Hello All,
Just wanted to get your thoughts before I decide to buy a GPIB to USB adapter.
I have a Takeda Rikken TR4132 Spectrum Analyzer with the TR41901B memory unit and an Anritsu MG3601A RF frequency generator.
I would someday like to build my own radio of some sort (I have LOTS to learn before that happens). But I was curious and experimenting with filters the other day and built a small band-pass 13.5MHz crystal filter with some crystals I had in a misc. box. I didn't spend any time to mix and match crystals as I just wanted to experiment and learn more about operating my test equipment.
Anyway, the issues I am running in to is my spectrum analyzer is a rather basic model, the minimum frequency/ X division is can display is 0.1MHz, so 1MHz across the width of the display, which makes it pretty hard to look at a bandpass filter with less than 100Khz bandwidth or so.
To make a Bode plot, I was setting my spectrum analyzer's memory unit to display MAX values at each X (frequency) location while I manually cranked the RF gen through a frequency range. Big problem is, when in MAX hold and sweeping across the passing frequencies, the displayed form is wider than the drop-offs of the pass band, so it overwrites the "edges" when swept through the pass band. (I may need to get a picture to explain better)
But, Looking into the memory unit on my analyzer, it works by breaking down the X-axis (frequency) into 511 locations, the Y-axis, is broken down into 0 to 800. This brings me to my idea.
I am wondering if I can use the GPIB ports (on both spectrum analyzer and RF gen) to control the frequency steps and then read out the values at each X location on the analyzer to make a better Bode plot on the computer? To get around the issue above, I'm thinking I would set the RF gen frequency, read the values from 0 to 511, then step the frequency, and do it again. I would somehow, in my output, need to keep the above issue from happening, so I think I would only record the max value from each sweep. One thing that would be troublesome, is if the SA drifts center frequency, it would throw it off. To overcome, the program to perform the control and data recording could be fun.
The SA memory unit has all the functions I should need in the GPIB instructions, RF gen has so many GPIB controls, that it could be a fun one to figure out.
I'm looking at a Prologix GPIB to USB, although more costly than others, seems to be the most supported by opensource GPIB PC software.
Anyway, any thoughts?
Thanks!
(I attached the TR4132 specifications page)