I suspect the 853A cannot subtract two STORED Traces. I think one of them will have to be Live. If your using Noise as your Signal, then you will need to use Noise Averaging, which the 853A will do. This will mean you will have two Noise Averaged Traces to Store before Subtraction. I don¡¯t think the 853A can do that. If you can extract these to a Computer, then the Computer can do the final math. This all pre-supposes that the 8559A is a good enough Spectrum Analyzer, which I doubt. It depends on what kind of accuracy you¡¯re looking for. Rgds Bill Lauchlan
From: hp_agilent_equipment@... [mailto:hp_agilent_equipment@...] Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2015 6:03 PM To: hp_agilent_equipment@... Subject: Re: [hp_agilent_equipment] HP 8559 / 853A How to peak hold and normalize display??
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It is a fairly routine measurement to make, but it's usually done with a network analyzer. It needn't be done with a VNA if you just want frequency response (a scalar quantity...amplitude, no phase), a scalar network analyzer will do the trick. One typically calibrates out test fixtures and cables, but source leveling is usually done by the sweep generator in a "set it and forget it" sort of way.
That said, I'm pretty sure the 853 frame can do stored trace subtraction, but it's been so long since I've seen one I don't recall exactly how. :-(
-Dave
On 10/14/2015 02:57 PM, w2bvh w2bvh@... [hp_agilent_equipment] wrote: > I would like to use a high level noise source (one of those $15 Chinese > boards) with a HP8559/853 to do filter and amplifier passband / stopband > measurements. I know that in general I have store the noise source's > output and then subtract the filter (or amplifier) output in order to > normalize the measurement against the non-constant noise source output. > > I'm sure this must be a relatively routine measurement technique, but I > don't know what buttons to press in what order on the 853A display unit > to do this. The manual is pretty ambiguous about how to use the "A" and > "B" "Trace" buttons. > > Could someone who does this routinely explain which buttons to press > when? And maybe, more clearly, what each of them does? > > Thanks in advance for any help.