Inialisation Failed Radicentre multi-slot

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heutink
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Joined: 22 Sep 2016, 11:23

Inialisation Failed Radicentre multi-slot

Post by heutink »

Performing "System calbration, Attenuation / Gain" with equipment controlled via GPIB and LAN. Radicentre CTR1009A controlled via LAN, generator IFR2023B controlled by GPIB.
"Check" oke, however "connection" failed. Below the recorded "capture.nitrace" file. Uses the latest version of radimation and device drivers.
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Capture.nitrace
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heutink
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Re: Inialisation Failed Radicentre multi-slot

Post by heutink »

Did some further investigation with two different laptops with the same hardware configuration for testing (IFR2023B and RadiCentre 1009B).
It looks that the problem is the device driver for the RadiCentre. Both laptops have the same Radimation software version 2016.11.16, but different device driver versions.
Test oke with device driver version 2016.11.16 1407
Test failed with device driver version 20116.12.12 1442
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joro
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Re: Inialisation Failed Radicentre multi-slot

Post by joro »

Hello Henk,

Thanks for the mentioning of the problems you are observing with the control of the RadiPower through the RadiCentre.
I checked the NI-SPY file, and I determined the cause of the initialization problem. We recently improved the reset times of the RadiPower, however for some unknown reason this is not working correctly in some specific situation when the RadiPower is connected to the RadiCentre.
I will investigate and resolve this problem on Thursday. I will keep you updated.

Best regards,
John
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joro
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Re: Inialisation Failed Radicentre multi-slot

Post by joro »

Hello Henk,

We found and fixed the cause of the problem of the RadiPower initialisation when it is connected through a RadiCentre.
The updated device drivers can be downloaded from our RadiWiki site ( http://wiki.dare.nl/wiki/index.php/Device_drivers ), which should resolve the problem.

Please let me know if this indeed fixes the problem.
heutink
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Joined: 22 Sep 2016, 11:23

Re: Inialisation Failed Radicentre multi-slot

Post by heutink »

Hello John,

The system calibration with RadiPower power sensor is now working, but still not satisfying.
I have devided the last problems in two configurations:
Config 1: calibration > system calibration/EUT calibration > attenuation / gain with IFR2023B generator and RadiPower RPR2006C power sensor with RadiCentre 2009B.
Config 2: calibration > system calibration/EUT calibration > attenuation / gain with IFR2023B generator and spectrum analyser FSV3 as power sensor (10 MHz reference of SA is locked to generator).

Config 1:
With "enable determination of dynamic range" it looks like that the correction data of the system calibration is not used as reference (null measurement) for the EUT calibration.
With "disable determination of dynamic range "the correction of the EUT calibration with the system calibration as reference works quite well.

Config 2:
From frequencies of 100 MHz and higher the system calibration is unstable (looks like incorrect measurement of spectrum analyser) for manual settings of RBW and VBW). For auto RBW and VBW it works oke. With both "enable/disable determination of dynamic range" the correction data of the system calibration is not used as reference (null measurement) for the EUT calibtration. Further the amplitude range is continuosly auto ranging. Is it not better to define a fixed reference level and range setting. The time used to do a system calibration for each frequency point takes a lot of time (several seconds). Can this be done faster (one frequency point per second or faster).

Probably it would be a good idea to check all setting and measurements of the system - and EUT calibration again. Myself i didn't check all configuration settings of the system - and EUT calibration.

Kind regards,

Henk Heutink
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sast
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Re: Inialisation Failed Radicentre multi-slot

Post by sast »

Dear Henk,

We have created a new item based on this post.
It reference to item #7798:Performance of the System calibration Attenuation / Gain is still not satisfying.
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joro
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Re: Inialisation Failed Radicentre multi-slot

Post by joro »

Related to 'Config 1':
There is a good chance that the problems are caused by the IFR2023B signal generator. There is a possibility that this IFR2023B is not fast enough, and that the output level is still being regulated while the power measurement is already busy.
This will have more effect on the situation with 'Enable determination of dynamic range'. Due to the constant on/off switching of the carrier, the power will probably not be stable, at the moment that the powerlevel is measured by the RPR2006C powermeter.

In the configuration of the RPR2006C, it is possible to specify a 'pre-wait' time. We suggest to increase this value to 200 ms, which gives the IFR2023B enough time to stabilize it's output.
Please change this value, and test again with the 'config 1' situation.
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joro
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Re: Inialisation Failed Radicentre multi-slot

Post by joro »

Related to 'Config 2':
It is also in the situation of 'Config 2' advised to specify a 'pre-wait' time in the advanced device driver settings of the R&S FSV powermeter device driver. This pre-wait time is used to give the IFR2023B some time to regulate/stabilize its output value.
There was a problem with the device driver for R&S FSV in the past, that was constantly auto-ranging the reference level of the R&S FSV. These problems should have been fixed in the RadiMation device drivers of 2016.11.10 or newer. Please ensure that the device driver version is >= 2016.11.10.
Also, did you test with the R&S FSV after you updated the device drivers for the RadiPower? Or is this experience based on measurements that you performed before the update of the device drivers for the RadiPower?

If you still remain to have problems after updating of the drivers, and after setting of a pre-wait-time of 200 ms, please provide us with a RadiLog file, so we can investigate what is going wrong.
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