Minimizing the measurement time per sweep contributes to a high measurement throughput. The following parameters have an influence on the sweep time:
Measurement
sequence: Sweep Time, Trigger, Alternate
Limit the measurement to the stimulus range that you need for your device:
Click Channel - Stimulus to access the submenu defining the sweep range.
To define a sweep range confined by a start and a stop frequency, use Start and Stop. Alternatively, to define a sweep range of definite width around a known center frequency (e.g. an expected peak), use Center and Span. For power and time sweeps, proceed as described in Setting up a Sweep.
Alternatively, use the marker functions to define the sweep range.
Use the minimum number of points that will produce an acceptable resolution:
Click Channel – Sweep – Number of Points and reduce the number of sweep points.
Use the segmented sweep to focus on different subranges of the sweep, using optimized channel settings for each subrange:
Set up a segmented frequency sweep as described in Segmented Frequency.
Optimize the number of points and the noise reduction settings for each individual sweep segment.
The sweep time increases with the Frequency
Step Size.
Avoid delay times between the different partial measurements:
Click Channel – Sweep – Sweep Time and check Auto.
The analyzer determines the minimum sweep time according to the current channel settings. The sweep is performed at maximum speed without delay.
Avoid delay times between the end of the measurement sequence and the next trigger event:
If you don't need a special trigger mode, click Channel – Sweep – Trigger and make sure that Free Run is selected.
Avoid delay times between adjacent frequency points.
Click Channel – Mode and select Alternating Sweeps if the settling time between adjacent frequency points is larger than the settling time between the partial measurements.
Use the fastest IF filter that will produce acceptable dynamic range:
Press the POWER BW AVG key in the Channel keypad or click Channel – Power Bandwidth Average to access the corresponding submenu.
Select the widest bandwidth compatible with your measurement task.
If possible, click Fine Adjust to further increase the bandwidth. Avoid selecting High Selectivity unless it is required for your measurement.
Reduce the number of repeated measurements made to obtain an averaged result. Averaging does not slow down the measurement, however, several consecutive sweeps must be performed until an average result is available.
If averaging is not necessary, open the Channel – Power Bandwidth Average menu and make sure that Average On is not active.
Alternatively, click Average Factor and reduce the factor to a minimum.
