Power Meter Operation
Setting Averaging
Agilent E4419B User’s Guide 2-41
Setting Averaging
The power meter uses a digital filter to average power readings. The 
number of readings averaged can range from 1 to 1024. This filter is used 
to reduce noise, obtain the desired resolution and to reduce the jitter in 
the measurement results. Increasing the value of the filter length reduces 
measurement noise. However, the time to take the measurement is 
increased. You can select the filter length or you can set the power meter 
to auto filter mode. The default is “AUTO”.
When the auto filter mode is enabled, the power meter automatically sets 
the number of readings averaged together to satisfy the filtering 
requirements for most power measurements. The number of readings 
averaged together depends on the resolution and the power level currently 
being measured. Figure 2-10 lists the number of readings averaged for 
each range and resolution when the power meter is in auto filter mode and 
is set to normal speed mode (refer to the Agilent E4418B/E4419B 
Programming Guide for details of the readings averaged in the other 
speed modes).
Resolution is a window function and not a channel function. In the case 
where a channel is set up in both the upper and lower window and the 
resolution settings are different, the highest resolution setting is taken to 
calculate the averaging number. For example, if the upper window has a 
resolution setting of 2 and is measuring channel A - channel B and the 
lower window has a resolution of 4 and is measuring channel A. In this 
instance channel A averaging is calculated with a resolution of 4 and 
channel B with a resolution of 2.
HP4402.book  Page 41  Thursday, November 30, 2000  1:39 PM