarreal wrote:
COULD YOU TELL ME IF THIS WOULD BE OF USE IN SWEEPS? pERHAPPS THIS INFORMATION COULD BE OF INTEREST TO THE GROUP SALUDOS ROGER in Mexico Signal analyzer sets new performance/cost standard in signal analysis Fast, Low-Cost Signal Analyzer Claimed to make signal measurements 3 faster than competitive models, an economy-model signal analyzer targets design troubleshooting, complex signal analysis, and productivity gains. The analyzer uses vector signal analysis software to perform a wide range of measurements in an open Window XP Professional OS. Functions can be accessed with a USB keyboard/mouse and on the front panel Santa Clara, Calif. Agilent Technologies Inc. says its EXA signal analyzer is the industry's fastest economy-class signal analyzer, providing engineers with the capabilities to troubleshoot new designs, increase manufacturing throughput, or analyze complex and time-varying signals. At a lower performance point than Agilent's MXA signal analyzer, the EXA integrates the same broad range of standards-based measurements with Agilent's 89600 vector signal analysis (VSA) software in a single instrument. In addition to the use of an open Windows XP Professional operating system, the EXA also provides an advanced signal analysis user interface. All measurement features and functions are intuitively grouped and accessible from the front panel or via a USB keyboard and mouse. The EXA signal analyzer supports multiple frequency ranges from 9 kHz to 3.6, 7.0, 13.6 and 26.5 GHz, an internal fully calibrated pre-amplifier option up to 3.6 GHz, and standard analysis bandwidths of 10 MHz. This fully scalable functionality is complemented by EXA's +13 dBm third-order intercept, -146 dBm/Hz displayed average noise level (without pre-amp) and 66 dB W-CDMA ACLR dynamic range, as well as 0.4 dB total absolute amplitude accuracy, which is made possible by the all-digital, 14-bit ADC IF section. The dynamic range is maximized with an optional 2 dB mechanical step attenuator over the full frequency range and for manufacturing offers an optional 1 dB electronic attenuator to 3.6 GHz. Agilent said a breakthrough characteristic of the Agilent EXA is its intrinsic speed, unprecedented for an economy signal analyzer, which allows measurements up to 300 percent faster than other economy-class signal analyzers. The EXA returns a marker peak search result in less than 5 ms, local updates in less than 10 ms, and remote sweep and transfer (via GPIB) in less than 12 ms. Measurement mode switching speeds are typically less than 75 ms. This speed enables a fast and seamless change between WiMAX, W-CDMA, HSDPA/HSUPA, GSM/EDGE, phase noise measurements, and 89600 VSA software. Optional measurement application software provides preconfigured test routines for GSM/EDGE, 802.16e Mobile WiMAX, W-CDMA, HSDPA/HSUPA, and phase-noise applications. Running the Agilent 89600 VSA software application in the EXA enables advanced signal demodulation analysis and troubleshooting of more than 50 demodulation formats including 2G, 3G, 3.5G, WiMAX, WLAN and Private Mobile Radio. The EXA also includes a comprehensive set of standard one-button-power measurements for characterizing signal quality. These include ACPR, Channel Power, Occupied Bandwidth, Spectrum Emissions Mask, CCDF, Burst Power and Spurious Emission. It's fully compliant with the LXI Class-C specification. Connectivity is possible via 100 based-T LAN, GPIB and seven USB 2.0 ports. Pricing: • N9010A-503 (Frequency Range, 9 kHz to 3.6 GHz): $16,900 • N9010A-507 (Frequency Range, 9 kHz to 7.0 GHz): $25,900 • N9010A-513 (Frequency Range, 9 kHz to 13.6 GHz): $30,900 • N9010A-526 (Frequency Range, 9 kHz to 26.5 GHz): $35,900 • N9010A- FSA (Fine step attenuator): $1,000 • N9010A-PFR (Precision Frequency Reference): $2,000 • N9010A-EA3 (Electronic Attenuator, 3.6 GHz): $3,000 • N9010A-P03 (Preamplifier, 3.6 GHz): $1,500 • N9010A-CPU (Instrument Security, additional CPU/HDD): $4,000 • N9068A (Phase Noise Measurement Application): $4,700 • N9071A (GSM/EDGE Measurement Application): $6,000 • N9073A-1FP (W-CDMA Measurement Application): $7,400 • N9073A-2FP (HSDPA/HSUPA Measurement Application): $4,300 • N9075A (802.16 OFDMA Measurement Application): $10,000 • 89601A (Vector Signal Analysis software -89600): $10,100 Product information: N9019A Agilent Technologies Inc., 1-800-829-4444, item number 8155, www.agilent.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------= Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=----------------------- ------------------------- World Class, Professional, Ethical, and Competent Bug Sweeps, and Wiretap Detection using Sophisticated Laboratory Grade Test Equipment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=----------------------- ------------------------- James M. Atkinson &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Phone: (978) 546-3803 Granite Island Group &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Fax: (978) 546-9467 127 Eastern Avenue #291 = ; Web: http://www.tscm.com/ Gloucester, MA 01931-8008 = ; E-mail: mailto:jm..._at_tscm.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=----------------------- ------------------------- We perform bug sweeps like it's a full contact sport, we take no prisoners, and we give no quarter. Our goal is to simply, and completely stop the spy. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=----------------------- -------------------------
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