This week I took a lucky opportunity getting a used MG3700A, I was discussing with the owner (discontinued HW development firm) for quite some time, now I got it. A basic 3 GHz model, with mechanical attenuator and more sample memory. I started testing it, it works nicely, sometimes a get an ALC error message, which comes and goes. In the signal output there is no level change/problem. I will register it with Anritsu and try to make a backup of the hard disk. I am looking forward for the additional video parts. In the meantime I will try the IQ-Producer.
Congrats! Sure you will enjoy it! Around 1.5GHz and around 2.7 GHz, and -3dBm output level, my unit also gives some ACL errors, meaning the automatic correction can no longer compensate. Using an external power meter, I see the in these areas, the deviation is still limited (in most cases 1-2 dB, sometimes 3dB) and I can surely live with it. At lower output levels, the ACL problem is present at less frequencies.
PS there are two ways to make a backup of the HDD. The least intrusive is to connect to a PC, use an FTP client and simply copy all files. The more intrusive way is to take out the HDD (which is in a caddy, accessible form the outside, so not very hard), connect it with an IDE interface to a computer, and copy. Then you can also use a raw sector copy tool that also captures the full disk formatting. I though of replacing the Anritsu's HDD with a PATA SSD drive (they are rare but can be found). Then I understood others experiences issues doing so; apparently, the VX Works real-time OS does not deal well with too fast drives (!!) as I understand it. Anyway, the advantage of changing to SSD would be limited anyway.
@@rudiselectronicslab861 thanks for the advise, I prefer to use an IDE adapter and use a Linux computer to pull a disk image copy via dd from the device. This way I can restore it when needed. I believe it is a FAT32 file system.
Useful. I had been thinking of getting one. I bought a Keysight MXA N9020A vector signal analyser recently from eBay for around US$2000. They are now obsolete with the move to 5G, so a few are around. The one I bought had all options enabled, excluding the real-time option. The MG3700A would be a good signal source.
Drew, you should get one indeed. I have that MXA/Anritsu combo and it is really great. I know you are a Matlab user: getting your IQ data (and markers) to the Anritsu requires no Anritsu license and is super simple. Highly recommend
Thanks for the reply. I have not had the opportunity to use the N9020A, but the Anritsu MG3700A certainly is very capable. I especially like that a lot of things come as a standard (many waveforms, BER measurements, etc.) that are optional at many other suppliers. Often found for less than US$1000, it seems a good deal that could complement the MXA.
What is also nice with Anritsu, you can register your device in their customer portal which will allow you to download latest firmware and tools. Often firmware is being updated for many years after the device are being produced.
True! After I registered my device with them, it took them a day or so to validate my request and then I got access to the 'premium' part of their support website, with dozens and dozens of documents on the MG3700A alone! A lot of valuable material, but unfortunately no service manuals or - better - schematics. I heard Anritsu is not making any of such technical documents available...
@@rudiselectronicslab861 Most important is that you receive all the latest software revisions for this device. Anritsu often releases software updates many years after the device is not available anymore. Registered owners benefit from it. The problem with the missing/non shared schematics is the same for all vendors. I miss the old days where we had access to the schematics. We as hobby users need to stay in touch to help each other with such measurement devices. I am an enthusiastic friend of Anritsu devices, the Signal Analyzer MS269x series is way better than the Agilent/Keysight PSA series, many clients don't know Anritsu much, they look for R & S or Keysight devices only. Somehow we need to develop some connections with Anritsu to get access to service manuals. I stay tuned. Your very professional education videos may help to get such connections at some point in time. Regards Helmut
IQproducer works really well, I should say! Been doing quite a lot of things with it. May take me a while before I manage to finish that video because of loads of other work... Quite curious how IQproducer works with the MS2690! Maybe you can share something on that...
@@rudiselectronicslab861 My Signal Analzyer MS2690A has a 6 Ghz generator option build in. It can generate a 125 MHz bandwidth signal, The Analyzer also can record and replay signals. The Anritsu IQ-Producer is supported for this device. I just tested basic build-in CW output, however I believe I can import and kind of Q-I samples. I will look into the IQ-Producer software soon. The MS2690A has no tracking generator (following) build in. According to the data sheet, the MS2690A can do similar things like the MG3700A. Regards from Hannover.
Thank you so much for this video tutorial. I also decided to get a Anritsu MG3700A after watching this. It has now arrived, and I see the ALC alarm, and about 7 dB loss around 3 GHz and about 3 dB loss around middle frequencies when measured with power meter. Now I’m wondering if I should return it. But I can see that most MG3700s sold on ebay has this problem. The error is not correctable in an easy way right ? Signal path video also failed to repair it.
Thank you so much for this video tutorial. I also decided to get a Anritsu MG3700A after watching this. It has now arrived, and I see the ALC alarm, and about 7 dB loss around 3 GHz, about 3 dB loss around middle frequencies and 10 dB loss around 250kHz when measured with power meter. Now I’m wondering if I should return it. But I can see that most MG3700s sold on ebay has this problem. The error is not correctable in an easy way right ? Signal path video also failed to repair it.
Thanks for the compliments and congratulations with your MG3700A. Concerning the ALC alarm: this is not an uncommon issue for this instrument at some age, unfortunately. The deviation got so big it can no longer be corrected with the internal ALC feedback loop. But should you return it? Well, if you do measurements or experiments that require the source to be within a certain defined range, then this would be an issue. For many other use cases, the absolute level value is less of an issue and the Anritsu would be a great tool, even if it has ALC alarms. And you nay measure power externally, and correct. Mine has some (small) ALC alarms and I’m not really bothered.
A couple of more thought: carefully reading the manual and once having done an analysis of RF output power and alarm occurance, I found that the alarm depends on several conditions. If I remember well: operation time, chosen output power, but also level, modulation method /characteristics (!), and perhaps some more. You might want to look into that.
Finally, I think there was indeed a broken MG3700A in a Signal Path episode, and I don’t think it got repaired. But the issue was in the 6GHz version board, which is a rather different beast.
Can the Anritsu support real-time waveforms for generating digital modulations, such as basic BPSK and QPSK, at a specified C/No? Or does it work using files only?
Well, it's kind of in-between. The Anritsu can only play waveforms from a file. But you do have two simultaneous channels. By loading a, say QPSK waveform into one channel, and a noise waveform (with chosen parameters if required) into the other, you can 'live' edit the relative balance between the QPSK waveform and the noise.
@DingerAdventurer , one of the Anritsu MG300A manuals (there are quite a few!) describes all build-in waveforms. You can find it here: dl.cdn-anritsu.com/en-au/test-measurement/files/Manuals/Operation-Manual/MG3700A_pattern_opm_e_14_0.pdf. FM Stereo is not a standard one. You should be able to make it yourself using the Anritsu IQProducer, which has a multitone module, which could be used to make the mono signal, the pilot tone, etc. Of course, there are other devices that can generate FM stereo signals out of the box (like the R&S CMU200 with the appropriate software option). Good luck!
I got an 128MB CF memory hard which I inserted into the MG3700, I get an error message invalid memory card. I tried a FAT16, a FAT32 formatted and an empty (zeroed) card, initialised with an PC, no success with the MG3700. Has somebody an idea if Anritsu has a kind of magic boot block on the disk that non Anritsu memory cards don't work. Any help is be appreciated. Regards from Hannover, Germany.
Helmut: in my experience, the MG300A is giving CF card errors if a card has not properly been 'ejected' from the computer it has been used on before. Simply used the formal "eject' on the computer solved the problem for me!
I am looking for some Anritsu housing corner handle/pumpers (with the green plastic). I got a device with missing once.If somebody can help I would be happy. Great videos, I love as well Anritsu devices. Regards Helmut
This week I took a lucky opportunity getting a used MG3700A, I was discussing with the owner (discontinued HW development firm) for quite some time, now I got it. A basic 3 GHz model, with mechanical attenuator and more sample memory. I started testing it, it works nicely, sometimes a get an ALC error message, which comes and goes. In the signal output there is no level change/problem. I will register it with Anritsu and try to make a backup of the hard disk.
I am looking forward for the additional video parts. In the meantime I will try the IQ-Producer.
Congrats! Sure you will enjoy it! Around 1.5GHz and around 2.7 GHz, and -3dBm output level, my unit also gives some ACL errors, meaning the automatic correction can no longer compensate. Using an external power meter, I see the in these areas, the deviation is still limited (in most cases 1-2 dB, sometimes 3dB) and I can surely live with it. At lower output levels, the ACL problem is present at less frequencies.
PS there are two ways to make a backup of the HDD. The least intrusive is to connect to a PC, use an FTP client and simply copy all files. The more intrusive way is to take out the HDD (which is in a caddy, accessible form the outside, so not very hard), connect it with an IDE interface to a computer, and copy. Then you can also use a raw sector copy tool that also captures the full disk formatting. I though of replacing the Anritsu's HDD with a PATA SSD drive (they are rare but can be found). Then I understood others experiences issues doing so; apparently, the VX Works real-time OS does not deal well with too fast drives (!!) as I understand it. Anyway, the advantage of changing to SSD would be limited anyway.
@@rudiselectronicslab861 thanks for the advise, I prefer to use an IDE adapter and use a Linux computer to pull a disk image copy via dd from the device. This way I can restore it when needed. I believe it is a FAT32 file system.
Useful. I had been thinking of getting one. I bought a Keysight MXA N9020A vector signal analyser recently from eBay for around US$2000. They are now obsolete with the move to 5G, so a few are around. The one I bought had all options enabled, excluding the real-time option. The MG3700A would be a good signal source.
Drew, you should get one indeed. I have that MXA/Anritsu combo and it is really great. I know you are a Matlab user: getting your IQ data (and markers) to the Anritsu requires no Anritsu license and is super simple. Highly recommend
Thanks for the reply. I have not had the opportunity to use the N9020A, but the Anritsu MG3700A certainly is very capable. I especially like that a lot of things come as a standard (many waveforms, BER measurements, etc.) that are optional at many other suppliers. Often found for less than US$1000, it seems a good deal that could complement the MXA.
A video on using IQProducer with the MG3700A would be appreciated. I have tried to use it but not much luck.
One coming very, very soon!!!
What is also nice with Anritsu, you can register your device in their customer portal which will allow you to download latest firmware and tools. Often firmware is being updated for many years after the device are being produced.
True! After I registered my device with them, it took them a day or so to validate my request and then I got access to the 'premium' part of their support website, with dozens and dozens of documents on the MG3700A alone! A lot of valuable material, but unfortunately no service manuals or - better - schematics. I heard Anritsu is not making any of such technical documents available...
@@rudiselectronicslab861 Most important is that you receive all the latest software revisions for this device. Anritsu often releases software updates many years after the device is not available anymore. Registered owners benefit from it.
The problem with the missing/non shared schematics is the same for all vendors. I miss the old days where we had access to the schematics.
We as hobby users need to stay in touch to help each other with such measurement devices.
I am an enthusiastic friend of Anritsu devices, the Signal Analyzer MS269x series is way better than the Agilent/Keysight PSA series, many clients don't know Anritsu much, they look for R & S or Keysight devices only.
Somehow we need to develop some connections with Anritsu to get access to service manuals. I stay tuned. Your very professional education videos may help to get such connections at some point in time.
Regards Helmut
I am looking forward for the IQ-Producer video, my Anritsu MS2690 SA with generator also supports the IQ-Producer. Now it's time to dive into it.
IQproducer works really well, I should say! Been doing quite a lot of things with it. May take me a while before I manage to finish that video because of loads of other work... Quite curious how IQproducer works with the MS2690! Maybe you can share something on that...
@@rudiselectronicslab861 My Signal Analzyer MS2690A has a 6 Ghz generator option build in. It can generate a 125 MHz bandwidth signal, The Analyzer also can record and replay signals. The Anritsu IQ-Producer is supported for this device. I just tested basic build-in CW output, however I believe I can import and kind of Q-I samples. I will look into the IQ-Producer software soon.
The MS2690A has no tracking generator (following) build in.
According to the data sheet, the MS2690A can do similar things like the MG3700A. Regards from Hannover.
Thank you so much for this video tutorial. I also decided to get a Anritsu MG3700A after watching this. It has now arrived, and I see the ALC alarm, and about 7 dB loss around 3 GHz and about 3 dB loss around middle frequencies when measured with power meter. Now I’m wondering if I should return it. But I can see that most MG3700s sold on ebay has this problem. The error is not correctable in an easy way right ? Signal path video also failed to repair it.
Thank you so much for this video tutorial. I also decided to get a Anritsu MG3700A after watching this. It has now arrived, and I see the ALC alarm, and about 7 dB loss around 3 GHz, about 3 dB loss around middle frequencies and 10 dB loss around 250kHz when measured with power meter. Now I’m wondering if I should return it. But I can see that most MG3700s sold on ebay has this problem. The error is not correctable in an easy way right ? Signal path video also failed to repair it.
Thanks for the compliments and congratulations with your MG3700A. Concerning the ALC alarm: this is not an uncommon issue for this instrument at some age, unfortunately. The deviation got so big it can no longer be corrected with the internal ALC feedback loop. But should you return it? Well, if you do measurements or experiments that require the source to be within a certain defined range, then this would be an issue. For many other use cases, the absolute level value is less of an issue and the Anritsu would be a great tool, even if it has ALC alarms. And you nay measure power externally, and correct. Mine has some (small) ALC alarms and I’m not really bothered.
A couple of more thought: carefully reading the manual and once having done an analysis of RF output power and alarm occurance, I found that the alarm depends on several conditions. If I remember well: operation time, chosen output power, but also level, modulation method /characteristics (!), and perhaps some more. You might want to look into that.
Finally, I think there was indeed a broken MG3700A in a Signal Path episode, and I don’t think it got repaired. But the issue was in the 6GHz version board, which is a rather different beast.
Can the Anritsu support real-time waveforms for generating digital modulations, such as basic BPSK and QPSK, at a specified C/No? Or does it work using files only?
Well, it's kind of in-between. The Anritsu can only play waveforms from a file. But you do have two simultaneous channels. By loading a, say QPSK waveform into one channel, and a noise waveform (with chosen parameters if required) into the other, you can 'live' edit the relative balance between the QPSK waveform and the noise.
is there a published list of the wave forms in the library ? Im looking for fm stereo signal
Thanks in advanced
@DingerAdventurer , one of the Anritsu MG300A manuals (there are quite a few!) describes all build-in waveforms. You can find it here: dl.cdn-anritsu.com/en-au/test-measurement/files/Manuals/Operation-Manual/MG3700A_pattern_opm_e_14_0.pdf.
FM Stereo is not a standard one. You should be able to make it yourself using the Anritsu IQProducer, which has a multitone module, which could be used to make the mono signal, the pilot tone, etc.
Of course, there are other devices that can generate FM stereo signals out of the box (like the R&S CMU200 with the appropriate software option).
Good luck!
I got an 128MB CF memory hard which I inserted into the MG3700, I get an error message invalid memory card. I tried a FAT16, a FAT32 formatted and an empty (zeroed) card, initialised with an PC, no success with the MG3700. Has somebody an idea if Anritsu has a kind of magic boot block on the disk that non Anritsu memory cards don't work. Any help is be appreciated. Regards from Hannover, Germany.
Helmut: in my experience, the MG300A is giving CF card errors if a card has not properly been 'ejected' from the computer it has been used on before. Simply used the formal "eject' on the computer solved the problem for me!
I am looking for some Anritsu housing corner handle/pumpers (with the green plastic). I got a device with missing once.If somebody can help I would be happy.
Great videos, I love as well Anritsu devices. Regards Helmut
Thanks, and I like the Anritsu quite a lot. It's my first one, may try more of them in the future ;-)
Nice cat.
Cannot agree more ;-) He will be happy to hear this.
Nice device. BTW, it's pronounced like MOWGH, not MOOOG.
;-) You see, I have spent more time with measurement instruments than with synthesisers lately ;-)
Promo SM 😋