User`s manual

116 Chapter 6
O:\Manuals\E6380A_Progguid\Book\Advoper.fm
Advanced Operations
Increasing Measurement Throughput
3. Frequency Counter Gate Time
The frequency counter’s gate time specifies how long the RF or AF
frequency counter samples the signal before displaying the measured
result. Short gate times measure instantaneous frequency and long
gate times measure average frequency. The longer the gate time, the
longer the measurement cycle. The proper gate time is determined by
the measurement requirements. Use the following commands to set
gate times:
For AF frequency measurements, set the AF Analyzer’s gate time with
the AF Cnt Gate field, using the following command:
Example 6-3 Example
:AFAN:GTIM <value> MS
For RF frequency measurements, set the RF Analyzer’s gate time with
the RF Cnt Gate field, using the following command:
Example 6-4 Example
:RFAN:GTIM <value> MS
4. Number of Active Measurements
The Test Set is capable of making many measurements simultaneously.
Measurements are either in the active state (ON) or in the inactive
state (OFF). When the Test Set receives a trigger event, all active
measurements are triggered. A measurement cycle is complete when all
active measurements have obtained a valid measurement result. To
decrease the measurement cycle time, all unused measurements should
be set to the inactive state (turned OFF). Turning OFF unused
measurements will have the greatest impact on reading repetition rate.
Use the STATe command to turn OFF all unneeded measurements on
the displayed screen.
Optimizing Measurement Setup Time
Measurement setup time is defined as the time required to configure an
individual instrument within the Test Set to make a measurement.
In general there are two methodologies which can be used to setup
individual instruments in the Test Set:
1. Set up every field every time a measurement is made.
2. Define a base instrument state and then modify it as needed for each
measurement (always returning to the base state after finishing the
measurement).
Defining a base instrument state requires fewer HP-IB transactions to
set up an instrument (in the majority of cases) which in turn reduces
measurement setup time.