Pattern Generator Quick Start

This Quick Start guide will help you set up your BitWise Pattern Generator quickly so you can begin making measurements.

To view a video introduction to the Pattern Generator, click here.

Required Equipment

In the box

BitWise Device
Power Adapter and Cord

Also required

LAN
LAN-connected computer running web browser
Ethernet Cable
Single-ended SMA to SMA Cable
50-Ohm SMA Terminator (optional)

Setting Up the Pattern Generator

Make sure the power switch on the rear of the Pattern Generator is in the OFF position.
You may use the banana jack on the rear panel to ground the device chassis.
Plug your BitWise device into the network using the Ethernet cable.
Use the provided power adapter and cord to plug your BitWise device into a power outlet.
Use the power switch on the rear of the unit to turn the device ON. Wait for the device to initialize.

Wait for the Pattern Generator to Initialize

BitWise devices have an LED on the front panel called "READY". This LED provides status of the device's progress through the initialization process:

Power on: Green solid

Operating system initialized: Off

Device server initialized: Green single-blink

Web server initialized: Green double-blink

User interface website available: Green triple-blink

Initialization complete: Green solid

Access the User Interface Website

Use a computer connected to the same local area network as the device, access the user interface website by entering your device's IP address as the URL in your browser. For help finding your device's IP address, read the guide here.

Set Data Rate

Use the internal synthesizer to create a clock that will be used to create the bits to be transmitted on Ch0 and Ch1 output connectors. Click on the Data Rate status panel to view the Data Rate Settings dialog and select the data rate you want. Notice a divided-down version of this clock also is transmitted on the Clock output connector.

Set Channel Link Mode

Indicate that Ch0 and Ch1 should be considered independent by clicking on the Link Mode status panel to view the Configuration Settings dialog and select the configuration to be Unlinked.

Set Data Pattern and Signal Amplitude and Turn-on Outputs

Configure the Ch0 output type by clicking on the Ch-0 status panel to view the Ch-0 Settings dialog. Select the desired data pattern and signal amplitude. Do the same for the Ch-1 status panel. Finally, turn on the channel outputs by pressing the All On button.

Loop Ch0 into Calibration Input

Find a short SMA-to-SMA cable and connect Ch-0 (+) output connector to the Calib input connector. Use this "loopback" wiring configuration to run a simple BER test.

Auto-align Calibration Input Sampler

Before running a BER test, the Calibration input sampler must align itself with the incoming waveform to establish a delay and voltage threshold sampling point for testing. Click on the Cal Input status panel and press the Auto Align button and wait until the operation is completed.

Run BERT Application

To run a BER test using the sub-rate calibration input, click on the right-hand BERT Tab to view the application space consisting of the Information, BER Strip Chart, and BER Error Detector applications. Then press the Run button on the top of the user interface to begin BER testing. You will notice the number of Bits climbing, and presumably no Errors. You will also notice an animation on the Run Status status panel indicating the Running state, on the bottom left. If you unscrew the connector a bit, maybe you can see some errors trickle in. The BER Strip Chart will show a chart of error rates at specified time intervals.