Common Analysis and Display Functions
R&S
®
FSPN
153
User Manual 1179.4363.02 ─ 01
7.3.1.2
Trace Averaging
The application provides several methods of trace averaging that you can use sepa-
rately or in any combination.
The order in which averaging is performed is as follows.
1. Cross-correlation
The application performs a certain number of cross-correlation operations in each
half decade.
2. Sweep count.
The application measures the complete measurement range a particular number of
times.
It again includes the cross-correlation operations as defined.
After the measurement over the sweep count is finished, the application displays
the averaged results.
3. Trace smoothing.
Calculates the moving average for the current trace.
Sweep Count
The sweep count defines the number of sweeps that the application performs during a
complete measurements.
A sweep in this context is the measurement over the complete measurement range
once. A complete measurement, however, can consist of more than one sweep. In that
case, the application measures until the number of sweeps that have been defined are
done. The measurement configuration stays the same all the time.
In combination with the average trace mode and cross-correlation operations, the
sweep count averages the trace even more.
Trace Smoothing
(Software-based)
smoothing
is a way to remove anomalies visually in the trace that
can distort the results. The smoothing process is based on a moving average over the
complete measurement range. The number of samples included in the averaging proc-
ess (the
aperture
size) is variable and is a percentage of all samples that the trace con-
sists of.
Figure 7-5: Sample size included in trace smoothing
The application smoothes the trace continuously. Smoothing is just an enhancement of
the trace display, not of the data itself. It is always applied before trace averaging, max
Trace Configuration