Rohde & Schwarz R&S ZVA 8 - Number of Points; Frequency Step Size

Channel Menu R&S
®
ZVA/ZVB/ZVT
1145.1084.12 4.144 E-6
The sweep segment file actually contains more columns listing all channel settings of the
individual sweep segments. The headings of the additional columns read:
S
ource Power [dBm]; IF Bandwidth [Hz]; enIF Selectivity; en IF Sideband; Meas Delay [
µ s
];
boSweep Time Auto;
Number of Points
Sets the total number of measurement points per sweep. The minimum number of points is 2.
Together with the sweep range defined with the Stimulus settings, this parameter defines the grid of
sweep points. The sweep points are equidistantly distributed over the entire sweep range: The step
width between two consecutive sweep points is constant on a linear scale (sweep types Lin. Frequency,
Time and CW Mode) or on a logarithmic scale (sweep types Log. Frequency and Power).
In Segmented Frequency sweeps, the number of points can be set independently for each segment;
see Define Segments.
As an alternative to the Number of Points, the Stimulus Step Size can be set.
Measurement time and screen resolution
A large number of points improves the resolution of the trace but increases the measurement time.
The overall measurement time is composed of a hardware settling time at the beginning of the sweep
plus the sum of the measurement times at each individual sweep point. This implies that the
measurement time increases roughly linearly with the number of points.
After changing the channel settings or selecting another measured quantity, the analyzer needs
some time to initialize the new sweep. This preparation period increases with the number of
points and the number of partial measurements involved. It is visualized by a Preparing Sweep
symbol in the status bar:
All analyzer settings can still be changed during sweep initialization. If necessary, the analyzer
terminates the current initialization and starts a new preparation period.
Remote control:
[SENSe<Ch>:]SWEep:POINts
Frequency Step Size
Sets the distance between two consecutive frequency sweep points.
The step size is an alternative to the Number of Points setting:
• If the sweep range is defined by means of the Start and Stop variables, both the Stop value and
the Number of Points can vary as the Stimulus Step Size is changed. The Stop value is
changed as little as possible so that the condition Stimulus Step Size = (Stop – Start) / (Number
of Points – 1) can be fulfilled. Changing the Start and Stop values modifies the Stimulus Step
Size.
• If the sweep range is defined by means of the Center and Span variables, both the Span value