Jeff Thomas

Tom Holmes
Terri Hightower
Learn RF Spectrum
Analysis Basics
Page 2
Agenda
Overview: Spectrum analysis and its
measurements
Theory of Operation: Spectrum analyzer
hardware
Frequency Specifications
Questions and Answers break
Amplitude Specifications
Summary
Questions and Answers break
Page 3
Learning Objectives
Name the major measurement strengths of a
swept-tuned spectrum analyzer
Explain the importance of frequency resolution,
sensitivity, and dynamic range in making analyzer
measurements
Outline the procedure making accurate distortion
measurements
Page 4
8563A
SPECTRUM ANALYZER 9 kHz - 26. 5 GHz
Overview: What is Spectrum Analysis?
Page 5
.
Modulation
Modulation
Distortion
Distortion
Noise
Noise
Types of Tests Made
Page 6
t
i
m
e
Amplitude
(power)
f
r
e
q
u
e
n
c
y
Time domain
Measurements
Frequency Domain
Measurements
Frequency Versus Time Domain
Page 7
f
1
f
2
Fourier Spectrum Analyzer
Fourier analyzer transforms a signal over time
into a frequency spectrum
Display
A
m
p
l
i
t
u
d
e
Frequency
Page 8
f
f
1
f
2
Swept-Tuned Spectrum Analyzer
Filter sweeps over a frequency range
Display
A
m
p
l
i
t
u
d
e
Frequency
Page 9
Agenda
Overview: Spectrum analysis and its
measurements
Theory of Operation: Spectrum analyzer
hardware
Frequency Specifications
Questions and Answers break
Amplitude Specifications
Summary
Questions and Answers break
Page 10
Filter
Frequency
Reference
Log
Amp
RF Input
Attenuator
Mixer
IF
Filter
Detector
Video
Filter
Local
Oscillator
Sweep
Generator
IF
Gain
Input
Display
Spectrum Analyzer Block Diagram
Page 11
MIXER
RF
LO
IF
The Mixer: Key to a Wide Frequency
Range
Input
RF = Radio frequency
LO = local oscillator
IF = intermediate
frequency
f
LO
f
in
0
0
0
f
LO
-f
in
f
LO
+f
in
f
LO
Page 12
IF FILTER
Input
Intermediate Frequency (IF) Filter
IF Bandwidth: also known as
resolution bandwidth and
RBW
Provides shape of frequency
domain signal
f
Displayed Actual
f
Page 13
DETECTOR
Negative detection: smallest
Positive detection: largest
Sample detection: last
A
m
p
l
i
t
u
d
e
Input
Detector
Values Displayed
Page 14
VIDEO
FILTER
Input
Without video filtering With video filtering
Video Filter
Page 15
LCD DISPLAY
SWEEP
GEN
LO
frequency
Local Oscillator and Sweep Generator
Provides swept display
Page 16
IF GAIN
RF INPUT
ATTENUATOR
Input Attenuator and IF Gain
Circuits
Protects input circuits
Calibrates signal amplitude
Keeps signal display position constant
Page 17
Agenda
Overview: Spectrum analysis and its
measurements
Theory of Operation: Spectrum analyzer
hardware
Frequency Specifications
Questions and Answers break
Amplitude Specifications
Summary
Questions and Answers break
Page 18
What Spectrum Analyzer
Specifications are Important?
Frequency Range
Frequency and Amplitude Accuracy
Frequency Resolution
Sensitivity
Distortion
Dynamic Range
Page 19
Frequency Range
Low frequencies for
baseband and IF
High frequencies for
harmonics and beyond
Page 20
Getting the Frequency Range You Need
LO
Mixer
IF signal, f
if
f
in
f
in
Range
0
1
LO Range
0
2
f
LO
-f
in
f
LO
+f
in
f
LO
3
f
if
1
2
3
0
frequency
The input signal is
displayed when
f
LO
- f
in
= f
IF
Page 21
Sweep
generator
LO
Getting the Frequency Range You Need
0
f
in
f
LO
-f
in
f
LO
+f
in
f
LO
f
in
Range
0
1
LO Range
0
2
3
4
Display
f
if
LO Feedthrough
IF
filter
Page 22
LO
Getting the Frequency Range You Need
0
f
in
f
LO
-f
in
f
LO
+f
in
f
LO
f
if
3
4
f
in
f
in
Range
0
1
LO Range
0
2
Input signal
displayed
f
LO
- f
in
= f
IF
Page 23
Getting the Frequency Range You Need
Lower frequency limited by LO feedthrough
Upper frequency limited by LO range and IF
frequency
Microwave frequency measurement uses
harmonic mixing
Page 24
Absolute
Amplitude
in dBm
Relative
Amplitude
in dB
Relative
Frequency
Frequency
Frequency and Amplitude Accuracy
Page 25
Frequency and Amplitude Accuracy
Frequency accuracy:
Internal/external frequency reference
Use of internal counter
Amplitude accuracy:
Not as good as a power meter
Dependent upon measurement procedure
Excellent relative measurements
Page 26
Resolution Bandwidth Residual FM
Noise Sidebands
What Determines Resolution?
RBW Type and Selectivity
Signal Resolution
Page 27
3 dB
3 dB BW
LO
Mixer
IF Filter/
Resolution Bandwidth Filter (RBW)
Sweep
Detector
Input
Spectrum
Display
RBW
IF Filter Bandwidth
Page 28
3 dB
10 kHz
10 kHz RBW
Resolving Two Equal-level Signals
Page 29
3 dB
60 dB
60 dB BW
60 dB BW
3 dB BW
3 dB BW
Selectivity =
Resolving Two Unequal-level Signals
3 dB bandwidth
Selectivity (filter shape)
Page 30
10 kHz
Distortion
Resolving Two Unequal-level Signals
For a RBW of 1 kHz and a selectivity of 15:1,
the 60 dB bandwidth is 15 x 1 kHz = 15 kHz...
so the filter skirt is 7.5 kHz away from the filters
center frequency
7.5 kHz
60 dB
Page 31
Residual FM
"Smears" the Signal
Residual FM
Page 32
Noise Sidebands can prevent resolution of
unequal signals
Phase Noise
Noise Sidebands (Phase Noise)
Page 33
Penalty For Sweeping Too Fast
Is An Uncalibrated Display
Swept too fast
Sweep Rate
Page 34
SPAN 3 kHz
RES BW 100 Hz
Typical
Selectivity
Analog 15:1
Digital 5:1
Analog versus Digital Resolution
Bandwidths
Analog
Filter
Digital
Filter
Page 35
Rules to Analyze By:
Use the Analyzers Automatic
Settings Whenever Possible
When using the analyzer in its preset
mode, most measurements will be easy,
fast, and accurate
Automatic selection of resolution
bandwidth, video bandwidth, sweep time
and input attenuation
When manually changing the analyzer
parameters, check for uncal messages
Are There Any Questions?
Page 37
Agenda
Overview: Spectrum analysis and its
measurements
Theory of Operation: Spectrum analyzer
hardware
Frequency Specifications
Questions and Answers break
Amplitude Specifications
Summary
Questions and Answers break
Page 38
Sweep
LO
Mixer
RF
Input
RES BW
Filter
Detector
A spectrum analyzer generates and
amplifies noise just like any active circuit.
Sensitivity and Displayed Average
Noise Level
Page 39
10 dB
Attenuation = 10 dB
Attenuation = 20 dB
signal level
Displayed noise is a function of RF input
attenuation
Signal-to-noise ratio decreases as
RF input attenuation is increased
RF Input Attenuator Effects
Page 40
Decreased BW = Decreased Noise
100 kHz RBW
10 dB
Displayed noise is a function of IF filter bandwidth
IF Filter (Resolution Bandwidth)
Effects
10 kHz RBW
1 kHz RBW
10 dB
Best sensitivity = narrowest RBW
Page 41
Video BW smoothes noise for easier
identification and measurement of low-
level signals
Video Bandwidth Effects
Page 42
Signal
equals
noise
~2.2 dB
Sensitivity - the smallest signal that
can be measured
Page 43
Rules to Analyze By:
Getting the Best Sensitivity Requires
Three Settings
Narrowest resolution bandwidth
Minimum RF attenuation
Sufficient video filter to smooth noise
(VBW < 0.01 Resolution BW)
Page 44
Resulting
signal
Mixers Generate Distortion
Where is Distortion Generated?
Signal to be
measured
Frequency
translated signals
Mixer-generated
distortion
Page 45
Most Influential Distortion is the
Second and Third Order
Two-Toned Intermod Harmonic Distortion
< -50 dBc
< -50 dBc
< -40 dBc
Page 46
f 2f
3f
Power
in dB
Distortion Increases as a Function of
the Fundamentals Power
=1 dB
=2 dB
=3 dB
Fundamental
2nd
Harmonic
3rd
Harmonic
For every dB fundamental level change,
the 2nd changes 2 dB and the 3rd changes 3 dB.
Page 47
How Distortion Amplitudes Change
Since distortion changes relative to the
fundamental, a graphical solution is practical.
f 2f
3f
1 dB/dB
fund
2 dB/dB
fund
=1 dB
=2 dB =3 dB
Page 48
0
-20
-40
-60
-80
-100
-60 -30 0 +30
.
Third Order
Intercept - TOI
Second
Order
Third
Order
Plotting Distortion as a Function of
Mixer Level
+5
D
i
s
t
o
r
t
i
o
n
,

d
B
c
Power at the mixer =
Input level minus the attenuator setting, dBm
Page 49
Is the distortion from the signal or from the analyzer?
No change in amplitude -
distortion is part of input
signal (external)
Change Input
Attenuation by 10 dB
1
Watch Signal on Screen:
Change in amplitude - at least some
of the distortion is being generated
inside the analyzer (internal)
IF GAIN
RF INPUT
ATTENUATOR
Rules to Analyze by:
A Simple Distortion Test
2
Page 50
Dynamic
Range
Dynamic Range -
Optimum Amplitude Difference
Between Large and Small Signals
Page 51
.
Displayed Noise Limits
Dynamic Range
D
i
s
t
o
r
t
i
o
n
,

d
B
c
0
-20
-40
-60
-80
-100
-60 -30 0 +30
Noise at 10 kHz
RBW
Displayed average
noise level can be
plotted like distortion.
1 kHz
RBW
Power at the mixer =
Input level minus the attenuator setting, dBm
Page 52
. .
Maximum 2nd
Order Dynamic
Range
Maximum 3rd
Order Dynamic
Range
Dynamic Range as a Function of
Distortion and Noise Level
D
i
s
t
o
r
t
i
o
n

a
n
d

S
i
g
n
a
l
-
t
o
-
N
o
i
s
e
,

d
B
c
0
-20
-40
-60
-80
-100
Power at the mixer =
Input level minus the attenuator setting, dBm
-60 -30 0 +30
Page 53
Displayed
Noise Level
Close-in Dynamic Range Limited by
Noise Sidebands
100 kHz
to 1 MHz
S
i
d
e
b
a
n
d

N
o
i
s
e
Dynamic Range
Limited By Noise
Sidebands, dBc/Hz
Dynamic Range
Limited By
Distortion and
Displayed Noise
Page 54
Rules to Analyze by:
Determining Dynamic Range
Internal second and/or third order
distortion
Displayed noise level
Noise sidebands when close to
large signals
Your spectrum analyzers dynamic range
is dependent upon:
Page 55
+30 dBm Maximum Power Level
+10dBm
-45 dBm Second-order Distortion
Mixer Compression
-35 dBm Third-order Distortion
Signal/Noise
Range
105 dB
Measurement
Range 145 dB
Third Order
Distortion
~80 dB
0 dBc Noise Sidebands
Dynamic Range is
Defined by Your Application
Second Order
Distortion
~70 dB
Noise
Sidebands
60 dBc/1 kHz
-115 dBm Displayed Noise (1 kHz RBW, 0 dB attenuation)
Page 56
Summary
The RF spectrum analyzer is a heterodyne receiver
Offers a narrow resolution capability over a wide
frequency range
Measures small signals in presence of large signals
Remember to:
Adjust the measurement procedure for specific
application
Test for internal distortion
Take sideband noise into account
Page 57
Agilent Spectrum Analyzer Product Families - Swept Tuned
PSA Series
Highest performance SA!
3 Hz to 50 GHz
Pre-selection to 50 GHz
Worlds best accuracy
(0.24dB)
160 RBW settings
Phase noise optimization
FFT or swept at any RBW
Complete set of detectors
Fastest spur search
Vector signal analysis.
856X- EC Series
Super Mid-Performance
30 Hz to 50 / 325 GHz
Rugged/Portable
Pre-selection to 50 GHz
Color LCD Display
Low Phase Noise
Digital 1 Hz RBW
ESA-L Series
Low cost
9 kHz up to 26.5 GHz
General Purpose
Rugged/Portable
Fully synthesized
ESA-E Series
Mid-Performance
30 Hz to 26.5 / 325 GHz
Rugged/Portable
Fast & Accurate
Unparalled range of
performance and
application options.
Remote WEB interface
Page 58
Agilent Vector Signal Analyzer Product Families
89600 Series
Multi-Format & Flexible vector signal analysis
DC 6.0 GHz
Bandwidth: 36 MHz RF, 40 MHz Baseband
RF and modulation quality of digital
communications signals including WLAN.
Spectrum & Time (FFT) Analysis
OFDM Analysis (802.11a)
Links to design software (ADS)
PC Based for the Ultimate in Connectivity
Analysis software links to PSA, ESA, E4406A signal
analyzers.
E4406A
Multi-Format wireless
capabilities
7 MHz - 4 GHz
Fast & Accurate
Simple User Interface
Base-band IQ
inputs
89400 Series
Flexible Signal Analysis
DC to 2.65 GHz
10 MHz Signal Bandwidth
Block Digital demodulation
Integral Signal Source
Spectrum & Time waveform
Analysis
Complex time varying signals
Color LCD Display
89600 Ultra-wide bandwidth
500+ MHz Signal Bandwidth!
89600 Analysis Capability
Low Cost Oscilloscope Front-end for
RF Scope measurements
Page 59
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