User`s guide

3-26 Agilent E6432A Microwave Synthesizer User’s Guide

Soft Front Panel Help

ALC System Diagram

Internal Leveling Point

Internal Leveling Point (Int Lvl), available from the Soft Front Panel,

controls which detector is used in the ALC loop. Selecting Internal

Leveling Point specifies that the INTERNAL_DETECTOR be used

which allows the synthesizer to level power at the output of the

directional coupler located inside of the synthesizer.

Factory Preset Value: INTERNAL_DETECTOR

In this configuration, power is sensed by a detector internal to the

synthesizer and a dc output from this detector is fed back to the Level

Control Circuits.

The ALC level is limited at the low end by the Level Control Circuits

and at the high end by the maximum available power. Noise and drift

limit the range at the low end to –20 dBm or greater. The combination

of RF frequency and RF components (different options of synthesizers

have different RF components) limit the ALC range available at the

high end. If the power level requested is higher than the synthesizer is

capable of producing, the maximum available power is produced, and

the Unleveled error indicator is displayed.

ALC leveling accuracy depends on the power level. Although the ALC

level range is usable from –20 dBm to maximum power (maximum

power varies depending on whether your synthesizer is a standard

model or a high power option) it is most accurate from –10 to +10 dBm.

For complete specifications, refer to “Specifications and

Characteristics” on page 6-1.