8
Upgrading an existing Agilent
81200 data generator/analyzer
platform
The Agilent 81200 Data Generator/
Analyzer Platform can be extended or
adapted as needed. Front-ends, mod-
ules and expander frames can be
added at any time. Orders for individ-
ual units are supplied with the instal-
lation instructions.
User software upgrades
Revisions and enhancements to the
user software will be available from
time-to-time on CD-ROM, for which
an external CD drive is needed such
as the Agilent E4840A/49B Opt 008.
The operating system should not be
upgraded because the user software
is specified for operation on Windows
NT Rev 4.0 US-English localization.
Example configurations (for a "proprietary
system")
Here are some example configura-
tions, providing an overall impression
of the scope of the Agilent 81200
Data Generator/Analyzer Platform.
Clock generators, pulse/pattern
generators
Requirements
A single or multi-channel generator
with:
• independent phase and duty cycle
adjustment
• variable slopes
• frequency f and f/n simultaneously
• up to 660 MHz
Example configuration
• Agilent E4840A three-slot mainframe
• Option 001 display and entry
panel
• Agilent E4831A clock/data generator
• Two Agilent E4838A front-ends
• SMA cables (Agilent 15442A)
Extensions
If more than two channels are needed,
add one or two Agilent E4841A mod-
ules with up to four front-ends each.
For data rates below 200 Mbit/s
(NRZ) the Agilent E4846A dual-out-
put front-end can be used instead of
the Agilent E4838A. This can econo-
mize on the number of front-ends and
modules required.
For data rates up to 660 MHz, the
Agilent E4843A front-ends should be
used.
Data generators
Requirements
Similar to those of the pulse/pattern
generators, additional requirements are:
• deep, segmentable, loopable
memory for generating many
vectors
• bus, control and clock signals from
a single source
Example for 20 channels
• Agilent E4849B mainframe
• Option 001 display and entry
panel
• Agilent E4805A clock module
• 5 Agilent E4841A modules
• 20 Agilent E4838A front-ends
For data rates below 200 Mb/s, the
Agilent E4846A dual-output front-end
can be used instead of the Agilent
E4838A. This way, control channels
can be accommodated economically.
As an alternative to the display and
entry panel, a full-size monitor, key-
board and mouse can be ordered. See
figure 4 for details.
Data generator/analyzer
Example for 16 channels
• Agilent E4849B mainframe
• Option 001 display and entry
panel
• Agilent E4805A clock module
• 4 Agilent E4841A modules
• 8 Agilent E4843A front-ends
• 8 Agilent E4844A front-ends
With the above configuration, eight
data generator channels and eight
analyzer channels are provided. Other
mixes are feasible, as the Agilent
E4841A can accept any mix of front-
ends.
Note however, that all front-ends
within a module have the same
sequence. Thus, when connecting to
I/O ports (where analysis must take
place at a different time from data
generation), the generator front-ends
should use different Agilent E4841A
modules to the analyzer front-ends.
For more than eight channels, the
Agilent E4849B mainframe should be
ordered, instead of the Agilent
E4840A. For I/O applications where
there is not enough signal to drive
25Ω (that is the effective resistance of
a generator channel connected to an
Agilent E4844A or Agilent E4845A
analyzer front-end), the Agilent
E4847A analyzer front-end with selec-
table high-impedance should be used.
Product Description Model Number Quantity
Software Agilent 81200 user software Agilent E4873A
upgrade to latest revision. Opt 001
