Channel - Stimulus

The Stimulus submenu defines the sweep range in the current channel, depending on the sweep type.

The Marker Functions provide a convenient alternative to the manual entry of the sweep range parameters. Use the paste marker list for convenient entry of Start and Stop values.

Some of the Stimulus parameters and the STOP SPAN key are not provided for all sweep types; see Stimulus and Sweep Types.

Stimulus and Sweep Types

The function of the Start, Stop, Center and Span softkeys depends on the sweep type:

If a frequency sweep is selected, then the START CENTER and STOP SPAN are both toggle keys. In Time or CW Mode sweep mode the Start, Center and Stop softkeys are inactive, still you can use the START CENTER hardkey to select the fixed CW frequency.

The conditions for the stimulus range depend on the sweep type:

Lin. Frequency/Log. Frequency/Segmented Frequency

The frequency range depends on the instrument type; see SCPI command reference. The Stop frequency must be greater than the Start frequency; the Span must be  1 Hz. If a Stop frequency smaller than the current Start frequency is set, then the Start frequency is adjusted and vice versa.

A sweep must contain at least two different sweep points.
Power

Start and Stop power are entered in absolute units (dBm) and over a wide range. The Center and Span softkeys are not active.

Start and Stop power must be different, the Stop power must be larger than the Start power. If a Stop power smaller than the Start power isset, then the Start power is adjusted automatically and vice versa.

The power corresponds to the actual output power at the test port that supplies the stimulus for the active channel or at the calibrated reference plane.
Time

The Stop value represents the total sweep time. Start and the other parameters are not active as the sweep time is relative to the beginning of the sweep which starts immediately after the entry of the Stop value.

The sweep time is entered in seconds and must be positive; see also Time sweep.
CW Mode

The Stop value represents the number of trigger events during the measurement. Each trigger event triggers one measurement point. Start and the other softkeys are not active as the first trigger event is the one immediately after the beginning of the sweep which starts after the entry of the Stop value.

The behavior is analogous to the Time sweep type.
Pulse Profile

Start and Stop define the start and stop time in the diagram area relative to the trigger time. The stop time must be larger than the start time. Center and Span are not active.

The selected sweep range applies to all source and receive ports of the analyzer. The sweep range frequency is also used as the channel base frequency for frequency-converting measurements; see Port Configuration.

CW Frequency

Opens the numeric entry bar to set the fixed frequency for the sweep types Power, Time, CW Mode, and Pulse Profile. The CW frequency is also used as the channel base frequency for frequency-converting measurements; see Port Configuration.

Sweep type	Start [dimension]	Stop [dimension]	Center [dimension]	Span [dimension]
Equivalent hotkey			(press twice)	(press twice)
Lin. Frequency Log. Frequency Segmented Frequency	Start frequency [Hz]	Stop frequency [Hz]	Center frequency [Hz]	Frequency span [Hz]
Power	Start power [dBm]	Stop power [dBm]	–	–
Time	–	Total sweep time [s]	–	–
CW Mode	–	Number of points [1]	–	–