68 Chapter 3
C:\Spk\Ref\RefGuideRevE\Opoverv.fm
Operating Overview
Averaging Measurements
Averaging Measurements The Avg (average) function allows you to display the average value of a
number of measurements. You enter the number of measurement
samples used to calculate and display the measurement average. This
dampens the effects of rapidly changing measurements, providing a
more usable measurement display.
To use measurement averaging
Step 1. Position the cursor in front of the measurement’s unit-of-measure.
Step 2. Press and release the Shift key, then the Incr ×
× ×
× 10 key to access the Avg
function.
Step 3. Enter the desired number of measurement samples to be used for
calculating the average, then press the knob or the Enter key.
or
Press On/Off to use the currently-displayed number of samples.
Step 4. To turn averaging off, position the cursor in front of the unit- of-measure
and press and release the Shift key, then the Incr ×
× ×
× 10 key to access the
Avg function, then press the On/Off key.
How the Test Set Averages Measurements
When the averaging function is first enabled, a numeric average is
calculated and displayed each time a measurement is made. This
continues until the specified number of samples is reached. From that
point on, the averaging function performs an exponential filtering
operation that mimics an RC filter.
Because of the exponential response, any large measurement changes
result in a displayed value t hat ramps up or down to the act ual
measured value.
A measurement reset clears the measurement history for all
measurements and starts the averaging process over. (Press and
release the Shift key then the Hold key (Meas Reset) to reset the
measurement.)