Measure frequency response of a photodetector

[yoshitake]

I am trying to use labview to control 2 instruments, one is HP8510C network analyzer and the other is HP8563C spectrum analyzer.

Basically the point is to measure how fast a signal can the photodector detect. 

I am trying to use the network analyzer to drive a laser with ac signals and the photodetector will detect the signals and output them to the spectrum analyzer.

I don't know how to get the frequency response curve for the photodector, the so called "bode plot". What i expect is as you tune the network analyzer to a certain high frequency, the magnitude of the signal that spectrum analyzer detect will start to decrease. The point where it decreases by 3db is the cutoff frequency. 

I don't know if it is easy or hard to do because I am using one instrument as the source and the other as the measurement device, and these two instruments need to be somehow synchronized. Like when the network analyzer is sweeping to a different frequency, the spectrum analyzer should also start to scan of that frequency. 

Please let me know if I am making myself clear. And any advice on where I can learn about doing this.

Thanks a lot 

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

This doesn't sound like an instrumentation control problem, more like you don't even know how to make the measurements you want with the instruments you have.

Do you even know how to make these measurements??? Before the days of computers, people were able to make measurements by using the instrument's front panel.