Assignment-VII and Its Solution

1. The third order intercept point of a non-linear device is

A. more than the 1-dB compression point

B. less than the 1-dB compression point
C. equal to 1-dB compression point
D. none of these

Solution:
The third order intercept point of a non-linear amplifier is always greater than the
1-dB compression point. Generally, the third order intercept point is 10 dB higher
than the 1-dB compression point. Hence, the appropriate choice is A.

2. Two single tone frequencies 3718 MHz and 3728 MHz are input to a power amplifier
operating in nonlinear mode. Considering upto 5th order intermodulation effect, which
of the following frequency will not have intermodulation interference?

A. 3728 MHz
B. 3698 MHz
C. 3738 MHz
D. 3708 MHz

Solution:
Let us consider ω1 = 3718 MHz and Ω2 = 3728 MHz Considering the 3rd order
intermodulation effect, the generated IM frequencies would be 2ω2 − ω1 = 3738MHz
and 2ω1 −ω2 = 3708 MHz. Similarly, considering the 5th order intermodulation effects,
the generated IM frequencies are 3ω1 − 2ω2 = 3698 MHz and 3ω2 − 2ω1 = 3748 MHz.
So, the correct option is A.

3. A deep space probe is moving away from earth at a velocity of 15 Km/s ± 3m/s.
The probe transmits at 14 GHz with transmitter clock drift of ±10−9 Hz/Hz/day.
Receiver at earth has clock drift of ±10−13 Hz/Hz/day. After 30 days of silence the
probe starts transmitting to earth. What search bandwidth should be used by the
receiver at earth?

A. 1120 Hz
B. 560 Hz
C. 420 Hz
D. 140 Hz

Solution:
There are three cases this question where the frequency shift has to be considered.
3×14×109
Firstly, the Doppler shift due to the velocity of the space probe, fs . So, fs = 3×108
=
140Hz.
Secondly, the frequency shift due to frequency instability of transmitter, ft . So, ft =
30×10−9 ×14×109 = 420Hz. Similarly, the frequency shift due to instability of the local

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 oscillator fr is fr = 10−13 × 30 × 14 × 109 = 0.042Hz. As the frequency shift may occur
bidirectionally, hence, the search bandwidth is 2 × (140 + 420 + 0.042) = 1120.084Hz.
So, the correct one is A

4. A low-noise amplifier and mixer are shown in Figure Below. The amplifier has a gain
of 20 dB and a third-order intercept point of 22 dBm (referenced at output), and the
mixer has a conversion loss of 6 dB and a third-order intercept point of 13 dBm (ref-
erenced at input). Find the intercept points of the cascade network for both a phase
coherence assumption and a random-phase (noncoherence) assumption.

A. 4.4 dBm and 4.9 dBm

B. 6.4 dBm and 6.9 dBm

C. 2.4 dBm and 9.2 dBm

D. 4.2 dBm and 9.6 dBm

Solution:
First we transfer the reference of IP3 for the mixer from its input to its output:
OIP’3 =IIP”3 G2 = 13 dBm −6 dB = 7 dBm. Now converting the necessary dB values
to numerical values yields:
OIP’3 = 22 dBm = 158 mW (for amplifier)
OIP’3 = 7 dBm = 5 mW (for mixer)
G2 = −6 dB = 0.25 (for mixer)
Assuming the coherence, the Intercept point can be calculated as
1 1 −1
OIP3 = ( + )
G2 (OIP’3 ) IIP’3
1 1
=( + )−1
(0.25)(158) 5
= 4.4 mW
= 6.4 dBm

Similarly for non coherence case

1 1
OIP3 = ( + )−0.5
G22 (OIP’3 )2(IIP’3 )2
1 1
=( 2 2
+ 2 )−0.5
(0.25) (158) 5
= 4.96 mW
= 6.9 dBm

Hence, the appropriate choice is B.

5. A station is allotted to start its burst 1.5 milliseconds from the start of reference frame
having frame duration of 4 milliseconds. To start the burst synchronization process,
with an estimated one hop propagation delay of 125 milliseconds. Find when the
station transmits its burst from the start of received reference burst.

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 A. 1.5 milliseconds
B. 2.5 milliseconds
C. 3.5 milliseconds
D. 4.5 milliseconds

Solution:
We know that D = (m × Tf ) − (2 × Pn ) = (63 × 4) − (2 × 125) = 2 milliseconds. The
m is an integer quantity and taken by iteration as 63. Thus the burst transmit time
from the reception of reference frame will beD + Tn = 2 + 1.5 = 3.5 milliseconds. So,
the appropriate choice is C.

6. The 3rd order intermodulation distortion is a measure of distortion created by

A. DC signals
B. two carriers
C. single carriers
D. all of these

Solution:
The 3rd order intermodulation effect is a measure of distortion created in a non-linear
device when two carriers of same or different frequency are given input to the non-linear
device. So, the appropriate option is B.

7. The spurious free dynamic range is defined as

A. the maximum output signal power for which the power of the third-order inter-
modulation product is equal to the noise level of the component, divided by the
output noise level
B. the maximum output signal power for which the power of the second-order inter-
modulation product is equal to the noise level of the component, divided by the
output noise level
C. the maximum output signal power for which the power of the third-order inter-
modulation product is equal to the noise level of the component, divided by the
input noise level
D. the maximum output signal power for which the power of the second-order inter-
modulation product is equal to the noise level of the component, divided by the
input noise level

Solution:
The appropriate one is A.

8. Two sinusoidal signals with amplitude ratio of 2:1 are applied to a nonlinear compo-
nent. Assuming Taylor series expansion, what is the relative power ratio (maximum
to minimum) in dB of the resulting two 3rd order intermodulation products?

A. 14 dB
B. 16 dB
C. 18 dB

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 D. 22 dB

Solution:
Let us assume the two toes are V1 (t) = 3V cos ω1 t and V2 (t) = V cos ω2 t. Hence the
input voltage is sum of these two tones, i.e. Vin (t) = V1 (t) + V2 (t). The output voltage
from the nonlinear components assuming the Taylor series expansion is
V0 (t) = a0 + a1 Vin (t) + a2 Vin2 (t) + a3 Vin3 (t) + .... So, the coefficient of 2ω1 − ω2 will be
3 ( 3 a (2V )3 )2
a (3V )3 and 2ω2 −ω1 will be 34 a3 (V )3 . Therefore in power ratio will be (43 a3 (V )3 )2 = 82
4 3 4 3
Hence the relative power ratio is 82 , which is equivalently 10 log(82 ) = 18.06 ≈ 18 dB.
So, the appropriate choice is C.

9. A receiver has noise figure of 4 dB, 1−dB compression point and 3rd order intercept
point (both reference to output) are 15 dBm and 25 dBm respectively, and a gain
of 40 dB. If the receiver is fed with an antenna noise temperature of 150K. Find the
minimum output backoff required for spurious free operation. Assume T0 = 290K,
bandwidth= 1 MHz and for simplicity assume SNR= 0 dB.

A. 11 dB
B. 22 dB
C. 33 dB
D. 44 dB

Solution:
The antenna noise temperature is 150K, the Noise figure is 4 dB. Hence, the noise
equivalent temperature of the receiver is Te = (100.4 − 1) × 290 = 438.44K. Therefore,
the noise equivalent temperature of the system would be T = (150 + 438.44) = 588.44
K which is equivalently 27.70 dBK.
The overall noise power of the system (in dB)is N0 = G+T +k +B = 40+27.70+60−
228.6 = −100.9 dBw or equivalently −70.9 dBm. Now from the definition of linear
dynamic range Dl (dB) = OP1-dB − N0 = 15 − (−70.9) = 85.9 dB. Similarly, from the
definition of spurious free dynamic range, Ds (dB) = 32 [OP3-dB − N0 ] = 64 dB.
Hence, the required output backoff would be 85.9 − 64 = 21.9 dB. So, the appropriate
choice is B.

10. A deep space probe is moving away from earth at a velocity of 10Km/s ± 1.5m/s.
The probe transmits at 8 GHz with transmitter clock drift of < ±10−9 Hz/Hz/day.
Receiver at earth has clock drift of < ±1010 Hz/Hz/day. After 45 days of silence the
probe starts transmitting towards earth. Determine the maximum time offset in time
of arrival of downlink transmission. Assume in the beginning the uncertainty of time
and frequency of probe is zero.

A. 86.4 milliseconds
B. 0.10648 second
C. 106.48 seconds
D. 68.4 milliseconds

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Solution:
The range uncertainty due to uncertainty in velocity is ∆tr = 1.5×86400×45
3×108
= 0.01944
second.
2
The time uncertainty due to the frequency variation is 10 ×86400×45
−9
2
= 0.0874 second.
Hence, the total uncertainty in the time would be combination of both the uncertainties
0.01944 + 0.0874 = 0.10684 second. Hence, the appropriate choice is B.