Rohde & Schwarz SM 300

The Rohde & Schwarz SM 300 device driver is a Signal Generator which is supported by RadiMation^®.  

Configuration

The following tabs are available in the advanced configuration of the Rohde & Schwarz SM 300:

The frequency range of the Rohde & Schwarz SM 300 as provided by the manufacturer is shown and selected as default. It is possible to overrule these frequencies and to manual adjust the allowed frequency range of the Rohde & Schwarz SM 300.

Use default start frequency

If the checkbox is checked, the default start frequency will be used as the lowest usable frequency in a test for this device.

Custom start frequency

If the Use default start frequency checkbox is unchecked, another start frequency (expressed in MHz) can be specified. The customized start frequency will then be used as the lowest usable frequency in a test for this device. The customized frequency can be a limitation or an extension of the default start frequency.

Use default stop frequency

If the checkbox is checked, the default stop frequency will be used as the highest usable frequency in a test for this device.

Custom stop frequency

If the Use default stop frequency checkbox is unchecked, another stop frequency (expressed in MHz) can be specified. The customized stop frequency will then be used as the highest usable frequency in a test for this device. The customized frequency can be a limitation or an extension of the default stop frequency.

Specifying a different frequency range can be useful if for example:

• A device (like a coupler, antenna, injection device, cable, etc...) is still useable (but out of specification) outside the standard suggested frequency range.
• An external mixer is used to measure an extended frequency range.
• An up- or down-convertor is used to shift the frequency range.
• A newer model of a device is present that has an extended frequency range, and still uses the same remote control commands.

Be careful changing these setting as RadiMation^® is no longer able to verify if the Rohde & Schwarz SM 300 is used outside frequency range that is specified by the manufacturer. This may result to serious damage of your measurement device. This SM300 device is controlled through an USB connection with the PC.

Some of the limitations in the usage of the SM300 are:

• The vxi drivers need to be installed on the computer
• RadiMation can not set the device in remote mode, reason for this is that the device is available on the USB bus when not in remote!!!!
• You can not see what the device is doing when in remote.

Configuring the device driver

In the advanced configuration screen of the device driver you need to insert a serial number. This number is unique for every Rohde & Schwarz SM 300.

How to get the serial number:

1. Set the device in remote.
2. Start the program 'SiScan' that is provided by Rohde & Schwarz.
3. Look voor SM 300 in the instrument column.
4. in the left column you see 'USB::0xaad::0x7' the last number is the serial number for the device. For example if the instrument is listed with: 'USB::0xaad::0x7::100001', then the number you need to fill in is 100001.

How to get the device in remote

There are two options:

1. reboot the device, this will take a long time.
2. Press the Sys button:
   1. Select with the < > button the menu 'config' on the bottom menu.
   2. Select 'interface' in the menu on the right.
   3. Press the enter button, also if the USB master is set to auto
   4. Select either 'auto' or 'extern' and press enter. The device will show a remote of blank window depending on the setting.

Maximum signal generator level

The maximum signal level is depending on the AM modulation. The following information can be found in the manual of the signal generator:

When amplitude modulation (AM) is set to On, maximum limit continuously decreases from 13 dBm to 7 dBm with dependency on
modulation depth (modulation depth = 0.0 % ... max limit = 13 dBm, modulation depth = 100.0 % ... max limit = 7 dBm).

Additional information

information coming from e-mail Dave Baxter (EMV ltd.) date: 2007-05-11

Attached in the zip, are the .inf and .sys files Windows needs to "install" the SM300 generator when you connect it with the USB lead. Just use the popup "New Hardware Installation" wizard, and point it at whatever location you unzipped this to, and it will install a R&S power supply, and R&S SM300 signal generator, as two separate USB "devices".

None of the above is on the CD that comes with the generator, so even R&S's own demo software will fail to work!

The other file, is an automatic installer for the VXI PnP stuff, that is needed for the RadiMation driver to talk to. (rssim32.dll among other things)

As far as I know, you do not need to install all the R&S Windows demo software (their remote control program) but it useful if just to confirm that the generator connects and works, though you need a separate analyzer or power meter at least to see if anything is happening, as the generator display only shows it's boot screen, and a small bit of text about "Remote Mode".

R&S have been informed of the lack of the needed files on the CD, and the lack of any documentation about it. R&S UK seem more concerned than the Germans, not unsurprisingly...

Universal Serial Bus: A modern serially controlled communication system, found on all new PC's

Personal Computer

Power expressed in milliWatt in dB values.

• 1 mW = 0 dBm

• 2 mW = 3 dBm

• 100 mW = 20 dBm

• 1 W = 30 dBm

• 100 W = 50 dBm