Waveform Marker Concepts - Keysight Technologies N5171B EXG User Manual

Basic Digital Operation (Option 653/655/656/657)
Using Waveform Markers

Waveform Marker Concepts

The signal generator's Dual ARB provides four waveform markers for use on a waveform segment.
You can set each marker's polarity and marker points (on a single sample point or over a range of
sample points). Each marker can also perform ALC hold, or RF Blanking and ALC hold.
Marker
File
Bit N
When the signal generator encounters an enabled marker (described on page 215), an
auxiliary output signal is generated and routed to the rear panel.
Event 1 is available at the EVENT 1 BNC connector (see page 15), and at a pin on the
AUXILIARY I/O connector (see page 17).
Events 2 through 4 are available at pins on the AUXILIARY I/O connector
Marker Signal Response
The signal generator aligns the marker signals with the I and Q signals at the baseband generator.
However some settings such as amplitude, filters, and so forth within the RF output path can create
delays between the marker EVENT output signal and the modulated RF output. When using the
marker EVENT output signal, observe the signals (marker relative to modulated RF) for any latency,
and if needed, reset the marker point positions, include delay
Marker File Generation
Downloading a waveform file (as described in the Programming Guide) that does not have a marker
file associated with it causes the signal generator to automatically create a marker file, but does
not place any marker points.
Marker Point Edit Requirements
Before you can modify a waveform segment's marker points, the segment must reside in BBG
media (see "Loading a Waveform Segment into BBG Media" on
Saving Marker Polarity and Routing Settings
Marker polarity and routing settings remain until you reconfigure them, preset the signal generator,
or cycle power. To ensure that a waveform uses the correct settings when it is played, set the
marker polarities or routing (RF Blanking and ALC Hold) and save the information to the file header
(page 197).
When you use a waveform that does not have marker routings and polarity
settings stored in the file header, and the previously played waveform used
RF Blanking, ensure that you set RF Blanking to None. Failure to do so can
result in no RF output or a distorted waveform.
204
Set Marker Marker
On Off Polarity
Keysight EXG and MXG X-Series Signal Generators User's Guide
Positive
Marker N
RF Blank Off On
Negative
RF Blank Only: includes ALC Hold
Marker N
ALC Hold Off On
(page 249), or both.
page 189).
EVENT N
Marker N
Blanks RF when
Marker is Low
Marker N
Holds ALC when
Marker is Low