Spectrum Analyzer

[timmy3704@my-deja.com]

Hello,

I am using a HP 8591C Cable TV Spectrum Analyzer to perform Carrier to
Noise Ratio measurements. The analyzer has a Carier To Noise test in
it's internal code that makes the test quite simple, however I'd like
to automate this using a PC and the RS232 port of the analyzer. I've
played with Labview and HP VEE software, but am not sure how I want to
go about performing the test. It has occured to me, that the analyzer
is quite accurate/consistant in the way it performs the measurement.
Is there a way I can instruct the analyzer to simply use it's own
internal code to perform the test, and siomply report the results, all
via the RS232 port? I don't see a command in the analyzer reference
manual, that allows me to duplicate soft-
keys.

I am hesitant to write a program that makes an attempt at taking
various measurements, and calculating CNR. I don't want to have to
take several weeks of development time just familiarizing myself with
the science of how to take very concise and accurate CNR measurements.

Any help/opinions on this would be appreciated.

Thanks.


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[Kevin_work]

timmy3704@my-deja.com wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I am using a HP 8591C Cable TV Spectrum Analyzer to perform Carrier to
> Noise Ratio measurements. The analyzer has a Carier To Noise test in
> it's internal code that makes the test quite simple, however I'd like
> to automate this using a PC and the RS232 port of the analyzer. I've
> played with Labview and HP VEE software, but am not sure how I want to
>

>

Tim,
Aguick search of the driver library at NI www.ni.com
shows that they have a driver for the 8591. It uses VISA
and says it is for the GPIB port but since it uses VISA you could
probably modify it for the serial port.

That is assuming of course that the 8591 can be controlled by the
serial port. There should be VIs in the library that perform the test
you are i
nterested in.
Good luck
Kevin Kent