Jeff Thomas

Tom Holmes
Terri Hightower

Learn RF Spectrum
Analysis Basics
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 2
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 3
Overview: What is Spectrum Analysis?

8563A SPECTRUM ANALYZER 9 kHz - 26.5 GHz

Page 4
Types of Tests Made .

Modulation
Modulation

Noise
Noise

Distortion
Distortion

Page 5
Frequency Versus Time Domain
Amplitude cy
e n
(power) f requ

ti m
e

Time domain
Frequency Domain
Measurements
Measurements

Page 6
Fourier Spectrum Analyzer
Fourier analyzer transforms a signal over time
into a frequency spectrum
Amplitude Display

f1 f2 Frequency

Page 7
Swept-Tuned Spectrum Analyzer
Filter “sweeps” over a frequency range

Amplitude Display

f1 f2 Frequency f

Page 8
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 9
Spectrum Analyzer Block Diagram

RF Input Mixer IF IF
Attenuator Gain Filter Detector

Input
Filter Log Video
Amp Filter
Local
Oscillator
Sweep
Frequency Generator
Reference Display

Page 10
The Mixer: Key to a Wide Frequency
Range MIXER

Input

fLO
RF IF
fLO-fin fLO+fin
LO
0 fin 0
RF = Radio frequency
LO = local oscillator
IF = intermediate
frequency
0 fLO
Page 11
Intermediate Frequency (IF) Filter
IF FILTER

Input

• IF Bandwidth: also known as Actual Displayed

resolution bandwidth and
RBW
• Provides shape of frequency
domain signal f f
Page 12
Detector
Input DETECTOR

Amplitude
Values Displayed
Positive detection: largest
Negative detection: smallest

Sample detection: last

Page 13
Video Filter
Input
VIDEO
FILTER

Without video filtering With video filtering

Page 14
Local Oscillator and Sweep Generator

LO
SWEEP
GEN
frequency
LCD DISPLAY

• Provides swept display

Page 15
Input Attenuator and IF Gain
Circuits
RF INPUT
ATTENUATOR IF GAIN

• Protects input circuits

• Calibrates signal amplitude
• Keeps signal display position constant
Page 16
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 17
What Spectrum Analyzer
Specifications are Important?

• Frequency Range
• Frequency and Amplitude Accuracy
• Frequency Resolution
• Sensitivity
• Distortion
• Dynamic Range

Page 18
Frequency Range
Low frequencies for
baseband and IF
High frequencies for
harmonics and beyond

Page 19
Getting the Frequency Range You Need
fif
1

0 fin Range
IF signal, fif
1 fin 3 2
Mixer
0 LO Range
LO 2
fLO
3 fLO-fin fLO+fin
The input signal is
displayed when
fLO - fin = fIF 0 frequency
Page 20
Getting the Frequency Range You Need
fLO
fLO-fin fLO+fin
LO Feedthrough 3

fif
1
fin
IF
0 fin Range filter

LO
2
Sweep
generator
0 LO Range 4 0 Display
Page 21
Getting the Frequency Range You Need
Input signal fLO-fin fLO fLO+fin
displayed 3
fLO - fin = fIF
fif
1
fin
0 fin Range

LO fin
2

0 LO Range 4 0
Page 22
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 23
Frequency and Amplitude Accuracy
Absolute
Amplitude Relative
in dBm Amplitude
in dB

Frequency
Relative
Frequency

Page 24
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 25
Signal Resolution
What Determines Resolution?

Resolution Bandwidth Residual FM

RBW Type and Selectivity Noise Sidebands

Page 26
 IF Filter Bandwidth 3 dB

Mixer Detector
3 dB BW
Input
Spectrum
IF Filter/
LO Resolution Bandwidth Filter (RBW)

Sweep

RBW

Display

Page 27
Resolving Two Equal-level Signals

10 kHz RBW

3 dB

10 kHz

Page 28
Resolving Two Unequal-level Signals
•3 dB bandwidth
•Selectivity (filter shape)

3 dB
3 dB BW

60 dB

60 dB BW

3 dB BW
Selectivity =
60 dB BW
Page 29
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 filter’s
center frequency

10 kHz
60 dB Distortion

7.5 kHz
Page 30
Residual FM

Residual FM
"Smears" the Signal
Page 31
Noise Sidebands (Phase Noise)

Phase Noise

Noise Sidebands can prevent resolution of

unequal signals
Page 32
Sweep Rate

Swept too fast

Penalty For Sweeping Too Fast

Is An Uncalibrated Display
Page 33
 Analog versus Digital Resolution
Bandwidths

Typical
Analog Selectivity
Filter Analog 15:1
Digital Digital 5:1
Filter

RES BW 100 Hz SPAN 3 kHz

Page 34
Rules to Analyze By:
Use the Analyzer’s 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
Page 35
Are There Any Questions?
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 37
Sensitivity and Displayed Average
Noise Level
Mixer Detector
RF
Input
RES BW
Filter

LO

Sweep

A spectrum analyzer generates and

amplifies noise just like any active circuit.
Page 38
RF Input Attenuator Effects
Displayed noise is a function of RF input
attenuation
10 dB
signal level

Attenuation = 10 dB Attenuation = 20 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio decreases as
RF input attenuation is increased
Page 39
IF Filter (Resolution Bandwidth)
Effects
Displayed noise is a function of IF filter bandwidth
Decreased BW = Decreased Noise

100 kHz RBW

10 dB
10 kHz RBW
10 dB
1 kHz RBW

Best sensitivity = narrowest RBW

Page 40
Video Bandwidth Effects
Video BW smoothes noise for easier
identification and measurement of low-
level signals

Page 41
Sensitivity - the smallest signal that
can be measured

~2.2 dB
Signal
equals
noise
Page 42
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 43
Where is Distortion Generated?
Mixers Generate Distortion

Resulting
Frequency signal
Signal to be translated signals
measured

Mixer-generated
distortion
Page 44
Most Influential Distortion is the
Second and Third Order

< -50 dBc < -40 dBc

< -50 dBc

Two-Toned Intermod Harmonic Distortion

Page 45
Distortion Increases as a Function of
the Fundamental’s Power
2nd 3rd
Fundamental Harmonic Harmonic
∆ =1 dB

Power ∆=2 dB ∆=3 dB

in dB

f 2f 3f
For every dB fundamental level change,
the 2nd changes 2 dB and the 3rd changes 3 dB.
Page 46
 How Distortion Amplitudes Change
∆ =1 dB
1 dB/dBfund 2 dB/dBfund

∆=2 dB ∆=3 dB

f 2f 3f
Since distortion changes relative to the
fundamental, a graphical solution is practical.

Page 47
Plotting Distortion as a Function of
Third Order
Mixer Level
Intercept - TOI
0 .

-20
Distortion, dBc

Second
-40 Order
-60
-80 Third
Order
-100
-60 -30 0 +5 +30
Power at the mixer =
Input level minus the attenuator setting, dBm

Page 48
 Rules to Analyze by:
A Simple Distortion Test
Is the distortion from the signal or from the analyzer?
Change Input
1 2 Watch Signal on Screen:
Attenuation by 10 dB
RF INPUT
ATTENUATOR IF GAIN

No change in amplitude - Change in amplitude - at least some

distortion is part of input of the distortion is being generated
signal (external) inside the analyzer (internal)
Page 49
Dynamic Range -
Optimum Amplitude Difference
Between Large and Small Signals

Dynamic
Range

Page 50
Displayed Noise Limits
Dynamic Range
Displayed average
0
noise level can be
Distortion, dBc

-20
.

plotted like distortion.

-40

-60
Noise at 10 kHz
-80 1 kHz RBW
RBW
-100
-60 -30 0 +30
Power at the mixer =
Input level minus the attenuator setting, dBm

Page 51
Dynamic Range as a Function of
Distortion and Noise Level
0
Distortion and Signal-

.
.

Maximum 2nd
-20 Order Dynamic
to-Noise, dBc

Range
-40
Maximum 3rd
Order Dynamic
-60
Range
-80

-100
-60 -30 0 +30
Power at the mixer =
Input level minus the attenuator setting, dBm

Page 52
Close-in Dynamic Range Limited by
Noise Sidebands

Dynamic Range Dynamic Range

Limited By Noise Limited By
Sidebands, dBc/Hz Distortion and
Displayed Noise
Sideb
and N
oise Displayed
Noise Level
100 kHz
to 1 MHz

Page 53
Rules to Analyze by:
Determining Dynamic Range
Your spectrum analyzer’s dynamic range
is dependent upon:
• Internal second and/or third order
distortion
• Displayed noise level
• Noise sidebands when close to
large signals

Page 54
Dynamic Range is
Defined by Your Application
+30 dBm Maximum Power Level
+10 dBm Mixer Compression
Measurement -35 dBm Third-order Distortion
Range 145 dB

Signal/Noise -45 dBm Second-order Distortion

Range
105 dB Third Order 0 dBc Noise Sidebands
Distortion
~80 dB
Second Order Noise
Distortion Sidebands
~70 dB 60 dBc/1 kHz

-115 dBm Displayed Noise (1 kHz RBW, 0 dB attenuation)

Page 55
 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 56
Agilent Spectrum Analyzer Product Families - Swept Tuned
PSA Series ESA-E Series
O Highest performance SA! O Mid-Performance
O 3 Hz to 50 GHz
O 30 Hz to 26.5 / 325 GHz
O Pre-selection to 50 GHz
O Rugged/Portable
O Worlds best accuracy

O Fast & Accurate

(0.24dB)
O 160 RBW settings O Unparalled range of

O Phase noise optimization performance and

O FFT or swept at any RBW
application options.
O Complete set of detectors
O Remote WEB interface
O Fastest spur search

O Vector signal analysis.

ESA-L Series
O Low cost
856X- EC Series O 9 kHz up to 26.5 GHz

O Super Mid-Performance O General Purpose

O 30 Hz to 50 / 325 GHz
O Rugged/Portable
O Rugged/Portable
O Fully synthesized
O Pre-selection to 50 GHz

O Color LCD Display

O Low Phase Noise

O Digital 1 Hz RBW

Page 57
Agilent Vector Signal Analyzer Product Families
E4406A 89400 Series
O Multi-Format wireless O Flexible Signal Analysis
capabilities O DC to 2.65 GHz

O 7 MHz - 4 GHz O 10 MHz Signal Bandwidth

O Fast & Accurate O Block Digital demodulation

O Simple User Interface O Integral Signal Source

O Base-band IQ O Spectrum & Time waveform

inputs Analysis
O Complex time varying signals

O Color LCD Display

89600 Series
O Multi-Format & Flexible vector signal analysis
O DC – 6.0 GHz
89600 Ultra-wide bandwidth
O Bandwidth: 36 MHz RF, 40 MHz Baseband
O 500+ MHz Signal Bandwidth!
O 89600 Analysis Capability
O RF and modulation quality of digital

O Low Cost Oscilloscope Front-end for

communications signals including WLAN.
O Spectrum & Time (FFT) Analysis
“RF Scope” measurements
O OFDM Analysis (802.11a)

O Links to design software (ADS)

O PC Based for the Ultimate in Connectivity

O Analysis software links to PSA, ESA, E4406A signal

analyzers.

Page 58
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