Handheld Microwave Analyzer FieldFox N9916A#

N9916A FieldFox Handheld Microwave Analyzer by Keysight The manuals of this instrument and similar models are available at Keysight. The SCPI commands and functions can be found in the programming guide.

Base class: qtics.instruments.network_inst.NetworkInst.

This instrument features different operational modes (VNA, SA, CAT…), with mostly different commands. Each mode is controlled by its respective class. When connecting, these classes will automatically try to initialize a basic measurement setup with the specific mode.

Commands#

Other than featuring all the methods of qtics.instruments.network_inst.NetworkInst, the base qtics.instruments.network.NA_N9916A.N9916A class contains the following methods and properties common to all the operational modes of the instrument.

Functions#

  • clear()

  • reset()

  • hold()

  • write_and_hold()

  • autoscale()

  • clear_average()

  • single_sweep()

  • query_data()

  • read_trace_data()

  • read_freqs()

  • snapshot()

  • survey()

Properties#

  • f_min

  • f_max

  • f_center

  • f_span

  • sweep_points

  • sweep_time

  • average

  • continuous

  • data_format

  • yformat

VNA mode#

Measure the scattering value parameter of a connected RF network by sweeping a probe signal over a range of frequencies. This mode is implemented by the qtics.instruments.network.NA_N9916A.VNAN9916A class.

Example of operation#

from qtics import VNAN9916A

VNA = VNAN9916A(name = "myVNA", address = "192.168.40.10")
VNA.connect()

Measure the \(S_{11}\) parameter in the 4-8 GHz frequency range, averaging 5 sweeps of the VNA. The result consists of the frequency array and the raw IQ values, given as an array of complex numbers:

VNA.S_par = "S11"
VNA.average = 5 # number of averages of the recorded trace
VNA.power = -20 # power of the probe signal in dB
f, z = VNA.snapshot(f_min=4e9, f_max=8e9)

Since the instrument allows a maximum number of 10001 points in a single sweep, the survey() function allows to perform more precise measurements over a large frequency range by patching together multiple snapshots over smaller ranges.

VNA.sweep_points = 10001
f, z = VNA.survey(4e9, 8e9, 0.5e9) # patch multiple snapshots, each with 10001 points and a 500 MHz span

Functions#

  • setup()

  • activate_trace()

  • sweep()

Properties#

  • S_par

  • yformat

  • smoothing

  • average_mode

  • IFBW

  • power

SA mode#

Measure the magnitude of an RF signal as a function of frequency. This mode is implemented by the qtics.instruments.network.NA_N9916A.SAN9916A class.

Example of operation#

from qtics import SAN9916A

SA = SAN9916A(name = "mySA", address = "192.168.40.10")
SA.connect()

Measure the amplitude of the signal in dB over the 4-8 GHz frequency range, averaging 5 sweeps of the SA and using a logarithmic scale for the amplitude. The result consists of the frequency array and the amplitude array of real numbers with the correct measurement unit and scale:

SA.average = 5 # number of averages of the recorded trace
SA.yscale = "LOG" # amplitude scale
SA.yformat = "DBM" # amplitude measurement unit
f, z = SA.snapshot(f_min=4e9, f_max=8e9)

Since the instrument allows a maximum number of 10001 points in a single sweep, the survey() function allows to perform more precise measurements over a large frequency range by patching together multiple snapshots over smaller ranges.

SA.sweep_points = 10001
f, z = SA.survey(4e9, 8e9, 0.5e9) # patch multiple snapshots, each with 10001 points and a 500 MHz span

Functions#

  • set_full_span()

  • set_zero_span()

Properties#

  • gain

  • attenuation

  • auto_attenuation

  • res_bandwidth

  • auto_res_bandwidth

  • trace_type

  • average_type

  • yformat

  • yscale