HP E6501A VXI Receiver, 2 MHz to 1000 MHz (3000 MHz, optional)

The HP E6501A DSP-based VXI receiver offers systems integrators high-performance receiver hardware and VXI plug-and-play software drivers for developing their own systems for frequency monitoring and surveillance applications. The HP E6501A provides frequency coverage from 2 MHz to 1000 MHz (or to 3000 MHz with Option 003). Although tuning down to 2 MHz is allowed, performance is not specified below 20 MHz.

[ Features ]

Single RF input
RF preselection
8 MHz bandwidth digitization
DSP-based demodulation of up to 10 signals simultaneously (optional)
Digital IF filters and digital I/Q outputs
Reconfigurable and expandable to more channels
VXI plug-and-play software drivers

[ Specifications ]

Frequency Specifications

Frequency Range: 20 MHz¹ to 1000 MHz 20 MHz¹ to 3000 MHz (Option 003) Tuning Resolution: 1 Hz Synthesizer Tuning Speed: 1 ms (10 kHz setting), characteristic 2 ms (1 kHz setting), characteristic 4 ms (100 Hz setting, characteristic (Data received from register-based programming.) Overall Receiver Sweep Speed: 2.8 GHz/s in 10.4 kHz resolution bandwidth (maximum speed using 4k FFTs of successive 8 MHz spans over the 20 MHz to 1000 MHz frequency range; does not account for computer overhead time), characteristic. Tuning Accuracy: (center frequency x reference accuracy) Internal OCXO reference accuracy²: 1 x 10^-6/yr External reference input: Requires 10 MHz reference signal with level O dBm ±3 dB ¹ The software driver supports tuning the receiver down to 2 MHz. However, specifications, typicals, and characteristics do not apply below 20 MHz. ² Adjustment procedure is provided in the user manual.

Amplitude Specifications

RF Input Parameters RF Input Impedance: 50 ohms, characteristic RF Input Connector: SMA Input VSWR: 2:1, characteristic Maximum Input Without Damage: Average continuous RF power: +20 dBm, characteristic DC Voltage: 20 volts, characteristic Maximum Recommended Operating Level at RF Input: -20 dBm with 0 dB RF attenuation (+10 with 30 dB attenution), characteristic RF Input Attenuation: 0 to 30 dB in 10 dB steps, characteristic RF Preselection Preselector Band Band Switching Frequencies, characteristic 1 (40 MHz LPF) 2 40 to 60 MHz 3 60 to 84 MHz 4 84 to 118 MHz 5 118 to 170 MHz 6 170 to 230 MHz 7 230 to 350 MHz 8 350 to 450 MHz 9 450 to 750 MHz 10 750 to 1000 MHz 11 1000 to 1250 MHz 12 1250 to 1800 MHz 13 1800 to 2400 MHz 14 2400 to 3000 MHz Detection Modes DSP-Based Demodulation: AM, LSB, USB, ISB, FM, CW, PM Simultaneous Demods: up to 10 Dynamic Range Parameters Noise Figure: 10 dB, typical (20MHz to GHz)³ 14 dB, typical (1 GHz to 3 GHz) ³ Add 1dB when using HP E6403A 20 to 3000 MHz input. Sensitivity (12 dB SINAD; 1 V_p-p audio output; modulation = 1 kHz; analog filter = 30 kHz BW; FM de-emphasis ON), typical values: AM Sensitivity FM Sensitivity Frequency (DDC BW = 5 kHz; 50% AM) (DDC BW = 25 kHz;FM dev = 5 kHz) 500 MHz -107 dBm -112 dBm 1125 MHz -105 dBm -110 dBm 1500 MHz -105 dBm -110 dBm 2000 MHz -105 dBm -110 dBm 2700 MHz -103 dBm -108 dBm Intermodulation - Second Order: SOI: +67 dBm, typical (referenced to the RF input; 0 dB RF attenuation) Intermodulation - Third Order: TOI: + 15 dBm (20 MHz spacing), typical (referenced to the RF input; 0 dB RF attenuation) Narrowband intermodulation distortion for 2 signals at -20 dBm and 125 kHz spacing using the 8 MHz analog filter: -63 dBc, typical (referenced to the RF input; 0 dB RF attenuation) Image Rejection: 95 dB IF Rejection: 90 dB Phase Noise @20 kHz Offset: -100 dBc/Hz, characteristic Internally-generated Spurious: -100 dBm, equivalent input LO Emissions: -110 dBm (in 20 to 1000 MHz RF band) -100 dBm (in 1000 to 3000 MHz RF band) Blocking: <2 dB⁴, characteristic Reciprocal Mixing: <3 dB⁵, characteristic ⁴ Attenuation of -100 dBm desired signal by unwanted -5 dBm signal at 250 kHz offset in 25 kHz DDC BW and 30 kHz analog BW. ⁵ S+N/N degradation of desired signal by unwanted signal 350 kHz offset and 70 dB higher in 20 kHz DDC BW and 30 kHz analog BW at RF-tuned frequency of 85 MHz.

IF (Intermediate Frequency) Processing

IF Section: Analog Signal Conditioning and ADC Analog IF Input Filter Bandwidths (minimum): 8 MHz, 700 kHz, and 30 kHz, characteristic (Filters centered at 21.4 MHz. The 8 MHz filter is an anti-alias filter. The 700 kHz and 30 kHz filters are adjacent channel rejection filters). Analog Gain Control: Manual and Autoranging Input Range Settings: –48 dBm to 0 dBm in 2 dB steps (overrange from +2 dBm to +12 dBm also available) Autoranging Gain Response Time: <1 µs, characteristic Attack: <1 µs, characteristic Decay: <2.9 ms, characteristic Overall Gain Control Range: 150 dB, characteristic (includes RF attenuation, ADC dynamic range, and autoranging)⁶ Dual Input IF Channel Isolation: <=120 dBm, characteristic. ADC Sampling Rate: 28.5333 MSa/s⁷, characteristic ADC Output Data Rates: Full rate ADC at 28.5333 MSa/s using 2 link ports (16 bits wide; 57.0666 MBytes/sec data rate. See IF section for link port information. Spectral information is inverted for bands 11 and 12 for full rate ADC output).

IF Section — IF Processor Dynamic Range Parameters Harmonic Distortion:^8,9,10 –75 dBc or <–140 dBm¹¹, characteristic Spurious Responses:^8,9,12 –110 dBc or <–140 dBm¹¹,characteristic Signal-to-noise Ratio:^13,14 62 dB,characteristic Internally Generated Spurious Responses:^8,15,16 <–140 dBm¹¹, characteristic IF Section — Digital(General) Number of Digital Downconverters (DDC): Standard HP E6501A Receiver: 1 Optionally: 5 Per Mezzanine (10 total per IF processor module with two mezzanines; when DSP on mezzanine #1 used for search, only the DDCs on mezzanine #2 are usable for digital I/Q output or demodulation). DDC Tuning Range: 8 MHz, max (limited to analog IF input filter; centered at 21.4 MHz), characteristic DDC Resolution: 16 bits. DDC full scale automatically adjusted over 54 dB range using dynamic range optimization, characteristic Dynamic Range Optimization Response Time: Variable, adjustable in 500 µs steps Attack: 500 µs to 1 s, characteristic Decay: 500 µs to 1 s, characteristic Digital IF Bandwidths: 36 different filters with the following 3 dB BWs: 247 Hz, 493 Hz, 740 Hz, 1 kHz, 2.4 kHz, 3.3 kHz, 5 kHz, 6.3 kHz, 10 kHz, 12 kHz, 15 kHz, 20 kHz, 25 kHz, 30 kHz, 34 kHz, 44 kHz, 54 kHz, 62 kHz, 74 kHz, 83 kHz, 93 kHz, 109 kHz, 119 kHz, 138 kHz, 154 kHz, 167 kHz, 187 kHz, 201 kHz, 218 kHz, 238 kHz, 262 kHz, 291 kHz, 327 kHz, 374 kHz, 436 kHz 462 kHz (characteristics) (all 5 DDCs per mezzanine are set to the same BW). Digital Bandwidth Shape Factor: <1.5:1 (102 dB to 3 dB BW ratio), characteristic Digital Output Interface: Analog Devices 2106X DSP(Sharc) link ports (2 link ports per mezzanine) Link Port Connector Type: AMP 1-104074-0 connector on HP E6404A front panel (mating connector: AMP 487550-5 housing and contacts) Number of Digital I/Q Outputs: 1 per DDC (up to 10 DDCs available optionally). (The number of DDCs depends on model and option configuration. Refer to HP E65XX configuration guide). Bandwidth of Digital I/Q Outputs: From 247 Hz to 462 kHz (The BW depends on the number of DDCs simultaneously accessed.) DDC Decimated Sample Rate (samples/sec): 1.8181 x DDC BW, characteristic 4 MByte Data RAM: Optional (4 MBytes per mezzanine; 2 mezzanines total); used for data buffering or delay memory applications (not available for programming). ⁶ Actual adjustable range using the software driver is 90 dB (30 dB RF attenuation and 60 dB analog IF gain). Remaining 60 dB range is accomplished with the ADC dynamic range (S/N of > 60 dB at Nyquist sampling rate of 28.533 MSa/s). ⁷ Sample rate is calculated by multiplying 21.4 MHz by 4/3. ⁸ 8 MHz bandwidth (undecimated ADC data). ⁹ Input signal equal to input range setting (see “input range settings” listed previously). ¹⁰ Includes aliased distortion components. ¹¹ Referred to HP E6404A input. ¹² Includes non-harmonically-related spurious, clock spurious, sidebands, etc. ¹³ 14.266 MHz Nyquist bandwidth. ¹⁴ For input range setting of –10 dBm and signal at ADC clipping level. ¹⁵ HP E6404A input terminated in 50 ohms. ¹⁶ With input range setting of –48 dBm.

IF Section - Digital I/Q Outputs

Number of Simultaneous Digital I/Q Outputs Per Mezzanines: Up to 5 (see table), characteristic (up to 10 using optional second mezzanine)¹⁷ DDC Bandwidth(kHz) 0.247 to 34 44 to 54 62 to 83 93 to 187 201 to 462 Number of Simultaneous I/Q outputs 5 4 3 2 1 Output Bandwidth: Set by DDC Output Interface: Sharc link ports Link Port Output Data Rate (bytes/second): 1.8181 x 4 x DDC BW, characteristic. I/Q complex data is 16 bits wide (16 bits for I and 16 bits for Q; 4 bytes per sample). See “Digital IF bandwidths” on prior page for DDC BW range.

IF section — Demodulated Analog Audio Outputs

DSP-based Detection Modes (demodulation): AM, LSB, USB, ISB¹⁸, FM, CW, PM Number of Simultaneous Demodulated Signals Per Mezzanine: Up to 5 signals (10 using optional second mezzanine)¹⁷, characteristic AM 5 4 3 2 1 DDC bandwidth (kHz) 0.247 to 30 34 to 54 62 to 83 93 to 167 187 to 374 FM 5 4 3 2 1 DDC bandwidth (kHz) 0.247 to 30 34 to 54 62 to 83 93 to 187 201 to 462 USB/LSB¹⁸ 5 4 3 2 1 DDC bandwidth (kHz) 0.247 to 25 30 to 34 44 54 to 74 83 to 167 CW 5 4 3 2 1 DDC bandwidth (kHz) 0.247 to 30 34 to 54 62 to 83 93 to 187 201 to 462 PM 5 4 3 2 1 DDC bandwidth (kHz) 0.247 to 25 30 34 44 to 62 74 to 138 Maximum Realtime Demodulated Bandwidth¹⁹ (single channel per mezzanine): AM: 374 kHz FM: 462 kHz LSB/USB:167 kHz ISB: 138 kHz CW: 462 kHz PM: 138 kHz Analog Audio Output Bandwidth: 15 kHz, maximum, characteristic Maximum Audio Output: 1 volt RMS into 600 ohms, characteristic Audio Output Connector Type: AMP 750823-1 on front panel of HP E6404A IF processor module for connection to separately ordered cable and audio breakout box (or order AMP 750833-1 cable connector and 750850-3 backshell kit to configure your own cable) External cable and audio breakout box: Ordered separately as HP E3245A (uses 10 mini-phone jacks for connection to headphones or amplified speakers). Trigger Input: TTL level (uses 2 pins on AMP 750823-1 audio connector); used to synchronize data Trigger Output: TTL level (uses 2 pins); controllable from software driver COR (carrier operated relay):Use TTL trigger output signal (no traditional COR dry contacts) Squelch range: –125 dBm to –20 dBm, characteristic ALC (automatic level control) range: Adjustable; >100 dB, characteristic (volume control; maintains audio level to within 25% full scale; used for USB, LSB, and ISB) ALC Response Time: Adjustable in 1 µs steps; range: 1 µs to 10 s, characteristic AFC (automatic frequency control) Tracking Range: ±1/2 DDC BW, characteristic FM De-emphasis: 75 µs, characteristic ¹⁷ The standard receiver includes one or two DDCs, depending on the specific model number. Refer to “IF section – digital (general)” Options are required for two or five DDCs per mezzanine. The HP E6501A requires an option for a second mezzanine. Refer to HP E65XX configuration guide for more information. ¹⁸ Independent sideband (ISB) is supported. However, each signal channel requires two DDC channels. ¹⁹ Maximum modulation frequency is dependent on modulation format. For example, the maximum modulation frequency for AM is half the bandwidth, so the maximum modulation frequency is 187 kHz.

[ Ordering ]

HP E6501A VXI Receiver Opt 003 Increases frequency coverage to 3 GHz Opt 006 Add a 6 slot HP E1421B VXI mainframe Opt 013 Add a 13 slot HP E1401B VXI mainframe Opt 022 Add 1 DDC to mezzanine #1 Opt 025 Add 4 DDCs to mezzanine #1 Opt 026 Add 4 MBytes RAM to mezzanine #1 Opt 031 Add a second mezzanine to the IF processor Opt 032 Add 1 DDC to mezzanine #2 Opt 035 Add 4 DDCs to mezzanine #2 Opt 036 Add a second mezzanine and 4 MBytes RAM Opt 0B1 Add extra user manual

[ Key Literature ]

HP E6501A, E6502A and E6503A VXI Receivers, Product Overview ( PDF)
HP E6501A, E6502A and E6503A VXI Receivers, Configuration Guide ( PDF)
HP E6501A, E6502A, AND E6503A VXI Receivers, Technical Specifications ( PDF)

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[ Assistance ]
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