Power Meter Operation
Setting Averaging
Setting Averaging
The power meter uses a digital filter to average power readings. The number of readings averaged can range from 1 to 1024. This filter is used to reduce noise, obtain the desired resolution and to reduce the jitter in the measurement results. Increasing the value of the filter length reduces measurement noise. However, the time to take the measurement is increased. You can select the filter length or you can set the power meter to auto filter mode. The default is “AUTO”.
When the auto filter mode is enabled, the power meter automatically sets the number of readings averaged together to satisfy the filtering requirements for most power measurements. The number of readings averaged together depends on the resolution and the power level currently being measured. Figure
Resolution is a window function and not a channel function. In the case where a channel is set up in both the upper and lower window and the resolution settings are different, the highest resolution setting is taken to calculate the averaging number. For example, if the upper window has a resolution setting of 2 and is measuring channel A - channel B and the lower window has a resolution of 4 and is measuring channel A. In this instance channel A averaging is calculated with a resolution of 4 and channel B with a resolution of 2.
HP E4419B User’s Guide |