How do I use the power measurement VI for an 8594E spectrum analyzer?

[BrentSchenk]

Hi,

Im trying to take power measurements with an HP 8594E spectrum analyzer.  I have been toying with this for a couple of days and i have a small program put together and now im trying to take a power measurement.  Right now im able to set the center freq and the span and can do sweeps.  What i have done to try to get the power measurements is used the Config Power Meas Activation VI and then i do another sweep then i use the Get Measurement VI but im not sure what the input into the Get Measurement VI would be or if it even needs one as the Power Meas Activation might already tell it.  Anyways, my output measurement cannot be right at -100 when on the screen of the Spectrum Analyzer it says Pwr: -54 dBm.  If anyone has any tips or might be able to tell me if i am doing something wrong to begin with it would help me out!  Thanks for your time!

Brent

[BrentSchenk]

bump

i have been working on this all day, i have the power displayed on the screen of the 8594e but i cant seem to figure out how to pull it down to the computer!

-brent

[chris_amadasun]

Hello,
I took a look at the Read Measurment.vi, in the context help it states
"The proper measurement function must be activated within the Activation measurement or FFT measurment functions;
otherwise, measurement value will return a -100"

Can you verify the FFT Measurement.vi settings
You may need to check with the manual for the device to determine what the right settings are.
Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

[BrentSchenk]

Question retracted!  I finally got what i needed done.

[BrentSchenk]

Christian,

I just read your reply and i had finally worked around it but with what you just told me im going to see if i can use that instead.  Your help is much appreciated!

Thanks

Brent

[CFUD]

what did you modify to get the channel power measurement?

[BrentSchenk]

I do not remember at this time.  Shortly after figuring that out with that spectrum analyzer the city I live in, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, had a huge flood and that analyzer got completely destroyed in it.  Now I'm using a different analyzer for my stuff.  I apologize for not being able to help you out with this.  But for future reference, i have found it easier to forego the drivers given by NI and actually send the VISA commands through GPIB to get instruments to do what i need them to do because sometimes I just don't know what those drivers are doing behind the scenes.  Once i've familiarized myself with the instrument I might take a gander at the drivers to make sure i havent missed anything.

[philpeng]

HI Brent 

Because the demand, must use labview to develop hp8594e procedure at work Can you offer hp8594e source code for labview?

phil