The basic idea is to use the RFExplorer signal generator as a tracking generator for HP8561E.
Although my current implementation is built around the devices I possess, the idea can be extended for other spectrum analysers and/or signal generators. I plan to gradually release the implementation details for the case someone would find it interesting or even want to reuse my approach.
Block diagram+-----------------+ +-----------------+ +----------------+
|RFE Generator | | Synchronisation | | HP 8561E |
| | | Thing | | |
| | | | +------------+ |
| | | | |85620 module| |
| | | SPI Slave|-------|GPIO/SBIT | |
| | | | +------------+ |
| | | GATE |-------|GATE (not used) |
| USB |--------| USB Host SWP |-------|AUX Sweep out |
| | ----| 5V power FAV |-------|Sweep out/FAV |
| | / +-----------------+ | |
| | | | |
| RF OUT|-------- [DUT] -------------------|INPUT |
+-----------------+ | +----------------+
|
Optional
5V power
supply