Signal/Spectrum Analyzer Races Through Production Testing

Jan. 26, 2009
This mid-priced instrument can perform 1000 sweep/s under remote control, has an analysis bandwidth as wide as 40 MHz, and offers operation to either 3.6 or 7 GHz.

Manufacturers of electronic equipment for wireless applications such as IEEE 802.11n, WiMAX, and Long Term Evolution (LTE) communications systems need test equipment with performance matched to these standards. The R&S FSV signal analyzer from Rohde & Schwarz fills the bill for wireless production testing, with manual speed of 500 sweeps/s and automated speed of 1000 sweeps/s.

The R&S FSV (see figure) is available in versions covering 9 kHz to 3.6 GHz or 9 kHz to 7.0 GHz, with an option for low-frequency extension to 20 Hz. Frequency can be tuned with 1-Hz resolution. The signal analyzer features a third-order intercept of +18 dBm, phase noise of 110 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset from a 1-GHz carrier, and noise floor of 155 dBm or better.

The analyzer is available with measurement packages for all major wireless standards, and has a touch-sensitive front-panel user interface that includes a "virtual" mouse and keyboard. It includes a removable hard drive and can disable its Universal Serial Bus (USB) port to prevent movement of data in secure facilities (see table).

At low frequencies, the R&S FSV employs direct digital conversion of RF signals, eliminating degradation typical of many analyzers caused by local oscillator (LO) feedthrough and phase noise. The instrument's 16-b, 128-MHz analog-to-digital converter (ADC) digitizes the last intermediate- frequency (IF) stage in the RF signal-processing chain. It is backed by enough memory to support recording signal information at sample rates to 200 MSamples/s. The analyzer's resolution bandwidth can be set from 1 Hz to 10 MHz as well as at 20 and 28 MHz; in addition, an option is available for 40-MHz capability in zero-span mode. The low-level measurement uncertainty is 0.3 dB to 3 GHz and 0.4 dB to 7 GHz, matching a stand-alone power meter.

The instrument's "Auto-Set" function can determine signal frequency and level with the press of a button. The R&S FSV includes many automated measurements, including adjacent-channel power (ACP), complementary cumulative distribution function (CCDF), spurious emissions, and harmonic measurements. Rohde & Schwarz, 8661A Robert Fulton Dr., Columbia, MD 21046-2265; (410) 910-7800, Internet: www.rohde-schwarz.com.

Sponsored Recommendations

Frequency Modulation Fundamentals

March 14, 2024
The development of crystal-clear FM communications was an innovation of genius and toil. Utilized today in applications such as radar, seismology, telemetry and two-way radios...

44 GHz Programmable Signal Generator

March 14, 2024
The Mini-Circuits SSG-44G-RC is a 0.1 to 44 GHz signal source with an RF output range of -40 to +17 dBm with fine resolution. This model supports CW and pulsed (? 0.5 ?s) outputs...

Webinar: Introduction to OTA Measurement for mmWave and Sub-THz

Feb. 19, 2024
Join Jeanmarc Laurent, a leading expert from MilliBox, for an exclusive live webinar showcasing a complete Over-the-Air (OTA) testing system setup. In this immersive session, ...

Using a CMT VNA with Socket Server

Feb. 19, 2024
This application note describes use of a software application CMT Socket Server which is distributed and supported by Aphena Ltd. Please email [email protected] regarding purchase...