Network Analyzer labview program

[arthur51189]

I have a network analyzer E5071C agilent. I'm writing a program that will measure the magnitude and frequency. Right now if you check my attachement you can see what I have accomplished. I'm trying to adjust this program so it can just measure the magnitude and phase vs. frequency at a ceratin location and so it takes one measurement at a time. If someone can point me in the right direction i would appreciate it.

Thank You

[smercurio_fc]

offshoot of this

There are various ways to do this. Here's two:

• Use the markers. Configure the markers on the network analyzer to the frequency, and then read the marker values.
• Use the Interpolate 1D VI. Since you're downloading the frequency, magnitude and phase, this is the easier and quicker solution. You'd use the VI twice. In one instance the "Y" input is the magnitude array. In the second instance the "Y" input is the phase array. In both cases "X" is the frequency array. "xi" is the list of frequencies for which you want the values. Be sure to set the "X is monotonic" correctly based on your data. It will probably be false.

[arthur51189]

Thank You for the response. I might be asking the wrong question. Basically we have a 2D grid connected to the network analyzer. We will want to have a set of points on the 2D grid and record the magnitude and phase vs. frequency at each point on the grid. Lets say that the grid is 100 x 100. It will measure all the magnitude and phase vs. frequency from the point (0,0) to (100, 100).

[smercurio_fc]

What is this 2D grid? How are the points moved? Are you perform a sweep at each "point" of the grid? So, for a 100x100 grid you'd have 10000 sweeps, with each sweep having a full set of frequency, magnitude, and phase data at that point?

[arthur51189]

The grid is what we are going to build and attach to the network analyzer. Basically, it goes to a ceratin location on that grid and reads the magnitude and phase vs. frequency. i don't think it's the fullset of points I think we just want one point at each of those locations.

[GoCougs]

This sounds like you are going to want to take advantage of modularity and create a subVI that will sweep across the frequencies and put the magnitude and phase in an array that will be fed out to the rest of the program to either write to a file or proform calculations.  Then, when you want to select a new point, you can change the inputs on the subVI and then do the same thing for the new point on your grid.  This can be easily done with either user manually selecting the points, or have the points be selected automatically.

[arthur51189]

I don't really understand what modularity is. Also, am I going to have to make many changes to my existing program to accomplish the task?

[GoCougs]

modularity means that you can take similar pieces of code and make a VI with it.  That way, you can just drag that VI onto your block diagram as a subVI and not have to rewrite the code.  You may need to rewrite portions of your code, but then with modular code you are able to change it very easily (modular=changeable).

[arthur51189]

Would you possibly be able to point me in the right direction because I am having a hard time starting

[smercurio_fc]

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@arthur51189 wrote:

The grid is what we are going to build and attach to the network analyzer. Basically, it goes to a ceratin location on that grid and reads the magnitude and phase vs. frequency. i don't think it's the fullset of points I think we just want one point at each of those locations.

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If you're just taking one reading at a specific point in some grid then why would you use a network analyzer? You also said "I don't think", which to me seems to imply that you're not quite sure what it is that you're trying to measure.

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I don't really understand what modularity is. Also, am I going to have to make many changes to my existing program to accomplish the task?

Would you possibly be able to point me in the right direction because I am having a hard time starting

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You've already seen modularity in the driver you downloaded. The individual VIs are the modular code. You can use them in more than one place. That's a fundamental programming concept. To learn more about LabVIEW it is recommended that you go through the tutorial(s) and look over the material in the NI Developer Zone's Learning Center which provides links to other materials and other tutorials. You can also take the online courses for free.