Laboratory. Signals and basic equipment.

The aim of this laboratory is to allow you to become familiar with basic communication signals and
the instruments that are commonly used to generate and measure them.
1.0. Generating signals using the Function / Arbitrary Waveform Generator
Locate the 33500B Function / Arbitrary Waveform Generator
on the bench.
Make a note of the front panel connections.

Go to the Keysight (Agilent) website and search for this model. You will have to try and locate the
actual number for this.
Note the basic specifications.
1.1
Switch on the generator.
What are the waveforms generated using the waveforms button.?
Select the sine wave option.
Set the frequency to 1 kHz, amplitude to 1 V p p, offset 0.
Note the display on the screen.
Determine the period of the waveform. Note you can use the units button to locate this.

Try an offset of 0.5 V and explain what this has done.

Repeat for the waveform square (20%, 50%, and 80% duty cycle). note the effect of the duty cycle.
Repeat for the waveform ramp (10%, 50%, and 100% symmetry) note the effect of the symmetry.
1.2
Repeat section 1.1 (sine wave part only) using the Hi Level Lo Level selection instead of amplitude
2.0. Oscilloscope.
2.1. Locate the oscilloscope on the bench (DS05014A).
Make a note of the front panel connections.
Go to the Agilent website and search for this model.
Note the basic specifications.
2.2. Switch on the oscilloscope.

Note there are four channels 1 - 4 (Analog section on the front panel). Locate channel 1 and the
associated controls and connections.
Press button 1 making sure it is lit.
Rotate the small yellow dial note anything that happens on screen.
Rotate the large yellow dial note anything that happens on screen.
Press (select) the math button then the function soft key (beneath the display) selecting f(t) and the
operator soft key. Note the options.
3.0. Co-axial cable and BNC connectors.
3.1. Locate the co-axial cables BNC to BNC on the front of the bench.
Google search Co-axial cable.
Write a short paragraph about 200 words on the structure and features of co-axial cable.
3.2. Identify the material used, impedance, and one use for the following designations RG-6/U, RG56/U, RG-60/U, RG-178/U.
3.3. Google search BNC connectors.
Write a short paragraph about 100 words on the structure and features of BNC connectors.

4.0. Connecting the 33500B Function / Arbitrary Waveform Generator to the oscilloscope.
Note you can save the information on the oscilloscope display to a memory stick using the file option
on the front panel of the oscilloscope and pressing save/recall button. The steps used are relatively
straightforward.
Some relevant points.
The save softkey allows you to select the format (try a BMP option).
The location softkey allows you to select the relevant folder.
4.1. Connect the co-axial BNC to BNC from the output of the generator to channel 1 on the
oscilloscope. Turn the output of the generator on.
On the generator:Set the frequency to 1 kHz, amplitude to 1 V p p, offset 0 for a sinewave.
Press Auto-scale on the oscilloscope.
Note the display on the screen of the generator and the oscilloscope.
Rotate the two dials that are associated with channel 1 on the oscilloscope and note what happens
on the oscilloscope display.
Look in the measure section of the oscilloscope front controls and select the cursor option.
Choose Y on the X Y soft key.

Rotate the small dial next to the cursor button and note the oscilloscope display. In particular look at
the numerical values given while rotating this dial and match to the values given to the generator.
Choose X on the X Y soft key.
Rotate the small dial next to the cursor button and note the oscilloscope display. In particular look at
the numerical values given while rotating this dial and try to match to the values given to the
generator.
4.2.
Leave the generator settings as they are.
Select the cursor option.
Now choose X on the X Y soft key and then press the X1 soft key.
Position the cursor at a point where it crosses 0.
Press the X2 soft key.
Position the cursor at the next point (to the right) where it crosses 0.
Note the time values given for X1, X2, X and 1/X. Explain the origin and meaning of these values.
4.3.
Leave the generator settings as they are.
Now choose Y on the X Y soft key and then press the Y1 soft key.
Position the cursor to the maximum value on the waveform.
Press the Y2 soft key.
Position the cursor to the minimum value on the waveform.
Note the time values given for Y1, Y2, Y. Explain the origin and meaning of these values.
4.4.
Leave the generator settings as they are.
Look in the horizontal section of the oscilloscope front controls.
Rotate the larger of the two dials and note the effect on the display and any values given on screen,
note three of these values in relation to the waveform.
4.5. Repeat sections 4.3. and 4.4 for the waveform square (20%, 50%, and 80% duty cycle) and the
waveform ramp (10%, 50%, and 100% symmetry).
Try to work out what the duty cycle and symmetry means in view of the display given.
5.0. Generating and viewing specific waveforms.
5.1

Using appropriate settings on the generator and the oscilloscope obtain the following waveforms.
Note scale as appropriate so you get about the same number of cycles on the display or as close as
you can, and for the height so you use a reasonable amount of the vertical display.

1
0.8

Amplitude/volts

0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-0.2
time in ms

-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1

0.5

1.5

2.5

Figure Waveform. 5.1.1.

5
4

Amplitude/volts

3
2
1
0
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5

0.5

1.5
time in ms

Figure Waveform. 5.1.2.

2.5

Amplitude/volts

1.5

0.5

-0.5

0.5

1.5
time in ms

Figure Waveform. 5.1.3.

2.5

1.5

Amplitude/volts

0.5

-0.5

0.5

1.5
2
time in microseconds

Figure Waveform. 5.1.4.

2.5

Amplitude/volts

2
1
0
-1

time in microseconds

-2
-3
0

0.5

1.5

Figure Waveform. 5.1.5.

2.5

3
-3

1
0.8
0.6

Amplitude/volts

0.4
0.2
0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1

0.5

1.5
time/milliseconds

2.5

Figure Waveform. 5.1.6.

6.0. Other things to investigate on the generator.
6.1. Have a look at the sweep function and demonstrate how this works using sensible values to give
a reasonable display.
6.2. Have a look at the burst function and demonstrate how this works using sensible values to give a
reasonable display.
6.3. Have a look at the noise function and note what values can be input.

7.0 Frequency display on using the Function / Arbitrary Waveform Generator

Connect the co-axial BNC to BNC from the output of the 33500B Function / Arbitrary Waveform
Generator to channel 1 on the DS05014A oscilloscope.
7.1
On the generator select the sine wave option and set the frequency to 10 kHz, amplitude to 1 V p p,
offset 0.

Note the display on the screen and verify that the values match with the settings on the generator.
On the oscilloscope:
Select auto-scale (two periods should be on the display).
Press the Math button. (Note for convenience you can turn off the sine wave display by pressing the
1 button on the oscilloscope, this can also be used to turn it on).
Press the function soft key and select displayed.
Press the operator soft key and select FFT.
Find out the meaning of FFT and DFT and what they are used for.
Press the source softkey and select 1.
Press the cursor button.
Press soft key source selecting math.
Set the X1 cursor on the peak of the Math display (not the sine wave display). Note the values given
on the display and match with any values on the generator.
7.2.
Repeat 7.1 for sine waves of:
500 Hz, amplitude to 1 V p p, offset 0.
100 kHz, amplitude to 1 V p p, offset 0.
1 MHz, amplitude to 1 V p p, offset 0.
7.3.
Note you can improve the frequency display with a select adjustment of the scope setting.
Referring to section 7.1. have a look at moving the horizontal setting on the oscilloscope.
Set the display using auto scale.
Use the X cursors to find the frequency range between adjacent graticule lines.
Turn the oscilloscope horizontal setting (large dial) one setting counter clockwise. Use the X cursors
to find the frequency range between adjacent graticule lines.
Turn the oscilloscope horizontal setting (large dial) one setting counter clockwise. Use the X cursors
to find the frequency range between adjacent graticule lines.
Note the difference between the ranges for the three horizontal settings.
7.4.
Repeat 7.3 and now note the position of the Math display peak.
7.5.

Try to do 7.1 but with a square waveform (duty cycle 50%). Note the values of any peaks given on
the display. You may need to adjust the large dial on the horizontal scope controls to help with this.
Note the frequency value of the first five peaks and any relation between them.
7.6.
Now try to do 1.1 but with a ramp waveform symmetry 50%. Note the values of any peaks given on
the display. You may need to adjust the large dial on the horizontal scope controls to help with this.
Note the frequency value of the first five peaks and any relation between them.
8.0 Software generation and manipulation of signals.
8.1
Open a new Excel workbook.
Select sheet 1 (right click) and rename this Sine wave.
Place the cursor in cell A1 and type 0 in A1.
Place the cursor in cell A2 and type in =(A1+0.00001)
Select A2 and place the cursor in the lower left corner until a + appears, drag downwards until a
value of 0.001 is indicated.
Place the cursor in cell B1 and type =(SIN(A1*1000*2*3.1416)) in B1.
Select B1 and place the cursor in the lower left corner until a + appears, drag downwards as far as
you did for column A.
Select the insert tab and in charts select line and select line.
Select style 1 and line 1.
Click on select data and place the cursor in chart data range and Click on B for column B to select
the data.
Click OK and check the display.
Click on select data and then on edit in the Horizontal (Category) Axis label. Click on A for column A
to select the data.
Click OK.
Click OK and check the display.
Change the text in the y axis title box to Amplitude/volts. Note if you cannot see the axis title boxes
click on the layout tab and then axis titles selecting the type you require.
Change the text in the x axis title box to Time/seconds.
Select the chart title axis or the title box and title this Sine wave.
Select the x- axis data, right click and the format axis. number then number and have a look at
changing the number of decimal places for this data set.

8.2
In sheet 2, renamed as Sine wave addition of offset, Generate a plot that shows the addition of the
sine wave from 8.1 to a DC value of 1.
Note the contents sheet can be copied to another sheet by right clicking on the sheet tab as in
renaming the sheet.
8.3
In sheet 3, renamed as Sine wave addition, Generate a plot that shows the addition of two copies of
the sine wave from 8.1. Try varying the frequency of one of the sine waves.
8.4
In sheet 4, renamed as Sine wave multiplication, Generate a plot that shows the multiplication of two
copies of the sine wave from 8.1. Try varying the frequency of one of the sine waves.
8.5
In sheet 5, renamed as Sine wave multiplication with offset, Generate a plot that shows the
multiplication of two copies of the sine wave from 8.1with one copy having an offset of 0.5. Try
varying the frequency of one of the sine wave with the offset.