GENERAL INFORMATION
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Calibration
This instrument has a recommended two year calibration interval after which it should be returned
for recalibration (find a list of regional offices at www.aeroflex.com).
Modulation
Comprehensive amplitude, frequency and phase modulations are available. Pulse modulation can
be applied to the carrier from an external pulse source or (if Option 9 is fitted) from an internal
pulse generator. The instrument also accepts one or two logic level inputs to produce a 2-level or
4-level FSK modulated output. An internal modulation oscillator is provided, having a frequency
range of 0.01 Hz to 100 kHz. The oscillator is capable of generating one or two modulation tones
simultaneously in one modulation channel. An independent BNC input on the front panel allows
external modulation signals to be combined with the internal signal(s). These sources can be
combined to give a number of modulation modes. The pulse modulation can be used in
combination with the other forms of modulation.
The frequency modulation range provides a 1 dB bandwidth of typically 275 kHz and provides
FM deviation of up to 12.8 MHz in eight ranges of carrier frequency. AC or DC coupled FM can
be selected. Phase modulation is also available with a 9 kHz bandwidth up to a maximum of
10 radians.
Amplitude modulation with a 1 dB bandwidth of typically 30 kHz and with modulation depths of
up to 99.9% is available with a resolution of 0.1%. Pulse modulation is available as standard with
typical rise and fall times of less than 10 μs and 40 dB on/off ratio.
The external input voltage required for 100% modulation is 1 V RMS or, optionally, 1 V peak. To
accommodate other signal levels, Automatic Level Control (ALC) can be selected which provides
correctly calibrated modulation for inputs between 0.75 and 1.25 V RMS.
A MOD ON/OFF key simplifies the testing of signal to noise ratio.
An optional fast pulse modulator improves rise/fall times to typically 10 ns.
Incrementing
All major parameters can be incremented or decremented in step sizes entered via keyboard entry
or remotely. If no step size is entered for a parameter, the steps are preset to 1 kHz for carrier
frequency, 1 kHz for modulation oscillator, 1 kHz for FM deviation, 0.1% for AM depth, 0.01 rad
for ΦM and 1 dB for output level.
In addition, the rotary control knob can be used to vary the parameter with the sensitivity of the
knob being changed by means of the ×10 and ÷10 keys.
Frequency sweep
The sweep capability of the instrument allows comprehensive testing of systems. Sweeps may be
logarithmic or linear. Four parameters are used to specify sweep: start, stop, step size and time per
step and a percentage increment in the case of logarithmic sweep, all of which may be specified by
the user. The sweep can be paused at any time. During the sweep the RF level can be altered
using the rotary control. Sweep triggering can be single shot or continuous and can be initiated
directly or on the detection of a trigger. The triggering signal may either be programmed or from a
TTL signal applied to the rear panel TRIGGER input.
Memory
The instrument provides both non-volatile and volatile memory for storing instrument settings.
The non-volatile memory provides 100 instrument settings and 100 settings of carrier frequency
only. The volatile memory (RAM) also provides 100 instrument settings. Any one of the
non-volatile instrument settings can be selected as the power-up setting for the instrument.
Memory cloning
The stored settings in one instrument can be easily transferred (without the use of a controller) to
another instrument using the RS-232 interface, or to several other instruments using the GPIB
interface.
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