HP 8590D Spectrum Analyzer Calibration Guide

How to Use This Guide

Where to Start

If you have just received your spectrum analyzer and want to get ready for use for the first time, do the following: n

Read Chapters 1 and

2

of the

HP 8590 Series Spectrum Analyzer User’s Guide.

n

Perform the initial self-calibration routines described in Chapter 2 of the

Spectrum Analyzer

HP 8590 Series

User’s Guide (these are automatic self-checks and require no test equipment).

n

If you need to verify the unit is operating within its specifications, perform the performance verification tests in Chapter 1 of this guide.

After completing the performance verification, use the

HP 8590 Series Spectrum Analyzer

User’s

Guide to learn how to use the spectrum analyzer and to find more detailed information about the spectrum analyzer, its applications, and key descriptions.

This guide uses the following conventions:

(Front-Panel Ke

r) A boxed, uppercase name in this typeface represents a key physically located on the instrument.

Softkey A boxed word written in this typeface indicates a “softkey,” a key whose label is determined by the instrument’s firmware.

Screen Text Text printed in this typeface indicates text displayed on the spectrum analyzer screen.

Caution

The CAUTION symbol denotes a hazard. It calls attention to a procedure which, if not correctly performed or adhered to, could result in damage to or destruction of the instrument. Do not proceed beyond a CAUTION symbol until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.

vii

Contents

1. Calibrating

Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Operation Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Before You Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Test equipment you will need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Recording the test results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If the spectrum analyzer doesn’t meet specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Periodically verifying operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1. Frequency Readout Accuracy

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. Frequency Readout and Marker Count Accuracy for Option 013

. . . . .

3. Noise Sidebands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4. System Related Sidebands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. Frequency Span Readout Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6. Sweep Time Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7. Scale Fidelity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8. Reference Level Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9. Absolute Amplitude Calibration and Resolution Bandwidth Switching

Uncertainties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10. Calibrator Amplitude and Frequency Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . .

11. Frequency Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12. Other Input Related Spurious Responses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

13. Spurious Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14. Gain Compression

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15. Displayed Average Noise Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16. Residual Responses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17. Absolute Amplitude, Vernier, and Power Sweep Accuracy . . . . . . .

18. Tracking Generator Level Flatness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19. Harmonic Spurious Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20. Non-Harmonic Spurious Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21. Tracking Generator Feedthrough

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22. 10 MHz Reference Output Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Performance Verification Test Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. Specifications and Characteristics

General Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Frequency Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amplitude Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Option Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Frequency Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amplitude Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Option Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Physical Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Regulatory Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Declaration of Conformity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notice for Germany: Noise Declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

HP 959OD Spectrum Analyzer

Contents-l

2-2

2-3

2-5

2-8

2-10

2-11

2-13

2-14

2-18

2-19

2-20 l-l l-l l-3 l-9 l-11

1-14

1-17

1-19 l-22 l-3 l-3 l-3 l-3 l-4 l-24 l-30 l-69 l-72 l-75 l-79

1-82 l-87

1-91 l-93 l-34 l-37 l-42 l-50 l-54 l-60 l-63

3. If You Have a Problem

Calling HP Sales and Service Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Before calling Hewlett-Packard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Check the basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Returning the Spectrum Analyzer for Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Package the spectrum analyzer for shipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-l

3-l

3-2

3-4

3-4

Contents-2

HP 85900 Spectrum Analyzer

Figures

l-l. Frequency Readout Accuracy Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l-9 l-2. Frequency Readout Accuracy Test Setup for Option 013 . . . . . . . . . . . l-11 l-3. Noise Sidebands Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 l-4. System Related Sidebands Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-17

1-5. Frequency Span Accuracy Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-19 l-6. Sweep Time Accuracy Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-22 l-7. Scale Fidelity Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l-24 l-8. Reference Level Accuracy Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l-30 l-9. Uncertainty Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l-34 l-10. LPF Characterization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l-38 l-11. Calibrator Amplitude Accuracy Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-40

1-12. Calibrator Frequency Accuracy Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-41

1-13. System Characterization Test Setup

(Option 001) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-43

1-14. Frequency Response Test Setup, 250 MHz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-44

1-15. Frequency Response Test Setup, 250 MHz, for Option 001 . . . . . . . . . .

l-44

1-16. Frequency Response Test Setup (~50 MHz) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-46

1-17. Other Input Related Spurious Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-51

1-18. Second Harmonic Distortion Test Setup, 30 MHz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-55

1-19. Third Order Intermodulation Distortion Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-57 l-20. Gain Compression Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-61

1-21. Displayed Average Noise Level Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l-63 l-22. Residual Response Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l-69 l-23. Absolute Amplitude, Vernier, and Power Sweep Accuracy Test Setup . . . . .

l-72 l-24. Tracking Generator Level Flatness Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-75 l-25. Harmonic Spurious Outputs Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-79 l-26. Non-Harmonic Spurious Outputs Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-83 l-27. Tracking Generator Feedthrough Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-87 l-28. 10 MHz Reference Test Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-l. Spectrum Analyzer Packaging Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-91

3-5

HP 9590D Spectrum Analyzer Contents9

Ylhbles

l-l. Performance Verification Tests

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-2. Recommended Test Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-3. Recommended Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-4. Recommended Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-5. Frequency Readout Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-6. Frequency Readout Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-7. Frequency Span Readout Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-8. Sweep Time Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-9. Cumulative and Incremental Error, Log Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-10. Scale Fidelity, Linear Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-11. Reference Level Accuracy, Log Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-12. Reference Level Accuracy, Linear Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-13. Resolution Bandwidth Switching Uncertainty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-14. Frequency Response Errors Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-15. Frequency Response (~50 MHz) Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-16. Image Responses Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-17. Displayed Average Noise Level, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-18. Residual Responses Above DispIay Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-19. Vernier Accuracy Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-20 Level Flatness Relative to 300 MHz Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-21. Harmonic Spurious Responses Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-22. Fundamental Response Amplitudes Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-23. Non-Harmonic Responses Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-24. TG Feedthrough Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-25. Performance Verification Test Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-l. Hewlett-Packard Sales and Service Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l-32 l-33 l-36 l-48 l-49 l-53 l-68

1-71 l-74 l-78 l-81 l-85 l-86 l-90 l-93

3 - 3

l-2 l-4 l-6 l-8 l-10

1-12

1-21 l-23 l-26 l-27

Contents-4 HP 8590D Spectrum Analyzer