***** UBC ECE E-HUB *************** ***** Rhode & Schwarz FPC1500 LOG BOOK ***** ***** Please submit any new entries by e-mail to: robertor [at] ece.ubc.ca ***** Entries include tips, bugs, damage reports, custom improvements, etc. **** DOCUMENT HISTORY **** Created: 25/Oct/2024. **** Last Change: 24/Apr/2025 **** Version: 1.04.03 **** version digits indicate # updates of type: [ description, maintenance, user ] ***** STATUS: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** 1. INSTRUMENT DESCRIPTION ***** 1.1 ORIGIN Bought for the eHUB from ECE operational funds on Dec 2023. ***** 1.2 CAPABILITIES SA: 0Hz to 3.0GHz Min RBW 1Hz Phase noise -108dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset (1 GHz carrier). Dynamic Range ≈ TOI – DANL Without pre-amp : ≈ +10dBm – (– 85 dBm with 100 Hz RBW) = ~ 95 dB With 40dB pre-amp: ≈ –30dBm – (–165 dBm) = ~135 dB VNA: S11 & S21 2MHz to 3.0 GHz -10dBm Smith Chart display Signal generator / Tracking source: CW 6KHz to 3.0GHz, -30dBm to 0dBm Receiver Mode: EMI analysis Demodulation: Analog: carrier power, carrier offset, AM modulation index (dept), FM deviation, SINAD and THD, demodulated audio. Digital: trace, eye diagram, modulation error and symbol analysis Advanced Measurements: Channel Power, occupied BW, harmonic distortion, time domain power with TDMA timeslot, AM modulation depth, third order intercept (TOI) sweep-based spectrogram RF probes: 3x H passive probes 2x E passive probes ***** 1.3 CONFIGURATION WE HAVE SN: 204251/003 ECE: 101521 Instrument URL: MAC ADDRESS: 00-90-b8-25-e4-aa Options: FPC-B2 Spectrum Upgrade 1GHz to 2GHz FPC-B3 Spectrum Upgrade 2GHz to 3GHz FPC-B22 Spectrum Analyzer Preamplifier FPC-K7 Modulation Analysis (AM, FM, ASK, FSK) FPC_K43 Receiver Mode FPC_K55 Advanced Measurement Channel Power, occupied BW, harmonic distortion, time domain power with TDMA timeslot, AM modulation depth, third order intercept (TOI) spectrogram FPC_K42 Vector Network Analysis Return loss (S11 magnitude) Smith chart Impedance/admittance Reflection coefficient VSWR We do not have a cal kit FPC_Z10 Teaching Kit Version: 1328.7338 ECE# 101541 HZ-15 RF Probe Set RS H 400-1 1147.2713.00 SN: 01-4854 RS H 50-1 1147.2707.00 SN: 01-4854 RS H 2.5-2 1147.2694.00 SN: 01-4854 RS E 02 1147.2671.00 SN: 01-4854 RS E 10 1147.2688.00 SN: 01-4854 R&S InstrumentView Software installed on bench #2 computer. ***** 1.4 MANUALS https://people.ece.ubc.ca/~eng-services/files/eHUB/Bench2-RF https://people.ece.ubc.ca/~eng-services/files/eHUB/Bench2-RF/FPC%20Spectrum%20Analyzer/FPC_UserManual_en_11.pdf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** 2. INSTRUMENT MAINTENANCE 24/Apr/2025 Installed option FPC-B200FPC-B200 WIFI SUPPORT Received the installation code from R&S tech support. The option is now working well. 16/Apr/2025 Firmware update to V1.90 As instructed by R&S support we updated the firmware to a very resent version. To update: 1. On the FPC go to Setup, Hardware/Software Info, the firmware version is under "Software version" 2. Download the latest firmware from: https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/firmware/fpc/ 3. Plug a USB stick to the FPC, it is needed for temporary file transfer 4. Launch InstrumentView -> Instrument -> Firmware Update follow the instructions The update was successful but did not solve the issue with the WIFI. I wrote back to R&S inquiring about the compatibility of the USB dongle and the SA. 21-Mar-2025, Roberto: Activating option FPC-B200FPC-B200 WIFI SUPPORT I contacted support@rohde-schwarz.com with the following message: On Gloris, Instrument Manager, Instrument Configuration, Software Options, I see that option FPC-B200FPC-B200 WIFI SUPPORT is activated on this unit since 2024-01-08. However, on the instrument itself the option does not appear and there is no WiFi menu in 'Instrument Setup'. I also have no license activation code for any of the options. I did connect the FPC to LAN hoping that the instrument may synch with your license manager but nothing happened. Can you help me activate FPC-B200 on this unit? 14-Nov-2024, Roberto: InstrumentView Installed Instrument View on the PC of bench #2. To use, connect the PC to the FPC-150 with an A-B USB cable. The manual for Instrument View is in: "...\eHUB\Bench2-RF\FPC Spectrum Analyzer\InstrumentView_Manual_en_20.pdf" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** 3. USER ENTRIES 14-Apr-2025 Roberto: About Dynamic Range +----------------+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+--------------------------------------+ | Mode | Max Safe Linear Input (TOI) | Absolute Max Input (Damage) | Notes | +----------------+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+--------------------------------------+ | Preamp OFF | ~+10 dBm | +30 dBm | Good linearity up to TOI | | Preamp ON | ~–30 dBm | +20 dBm | Use for low-level signals only | +----------------+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+--------------------------------------+ 26-Nov-2024, Roberto: How to measure a VCO startup transient in dBm vs time 1. Power VCO, and tune to desired fo 2. Set desired fstop and REF LEVEL 3. Place marker on fo, and bring marker to center 4. Set SPAN to Zero SPAN, you should see a line at the peak mag of fo 5. Turn OFF and ON VCO power to sanity check 6. Now set SA to capture transient: [Sweep] > Trigger > Video 50% 7. Capture transient: Turn VCO OFF and ON 13-Nov-2024, Khoa and Roberto: Exploring the FPC-Z10 Teaching Kit We tried to use the onboard calibration kit that comes with the FPC-Z10. The kit can be powered with a USB cable directly from the FPC SA. The kit manual is vague regarding calibration. The getting started manual seems to imply that the Z10 kit can be used for calibration, the FPC manual seems to imply that it is only used for verification. Khoa noticed that the cal standards behave differently when the board is power ON or OFF. Best instructions for DIY kit: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/rs-fpc1500-custom-cal-kits-haha/ We need the following software to load a cal kit: (I placed a request with R&S, we are waiting for a reply) R&S InstrumentView https://gloris.rohde-schwarz.com/irj/portal/gloris_search?uvs-tab=rusext-gloris-tab-firmsoftware&uvs-searchterm=* RR sent a message to R&S Technical Support