Define Segments

Opens a dialog to define all channel settings for a Segmented Frequency sweep and to import and export segmented sweep settings.

The Define Segments dialog contains a table to edit the individual segments of the sweep range. Sweep segments must not overlap, however, two adjacent segments can have one common point; see Columns in the Define Limit Line table.

Below the table, three groups of controls provide additional settings:

Columns in the Define Limit Line table

The table contains an automatically assigned current number for each segment plus the following editable or non-editable columns:

On provides check boxes to activate or deactivate each individual segment. Sweep points belonging to inactive segments only are not measured and not listed in the Point List.
Start is the stimulus (x-axis) value of the first point of the segment. If the segment contains more than one Point, then Start must be smaller than the Stop value. If a Start value equal to or larger than the current Stop value is set, Stop is adjusted to the new Start value plus 1 Hz.
Stop is the stimulus (x-axis) value of the last point of the segment. If the segment contains more than one Point, then Stop must be larger or equal than the Start value. If a Stop value equal to or smaller than the current Start value is set, Start is adjusted to the new Stop value minus 1 Hz.
Points is the number of sweep points in the segment. A single segment can consist of only one point, however, the entire sweep range must contain at least 2 distinct frequency points. If Points is set to 1, then the Stop frequency is set equal to the Start frequency.
The remaining columns show the channel settings for each segment. They are displayed only if they are selected in the Individual Segment Settings panel.

When a new segment is defined or when the stimulus range of a segment is modified, the analyzer automatically checks whether it is compatible with the existing segments. The Start and Stop values of the existing segments are modified so that there is no overlap between any of the segments. If this is not possible (e.g. because of the limited frequency range of the analyzer), the entry of the new Start or Stop value is denied.

Use the paste marker list for convenient entry of Start and Stop values.

Remote control:

The commands in the [SENSe<Chn>:]SEGMent... subsystem define all sweep segment settings.

Inserting and Deleting Segments

Three buttons on the left side below the table in the Define Segments dialog extend or shorten the segment list:

Insert New Segment

adds a new segment to the list. The new segment is inserted after the active segment. The segment numbers (#) of all segments after the new segment are adapted.

To avoid overlapping segments, the new segment ranges from the Stop value of the previously active segment to either the Start valueof the next segment or the maximum frequency of the analyzer. The analyzer places no restriction on the number of segments in a sweep range.
Delete Segment removes the selected segment from the list.
Del All Segments clears the entire segment list so it is possible to define or load a new segmented sweep range.

Remote control:

[SENSe<Chn>:]SEGMent<Seg>:INSert
[SENSe<Chn>:]SEGMent<Seg>:DELete
[SENSe<Chn>:]SEGMent<Seg>:DELete:ALL

Individual Segment Settings

The options in the Individual Segment Settings panel can be used to vary the channel settings of every individual segment in the list.

The first sweep segment is created with the channel settings defined for general sweep types. When any further sweep segment created, it uses the channel settings of the previously active segment. Each selected (checked) option adds a column to the segment list.

Name adds a column to assign a name to each segment. A segment name is a string that may contain letters, numbers and special characters.
Power defines the internal source Power for each individual sweep segment.
Meas Bandwidth defines the Meas Bandwidth for each individual sweep segment.
Selectivity defines the Selectivity of the IF filter used for each sweep segment.
Spur Avoid defines whether the analyzer measures the segment with a local oscillator frequency LO below or above the RF input frequency. The parameter replaces the Spurious Avoidancesettings for a particular segment.
Time
defines the sweep time for each segment. The default configuration for a new segment is equal to the Sweep Time settings.

When Time is checked two new columns appear in the table. The first column reads Swp Tm or Pnt Dly, depending on the selected radio button below the Time checkbox. The second column reads A(uto) and is used to activate automatic sweep time setting.
- A(uto) minimizes the sweep time. If this option is checked, the columns Swp Tm or Meas. Dly can not be edited. Swp Tm indicates the estimated sweep time, taking into account the current measurement settings, the Meas. Dly is 0 s. The segment sweep time and point delay values are maintained until changed explicitly if Auto is switched off.
- Swp Tm or Segment Sweep Time is the total measurement time for the sweep segment. The minimum segment sweep time to be set is equal to the estimated value in the Auto mode.
- Meas. Delay sets a delay time allowing the DUT to settle before the hardware settings of the analyzer are changed and a new partial measurement is started.
Changing the Meas. Dalay modifies the Swp Tm and vice versa.

Remote control:

[SENSe<Chn>:]SEGMent<Seg>:POWer[:LEVel]
[SENSe<Chn>:]SEGMent<Seg>:BWIDth[RESolution]
[SENSe<Chn>:]SEGMent<Seg>:BWIDth[RESolution]:SELect
[SENSe<Chn>:]SEGMent<Seg>:DEFine
[SENSe<Chn>:]SEGMent<Seg>:INSert
[SENSe<Chn>:]SEGMent<Seg>:SWEep:TIME
[SENSe<Chn>:]SEGMent<Seg>:SWEep:DWELl

Point List, Segment Import and Export

The buttons on the right side below the table in the Define Segments dialog are used to retrieve the position of the defined sweep points import and export limit line data.

Show Point List

opens a list of all active sweep points and their channel settings.

Points in inactive sweep segments (i.e. segments that are not switched On in the segment table) are not shown. The table provides a check of the settings made and can not be edited.
Import Segment List... calls up an Open Filedialog to load a sweep segment list from a sweep segment file. Sweep segment files are ASCII files with the default extension *.seglist and a special file format.
Export Segment List... calls up a Save As...dialog to store the current sweep segments to a sweep segment file. Sweep segment files are ASCII files with the default extension *.seglist and a special file format.

To import a segment list file (*.seglist) you can also use the Windows Explorer and simply double-click the file or drag and drop the file into the NWA application. You must enable the segmented sweep separately.

Remote control:

MMEMory:LOAD:SEGMent <Ch_no>,"file_name"
MMEMory:STORe:SEGMent <Ch_no>,"file_name"

File Format for Sweep Segments

The analyzer uses a simple ASCII format to export sweep segment data. By default, the sweep segment file extension is *.seglist. The file starts with two comment lines containing the version and a third line reproducing the header of the segment list. The following lines contain the entries of all columns of the segment list, including the Individual Segment Settings that may be actually hidden.

Example of a sweep segment file

The segmented sweep range:

is described by the following sweep segment file:

The sweep segment file actually contains more columns listing all channel settings of the individual sweep segments. The headings of the additional columns read:

Source Power [dBm]; IF Bandwidth [Hz]; enIF Selectivity; en IF Sideband; Meas Delay [ms]; boSweep Time Auto;