User Manual

Page 36
5.6.4 Linking to a PC via USB
The USB Type Mini B connector on the left hand side of the instrument is arranged as USB
“device” and is intended exclusively for connection to the USB port of a personal computer for
the transfer of files to or from the internal memory of the instrument.
The connection should be made using the cable supplied, which is a standard USB Mini B plug
to USB Standard A plug. Note that it is not possible to use the USB Link to PC when a USB
Flash Drive is connected.
“Link to PC” mode is selected via Setup/Functions > System/FileOps > File Ops > Link to PC
see section 5.6. When the key is pressed all spectrum analyzer activity is suspended and the
instrument waits for the PC to recognise its Flash based disc drive and “log it on”.
When the link is enabled, the internal drive of the instrument appears on the PC as a removable
disc drive. When in this condition, the PC is in control of the link and file operations are
performed on the PC using Windows Explorer or a similar file system manager.
When in this mode, all of the user area of the internal drive becomes accessible. It is
therefore possible to rename files and directories, delete directories or to add invalid
files. Care must be taken NOT to do this.
The internal drive contains a master folder named PSA within which are five folders: TRACES,
IMAGES, SETUPS, LOGS, and TABLES. Only the correct file types must be placed into these
folders, no files should be placed in the Root folder and no additional folders created.
Note that it is possible to place files with long filenames into the folders provided that the
extension is correct and the files themselves are valid - see section 5.6.1.1.
The link can be closed by pressing the EXIT hard key. When this happens, the instrument re-
checks its filing system in order to ensure that changes have not been made that would cause
system problems. This may take several seconds.
When this has been completed, normal spectrum analyzer operation resumes.
5.7 File Types
The basic instrument uses three file types: Traces, Images and Setups. If option U01 is
installed, several further file types become available.
5.7.1 Trace Files
A trace file represents the swept trace as appears upon the screen. A trace file can be recalled
to the screen as a reference trace (purple).
The file consists of a set of 271 values representing the trace amplitude from left to right across
the screen in CSV (comma separated variable) format, plus additional information that defines
the frequency span, RBW, VBW and reference level.
The latter information is referred to as the State. When a trace file is recalled, the user can
choose to recall the whole file (Recall Trace & State), the trace amplitude values only (Recall
Trace) or the State values only (Recall State). Whenever the State is recalled, the spectrum
analyser set-up is changed to match the parameters within the recalled file.
Trace files are small being a few kilobytes each. Within the instrument they use an 8.3 naming
format with the extension .CSV. A maximum of 999 files can be stored within the internal
memory of the instrument. Trace files can be copied to a PC and imported into graphing
programs such as Excel, MathCad etc.
Trace files can also be displayed using PSA-Manager software which is supplied with
Option U01.