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Hints
4 Better
for making
Microwave
Counter
Measurements
4 Hints for making Better Microwave
Counter Measurements
With the advancement of technol- • Continuous Wave (CW) micro-
ogy, there is an increasing ten- wave counters typically measure
dency for measurement tools to frequency to at least 20 GHz, and
overlap each other’s capabilities. to as high as 50 GHz. Most of these
Spectrum analyzers can now counters can make power mea-
measure frequency (a function surements as well, using the same
once reserved for counters), input for both frequency and
microwave counters can now power measurements.
measure power (a function once
reserved for power meters), • CW microwave counter/power
universal counters can now meters are a combination of a
measure microwave frequencies microwave frequency counter and
(a function once reserved for a true power meter in one pack-
microwave counters), and so on. age. Frequency and power
Furthermore, this same advance- measurements are made using
ment in technology in general has separate inputs. Power is mea-
created unique measurement sured with an external power
problems. This note will deal with sensor, yielding a more accurate
some of these measurement issues measurement.
for microwave counters.
• Pulse and CW microwave
There are several types of counters measure pulsed micro-
counters that can make micro- wave signals (typically found in
wave frequency measurements: military applications) as well as
CW signals.
• Universal counters (timer/
counters) and RF counters Since CW microwave counters are
(frequency counters) can now far and away the most popular of
extend their frequency measure- these types of microwave
ment capability into the low to counters, this note will deal
mid microwave range (usually to primarily with them.
5 GHz, and in some cases to
12.4 GHz).
2
When to use a Microwave HINT
Counter versus a Spectrum
Analyzer
A spectrum analyzer is a powerful
instrument that is considered by
most to be a basic microwave
tool. However, using a spectrum
analyzer to make microwave
frequency measurements may not
be the optimum solution. Purchas-
1
ing a microwave counter is
definitely the more economical
decision. Typically, a 20 GHz
spectrum analyzer is at least three
times the price of a 20 GHz
microwave counter: a high
premium to pay if the requirement
is only for measuring the fre-
quency of microwave signals.
A microwave counter can offer
several other advantages as well.
If high resolution frequency
measurements and/or rapid
measurement times are required,
a microwave counter will always
yield a 1 Hz resolution in
1 second. Not all spectrum
analyzers will. Of course a counter
is easier to use, especially for
novices. The size and weight of a
counter are generally less than
those of a spectrum analyzer,
making counters a truly field-
portable instrument when an
internal battery is added. The
HP 53150 Series Microwave
Counters are good examples of all
of these points.
3
HINT Measuring Digitally
Modulated Signals
2 Measuring the carrier or center
frequency of a modulated signal
with a microwave counter has
always been a difficult task. If
frequency modulation (FM) was
used, the accuracy of the measure-
ment was related to both the
In addition, the signal spectrum is
often deliberately spread using
either frequency hopping (FHSS)
or a psuedorandom sequence
(CDMA). The former is used in
several wireless local area net-
work (WLAN) implementations
modulating signal’s symmetry and and the latter is the heart of the
the linearity of the modulator, various CDMA networks including
neither of which were typically WLAN, cellular/PCS, and low
well known prior to making the earth orbit satellite (Iridium and
measurement. With amplitude Globalstar).
modulation (AM), the signal
always needed to be within the Digitally-modulated signals
counter’s sensitivity, making pulse- represent special problems for
modulated or single-sideband measuring the carrier frequency
signals almost impossible to with any degree of accuracy.
measure without special tech- Figure 1 (a, b, and c) shows the
niques, often involving delay lines typical spectrums of three of these
or envelope detection. These signals: PHS, NADC and GSM.
difficulties resulted in a classic Each one of these standards uses
rule-of-thumb: either the carrier’s different data rates, modulation
modulation must be turned off schemes and spectrum shaping
(thereby interrupting service) or filters that result in different
the signal must be measured prior degrees of uncertainty when
to modulation. This rule-of-thumb measuring the signal. Since a
still has merit with digitally microwave counter displays an
modulated signals. average frequency during its
measurement (gate) time, longer
Modern digital modulation is a gate times will result in better
combination of AM, phase modula- accuracy if the transmitted data is
tion, and often pulse modulation. truly random. If it is not (due to
The latter is employed in Time either the data itself or an imper-
Division Multiple Access (TDMA) fect modulator), the spectrum is
plans where each user is assigned skewed to one side or another
not only a specific channel fre- resulting in an unpredictable
quency, but also a specific time reading bias. This bias would, at
slot during which transmission is first glance, seem like an insur-
allowed. The most typical imple- mountable measurement problem.
mentations of this TDMA tech- However, it can be used to
nique are the NADC (US), PHS/ actually improve the measurement
PDC (Japan) and GSM (world- accuracy under certain circum-
wide) standards which are applied stances.
to cellular/PCS and wireless local
loop (WLL) implementations for
both voice and data.
4
REF .0 dBm ATTEN 10 dB
hp
10 dB/
CENTER
900.000 MHz
CENTER 900.000 MHz SPAN 2.000 MHz
RES BW 100 Hz VBW 100 Hz SWP 500 sec Figure 1a. PHS typical
spectrum
REF .0 dBm ATTEN 10 dB
hp
To understand why, it is useful to 10 dB/
consider that the modulator
typically used in digital modula-
CENTER
tion schemes is a quadrature 900.0000 MHz
modulator. This type of
modulator is essentially a single
sideband, suppressed carrier
modulator. When presented with
an all-zero data stream, the
spectrum basically becomes a
single-tone (sideband) with a
suppressed carrier. The offset of CENTER 900.0000 MHz SPAN 200.0 kHz
this sideband from the sup- RES BW 30 Hz VBW 30 Hz SWP 500 sec
pressed carrier is related to the Figure 1b. NADC
data rate and the modulation
scheme employed, but it is
always fixed in any given digital
standard. This is graphically REF .0 dBm ATTEN 10 dB
hp
illustrated in Figure 2 where a 10 dB/
GSM spectrum is shown with all
zeros as data. The single side- CENTER
band is precisely offset one 900.000 MHz
quarter of the bit rate (67.708 kHz
or 270.833 kb/s divided by 4)
above the suppressed carrier.
Thus, the exact carrier frequency
can be calculated easily by
measuring the sideband itself,
assuming the data rate is known
and the data can be set to all CENTER 900.000 MHz SPAN 2.000 MHz
RES BW 100 Hz VBW 100 Hz SWP 500 sec
zeros. Figure 1c. GSM
5
A modern microwave counter,
like the HP 53150 Series Micro- MKR ∆ 67 kHz
REF –.6 dBm ATTEN 10 dB –1.20 dB
wave Counters with “offset” hp
capability, can perform this 10 dB/
calculation automatically. For
transmission standards which use MARKER ∆
67 kHz
other modulation techniques, the –1.20 dB
offset is similarly fixed and
predictable as summarized in
Table 1.
Another factor to consider when
employing this “all zero” tech-
nique is whether or not the carrier
CENTER 900.000 MHz SPAN 1.000 MHz Figure 2. GSM
signal is also being pulse modu- spectrum with an
RES BW 10 kHz VBW 30 kHz SWP 530 msec
lated or burst (TDMA standards “all zeros” pattern
only). The direct measurement of
such a burst signal must be made
with a counter capable of pulse
measurements. Alternatively, the
frequency can be measured Table 1
before the pulse modulator by a
Standard Modulation Type Data Rate All Zero Sideband
CW microwave counter.
GSM GMSK 270.833 kb/s Data Rate/4 above
Spread spectrum systems cannot (+67.708 kHz)
be measured using this technique NADC π/4 DQPSK 48.608 kb/s Data Rate/16 above
as the spreading method (CDMA (+3.038 kHz)
or FHSS) inherently interferes PHS π/4 DQPSK 384 kb/s Data Rate/16 above
with the measurement. For these (+24 kHz)
systems a microwave counter will PDC π/4 DQPSK 42 kb/s Data Rate/16 above
only measure the approximate (+2.625 kHz)
center value of the assigned DECT GFSK 1152 kb/s Data Rate/4 below
channel. (–288 kHz)
TETRA π/4 DQPSK 36 kb/s Data Rate/16 above
(+2.250 kHz)
6
Making Sense of Power HINT
Measurements with a
Microwave Counter
Most CW microwave counters
have the ability to measure the
input signal’s microwave power
as well as its frequency. Typi-
cally, a Schottky diode is used as
the power sensing device. This
diode is part of the sampler
± 2.5 dB up to about 20 GHz. The
key to this accuracy is the careful
factory calibration of the counter’s
power measurement with respect
to both frequency and level. For
example, the counter diode’s
frequency response is measured
3
downconversion assembly, which every 50 MHz from 50 MHz to the power sensing diode in the
converts the microwave signal to counter’s maximum frequency: sampler in 1 dB steps over the
an intermediate frequency that approximately 400 points for a 40 dB dynamic range at 4 to
the counter actually counts. The 20 GHz counter and almost 1,000 6 frequencies (depending on the
effective match (SWR) is limited points for a 46 GHz counter. Since counter’s frequency range). This
by the entire complex sampler the counter measures the fre- ensures proper compensation for
structure. As a result, the typical quency of the incoming signal, it is deviations from square law.
match of a microwave counter is a simple matter of the internal
inferior to that of a power meter microprocessor making the The result is that the accuracy of
sensor, which has only a single adjustment for the power measure- the HP 53150 Series’ power
diode or thermocouple device in ment diode’s frequency response. measurements is quite good at the
its microwave structure. This is the reason the counter counter’s input connector (better
must make a frequency measure- than ±1.5 dB to 20 GHz over its
In addition, as the power mea- ment before it can make a power 55°C operating range). When
surement and downconversion of measurement. Without the fre- combined with a short, high-
a microwave counter are done quency measurement, the correc- quality, microwave cable, mea-
virtually at the front panel input tion for frequency response of the surement accuracies of better than
connector, a cable must be used power measuring diode would not ± 2.5 dB can be expected to about
to bring the signal to the be known and the resulting 20 GHz.
instrument’s input. This cable measurement uncertainty could be
adds its loss and match charac- quite large.
teristics to the measurement, a
factor typically not part of power Since a microwave counter
measurements using a microwave operates over a typical input
power meter. It is clear that the power range of +10 to –30 dBm, its
match and, therefore, the accu- power-sensing diode operates over
racy of a power measurement a similar range. Unfortunately,
using a microwave counter over this range the diode goes
cannot be as accurate as that of a from square law to linear charac-
microwave power meter. teristics with a transition zone in
between. Rather than trying to
Nevertheless, the HP 53150 Series correct this mathematically via a
Microwave Counters still make complex polynomial, a power-
very useful power measurements. calibration look-up table is stored
With short, high-quality cables, in the counter’s memory. This
typical overall measurement table characterizes the actual
accuracy can be better than
7
HINT Improving the Accuracy of
Counter Power Measurements
4 When better accuracies are re-
quired, a microwave counter may
still be able to do the job. Several
measurement techniques can be
used to improve accuracy of the
counter’s power measurement.
Improving the match of, or com-
to roughly 16 dB (1.4:1 SWR) while
a 6 dB pad improves it to 22 dB
(1.17:1 SWR). This assumes the
match of the pad is much better
than 25 dB. Since real-life, high-
quality pads have a match of
around 20 to 25 dB, more than
pensating for, the insertion loss of about 6 dB of attenuation will not
the cable associated with getting improve the effective match of the
the desired signal to the counter counter’s input. Note that a 16 to
can improve measurement uncer- 20 dB figure is the typical match of
tainties. These techniques typically power meter sensors in this
improve the power measurement frequency range.
uncertainty at the test point to
below ±1.0 dB over a wide fre- A similar pad at the test point will
quency range, and even better at isolate the cable from the source
low frequencies (below 3 GHz) or to be measured. This preferred
over narrow bandwidths (1 GHz measurement technique is illus-
or so). trated in Figure 3. The down side
to this technique is that the signal
The first of these techniques level is reduced by the total
improves the match of the mea- attenuation of the test set-up: the
surement by minimizing the insertion loss of the cable — up to
interaction between the counter’s 1.5 dB for a quality 1 meter cable
input and the microwave cable at 10 GHz) plus the 2 pads
connected to it. This involves (6-12 dB). Thus, the effective
putting a quality, fixed microwave lower end of the measurement is
attenuator (pad) between the input reduced by roughly 10 dB, chang-
cable and the counter. A value as ing a –30 dBm measurement limit
small as 3 dB is useful although 4 to to –20 dBm, for example. If this
6 dB is preferred. For example, amount of insertion loss is a
since the HP 53150 Series input problem, using a single pad at the
match is typically 10 dB (2:1 SWR) worst SWR point (typically the
to 10 GHz, a 3 dB pad improves it counter) is an effective compro-
mise.
8
Device 4 dB Pad 4 dB Pad
Under Microwave
Test Counter Figure 3. Recom-
Quality Microwave Cable
mended power
measurement
set-up.
An alternative technique is to these points should the measure-
reduce uncertainty by calibrating ment fall between them. Since
the cable’s insertion loss variation nine different front-panel setups
with frequency over the range of can be stored, characteristics for
frequencies that are expected to up to nine separate cables can be
be measured. This technique stored. Alternatively, a single
involves making an insertion loss cable with up to 90 calibration
measurement with a reference points can be stored.
power meter at each frequency
point of interest. This insertion Of course, the best possible
loss can then be subtracted from measurement accuracy will be
the actual microwave counter’s achieved by combining the above
reading to improve measurement two techniques when possible.
uncertainty. With the HP 53150
Series’ unique Power Correction
mode, the storage of the insertion
loss data and subsequent subtrac-
tion can be done automatically.
This mode stores up to 10 inser-
tion loss/frequency points, then
linearly interpolates between
9
Hewlett-Packard CW Microwave
Counter Selection Guide
• Three models:
HP 53150A 20 GHz Counter
HP 53151A 26.5 GHz Counter
HP 53152A 46 GHz Counter
• Simultaneous frequency and
power measurements with analog
peaking indicator. Power mea-
surement accuracy to ±2 dB and
better.
• Power Correction mode for
cable loss compensation.
• Truly field portable: small,
lightweight, rugged, optional
internal battery, optional soft
carrying case. HP’s full-featured CW microwave counters for field, factory, or lab
• ATE ready: HP-IB and RS-232
interfaces standard, SCPI language
programming, optional rack
mounting kit.
• Laboratory features: frequency
and power offsets, measurement
averaging, relative (delta) fre-
quency and power measurements,
resolution and sample rate con-
trol, instrument set-up save and
recall, optional oven timebase.
For further information, visit our
web site at Access HP: http://
www.tmo.hp.com/ or call your
local HP office and ask for the
HP 53150 Series Product Over-
view.
10
11
®
For more information visit our web
site at Access HP:
http://www.tmo.hp.com/
For more information about
Hewlett-Packard test and measure-
ment products, applications,
services, and for a current sales
office listing, visit our web site,
http://www.hp.com/go/tmdir. You
can also contact one of the following
centers and ask for a test and
measurement sales representative.
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Hewlett-Packard Company
Test and Measurement Call Center
P.O. Box 4026
Englewood, CO 80155-4026
1 800 452 4844
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Hewlett-Packard Canada Ltd.
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Mississauga, Ontario
L4W 5G1
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European Marketing Centre
P.O. Box 999
1180 AZ Amstelveen
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(31 20) 547 9900
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Hewlett-Packard Japan Ltd.
Measurement Assistance Center
9-1, Takakura-Cho, Hachioji-Shi,
Tokyo 192-8510, Japan
Tel: (81-426) 56-7832
Fax: (81-426) 56-7840
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Latin American Region Headquarters
5200 Blue Lagoon Drive
9th Floor
Miami, Florida 33126
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(305) 267-4240
Fax: (305) 267-4288
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Tel: (852) 2599 7777
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Data Subject to Change
Printed in U.S.A. September 1998
Hewlett-Packard
12 Company
Copyright © 1998
5967-6195E
