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Operating and Service Manual Agilent 346A/B/C

1. Obvious Defects and Damage Examine the connectors first for obvious defects or damage badly worn plating deformed threads or bent broken or misaligned center conductors Connector nuts should move smoothly and be free of burrs loose metal particles and rough spots Immediately discard or mark for identification and send away for repair any connector that has obvious defects like these Mating Plane Surfaces Flat contact between the connectors at all points on their mating plane surfaces is required for a good connection Therefore particular attention should be paid to deep scratches or dents and to dirt and metal or metal by product particles on the connector mating plane surfaces Also look for bent or rounded edges on the mating plane surfaces of the center and outer conductors and for any signs of damage dueto excessive or uneven wear or misalignment Appendix A 53 Caring for Connectors Visual Inspection Light burnishing of the mating plane surfaces is normal and is evident as light scratches or shallow circular marks distributed more or less uniformly over the mating plane surface Other small defects and cosmetic imperfections are also normal None of these affect electrical or mechanical performance If a connector shows deep scratches or dents particles clinging to the mating plane surfaces or uneven wear dean it and inspect it again Damage or defects like dents or scratches which are deep enough to displa
2. 2000000000 15 0900 3000000000 14 9600 4000000000 14 8400 5000000000 14 7890 6000000000 14 7500 7000000000 14 7720 8000000000 14 8570 9000000000 14 9580 10000000000 15 0600 11000000000 15 0830 12000000000 15 1950 13000000000 15 2710 14000000000 15 3430 15000000000 15 4800 16000000000 15 6750 17000000000 15 8400 18000000000 15 8940 Chapter 4 49 ENR File Format Examples Example 2 The second example is a typical ENR file supplied on diskette with a Noise Source Filetype ENR Version 1 0 Serialnumber 3318A15364 Model 346B Caldate 20000110 13 53 54 Temperature 24C Humidity 40 l Frequency ENR Unc Refl Coef On Refl Coef Off MHZ dB dB Mag Phase Deg ag Phase Deg 10 MHz LE 281 193 0450 136 0 0330 66 0 100 MHz 15 291 190 0358 4168 0 0110 24 6 1000 MHz 15 218 DI 0398 39 6 0107 164 5 2000 MHz 14 999 168 0377 85 7 0266 5 9 3000 MHz 14 879 172 0267 150 6 0390 129 62 4000 MHz 14 795 173 0130 18 1 0313 106 0 5000 MHz 14 818 179 0359 4169 5 0104 99 3 6000 MHz 14 846 181 0556 63 7 0451 104 3 7000 MHz 14 895 180 0430 ou ae 0579 223 8000 MHz 15 016 198 0232 160 3 0491 1238 9000 MHz 15 134 201 0122 71 4 0407 1107 3 10000 MHz T54259 194 0080 116 2 0248 15 4 11000 MHz 15 249 243 0241 65 7 02 59 144 5 12000 MHz 15 349 240 0196 8 8 0457 32 2 13000 MHz 155 383 188 0217 5 4 0362 2
3. 346C Product Options This declaration covers all options of the above products Conform to the following product specifications Standard Limit EMC CISPR 11 1990 EN 55011 1991 Group 1 Class A IEC 801 2 1984 EN 50082 1 1992 4 kV CD 8 kV AD IEC 801 3 1984 EN 50082 1 1992 3 V m 80 1000 MHz IEC 801 4 1988 EN 50082 1 1992 0 5 kV sig 1 kV power Safety IEC 61010 1 1990 A1 1992 A2 1995 EN 61010 1 1993 A2 1995 CAN CSA C22 2 No 1010 1 92 Supplementary Information The products herewith comply with the requirements of the EMC Directive 89 336 EEC and carry the CE marking accordingly The products were tested with Agilent noise figure meters Santa Rosa CA USA 30 Nov 2000 Greg Pfeiffer Quality Engineering Manager For further information please contact your local Agilent Technologies sales office agent or distributor Table of Contents Page 1 General Information ETEN OU EE NON iot a peel ex EE wend Mat ae A a SA et E 2 Spedficabloris cae dos See Eta n an e RR Rex PERPE EE Ree m eid a de 2 Instruments Covered in This Manual 9 PSSM ELON v us 0 auro p ARUM SUE RES p LR Re qe RUE Ke 10 Model Characteristics of Individual Noise 5 11 Warranty cvi er exe exa E RES aa ER EU ADR ae RR RUP RR N EUR ADR 12 Equipment Available But Not Supplied 12 odo a ITEM 12 Installatlonz sre ate RE RE e
4. Oscillator Converter Regulator and Noise Generator Attenuator DC Block 3 Output Troubleshooting Check the connectors If there is no apparent damage to the connectors perform one of the operator s checks descri bed in the Operation section of this manual If the noise source s output does not fall within the stated range or if the connectors are damaged return the unit to Agilent Technologies for repair Chapter 1 29 General Information Service Repair Repair by the user is not recommended because of the complex equipment required for test and calibration Returning a Noise Source for Calibration When returning a 346 or Noise Sourceto Agilent Technologies for repair or calibration please specify whether an ENR Data Diskette is needed When the 346 is used with an Agilent NoiseFigure Analyzer NFA the ENR Data Diskette is used to automatically load the ENR values into memory When the 346 is used with an 8970A B NoiseFigure Meter you must enter the ENR values manually and the ENR Data Diskette is not necessary 30 Chapter 1 General Information Service Table 1 9 Agilent Technologies Sales and Service Offices UNITED STATES Agilent Technologies tel 1 800 452 4844 CANADA Agilent Technologies Canada Inc Test amp Measurement tel 1 877 894 4414 EUROPE Agilent Technologies Test amp Measurement European Marketing Organization tel 31 20 547 2000 JAPAN A
5. Table A 4 Caring for Connectors Principles of Microwave Connector Care Principles of Microwave Connector Care Principles of Microwave Connector Care Handling and Storage DO DO NOT e Keep connectors clean Extend sleeve or connector nut e Use plastic end caps during storage e Touch mating plane surfaces e Set connectors contact end down Visual I nspection DO DO NOT Inspect each connector carefully before every connection Look for metal particles scratches and dents e Use a damaged connector EVER Cleaning DO DO NOT Try compressed air first Clean connector threads e Use any abrasives Get liquid onto plastic support beads Appendix A 75 Caring for Connectors Principles of Microwave Connector Care Table A 4 Principles of Microwave Connector Care Gaging DO DO NOT Clean and zero the gage before using Use correct gage type Use correct end of calibration block Gage all connectors before first use Use an out of spec connector Making Connections Make preliminary connection lightly Turn connector nut only to tighten Use a torque wrench for final connection DO DO NOT Align connectors carefully e Apply bending force to connection Overtighten preliminary connection Twist or screw in connectors Tighten past break point of
6. Torque settings are detailed in Table A 2 When using a torque wrench prevent rotation of anything other than the connector nut that is being tightened with the torque wrench Generally this is easy to do by hand all the more soif one of the connectors is fixed as on a test port In other situations an open end wrench can be used to keep the bodies of the connectors from turning Hold the torque wrench lightly by the knurled end of the handle only Apply force at the end of the torque wrench only perpendicular to the wrench and always in a plane parallel to the outer conductor mating planes This will result in torque being applied to the connection through the wrench until the break point of the wrench is reached Avoid pivoting the wrench handle on the thumb or other fingers This results in an unknown amount of torque being applied to the connection when the break point of the wrench is reached Avoid twisting the head of the wrench relative to the outer conductor mating plane This results in applying more than the recommended torque 70 Appendix A Table A 2 Caring for Connectors Making Connections Recommended Torque Settings Type Description Precision 12 Ib in 136 N cm 7mm Precision 8 Ib in 90 N cm 3 5mm SMA 5 Ib in 56 N cm Use the SMA wrench to connect male SMA connectors to female precision 3 5min connectors Connections of male precision 3 5mm connectors to female SMA connectors can be made wi
7. a serial number prefix which is not listed on thetitle page This unlisted serial number prefix indicates the noise sourceis different than those documented in this manual If manual changes are needed the manual for this newer noise source is accompanied by a Manual Changes supplement The supplement contains change information that explains how to adapt this manual to the newer noise source In addition to change information the supplement may contain information for correcting errors in the manual The supplement is identified with the manual print date and part number both of which appear on the manual title page For information concerning a serial number prefix that is not listed on thetitle page in the Manual Change supplement contact your nearest Agilent Technologies office Agilent H ewlett Packard 346 Noise Sources which were manufactured before the printing of this manual will have a serial number prefix lower than the one listed on thetitle page Manual changes for these older models are found in Chapter 2 Manual Changes Agilent Technologies are migrating their existing product serial numbers toa new format All new products use this new format The format is the first two letters signify the country of manufacture for example US representing the USA the next four numbers the serial number prefix and the last five numbers form a sequential suffix that is unique to each product For example US123456789 where 1234 is th
8. lt 58 Cleaning Interior Surfaces Ill ll L nen kn kk n ee 59 Drying Connectors we eat no ee REARS TA Aa a l ha a Edo A n hee 60 Mechanical Inspection Connector 61 Mechanical Specifications ler erer kn ne ke a ka ka ka kan kn ka kan 62 Precision 7mm 5 62 Sexed Connectors Sr 63 50 Ohm Type N Connectors lel ev le ke ken ka rn 63 75 Ohm Type N Connectors Ile l sl ke kk en ka ka eae 64 Using Connector 65 Inspecting and Cleaning the 65 Zeroing the ee sce p RM m ako ERG Meee eng ee He ERR ETE 65 Making Connections ll 0c vl kn keu en kn ka kk ek ka ka ka koka ka ka ka n a kaa 68 Align Connectors CarefullY ler erer ke keu ea ka ka ka nan an kannon 68 To Makea Preliminary Connection 69 Final Connection Using a Torque Wrench 70 Disconnection sss m ace a a T we E weg pe nae AE aei redd 71 Adapteks Ner tst TEPORE ae ti ada eae duet 73 Principles of Microwave Connector Care 75 viii General Information NOTE General Information Introduction Introduction This manual contains operating
9. torque wrench 76 Appendix A
10. 0 7 0 0 20 7 0 18 0 0 23 346C 0 01 1 5 0 22 1 5 3 0 0 19 3 0 7 0 0 20 7 0 18 0 0 28 18 0 26 5 0 34 1 Characteristic values are met or bettered by 90 of instruments with 90 confidence Chapier 1 General Information Introduction Supplemental Characteristics Table 1 3 Supplemental Characteristics ENR variation with 0 01 dB C for 30 MHz to 26 5 GHz temperature ENR variation with Internal current regulator for 0 02 dB variation voltage for28 t1 V Switching speed For repetitive operation in previous state for less than 5 seconds Turn on lt 20 us Turn off 80 us For single shot operation in previous state more than 5 seconds Turn on 3 ms Turn off 80 us 8 Chapter 1 NOTE General Information Instruments Covered in This Manual Instruments Covered in This Manual The noise sources covered by this manual have a two part serial number The first four digits and letter constitute the serial number prefix The last five digits form a sequential suffix that is unique to each noise source The prefix is the same for all noise sources of a particular configuration It will change when a design modification occurs The contents of this manual apply directly to those instruments having the same serial number prefixes listed under SERIAL NUMBERS on the title page A noise source manufactured after the printing of this manual may have
11. Figure 1 3 General Information Description Warranty The noise sources are warranted and certified as indicated in this manual Connector damage resulting from improper use is not covered under warranty Equipment Available But Not Supplied Thefollowing equipment is available from Agilent Technologies for use with the noise sources 8710 1766 3 4 Torque Wrench APC 7 5060 0344 9 16 Torque Wrench APC 3 5 Agilent HP Model 346B Noise Sources with serial prefixes of 2037A and below have an AP C 3 5 connector of a different configuration See Figure 1 3 The 9 16 torque wrench will not fit these older models Agilent HP Noise source with Older APC 3 5 Connector 346B NOISE SOURCE 10 MHz 18 GHz HEWLETT PACKARD MAX REV PWR 1W 15 2db ENR 28 VDCINPUT SERIAL MADE IN NO U S A Options The Agilent 346A and 346B Noise Sources are available with the following output connector options Option 001 Type N male Option 002 APC 7 Option 004 Type N female Sincethe APC 7 and Type N connectors do not operate up to 26 5 GHz no output connector options are available for the Agilent 346C 12 Chapter 1 CAUTION CAUTION General Information Installation Installation Handling Precautions Do not disassemble the noise source The diode module is static sensitive and can be damaged or the calibration can be altered Do not drop the noise source Dropping can damage the unit or alter
12. and service information for the Agilent Technologies model 346A 346B and 346C Noise Sources Induded in the manual is information necessary to operate the noise Sources Specifications The Specifications Table 1 1 on page 3 page 4 and page 5 are performance standards or limits against which the noise source may be tested These specifications for the noise source when used with a Noise Figure Analyzer are ONLY valid if the analyzer has been allowed to meet its specified warm up time of 60 minutes ENR expanded uncertainty analysis and supplemental characteristics are not specifications but are typical characteristics included as additional information for the user Specifications are valid at ambient temperature 23 1 Celsius only 2 Chapter 1 Specifications Table 1 1 Frequency Range General Information Introduction 346A B 10 MHz 18 GHz 346C 10 MHz 26 5 GHz Operating Temperature 0 C to 55 C Excess Noise Ratio ENR Range 346A 4 5 6 5 dB 346B 14 16 dB 346C 12 17 dB ENR values are given at cardinal frequency points over the frequency range of each noise source Calibrated values at cardinal frequencies printed on each noise source label and on a separate report supplied with each Agilent 346 Noise Source Specifications are valid at calibration temperature only Chapter 1 General Information Introduction Specifications Table 1 1 Conti
13. fields Serialnumber and Model are currently used by the Noise Figure Analyzer Table 4 2 Optional header fields Fieldname Description Optional Description Example Value Serialnumber the serial serialtext a string Serialnumber 3318 14223 number of the noise source containing the serial number Chapter 4 45 ENR File Format Format Details Table 4 2 Optional header fields Fieldname Description Optional Description Example Value Model identifies the modelcode model code Model 346B noise source string model number Option Identifies any optioncode option code Option 001 model code string option Caldate date of date amp time formatted date Caldate 19991202 09 15 30 calibration of and optional noise source time Calduedate indicates date date amp time formatted date Calduedate 20001225 when next and optional calibration of time noise source is due Temperature calibration value number Temperature 24C temperature followed by unit Valid units are Humidity calibration value number Humidity 4090 relative followed by humidity optional Yo General form The format of datestime parameters is YYYYMMDD hh mm ss a four digit year two digit month and two digit date optionally followed by a then two digit hour two digit minutes two digit seconds Unknown header fields are ignored by the Noise Figure Analyzer This al
14. for possible future use but are not supported by the Noise Figure Analyzer at this time Theuncertainty field for the ENR amplitude Euncert is optional However this field must be present if reflection coefficient data is supplied Chapter 4 47 ENR File Format Format Details Reflection The reflection coefficient data is optional and is formatted as four fields coefficient data on mag on phase off mag off phase reflection magnitude with noise source on reflection angle in degrees with noise source on reflection angle with noise source off reflection angle degrees with noise source off If any reflection coefficient data is supplied then all four fields must be present Note that the file format requires that the ENR uncertainty field must be present before any reflection data Thereflection coefficient uncertainty Runcert is an optional parameter Reflection coefficient data must be present if this field is supplied 48 Chapter 4 Example 1 ENR File Format Examples Examples This first example shows a simple ENR file where the Frequency and ENR values have been entered manually into the Noise Figure Analyzer ENR Data File Created by N8973A Agilent NFA Series Noise Figure Analyzer Serial Number US00000012 Firmware Revision A 00 01 13 37 07 Mar 28 2000 Format is Frequency Hz ENR dB Filetype ENR Version 1 0 10000000 15 3500 100000000 15 4230 1000000000 15 2280
15. inspect a connector after cleaning During the inspection check for contaminants and worn plating Also check for a misaligned center conductor or spread fingers on the APC 3 5 or Type N connectors Support the cable or component attached to the connector When using APC 7 connectors the nut of one connector should always be backed off completely and the nut on the mating connector should be tightened Never set an APC 7 connector on its mating surface Before storage always screw the nut out to protect the surfaces Be sure the connectors are axially aligned before the nut is tightened Use a connector gauge periodically to check the center pin depth The shoulder of the center conductor must never extend beyond the plane of the outer conductor mating surface in an APC 3 5 connector For more information refer to Appendix A Caring for Connectors on page 51 Chapier 1 23 General Information Performance Tests Performance Tests Due to the complex test equipment involved there are no recommended performance tests for the user to perform Return the noise sources to Agilent Technologies when tests are required to verify its performance and for periodic re calibration The suggested interval before initial re calibration is one year 24 Chapter 1 General Information Adjustments Adjustments There are no adjustments that can be made on the noise sources by the user Chapter 1 25 NOTE NOTE Gene
16. minimum recession of the shoulder of the male contact pin behind the outer conductor mating plane As Type N connectors wear the protrusion of the female contact fingers generally increases due to wear of the outer conductor mating plane inside the female connector This decreases the total center conductor contact separation and should be monitored carefully 75 Ohm Type N Connectors 75 Type N connectors differ from 500 Type N connectors most significantly in that the center conductor male contact pin and female contact hole are smaller Therefore mating a male 500 Type N connector with a female 75Q Type N connector will destroy the female 750 connector by spreading the female contact fingers apart permanently or even breaking them If both 75Q and 500 Type N connectors are among those on the devices you are using identify the 750 Type N connectors to be sure that they are never mated with any 500 Type N connectors 64 Appendix A Caring for Connectors Using Connector Gages Using Connector Gages Before a connector gage is used it must be inspected cleaned and zeroed Inspecting and Cleaning the Gage Inspect the connector gage and the gage calibration block carefully exactly as you have inspected the connector itself Clean or replacethe gage or the block if necessary dirt on the gage or block will makethe gage measurements of the connectors inaccurate and can transfer dirt to the connectors themselves damaging th
17. the calibration Proper connector is essential See Operator s Maintenance in the Operation section of this manual for more information Initial Inspection Inspect the shipping container for damage Inspect the noise source for mechanical damage incurred in transit If the shipping container or cushioning material is damaged it should be kept until the contents of the shipment have been checked for completeness and the noise source has been mechanically and electrically checked If the contents are incomplete if there is mechanical damage or a defect or if the noise source does not work electrically notify the nearest Agilent Technologies office If the shipping container is damaged or the cushioning material shows signs of unusual stress notify the carrier as well as the Agilent Technologies office Keep the shipping materials for the carrier s inspection Chapier 1 13 Table 1 5 General Information Installation Original Packaging Container and materials identical to those used in factory packaging are available through Agilent Technologies offices If the noise source is being returned to Agilent Technologies for servicing attach a tag indicating the name and address of the company the technical contact person phone number and extension the model number serial number type of service being requested and failure symptoms if applicable M ark the shipping container FRAGILE In any correspondence refer tothe noi
18. the environmental specifications for the product or improper site preparation or maintenance NO OTHER WARRANTY IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE Exclusive Remedies THE REMEDIES PROVIDED HEREIN ARE BUYER S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT INDIRECT SPECIAL INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT TORT OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY Safety Notices This guide uses warnings and cautions to denote hazards WARNING A warning calls attention to a procedure practice or the like which if not correctly performed or adhered to could result in injury or the loss of life Do not proceed beyond a warning until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met CAUTION A caution calls attention to a procedure practice or the like which if not correctly performed or adhered to could result in damage or the destruction of part or all of the equipment Do not proceed beyond a caution until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY According to ISO IEC Guide 22 and CEN CENELEC EN 45014 Manufacturer s Name Agilent Technologies Inc Manufacturer s Address 1400 Fountaingrove Parkway Santa Rosa CA 95403 1799 USA Declares that the products Product Name Noise Source Model Number 346A 346B
19. the noise source calibration label See Spot ENR Tyg and T cola in theAgilent HP 8970B Operating Manual Step 6 Confirm that the noise source is operating correctly The noise figure measurement of the noise figure meter will appear in the noise figure display If the result of the measurement is less than 7 4 FdB the noise source is operating Step 7 Press PRESET to return the instrument to preset conditions 18 Chapter 1 General Information Operation Operator s Check with Agilent N8972 3 4 5AB Noise Figure Analyzer Check 2b Step 1 Step 2 NOTE Figure 1 7 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Remove any cables from the NFA input and the noise source drive Press the Preset key Wait until the preset routine has completed before proceeding The preset condition used is the NFA default of Preset Factory Connect the 346A B C tothe NFA Input port using a BNC cable as shown in Figure 1 7 Operator s Check Test Setup 2b Press the ENR key Press the ENR Table menu key Press the Edit Table menu key Press the Clear Table menu key Enter 100 MHz in the Frequency column of the table Press 1 0 0 on the numeric keypad followed by the MHz menu key Chapter 1 19 General Information Operation Step 9 Press the Tab key to highlight the ENR Value column of the table Step 10 Enter the ENR value of the 346A B C at 100 MHz 0 1 GHz using the numeric keypad followed by the d
20. 6 60027 00346 60157 Option 004 00346 60020 00346 60154 00346 60027 00346 60157 346C Std 00346 60021 00346 60155 00346 60027 00346 60158 Table 1 8 Replaceable Labels List Part Number Label Descriptions 00346 80006 346A Label Caution 00346 80007 346BA Label Caution 00346 80008 346C Label Noise 00346 80012 Label Blank ENR Chapter 1 27 General Information Replaceable Parts Figure 1 10 Preparing for Parts Removal Replacement 28 Chapter 1 General Information Service Service Principles of Operation Figure 1 11 shows a simplified diagram of the noise source When driven by a 28V pulse the 346 produces an output noise spectrum with an ENR of approximately 5 0 dB for the 346A and approximately 15 0 dB for the 346B and 346C The noise generator is an avalanche diode positioned into a 50 ohm system The noise source is divided into a dc section including a voltage converter and a current regulator and an RF section which includes the noise generator a matching network and an attenuator The 428 volts supplies a 5 6 kHz oscillator which is rectified as the supply for the constant current source to produce a controlled noise level output The current regulator controls through the noise generator diode producing a known level of broadband noise that is constant for a supply voltage of 27 to 29 volts Figure 1 11 Simplified Diagram of the Noise Source 5 6kHz Voltage Current Matching Network
21. 614 9 14000 MHz T5 355 2178 0228 66 6 0075 151 2 15000 MHz 15 367 187 0141 141 6 0136 13 2 16000 MHz 15 421 182 0251 6 4 0030 127 2 17000 MHz 15 418 174 0242 100 5 0148 ae 18000 MHz 15 464 179 0183 124 4 0198 149 1 50 Chapter 4 Caring for Connectors The material contained in this appendix may not be apply to the connector you are using on the instrument 51 Caring for Connectors Introduction Introduction Recent advances in measurement capabilities have made connectors and connection techniques more important than ever before Damage to the connectors on calibration and verification devices test ports cables and other devices represent an increasing burden in downtime and expense This Appendix will help you get the best performance from all coaxial microwave connectors Toknow what to look for when deaning and inspecting them in order to preserve their precision and extend their life Tomakethe best possible microwave connections improving the accuracy and repeatability of all of your measurements saving both time and money Connector Part Numbers Refer to the latest edition of the HP RF amp Microwave Test Accessories Catalog for connector part numbers Handling and Storage Microwave connectors must be handled carefully inspected before use and when not in use stored in a way that gives them maximum protection Avoid touching the connec
22. B menu key Step 11 Press the Frequency Points key Step 12 Press the Frequency Mode menu key Step 13 Press the Fixed menu key Step 14 Press the Fixed Frequency menu key Enter 100 MHz as a fixed frequency value by pressing the 1 0 0 numeric keys followed by pressing the MHz menu key Step 15 Press the Sweep key Step 16 Press the Manual Meas menu key Step 17 Press the Manual State menu key and set it to Manual State On Step 18 Press the Noise Source menu key and set it to Noise Source On Step 19 Press the IF Att menu key and set it to IF Att Hold Step 20 Monitor the power value which appears in the manual measurement screen Figure 1 8 shows a typical example of this 20 Chapter 1 General Information Operation Figure 1 8 Typical example of power reading with Noise Source On 3 Agilent Manual Meas o DUT Amplifier Sys Downcony Off Off On Manual Accept 1 Calibration Noise Source ff n c RF pMH Att Auto Hold Fixed Freq Power IF Rtt 1 000000 GHz 11 622 dB Fuko mdr More 10 2 Step 21 Press the Noise Source menu key and set it to Noise Source Off Step 22 Monitor the power value which appears in the manual measurement screen Figure 1 9 shows a typical example of this NOTE The monitored value is only to be used to indicate if the 346A B C is switching the Excess Noise On and Off by showing a change in power value
23. Chapter 1 21 General Information Operation Figure 1 9 Typical example of power reading with Noise Source Off X Agilent Manual Meas DUT Amplifier Sys Downcony Off penal State Accept Calibration Off On Noise Source Off On RF pMH Att Auto Hold Fixed Freq Power IF Rtt 1 000000 GHz 19 856 dB Hold Fixed D L a o More 10 2 Step 23 If thereis not a changein value return the 346A B C to Agilent Technologies for repair Operator s Maintenance Proper connector care is a vital part of the maintenance which should be performed by the user By following the general connector care practices outlined below the life of the connector can be greatly extended Connectors should be properly torqued as shown below Connector Type Torque Specifications N 1 3 N m 12 in Ib APC 7 1 3 N m 12 in Ib SMA to APC 3 5 0 9 N m 8 in Ib APC 3 5 to APC 3 5 0 9 N m 8 in Ib e Always tighten or loosen a connector by rotating only the nut Never rotate the noise source body 22 Chapter 1 General Information Operation Use isopropyl or ethyl alcohol on a swab to dean connectors Absorbent lint free paper wrapped around the end of tweezers is recommended Carefully clean the conductive surfaces and avoid wetting the plastic parts inside the connector with alcohol After deaning be sure connector is blown dry before re assembl y It is good practice to
24. FEMALE Appendix A 55 Caring for Connectors Visual Inspection Figure A 3 SMA connectors Outer Conductor Mating Plane A FEMALE ZAN 56 Appendix A NOTE Caring for Connectors Cleaning Cleaning Careful cleaning of all connectors is essential to assure long reliable connector life to prevent accidental damage to connectors and to obtain maximum measurement accuracy and repeatability Yet it is the one step most often neglected or done improperly Supplies recommended for cleaning microwave connectors are as follows Compressed Air Alcohol Cotton Swabs Lint Free Cleaning Cloth Compressed Air Loose particles on the connector mating plane surfaces can usually be removed with a quick blast of compressed air This is very easy to do and should always be tried first using compressed air from a small pressurized can The stream of air can be directed exactly is wanted through a plastic not metal nozzle No hoses or other connections are needed Hold the can upright to avoid spraying liquid along with the vapor Cleaning Alcohol Dirt and stubborn contaminants that cannot be removed with compressed air can often be removed with a cotton swab or lint free deaning cloth moistened with alcohol Use the least amount of alcohol possible and avoid wetting any plastic parts in the connectors with the alcohol Appendix A 57 Caring for Connectors Cleaning Alcoho
25. Operating and Service Manual Agilent 346A B C Noise Source Including Options 001 002 and 004 Serial Numbers This manual applies directly to instruments with serial numbers prefixed 4124A and below Instruments with serial prefixes 4124A and above are supplied with the noise source ENR data preloaded on diskette see Chapters 3 amp 4 With changes described in Chapter 2 Manual Changes this manual also applies to the following prefixes Agilent 346B 2015A and 1935A e 2e Agilent Technologies Manufacturing Part Number 00346 90139 July 2001 Supersedes June 2001 OCopyright 2001 Agilent Technologies Notice Information contained in this document is subject to change without notice Agilent Technologies makes no warranty of any kind with regard tothis material induding but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose Agilent Technologies shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishings performance or use of this material No part of this document may be photocopi ed reproduced or translated to another language without the prior written consent of Agilent Technologies Certification Agilent Technologies certifies that this product met its published specifications at the time of shipment from the factory Agilent Technologies further certifies that its calibration measurements are t
26. as the following format Thefirst letter shows the noise source type and can be A 346A B 346B 346C R ZR347A 0347 e four digits for example 0100 show the calibration date For exampleo100 shows a calibration date of J anuary 2000 Thelast three digits for example 123 arethe last 3 digits of the serial number of the Noise Source e The file extension is enr to indicate ENR file format Once the ENR file is loaded from diskette to verify that the ENR data is correct press the ENR key then press the ENR Table menu item to display the ENR table ENR Table Noise Source Serial Number 100 000000 MHz 3318815364 00000000 GHz 00000000 GHz 00000000 GHz 00000000 GHz 00000000 GHz 00000000 GHz 00000000 GHz 00000000 GHz 00000000 GHz 10 0000000 GHz 11 0000000 GHz 12 0000000 GHz 13 0000000 GHz Use File key ta Load or Save a table Noise Source Model ID 346B E WHF 15 a 3 4 4 4 4 14 14 5 5 5 5 5 5 ENR Value 281 dB 15 291 dB 15 118 dB 14 999 dB 14 879 dB 14 795 dB 14 818 dB 846 dB 895 dB 15 016 dB 15 134 dB 15 253 dB 15 249 dB 15 349 dB 383 dB ENR Table Edit Table Serial Number ii ID LLL Confirm that the Noise Source Serial Number and the Noise Source 38 Chapter 3 Using the ENR Data Diskette Loading the ENR Data from Diskette Model ID are correct an
27. ayers of thickness moisten it press it against the connector interface and turn it to clean the connector Blow the connector dry with a gentle stream of compressed air 58 Appendix A Figure A 4 NOTE Caring for Connectors Cleaning Cleaning Interior Surfaces Interior surfaces especially on precision 3 5mm connectors are very difficult to reach and it is easy to damage connectors in trying to dean them The openings are very small and generally the center conductor is supported only at the inner end by a plastic dielectric support bead This makes it very easy to bend or break the center conductor One suitable method Figure A 4 is to cut off the sharp tip of a round wooden toothpick or a smaller diameter wooden rod and then to wrap it with a single layer of lint free cleaning cloth Cleaning interior surfaces Metal must never be used it will scratch the plated surfaces and in cleaning precision 3 5mm connectors the diameter must not exceed 0 070 in 1 7 mm The wooden handle of a cotton swab for example is too large for this purpose Even though the handle can sometimes be inserted into the connector even when wrapped in lint free cloth movement of the handle against the center conductor can exert enough force on the center conductor to damage it severely Appendix A 59 Caring for Connectors Cleaning Moisten the cloth with a small amount of alcohol and carefully insert it into the connector to
28. ce metal on the mating plane surface of the connector may indicate that the connector itself is damaged and should not be used Try to determine the cause of the damage before making further connections Precision 7 mm Connectors Precision 7mm connectors among them 7 connectors should be inspected visually with the center conductor collets in place and whenever the collet has been removed See Figure A 1 The collet itself should be inspected for edge or surface damage and for any signs that the spring contacts are bent or twisted If they are replace the collet When the collet has been re inserted verify that it springs back immediately when pressed with a blunt plastic rod or with the rounded plastic handle of the collet removing tool N ever use a pencil or your finger for this purpose 54 Appendix A Caring for Connectors Visual Inspection Figure A 1 Precision 7mm Connector Outer Conductor Center Conductor Collet Conductor Dielectric Mating Plane Support bead Sexed Connectors On sexed connectors especially precision 3 5mm and SMA connectors pay special attention to the female center conductor contact fingers Figure A 2 and Figure A 3 These are very easily bent or broken and damage to them is not always easy to see Any connector with damaged contact fingers will not make good electrical contact and must be replaced Figure A 2 Precision 3 5mm connectors Outer Conductor Mating Plane
29. coefficient differential between on and off states is specified to be no greater than 0 01 Reflection coefficient differential between on and off states is not specified but is less than 0 1 typically Reflection coefficient differential between on and off states is not specified but is less than 0 1 typically Specified output noise spectrum from 10 MHz to 18 GHz Specified output noise spectrum from 10 MHz to 18 GHz Specified output noise spectrum from 10 MHz to 26 5 GHz Nominal ENR is 6 dB over the specified frequency range Nominal ENR is 15 dB over the specified frequency range Nominal ENR is 15 dB over the specified frequency range Not directly usable for Agilent H P 8970A IF attenuator calibration Special Function 33 10 dB of gain is required Suitable for Agilent HP 8970A IF attenuator calibration Special Function 33 Suitable for Agilent HP 8970A IF attenuator calibration Special Function 33 Not directly usable for Agilent H P 8970B IF attenuator calibration Refer to Calibration IF Attenuators in the Agilent HP 8970B Operating Manual Suitable for Agilent H P 8970B IF attenuator calibration Refer to Calibration IF Attenuators in the Agilent HP 970B Operating Manual Suitable for Agilent HP 8970B IF attenuator calibration Refer to Calibration Attenuators in the Agilen HP 8970B Operating Manual Chapter 1 11 NOTE
30. connection For this reason it is recommended that you use high quality precision adapters sometimes called connector savers whenever more than a few connections are to be made between SMA and precision 3 5mm connectors In most applications two adapters will be required one each at theinput and the output of the device Male female adapters cause no change in the sex of the interface The same interface is presented when the adapter is in place as is presented in the original setup Same sex adapters male male female female change the sex of the interface For example if the original interface presents a male connector attaching a female female adapter will result in a female interface to which devices or cables that have male SMA or male precision 3 5mm connectors can be connected Adapters are included in many Agilent calibration kits and with many Agilent devices or they may be ordered separately Appendix A 73 Caring for Connectors Adapters Table A 3 Adapters Type Description Precision 7mm and Type N Precision 7mm male 3 5mm Precision 7mm female 3 5 mm Precision 7mm male 50Q Type N Precision 7mm female 500 Type N Precision 3 5mm and SMA Male 3 5mm female 3 5mm Male 3 5mm female 3 5 mm Female 3 5mm female 3 5mm Precision 7mm male 3 5mm Precision 7mm female 3 5mm Connector saver male 3 5mm female 3 5 mm Connector saver male 3 5mm male 3 5mm 74 Appendix A
31. cteristics Change Switching Speed for both repetitive operation and single shot operation to read Turn off 140 us 34 Chapter 2 Using the ENR Data Diskette 35 NOTE Using the ENR Data Diskette Introduction Introduction The Agilent 346 and 347 series of Noise Sources are supplied with the noise source ENR data preloaded on diskette to allow easy downloading intothe Agilent NFA series NoiseFigure Analyzers This eliminates time consuming and error prone manual keying of the ENR values Additionally you can easily open the ENR files using a standard text editor and the files are easy to interpret and create This chapter covers the following Loadingthe ENR Data from Diskette e Saving the ENR Data to the Noise Figure Analyzer s Internal Memory Copying the ENR Data from Diskette to the Noise Figure Analyzer s Internal Memory The following procedures do not apply to noise sources used with the Agilent 8970A B Noise Figure Meter You must enter ENR values manually into the 8970A B 36 Chapter 3 Step 1 Step 2 NOTE Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Using the ENR Data Diskette Loading the ENR Data from Diskette Loading the ENR Data from Diskette To load the ENR data from the diskette and use the data as the current ENR table proceed as follows Power up the Noise Figure Analyzer and wait for the power up sequence to complete Insert the diskette into the floppy drive
32. d compare the Frequency and ENR values with the supplied Calibration Sheet or the data printed on the body of the Noise Source Chapter 3 39 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Using the ENR Data Diskette Saving the ENR Data to the Noise Figure Analyzer s Internal Memory Saving the ENR Data to the Noise Figure Analyzer s Internal Memory To save the current Noise Source ENR data from the diskette A drive to the Noise Figure Analyzer s internal memory C drive proceed as follows Load the ENR table as described in Loading the ENR Data from Diskette on page 37 Press the File key and press the Save menu key The ENR menu key indicates whether the file is currently loaded as a measuremnet table Meas Table or a calibration table Cal Table Press the ENR menu key and select whether you want to store the ENR tableas a Meas Table or a Cal Table If you intend to use the same common ENR table for calibration and measurement then set the ENR table as Meas Table The NoiseFigure Analyzer allows you to use the same or separate ENR tables for calibration and measurement as required For more details on using ENR tables seethe NoiseFigureAnalyzer User s Guide When the ENR table is selected the Alpha Editor is now presented to you allowing you to specify a name for the file If required you can use the numeric keypad to enter numbers in the filename Notethat you can also use the default filename which is in thefor
33. da RE RE RE eR SERES 13 Handling Precautions zzuccex RI a eee faa T MERE RARE EHE RET 13 Initial Inspectlon xen Pedum E e EAE Pe bee T R 13 Original Packaging KA RO 9 tee 14 Mating Connectors ve ke ohn HEA Sek RR RE T SER 14 Storage and Shipping Environment 14 puppe 15 Operating Environment ll sl el en kek ek en ka ka kan ka ka kan kn kn ka ka kan 16 Recommended Test 16 Operators Check erais w nen Anak PUE 17 Operator s 22 Performance Tests eese A ies aa ates A ER LUE RR RA eee 24 Adjustments mian kot Ra TE AREA AA 25 Replaceable Parts ru WEE Wee an ee eae ees UNE Wee AS QU 26 Replaceable Parts LISt rl rl lon ll ll len kn kn kan kn ka kn ka kan an ka ka ma mann 27 esc oe Am tit eee ae ase ean DA BAN EE D A PLUS 29 Principles of Operation 29 Troubleshooting e eter a Saag Rea me PARERE ERE GNE 29 cT 30 Returning a Noise Source for Calibration 30 2 Manual Changes Manual Changes Ie annarrar kn ka ke ke a ka ka ka koka kon kak an an aa kn 34 Change A eae Se enan a De mead ee A 34 3 Usingthe ENR Data Diskette v
34. dean the interior surfaces Use an illuminated magnifying glass or microscope to see clearly the areas you wish to clean Drying Connectors When you have cleaned a connector al ways be sure that it is completely dry before reassembling or using it Blow the connector dry with a gentle stream of clean compressed air and inspect it again under a magnifying glass to be sure that no particles or alcohol residues remain 60 Appendix A Caring for Connectors Mechanical Inspection Connector Gages Mechanical Inspection Connector Gages Even a perfectly clean unused connector can cause problems if it is mechanically out of specification Since the critical tolerances in microwave connectors are on the order of a few ten thousandths of an inch using a connector gage is essential Before using any connector for the first time inspect it mechanically using a connector gage How often connectors should be gaged after that depends upon usage In general connectors should be gaged whenever visual inspection or electrical performance suggests that the connector interface may be out of specification for example due to wear or damage Connectors on calibration and verification devices should also be gaged whenever they have been used by someone else or on another system or piece of equipment Precision 3 5mm and SMA connectors should be gaged relatively more often than other connectors owing tothe ease with which the center pins can be pulled
35. e prefix and 56789 is the suffix The two letters MY represent Malaysia Chapter 1 9 Figure 1 2 General Information Description Description The noise source produces noise output power on when 428 V is applied When it is off thereis residual noise dueto thermal agitation in the noise source power off These two noise levels are used to measure the gain and added noise of the device under test and consequently its noise figure The Excess Noise Ratio ENR for each noise source has been measured at major frequencies and recorded on a label attached to the noise source see Figure 1 2 ENR references power on to the noise power that exists at 290 Kelvin 17 C In addition a separate calibration sheet showing the complex reflection coefficient in both the on and off states is included with each instrument All three models are provided with a BNC female connector for power input The output connector is a male APC 3 5 on the standard noise sources Type N and APC 7 connectors are available as options for the Agilent 346A and 346B Noise Sources In addition to these general characteristics certain characteristics apply to the specific models These characteristics are listed in Table 1 4 A Partial View of Typical Calibration Label ab84c 10 Chapter 1 Table 1 4 General Information Description Model Characteristics of Individual Noise Sources Agilent 346A Agilent 346B Agilent 346C Reflection
36. em during gaging or when the connection is made Zeroing the Gage Zero the gage by following the steps described below Be sure that you are using the correct connector gage and correct end of the gage calibration block for the connector being measured e Hold the gage by the plunger barrel not the dial housing or cap and for male connectors slip the protruding end of the calibration block into the circular bushing on the connector gage For precision 7mm female precision 3 5mm use the flat end of the gage calibration block For female Type N connectors use the recessed end of calibration block Holdthe gage by the plunger barrel only Figure A 6 Doing so will prevent errors in gage readings due to the application of stresses to the gage plunger mechanism through the dial indicator housing Carefully bring the gage and gage block together applying only enough pressure to the gage and gage block to result in the dial indicator pointer settling at a reading Appendix A 65 Figure A 6 NOTE Caring for Connectors Using Connector Gages Gently rock the two surfaces together to make sure that they have come together flatly The gage pointer should now lineup exactly with the zero mark on the gage If it does not inspect and dean the gage and gage calibration block again and repeat this process If the gage pointer still does not line up with the zero mark on the gage loosen the dial lock screw and turn the gradua
37. es make uniform light contact the preliminary connection is tight enough Do not overtighten this connection At this stage all you want is a connection in which the outer conductors make gentle contact at all points on both mating surfaces Very light finger pressure no more than 2 inch ounces of torque is enough Appendix A 69 Caring for Connectors Making Connections Final Connection Using a Torque Wrench When the preliminary connection has been made use a torque wrench to make the final connection Tighten the connection only until the break point of the wrench is reached when the wrench handle gives way at its internal pivot point Do not tighten the connection further Also make surethat torque actually is being applied to the connection through the torque wrench not only to the wrench handle or in any way that prevents the break point of the wrench from controlling the torque applied to the connection Suggestions to ensure that torque is actually being applied are given in Table A 2 on page 71 Using a torque wrench guarantees that the connection will not be too tight thus preventing possible damage to the connectors and impaired electrical performance It also guarantees that all connections will be made with the same degree of tightness every time they are made Torque wrenches pre set to the correct value for each connector type are induded in many Agilent calibration kits and they are also available separately
38. gilent Technologies Japan Ltd tel 81 426 56 7832 fax 81 426 56 7840 LATIN AMERICA Agilent Technologies Latin America Region Headquarters USA tel 305 267 4245 fax 305 267 4286 AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Agilent Technologies Australia Pty Ltd tel 1 800 629 4852 Australia fax 61 3 9272 0749 Australia tel 0 800 738 378 New Zealand fax 64 4 802 6881 New Zealand ASIA PACIFIC Agilent Technologies Hong Kong tel 852 3197 7777 fax 852 2506 9284 Chapter 1 31 Manual Changes This chapter contains information for adapting this manual to Agilent HP 346B Noise Sources with serial number prefixes of 2015A and 1935A 33 Manual Changes Manual Changes Manual Changes To adapt this manual to your instrument refer to Table 2 1 Make all of the manual changes listed opposite your instrument s serial number prefix Perform these changes in the sequence listed Table 2 1 Manual Changes by Serial Number Instrument Serial Number Prefix Make Manual Changes 346B 1935A 2015A A If your instrument all models has a serial number prefix which is higher in value than those listed on the title page of this manual it may be documented in a yellow MANUAL CHANGES supplement For additional information refer to Innnstruments Coverd by Manual in the General Information section of this manual Change A Table 1 2 Supplemental Chara
39. ii Introductions eret mu dete m adieu L te een bir dere 36 Loading the ENR Data from Diskette 37 Saving the ENR Data tothe NoiseFigure Analyzer s Internal Memory 40 Copying the ENR Data to the Noise Figure Analyzer s Internal Memory 41 4 ENR File Format Forrat Detalls ernieren Ear a A ek us dete ELE oD 44 Comment Records o sro RR ED RUND ANG CR EP 44 Header FISAS attese a Raia e Rs doti seo dla Soa afi Bi 44 2 sheet ursa en a tor actu Cin ote messis e am ese a Ave o meg 46 Examples TRT ein We Ria E UE EP da T at eee Se 49 A Caringfor Connectors Introduction 52 Connector Part Numbers 000 L L kek en ka ka kn hn 52 Handling and Storage toe epe eee ae dee BLE XXI e 52 VisualInspection whee AE e ede CERES EE EAR RENE ES rd eae a 53 Obvious Defects and Damage 53 Mating Plane 53 Precision 7 mm lt 54 Sexed Connectors s cus Sia du R n e EE KA 55 Cleanings Ae e T INE aa a a RARA EIGNET RA NUTS 57 Compressed AT oium e wad Be een a Sad dade ee el ob tad fee ed 57 Gleaning A Icohol ut ue za pnl eot n dae om eae Ge EE da RA 57 Precision 7 mm
40. inted report supplied with the 346 Noise Source Induded in the printed report is the measurement uncertainty for each cardinal frequency point A significant proportion of the expanded uncertainty U Y is based on the uncertainties provided by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST and or The United Kingdom National Physics Laboratories NPL Agilent therefore reserve the right to change the overall expanded uncertainties based on changes in uncertainty values within the National Standards Institutes Uncertainties are valid at ambient temperature 23 C 1 C 296K only A typical characteristic plot of ENR U Y versus each cardinal frequency point is shown in Figure 1 1 the uncertainties given are typical refer to the printed calibration report for the actual uncertainties for your noise source Characteristic E NR Plot versus Cardinal Frequency Points Typical ENR U Y 346C 346A B 11 13 15 Frequency GHz 1 Characteristic values are met or bettered by 9096 of instruments with 9096 confidence 6 Chapter 1 Characteristic ENR U Y Specification General Information Introduction Excess Noise Ratio Expanded Uncertainty U Y Table 1 2 Continued Instrument model Frequency ENR Uncertainty dB GHz 346A 0 01 1 5 0 21 1 5 3 0 0 20 3 0 7 0 0 20 7 0 18 0 0 23 346B 0 01 1 5 0 20 1 5 3 0 0 19 3
41. l should be used in liquid rather than spray form If a spray must be used always spray the alcohol onto a doth or swab never directly into a connector Very dirty connectors can be deaned with pure alcohol Other solutions that contain additives should not be used Carefully avoid wetting the plastic support bead which is easily damaged by alcohol inside the connector and blow the connector dry immediately with a gentle stream of compressed air Precision 7 mm Connectors When precision 7mm connectors have been cleaned with the center conductor collet removed insert the collet and dean the mating plane surfaces again When the connector is attached to a small component or to a cable calibration or verification standard the easiest way to dothis is to put a lint free deaning doth flat on a table and put a couple of drops of alcohol in the center of the cloth It should be noted that it is not necessary to remove the collet to usethis deaning method Retract the connector sleeve threads so that the connector interface is exposed Gently press the contact end of the connector into the cloth moistened with alcohol then turn the connector Dirt on the connector interface will be scrubbed away by the cloth without damaging the connector Blow the connector dry with a gentle stream of compressed air This deaning method can be adapted even for fixed connectors such as those attached to test ports Simply fold the cloth into several l
42. lows for future expansion ENR Data ENR data records must be ordered from lowest to highest frequency The Noise Figure Analyzer attempts to interpret lines which are not 46 Chapter 4 Field separator Numeric fields Frequency fields ENR fields ENR File Format Format Details comments or header fields as ENR data ENR data has the general form Freq Funit ENR Eunit Euncert on mag on phase off mag off phase Runcert Notethat the square brackets denote optional fields Each field is separated by whitespace A single is allowed within or instead of the whitespace With the exception of the two optional unit fields the other fields are numeric Numbers are formatted as an optional sign followed by a sequence of one or more digits which can include a single decimal point within the sequence followed by an optional exponent The exponent consists of the e or E followed by an optional sign followed by between one and three digits The frequency field Freq is the frequency at which the ENR amplitude was measured The frequency unit field Funit is optional The default unit is Hz Valid units are Hz kHz MHz GHz THz Units are not case sensitive The ENR amplitude ENR is the measured ENR at the specified frequengy The ENR unit field Eunit is optional The default unit is dB Currently the only allowed unit is dB Notethat units K C F temperature are reserved
43. mat TSTxxxx where x isa sequentially allocated number For details of the filename format used for the ENR data supplied on the diskette see ENR filename format on page 38 Input the name of the ENR table using the Alpha Editor and numeric keypad Use the Tab key to move the field Ifthe To Path field is currently A press the Select menu key and use the arrow key to highlight C then press the Select menu key again With the To Path field set to c press Enter to save the file with the specified filename When the file is successfully saved a message for example C A0100364 ENR file saved appears on the status line of the display 40 Chapter 3 Step 1 Step 2 NOTE Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 83 Using the ENR Data Diskette Copying the ENR Data to the Noise Figure Analyzer s Internal Memory Copying the ENR Data to the Noise Figure Analyzer s Internal Memory To copy the Noise Source ENR data from the diskette A drive tothe NoiseFigure Analyzer s internal memory C drive proceed as follows Power up the Noise Figure Analyzer and wait for the power up sequence to complete Insert the diskette intothe floppy drive of the Noise Figure Analyzer Do not insert the diskette into the Noise Figure Analyzer until the power up sequence is complete Press the File key and press the File Manager menu key Press the Copy menu key Thefile system is now pre
44. nectors straight apart and be especially careful not to twist the body of any device as you do so Twisting the connection can damage the connector by damaging the center conductors or the interior component parts to which the connectors themselves are attached It can also scrapethe plating from the male contact pin or even in rareinstances unscrew the male or female contact pin slightly from its interior mounting bringing it out of specification this can also occur if the female contact fingers are unusually tight 72 Appendix A CAUTION Caring for Connectors Adapters Adapters Adapters are used to connect a device with one connector interface to a device or to test equipment that has another interface or to reduce wear on connectors that may be difficult or expensive to replace Reducing wear is possibly the most important use of adapters especially when devices that have SMA connectors are being used SMA connectors are low cost connectors generally used up to about 23GHz They are not precision mechanical devices and are not designed for repeated connections and disconnections as they wear out quickly and are very often found upon assembly to be out of specification even before they have been used This makes them potentially destructive to any precision 3 5mm connectors with which they might be mated Worn damaged or out of specification SMA connectors can destroy a precision 3 5mm connector even on the very first
45. nt Records A comment record must have either a or as the first character in the line The entirelineis ignored Comment records can appear at any point within the file Header Fields Header fields must have a as the first character in the line Each header field has the general form FieldName OptionalValue e The must be the first character on the line Thefieldname and optionalvalue if present must be separated by 44 Chapter 4 Mandatory header ENR File Format Format Details whitespace e Whitespace following the is ignored The file must start with one or more header fields ignoring comments and blank lines All header fields must appear at the beginning of the file before the ENR data records Mixing header fields and ENR data is not permitted Certain header fields must be present These are fields Table 4 1 Mandatory header fields Fieldname Description OptionalValue Description Example Filetype Indicates the type of ENR Only ENR is Filetype ENR file allowed for ENR data files Version Indicates the version versionnumber Allows for future Version 1 0 of the file format formatted as changes in the file which applies to this major minor format file NOTE All mandatory fields must appear in the file before any optional header fields Optional header The following header fields are also allowed Note that only the first two
46. nued Maximum Standing Wave Ratio SWR and Reflection Coefficient r for Source ON OFF States Instrument model Frequency Range Maximum Reflection GHz Standing Wave Coefficient Ratio SWR Rho r 346A B 0 01 0 03 lt 1 3 1 0 13 0 03 5 0 lt 1 15 1 0 07 5 0 18 0 1 25 1 0 11 346C 0 01 18 0 1 25 1 0 11 18 0 26 5 1 35 1 0 15 1 Maximum change in complex reflection coefficient between source ON and source OFF at all frequencies for 346A only 0 01 Chapter 1 General Information Introduction Specifications Table 1 1 Continued Impedance 50 ohm nominal Maximum reverse 60 mA peak 30 mA average for source ON 45 mA APC 3 5 male standard Bias BNC f 1 Also mates with female SMA connectors See option information for other connector styles 140 x 21 x 31mm 5 5 x 0 8 x 1 2 in power 1 Watt Power required 28 11 V 346A B 346C Connectors 346 Output 346 Input Dimensions Net Weight 0 1 kg 3 5 oz For correct connector usage refer Table A 2 for the torque settings Chapter 1 Figure 1 1 m Ni t Eg c 2 General Information Introduction Excess Noise Ratio Expanded Uncertainty U Y Table 1 2 ENR values are given at cardinal frequency points over the frequency range of each noise source These ENR values are printed on the noise source label and on a separate pr
47. of the Noise Figure Analyzer Do not insert the diskette into the Noise Figure Analyzer until the power up sequence is complete On the Noise Figure Analyzer press the File key and press the Load menu key to access the file system Press the ENR menu key and select whether the ENR table is a Meas Table used for measurements or a Cal Table used for calibration If you intend to usethe same ENR tablefor calibration and measurement then set the ENR table as Meas Table The NoiseFigure Analyzer allows you to use the same or separate ENR tables for calibration and measurement as required For more details on specifying Meas Table and Cal Table see the NoiseFigureAnalyzer User s Guide Press the Select menu key and use the arrow keys if necessary to highlight A If C is the currently selected drive use directory toreach thea driveas directed on the screen Press the Select menu key again to read the diskette Use the down arrow key J to highlight the ENR file and press the Enter key to load it When the file is successfully loaded a message for example A A0100364 ENR file loaded appears on the display Notethat ENR files with a large number of frequency points for example up to 50 GHz may take a few seconds to load Chapter 3 37 ENR filename format Using the ENR Data Diskette Loading the ENR Data from Diskette TheENR filename of the ENR file stored on the diskette for example A0100123 enr h
48. out of specification during disconnection Connectors should also be gaged as a matter of routine after every 100 connections and disconnections initially more or less often after that as experience suggests Table A 1 Recommended connector gages Connector gage kits containing all of the items required are included in many Agilent calibration kits They are also available separately Part numbers are as follows Type Part Number Ordering Information Precision 7mm 85050 80012 APC 7 Precision 3 5mm 11752D Precision 2 4mm 11752E Type N 85054 60047 Appendix A 61 Caring for Connectors Mechanical Specifications Mechanical Specifications Thecritical dimension to be measured regardless of connector type is the position generally the recession or setback of the center conductor relative to the outer conductor mating plane Mechanical specifications for connectors specify a maximum distance and a minimum distance that the center conductor can be positioned behind or in female Type N connectors in front of the outer conductor mating plane Nominal specifications for each connector type exist but the allowable tolerances and sometimes the di mensions themselves differ from manufacturer to manufacturer and from device to device Therefore before gaging any connector consult the mechanical specifications provided with the connector or the device itself Precision 7mm Connectors In preci
49. ows the recommended test equipment used for each check Operator s Check with Power Meter Check 1 Step 1 Connect the equipment as shown in Figure 1 5 Figure 1 5 Operator s Check Test Setup 1 POWER SUPPLY NOISE SOURCE POWER METER POWER SENSOR ab82c Step 2 Turn the power supply OFF Zero the power meter Step 3 Turn the power supply ON 428 V Measure the power output with the noise source on Step 4 Verify that the result of the measurement is within the following limits and hence the noise source is operating correctly e Agilent 346A Power output 66 4 dBm Agilent 346B Power output 56 4 dBm e Agilent 346C Power output 56 4 dBm Chapier 1 17 General Information Operation Operator s Check with Agilent HP 8970B Noise Figure Meter Check 2a Step 1 Remove any cables from the noise figure meter input Press PRESET After 5 seconds verify the noise figure display shows F dB and the left display shows 30 MHz Step 2 Connect the equipment as shown in Figure 1 6 Figure 1 6 Operator s Check Test Setup 2a 8970B NOISE FIGURE METER 28V NOISE RF SOURCE DRIVE INPUT OUTPUT ab8lc Step 3 Enter a tuned frequency of 100 MHz See Fixed Frequency Tuning in the Agilent H P 8970B Operating M anual Step 4 Enter special function 5 3 to enablethe instrument for spot ENR entry See Special Functions in the Agilent HP 8970B Operating Manual Step 5 Enter the ENR at 100 MHz from
50. raceable to the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology and or The United Kingdom National Physics Laboratories to the extent allowed by thelnstitution s calibration facility and to the calibration facilities of other International Standards Organization members Warranty This Agilent Technologies instrument product is warranted against defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from date of shipment During the warranty period Agilent Technologies will at its option either repair or replace products which prove to be defective For warranty service or repair this product must be returned to a service facility designated by Agilent Technologies Buyer shall prepay shipping charges to Agilent Technologies and Agilent Technologies shall pay shipping charges duties and taxes for products returned to Aglent Technologies from another country Agilent Technologies warrants that its software and firmware designated by Agilent Technologies for use with an instrument will execute its programming instructions when properly installed on that instrument Agilent Technologies does not warrant that the operation of the instrument or firmware will be uninterrupted or error free Limitation of Warranty The foregoing warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from improper or inadequate maintenance by Buyer Buyer supplied software or interfacing unauthorized modification or misuse operation outside of
51. ral Information Replaceable Parts Replaceable Parts Table 1 7 lists all replaceable parts available for the Agilent 346A B C Noise Sources Figure 1 10 shows a typical Noise Source being prepared for parts replacement at modular level by removing the four end screws two at each end If the Agilent 346A B C is opened and parts replaced the Noise Source will require calibration Due to a parts change adjustment of the bias current may be necessary for the product to meet its ENR specifications when parts are replaced in older units Installation Note 00346 90137 details the adjustment process for the 346A and 346B Installation Note 00346 90140 details the adjustment process for the 346C Both are supplied with their appropriate replacement parts To order parts contact your local Agilent Technologies Sales and Service Office 26 Chapter 1 General Information Replaceable Parts Table 1 7 Replaceable Parts List Agilent Part Numbers Model Option Bulkhead RF Replacement Noise Replacement Replacement PC Replacement Cartridge Assy Attenuator Assy Board Assy 346A Std 00346 60022 00346 60154 00346 60156 00346 60157 Option 001 00346 60023 00346 60154 00346 60156 00346 60157 Option 002 00346 60024 00346 60154 00346 60156 00346 60157 346B Std 00346 60026 00346 60154 00346 60027 00346 60157 Option 001 00346 60018 00346 60154 00346 60027 00346 60157 Option 002 00346 60019 00346 60154 0034
52. se sources by model number and serial number Mating Connectors The noise sources can be mated with other instrumentation having the connectors listed in Table 1 5 Connectors That Can Be Mated With the Noise Sources Configuration Mating Connector Input all units BNC male Output standard APC 3 5 female SMA female Opt 001 Type N female Opt 002 APC 7 Opt 004 Type N male Must comply with U S Military Standard MII C 39012 Storage and Shipping Environment The noise sources should be stored in a clean dry environment The following environmental limitations apply to both storage and shipment Temperature 55 C to 75 C e Humidity lt 95 relative Altitude 15300 meters 50000 feet 14 Chapter 1 CAUTION NOTE Figure 1 4 General Information Operation Operation This section refers to operation with noise figure meters For more detailed operating instructions refer to the operating manual for the noise figure meter used Use a dc blocking capacitor to protect the noise source from damage when connected to any system where a dc voltage is present on the output center conductor Noise figure measurements of devices such as amplifiers mixers transistors and receivers can be made using the noise source with a noise figure meter Figure 1 4 depicts a simple test setup for a noise figure measurement The noise figure meter must have a 28 1 V s
53. sented to you Press the ENR menu key to set the file type and format to ENR Set the From Path field to a use the down arrow key J to highlight the ENR file and the Select key to select it for copying Thefilename you are going to copy now appears in the From Name field Press the Tab key to navigatetothe To Path field and ensureit is set toC Press the Enter key to copy the selected file from the diskette A to the NoiseFigure Analyzer s internal memory C When the file is successfully copied a message for example A A0100364 ENR file copied appears on the status line of the display For details on the ENR filename format see ENR filename format on page 38 Chapter 3 41 ENR File Format 43 General form ENR File Format Format Details Format Details An ENR file e includes all data currently supplied on the printed noise source Calibration Certificate e can be viewed and edited using a standard text editor for example Notepad e is simple to create and interpret iseasily printable e is easily imported into Excel The ENR fileis read line by line Each lineis terminated by either a linefeed character or a carriage return linefeed pair Each line must be less then 100 characters long excluding the terminator Lines containing only whitespace tab or space character areignored Each line is interpreted as one of three types of record Comment HeaderField ENR Data Comme
54. sion 7mm connectors contact between the center conductors is made by spring loaded contacts called collets These protrude slightly in front of the outer conductor mating plane when the connectors are apart When the connection is tightened the collets are compressed intothe same plane as the outer conductors For this reason two mechanical specifications are generally given for precision 7mm connectors the maximum recession of the center conductor behind the outer conductor mating plane with the center conductor collet removed and a minimum and maximum allowable protrusion of the center conductor collet in front of the outer conductor mating plane with the collet in place The center conductor collet should also spring back immediately when pressed with a blunt plasticrod or with the rounded plastic handle of the collet removing tool Never use a pendil or your finger for this purpose With the center conductor collet removed no protrusion of the center conductor in front of the outer conductor mating plane is allowable and sometimes a minimum recession is required Consult the mechanical specifications provided with the connector or the device itself 62 Appendix A NOTE Caring for Connectors Mechanical Specifications Sexed Connectors In Type N and precision 3 5mm connectors the position of the center conductor in the male connector is defined as the position of the shoul der ofthe male contact pin not the position of
55. sure the connector several times and take an average of the readings Rotate the gage relative to the connector between each measurement To monitor connector wear record the readings for each connector over time Appendix A 67 Caring for Connectors Making Connections Making Connections Making good connections is easy if a few simple principles are kept in mind Aall connectors must be undamaged dean and within mechanical specification Theconnectors must be precisely aligned with one another and in flat physical contact at all points on the mating plane surfaces e The connection must not be too tight or too loose e Lateral or horizontal bending force must not be applied to the connection nor should any connection ever be twisted Align Connectors Carefully Careful alignment of the connectors is critical in making a good connection both to avoid damaging connectors and devices and to assure accurate measurements As you bring one connector up to the other and as you make the actual connection be alert for any sign that the two connectors are not aligned perfectly If you suspect that misalignment has occurred stop and begin again Alignment is especially important in the case of sexed connectors such as precision 3 5mm and SMA connectors to avoid bending or breaking the contact pins The center pin on the male connector must slip concentrically into the contact fingers of the female connector This req
56. ted dial until the gage pointer exactly lines up with zero Then retighten the lock screw Using the connector gage Gages should be checked often to make sure that the zero setting has not changed Generally when the gage pointer on a gage that has been zeroed recently does not line up exactly with the zero mark the gage or calibration block needs cleaning Clean carefully and check the zero setting again 66 Appendix A Caring for Connectors Using Connector Gages Measuring Connectors Measuring the recession of the center conductor behind the outer conductor mating planein a connector is donein exactly the same way as zeroing the gage except of course that the graduated dial is not re set when the measurement is made f the connector has a retractable sleeve or sliding connector nut precision 7mm connectors for example extend the sleeve or nut fully This makes it easier to keep the gage centered in the connector Hold the gage by the plunger barrel and slip the gage into the connector sothat the gage plunger rests against the center conductor Carefully bring the gage into firm contact with the outer conductor mating plane Apply only enough pressure to the gage so that the gage pointer settles at a reading Gently rock the connector gage within the connector to make sure that the gage and the outer conductor have come together flatly Read the recession or protrusion from the gage dial For maximum accuracy mea
57. th the precision 3 5mm torque wrench 8 Ib in Type N Type N connectors may be connected finger tight If a torque wrench is used 12 Ib in 136 N cm is recommended Toreiterate the main do s and do not s detailed previously Avoid holding the wrench tightly in such a way that the handleis not pi voted but simply pushed downward the same amount throughout its length If thisis done an unlimited amount of torque can be applied Holdthe wrench at the same point near the end of the handle every time and always in the same orientation Whenever possible begin tightening the connection with the wrench held horizontally Disconnection Disconnect connectors by first loosening the connector nut that was tightened in order to make the connection If necessary usethe torque wrench or an open end wrench to start the process but leavethe connection finger tight At all times support the devices and the connection to avoid putting lateral bending force on the connectors Complete the disconnection by disconnecting the connector nut completely Appendix A 71 Caring for Connectors Making Connections NOTE Never disconnect connectors by twisting one connector or device out of the other as one might remove a screw or a light bulb This is extremely harmful and connector damage can occur whenever the device body rather than the nut aloneis being turned If the connection is between sexed connectors pull the con
58. the tip The male contact pin slides into the female contact fingers and electrical contact is made by the inside surfaces of the tip of the female contact fingers on the sides of the male contact pin 50 Ohm Type N Connectors NoType N connector should ever be used when thereis any possibility of interference between the shoulder of the male contact pin and thetip of the female contact fingers when the connectors are mated In practice this means that no Type N connector pair should be mated when the separation between the tip of the female contact fingers and the shoulder of the male contact pin could be less than zero when the connectors are mated Gage Type N connectors carefully to avoid damage Type N connectors differ from other connector types in that the outer conductor mating plane is offset from the mating plane of the center conductors The outer conductor sleeve in the male connector extends in front of the shoulder of the male contact pin When the connection is made this outer conductor sleeve fits into a recess in the female outer conductor behind the tip of the female contact fingers Figure A 5 Appendix A 63 Figure A 5 NOTE Caring for Connectors Mechanical Specifications Type N connectors MALE Outer Conductor Mating Plane FEMALE Therefore the mechanical specifications of Type N connectors give a maximum protrusion of the female contact fingers in front of the outer conductor mating plane and a
59. tor mating plane surfaces and avoid setting the connectors contact end down especially on a hard surface Never store connectors with the contact end exposed Plastic end caps are provided with all Agilent connectors and these should be retained after unpacking and placed over the ends of the connectors whenever they are not in use Extend the threads of connectors that have a retractable sleeve or sliding connector nut then put the plastic end cap over the end of the connector Above all never store any devices loose in a box or in a desk or a bench drawer Careless handling of this kind is the most common cause of connector damage during storage 52 Appendix A Caring for Connectors Visual Inspection Visual Inspection Visual inspection and if necessary cleaning should be done every time a connection is made Metal and metal by product particles from the connector threads often find their way onto the mating plane surfaces when a connection is disconnected and even one connection made with a dirty or damaged connector can damage both connectors beyond repair Magnification is helpful when inspecting connectors but it is not required and may actually be misleading Defects and damage that cannot be seen without magnification generally have no effect on electrical or mechanical performance M agnification is of great usein analyzing the nature and cause of damage and in cleaning connectors but it is not required for inspection
60. uires great care in aligning the two connectors before and as they are mated When they have been aligned the center conductors must be pushed straight together not twisted or screwed together and only the connector nut not the device itself should then be rotated to make the connection slight resistance is generally felt as the center conductors mate 68 Appendix A NOTE Caring for Connectors Making Connections Alignment of precision 7mm connectors is made easier by the fact that the connector sleeve on one of the connectors must be extended fully and the sleeve on the other connector retracted fully in order to make the connection Extending the sleeve creates a cylinder into which the other connector fits If one of the connectors is fixed as test port extend that connector sleeve and spin its knurled connector nut to make sure that the threads are fully extended while on the other connector fully retract the connector sleeve To Make a Preliminary Connection Align thetwo connectors carefully and engage the connector nut over the exposed connector sleeve threads on the other connector Gently turn the connector nut until a preliminary connection is made Let the connector nut pull the two connectors straight together Do not twist one connector body into the other as you might drive a screw or insert a light bulb asthis is extremely harmful and can damagethe connectors When the mating plane surfac
61. witched supply Typical Noise Figure Measurement Test Setup DEVICE NOISE FIGURE METER NOISE SOURCE UNDER TEST SWITCHED ab86c Chapter 1 15 General Information Operation Operating Environment The operating environment of the noise sources should be within the following limitations e Temperature 0 C to 55 C Humidity lt 95 relative Altitude 4600 metres 15 000 feet Recommended Test E quipment Table 1 6 is a list of equipment that can be used to perform an operational verification check Table 1 6 Recommended Test Equipment For Operator s Checks Check Instrument Critical Specification Recommended Model No Power Meter and Power Sensor Minimum Sensitivity 0 1 nW Frequency Range 10 MHz to 18 GHz Agilent HP E4418A with Agilent HP 8481D or E4412A or E9300A Power Supply Voltage 28 0 1 0 V Agilent HP 6028A Current 100 mA 2 Noise Figure Meter Voltage Output 28 0 1 0 V Agilent HP 8970B Input Noise Figure 7 4 FdB or Agilent N8972 3 4 SA 16 Chapter 1 General Information Operation Operator s Check The operator s checks in this section should be performed if failure of the noise source is suspected The checks can be used only to verify that the noise sources are producing a broadband noise spectrum They cannot be used to check the units against specifications Only one of the checks is necessary to verify operation Table 1 6 sh

Operating and Service Manual Agilent 346A/B/C

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