I/Q Data File Format (iq-tar)
R&S
®
FSV/A3000 I/Q
Analyzer
286
User Manual 1178.8536.02 ─ 01
C
I/Q Data File Format (iq-tar)
I/Q data is packed in a file with the extension
.iq.tar
. An iq-tar file contains I/Q data
in binary format together with meta information that describes the nature and the
source of data, e.g. the sample rate. The objective of the iq-tar file format is to separate
I/Q data from the meta information while still having both inside one file. In addition, the
file format allows you to preview the I/Q data in a web browser, and allows you to
include user-specific data.
The iq-tar container packs several files into a single
.tar
archive file. Files in
.tar
format can be unpacked using standard archive tools (see
) available for most operating systems. The advantage
of
.tar
files is that the archived files inside the
.tar
file are not changed (not com-
pressed) and thus it is possible to read the I/Q data directly within the archive without
the need to unpack (untar) the
.tar
file first.
Sample iq-tar files
If you have the optional R&S
FSV/A VSA application (R&S
FSV/A-K70), some sample
iq-tar files are provided in the
C:/R_S/Instr/user/vsa/DemoSignals
directory on
the R&S
FSV/A.
An application note on converting Rohde
&
Schwarz I/Q data files is available from the
Rohde & Schwarz website:
1EF85: Converting R&S I/Q data files
Contained files
An iq-tar file must contain the following files:
●
I/Q parameter XML file
, e.g.
xyz.xml
Contains meta information about the I/Q data (e.g. sample rate). The filename can
be defined freely, but there must be only one single I/Q parameter XML file inside
an iq-tar file.
●
I/Q data binary file
, e.g.
xyz.complex.float32
Contains the binary I/Q data of all channels. There must be only one single I/Q
data binary file inside an iq-tar file.
Optionally, an iq-tar file can contain the following file:
●
I/Q preview XSLT file
, e.g.
open_IqTar_xml_file_in_web_browser.xslt
Contains a stylesheet to display the I/Q parameter XML file and a preview of the
I/Q data in a web browser.
A sample stylesheet is available at
http://www.rohde-schwarz.com/file/
open_IqTar_xml_file_in_web_browser.xslt
.