Useful tips and tricks for your first measurement experience

Resistors, capacitors and inductors are the most basic components in electric circuits. It must be ensured that they work properly and accurately. Therefore, they need to be tested thoroughly during circuit design. This is usually done using LCR meters, which have become indispensable in the lab and in production. This application note looks at how to perform basic capacitor and inductor measurements accurately and reliably.

22-Feb-2024 | AN-No. 1GP142

The ARB Toolbox is an easy-to-use, feature packed software package that is used for many ARB waveform related tasks. Use this software for creating ARB waveform files from custom IQ data; import data from MATLAB .mat files; evaluate waveform content graphically; resample or filter waveforms; create analog modulated signals as ARB files; edit marker data in waveform files; use the composer for the creation of complex multi carrier scanarios.

13-Dec-2018 | AN-No. 1GP88

This application note investigates and discusses the influence of wideband noise on harmonic distortion measurements.

06-Jul-2011 | AN-No. 1GA55

This paper reviews the classical spectrum analyzer measurement of L(f) and its shortcomings and discusses how modern phase noise test sets measure phase noise and avoid the limitations imposed by direct spectrum measurements.

31-Mar-2020

Most application notes for audio analyzer R&S® UPV include an application program which runs locally using the universal sequence controller option UPV-K1. This application note explains how sequence control programs can be modified to run on a remote PC using remote control option UPV-K4.

30-Jun-2012 | AN-No. 1GA60

This application note provides a tool for printing a report about measurement results on the audio analyzer R&S® UPV. The executable can be freely configured to include any result graphs and figures into the report. In addition it is an application example for a class library which can be included into custom application programs to add a printing function.

18-Jul-2011 | AN-No. 1GA57

This application note provides a program which allows to record total harmonic distortion, single harmonic distortion factors and level with one generator sweep. The executable may be installed and used without caring about programming. The source code is provided as basis for custom modifications.

16-Jul-2011 | AN-No. 1GA56

This application note is about creating your own battery model for the R&S®NGM200 or R&S®NGU201, beyond the standard models provided within the battery simulation option NGM-K106. The main purpose is to gradually discharge a battery or a rechargeable battery using the internal QuickArb function. The discharge of the battery can then be recorded using the fast data logging functionality FastLog. The recorded data are stored in a .CSV file. This file can then be adapted to be used as a battery model in the battery simulation mode of the R&S®NGM200. For this purpose, Rohde & Schwarz provides a tool for developers to make their work easier. This tool calculates all the data required for a battery model.Note: More advanced tools are available with application notes 1GP130 (Battery Cycle Tool) and 1GP136 (Battery Simulation).

26-Jul-2023 | AN-No. 1GP128

The LCR meters R&S®LCX100 and R&S®LCX200 precisely measure the complex impedance and the resulting components values over a wide frequency range. Dynamic impedance measurements allow to perform these measurements while sweeping the test signal frequency or other parameters like test signal level and DC bias. This application note provides a PC-based software tool for comfortably setting the sweeps and displaying the results in numerous charts.

14-Mar-2022 | AN-No. 1GP132

This application note applies to DC power supplies R&S®NGL200, R&S®NGM200, R&S®NGP800, R&S®NGU201 and R&S®NGU401, as well as LCR meters R&S®LCX100 and R&S®LCX200. It provides an overview over ethernet-based remote services provided by the referenced R&S® instruments. These services comprise an instrument web page, VNC remote control and FTP file transfer between the instrument and a remote computer. The application note gives instructions on how to set up the instrument and the remote computer in order to be able to utilize these services.

19-May-2022 | AN-No. 1GP135

Play-only devices like CD- or MP3 players cannot be measured as traditional 4-pole devices. Therefore traditional transfer function measurements using the generator part of the audio analyzer are not possible. Those devices are tested with a pre-recorded test signal available as wav or MP3 file. This application note describes a fast test together with a setup and an executable which runs the test and displays the desired results. The test signal is provided as a linear coded wav file. This file can easily be coded into MP3 format using any commercially available or public domain wave editors or ripper programs. The test can also be executed by IEEE control and all results can be read out by IEEE commands.

28-Jun-2007 | AN-No. 1GA46

This application note proposes a digital level shifter for connecting the I2S interfaces R&S®UPP-B2 and R&S®UPV-B41 to devices under test with a logic voltage different from 3.3 V.

27-Mar-2020 | AN-No. 1GA71

R&S®VISA is a standardized software library that allows fast communications over diverse interfaces with a wide variety of T&M instruments that are detected on the network from PC applications. R&S®VISA also includes a trace tool that simultaneously monitors communications between multiple applications and T&M instruments, and permits targeted analysis with the aid of efficient filters.

26-May-2020 | AN-No. 1DC02

Application program with documentation for sending a sequence of logged SCPI commands to the firmware of the R&S® Audio Analyzer UPV.

19-Jul-2010 | AN-No. 1GA53

This application note describes how measurement results can be logged over time in the audio analyzer R&S® UPV. A Visual Basic.NET application program is included which stores results to ASCII files.

29-Jun-2012 | AN-No. 1GA59

5G is the fifth generation of wireless communication technology supporting cellular networks. From GSM (2G) through to LTE (4G), each generation addresses technical challenges not overcome by its predecessor. As with previous generations, 5G requires new mobile devices and new base stations (BTS).Unlike previous generations, the use of radio beams in 5G requires completely new approaches with regard to the compliance, coverage, and quality of service testing.The new air interface is called 5G NR ("new radio"). This application note describes the measurement challenges of 5G NR and makes clear the benefits of using a monitoring receiver for measuring 5G signals.Real-world examples explain how to perform various key 5G measurements. The final section covers further 5G measurement possibilities using R&S products. "Over-the-air" (OTA) measurements are essential in 5G. This means staff from regulators and operators must work in unknown radio environments that vary according to location (e.g. urban or suburban) and mission (e.g. 5G BTS compliance testing or interference hunting). Measurement equipment must operate in a wide range of scenarios (close to the mast and far from the mast) and offer user-friendly functionality that enables the required measurements.Considering current global deployment trends, this paper focuses on the FR1 frequency band (sub 6 GHz).

07-Jun-2021 | AN-No. 1SL366

This application note explains how to use acoustic calibrations in order to be able to enter or read sound pressure level directly in the Audio Analyzer R&S® UPV. An application program is described which performs the necessary measurements for the calibration of microphones and loudspeakers, manages the calibration values and enters them into any appropriate user defined setup.

11-Oct-2012 | AN-No. 1GA47

Miloslav Macko 1MA196 1MA196, Forum, Instrument, Remote, Control, Python, R&S Forum, RS Forum, R&SForum, RSForum R&S®Forum for Instrument Remote Control Using R&S®Forum Application for Instrument Remote Control Miloslav Macko 1MA196 1MA196, Forum, Instrument, Remote, Control, Python, R&S Forum, RS Forum, R&SForum, RSForum R&S®Forum for Instrument Remote Control Related products

28-Jun-2018 | AN-No. 1MA196

Application program and documentation for averaging of 1/n octave spectra on the audio analyzer UPV.

19-Jul-2010 | AN-No. 1GA52

Source measure units R&S®NGU401 and R&S®NGU201 are capable of precise current measurements from sub-microampere up to ampere. This application note provides a tool which generates a voltage or current sweep using the arbitrary function of the instruments. A fast log captures voltage and current values during the sweep. Subsequently the application program determines the voltage and current value for each sweep step and plots the results in an I-V curve .The tool can be utilized to characterize all kinds of two-pole devices like diodes, LEDs and solar panels.This application note can also be used in connection with DC power supplies R&S®NGM201 and R&S®NGM202.

15-Feb-2021 | AN-No. 1GP129

The application program of this application note provides a tool for cycling battery samples, using two-quadrant DC power supplies from Rohde & Schwarz. The batteries can be repeatedly charged and discharged while collecting information about open-circuit voltage, loaded voltage and internal resistance, depending on the charged and discharged capacity. The tool provides a variety of charts for displaying the collected data. It can be used for characterizing battery samples, as well as for creating battery models which can be used in the battery simulations of R&S®NGU201 and R&S®NGM200.This tool is meant for the use by knowledgeable experts. The application note does not provide instructions on how to properly charge and discharge batteries.

17-Dec-2021 | AN-No. 1GP130

This application note gives background information about the psychoacoustic measurements PESQ® (Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality) and PEAQ® (Perceptual Evaluation of Audio Quality). It also describes how to perform these measurements using the Rohde & Schwarz Audio Analyzer.

03-Apr-2009 | AN-No. 1GA49

Applications requiring higher voltages or currents, or a stack of voltage sources with taps in-between, demand the combination of several DC power supply channels in series or in parallel.All channels of DC power supplies R&S®NGL200 and R&S®NGM200 are isolated against the grounding equipment conductor and against the digital ground of the instrument. Therefore, channels can be connected in parallel for increasing the current capability, or in series for achieving higher voltages or dual-voltage supplies.When a large number of power supply channels is used, it is desirable to have a tool for configuring all instruments and channels from one user interface, and for keeping an overview over the states and measurement values from all channels.The application program of this application note provides such a tool. The document contains background information and user manual for the software.

27-Aug-2020 | AN-No. 1GP127

This application note provides software and instructions for a simple check of the acoustic performance of mobile phones. It targets mainly service centers and repair workshops which have to perform incoming tests of defective mobile phones and final tests of repaired mobiles. A focus is set on short test times and ease of use, without compromising accuracy and repeatability of results.

14-Dec-2017 | AN-No. 1GA69

Versatile Software Tool for Rohde & Schwarz Instruments

RSCommander is a versatile software tool for a wide range of Rohde & Schwarz spectrum-, network analyzers, signal generators and oscilloscopes. It allows for automatic instrument discovery, making screenshots, reading traces, file transfer and simple script creation.

24-Dec-2017 | AN-No. 1MA074

All channels of DC power supplies R&S®NGL200 and R&S®NGM200 are isolated against the grounding equipment conductor and against the digital ground of the instrument. Therefore, channels can be connected in parallel for increasing the current capability, or in series for achieving higher voltages or dual-voltage supplies. In the case of parallel and serial connections it is usually desired to switch all channels simultaneously on and off for protecting the supplied circuitry and for avoiding overcurrent on other power supply channels.This application note describes how to connect and configure DC power supplies R&S®NGL200 and R&S®NGM200 for synchronized on and off switching of all channels across multiple power supplies.

15-Jun-2020 | AN-No. 1GP126

This application note explains how to use the Audio Analyzer R&S UPV for measurements of maximum sound pressure level of headphones according to EN50332. It is possible to measure a combination of music player / FM receiver and headphones, the maximum output voltage of a player / FM receiver alone or the wideband characteristic voltage of headphones alone. An application program is available for download as installer file and as VB.NET project.

17-Jun-2009 | AN-No. 1GA48

A large variety of measurements is performed in audio engineering in order to ensure transmission quality of analog and digital devices. An audio analyzer suitable for all these tasks will, therefore, incorporate a multitude of functions, resulting in a correspondingly large number of settings.This application note is to help test engineers using the R&S®UPP and R&S®UPV audio analyzers. It presents setting examples for all basic audio measurements to be performed immediately. For each setup, information is given on the type of measurement, the underlying standards, and on how to modify the graphic display results.

07-Jul-2014 | AN-No. 1GA64

This application note provides an application program and instructions for performing speech quality tests and delay measurements in a live network, using the R&S®UPV audio analyzer.

14-Dec-2017 | AN-No. 1GA68

This application program supports the logging and fast logging functionality of the power supplies R&S® NGM200, NGU201 and NGU401. Standard logging is also supported with power supply R&S® NGL200 and NGP800. Power supplies R&S® NGA100 and NGE100 are supported in the data collection mode. Charting functionality is available for logged voltage, current and power values.

14-Nov-2019 | AN-No. 1GP122