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Welcome to the hp8648c_hp436a_sweeper wiki!

The program hp8648c_hp436a_sweeper uses a Hewlett Packard (Agilent/Keysight Technologies) signal generator and a power meter for automatic generation of two different sweep curves: Frequency sweep and power sweep.

Key feature:

• Frequency sweep and power sweep
• Automatic file export as csv and binary format with timestamp
• Import binary format from a another test run
• Export as PDF and PNG

Necassary Hardware

• HP8648c signal generator
• HP436a power meter
• Power sensor
• Cable
• Linux PC with GPIB Interface an Linux GPIB

Useable range:

Frequency sweep works from .15MHz to 3200MHz.

The power sweep depends on the power sensor. There are many different power sensor available, I use the following 2: The HP8484 works from -70dBm to -20dBm, in the lower range with a poor linearity. In the low range there is a strong thermal drive with my heat, so I can use the head not less than -60dBm.

The HP8485A works from -30dBm to +20dBm, so you can use this power sensor for small signal power amplifier.

I think, that other signal generator works to, the GPIB commands for the HP436a are very strange. If you want to test other equipment, the init.h and the hp8648c_hp436a-sweeper.h contains the limits and some enumerations.

Todo:

• Automatic store and read the last configure
• Append two curves from different power sensors
• Calibration curve for different sensors
• Calibrate external attenuator
• Variable settings for RMSD (Done)
• ?