Activates or deactivates the operating mode where the analyzer performs only one partial measurement per sweep.
In normal sweep mode (Alternating Sweeps off), the analyzer completes the necessary sequence of partial measurements at each sweep point and obtains the result (measurement point) before proceeding to the next sweep point.
Alternating Sweeps reverses the order of partial measurements and sweeps: A partial measurement is performed at all sweep points (partial sweep) before the hardware settings are changed and the next partial measurement is carried out in an additional sweep.
The Alternating Sweeps mode is also valid during a system error correction.
Advantages
of both sweep modes, alternative settings
If the settling time between adjacent frequency points is smaller than the settling time between the partial measurements, then the Alternating Sweeps measurementis faster than a normal sweep so that a smaller sweep times can be set. On the other hand, an Alternating Sweeps measurement provides a result only during the last partial sweep.
Use the
Alternating Sweeps mode to increase the accuracy of measurements
on DUTs with long level settling times (e.g. quartzes, SAW filters). To
measure DUTs with short settling times or obtain a trace from the beginning
of the sweep, deactivate the Alternating
Sweeps mode.
As an alternative to activating the Alternating Sweeps mode, it is possible to insert a Meas. Delaybefore each partial measurement and thus improve the accuracy. The delay slows down the measurement.
Relation to trigger settings
In triggered measurements, Alternate has no effect if the triggered measurement sequence is identical to a single sweep point. The following table shows how the analyzer performs a sweep comprising m sweep points, assuming that each of them requires n partial measurements.
|
Triggered Meas. Sequence |
Alternate On |
Alternate Off |
|
Sweep |
Trigger event starts n partial sweeps over all sweep points. For a 2-port transmission measurement comprising two partial measurements (S12 and S21):
|
Trigger event starts m complete measurements at consecutive sweep points. For a 2-port transmission measurement comprising two partial measurements (S12 and S21):
|
|
Sweep Segment |
Trigger event starts n partial sweeps over the next segment.
|
Trigger event starts complete measurements at all consecutive sweep points in the segment.
|
|
Point |
All partial measurements of each sweep point are carried out one after another.
|
Same as Alternate On: All partial measurements of each sweep point are carried out one after another.
|
|
Partial Measurement |
Each partial measurement is carried out for all sweep
points.
|
All partial measurements of each sweep point are carried
out one after another
|
|
Remote control: |
