Author Topic: Agilent E4406A Vector Signal Analyser (Read 59886 times)

davorin · « **Reply #50 on:** October 14, 2015, 08:07:38 pm »

Speaking of the 89600 software......

Which is the latest VSA software version which can support the E4406A with the registry hack? Is v 12 the last version known to work?

Wuerstchenhund · « **Reply #51 on:** October 14, 2015, 08:28:52 pm »

Quote from: davorin on October 14, 2015, 08:07:38 pm

Which is the latest VSA software version which can support the E4406A with the registry hack?

12.02

G0HZU · « **Reply #52 on:** October 14, 2015, 08:32:22 pm »

I've not tried connecting to it beyond V12 so I'm afraid I don't know. Beyond V12 the SW was changed from 89601A to 89601B so I suspect there were quite a few changes made at this point. I think the later versions need Win7 or newer and the standalone laptop I use with it is an old dual core PC running WinXP. So I'm sticking with V12 as it does what I want for now.
However, I did download V19 a while back and had a play with it on my main PC but I didn't try to connect to the E4406A.

I'm mainly using the E4406A + the SW to grab offair signals so I can replicate them by sending the captured data to a vector sig gen and then I play around with the replicated signal on the bench. For stuff like this it works really well and I don't need any extra features for now

davorin · « **Reply #53 on:** October 14, 2015, 08:37:37 pm »

Well I just quickly installed v12 on a Parallels virtual instance eon OSX running Win 8.1 pro...and in demo mode the software works quite well and fast. No hickups, freezes or crashes...
not sure if it still works with newer agilent io library though...

davorin · « **Reply #54 on:** October 16, 2015, 12:08:45 pm »

Okay...my E4406A arrived today and sits now besides my desk (o;

IP configured, reg hack installed...but when launching VSA Software 12.0x it tells me that no suitable Input hardware was found...

Something I missed?

Also Keysight IO connection expert doesn't recognize it...

Or does it work only via GPIB?

This is from the VSA software boot log:

G0HZU · « **Reply #55 on:** October 16, 2015, 01:17:55 pm »

I've used it OK with both GPIB and LAN.

GPIB is much easier to set up but with LAN you have to set up the IP correctly and I also used a crossover cable. You also have to install the correct registry update for the OS you are using. I use an old dual core laptop running WinXP with the E4406A and so I used the 32bit registry file.

There is also a 64 bit registry file for 64bit OS. Which are you using?

davorin · « **Reply #56 on:** October 16, 2015, 01:24:10 pm »

Hmm...I'm using 64bit OS....

Just now removed the new Keysight IO lib and replaced it with the VSA 89600 supplied Agilent IO lib...
Now it checks both addresses during Startup, GPIB and LAN....

Crossover? What's that? (o;

I'm running my home network with several switches and dual SM fibre cables between rooms ;o)

So where can I find the 64-bit reg file Version?

davorin · « **Reply #57 on:** October 16, 2015, 01:59:32 pm »

Found it...in the same Agilent forum topic as the last post (o;

Not sure if it will still work when replacing the Agilent IO lib with newer Keysight IO lib...

Here a quick AM modulated signal coming from a R&S SMT03...

davorin · « **Reply #58 on:** October 16, 2015, 05:18:26 pm »

Experimenting now with the E4406A and the VSA software (o;

Haven't figured out yet how to capture and demodulate Microchip MiWi signals at 868MHz...think those modules default to OOK...

So which demodulator I have to choose? The only Thing coming close was RFID demodulator...as I haven't found any specific ASK/OOK demodulator.

fisafisa · « **Reply #59 on:** October 16, 2015, 05:28:57 pm »

Hi.
I want to try this software next few days.
I have got a 4406A too, I downloaded the version 12 as per the link earlier in this forum.
Where is the patch?

Thanks

0xfede · « **Reply #60 on:** October 16, 2015, 08:50:02 pm »

Hi folks,

another happy E4406A owner here. The one from EQT is arrived and is working fine despite the missing serial numbers.
When I'll have some spare time I'll give a shot to the 89601A which looks promising.

@fisafisa:
I found the registry fix on the keysight forum, precisely here:
http://www.keysight.com/owc_discussions/servlet/JiveServlet/download/83-18386-59940-3445/e4406.zip

fisafisa · « **Reply #61 on:** October 16, 2015, 10:29:16 pm »

Thanks

fisafisa · « **Reply #62 on:** October 17, 2015, 12:12:47 pm »

Will the software run in a virtual machine under linux?
If not it means resurrecting an old laptop!

0xfede · « **Reply #63 on:** October 18, 2015, 11:22:57 am »

Hi again folks.

I'm here because I'm getting trouble connecting the 89600 to the E4406A.
After all the installation I'm stuck with this message:
Cannot find a supported input. Option 300(Hardware Connectivity) is not installed on this system. Inputs will simulate an Agilent VSA E1439 70MHz IF 95Ms/sec ADC.
Of course I've added and successfully identified the instrument in Agilent Connection Expert and I see briefly it in the 89600 loading window just before the message.
My system is WIN XP 32bit SP2, E4406A Hardware is FW A.10.08
If I use SCPI commands via telnet it works fine.
Both TELNET and Socket ports are ON.
I've tried fresh windows installation with 89600 V9.02, V11.21, V12.02
I'm sure that I'm missing something, any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
0xFEDE

davorin · « **Reply #64 on:** October 18, 2015, 11:30:08 am »

What does "Help -> About Agilent VSA" show when you click then on the "boot log" button?

Did you install the Agilent IO lib with the 89600 software or was there a previous Agilent IO installation?

0xfede · « **Reply #65 on:** October 18, 2015, 12:03:19 pm »

@Davorin
Thanks for your answer. Yes I installed it.
I found the cause in the demo license that has not authorized the option 200 and 300.

DOH!

davorin · « **Reply #66 on:** October 19, 2015, 08:04:13 am »

Quote from: fisafisa on October 17, 2015, 12:12:47 pm

Will the software run in a virtual machine under linux?
If not it means resurrecting an old laptop!

Don't have any vmware stuff on my Linux box...but I can tell for sure it will run on OSX under Parallels (o;
Doesn't run on VMWare Fusion though as it recognizes the host application...

0xfede · « **Reply #67 on:** October 19, 2015, 10:37:39 am »

And it works under Oracle VM VirtualBOX on Win 7 64bit.

Best,
0xFEDE

fisafisa · « **Reply #68 on:** October 19, 2015, 05:24:11 pm »

windows 7 as avirtual OS or as the real OS hosting some other OS?

Filippo

0xfede · « **Reply #69 on:** October 19, 2015, 06:40:02 pm »

Sorry, it's the host sw.
For the virtual I use Win XP SP II.

0xFEDE

davorin · « **Reply #70 on:** October 20, 2015, 02:29:58 pm »

Trying to use the E4406A with the software to demodulate a FSK 868MHz Signal coming from a Microchip MiWi transmitter...

Only think I know is the bit rate of 20kBits/sec of the Transmitter, and that it transmits slightly below 868MHz.
The Microchip datasheet doesn't mention which FSK it actually uses, but as 4 bits are used to generate the frequency shifting I assume FSK16.

Still can't get any meaningful readings out of the VSA software...

PA0PBZ · « **Reply #71 on:** October 20, 2015, 03:39:52 pm »

I think MiWi supports frequency hopping, so good luck following that on the VSA

Also, where did you get the 20 Kbps from, what chip are we talking about?
Can you see any carrier on the VSA?

davorin · « **Reply #72 on:** October 20, 2015, 04:08:15 pm »

It's a MRF89XA transceiver....but isn't FSK the same as frequency hopping?
The 20kbs is programmed in software...

Yes the carrier can be seen clearly..here two transceivers communicating:

davorin · « **Reply #73 on:** October 20, 2015, 05:04:55 pm »

Maybe another question...what are you using the E4406A for?

0xfede · « **Reply #74 on:** October 20, 2015, 05:55:43 pm »

Attached you will find a quick and dirty measurement of a low baud rate application of the MRF89XA @868 MHZ.


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Author Topic: Agilent E4406A Vector Signal Analyser (Read 59886 times)

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