SPECTRUM

ANALYZER

ADVANCED RF
MEASUREMEN
TS
LAB REPORT 1
Anum Ahmed
Pirkani
171625
MSEE 08
RF& MW 07
 INTRODUCTION

A spectrum analyser is defined as:

Frequency selective peak-responding voltmeter calibrated to
display the RMS value of a sine wave.

Spectrum analyser measures the magnitude of a signal versus frequency

to give valuable information like frequency, power, distortion, harmonics
and bandwidth etc. of signals.

LAB OBJECTIVE
The objective of this lab is:
Observation of different tests performed using a spectrum analyser
Learning about different functions of spectrum analyser

LAB EQUIPMENT
The equipment used the lab is:

Spectrum analyser
RF Signal generator
RF Signal Combiner
 RESOLUTION BANDWIDTH; DISCERNING CLOSELY
SPACED SIGNALS OF SAME MAGNITUDE

Two signals are generated using signal generators

These signals have same frequency of 2.4GHz and amplitude level is
kept same
These two signals are displayed as a single signal on spectrum
analyser due to same centre frequency
To differentiate the signals, the frequency of second signal is
changed by 10 kHz
As a result of this, the difference in both signals becomes 10 kHz
The RBW (resolution bandwidth) is set at 60 kHz
The signals cannot be distinguished at this RBW
The RBW is now decreased so that the signals can be distinguished
The RBW is decreased at 10 kHz step size
The signals start to differentiate when RBW is approximately equal
to 10 kHz

BLOCK DIAGRAM

RF
Generator
Signal Spectrum
1
Combiner Analyser
RF
Generator
2

RESULT
Therefore, it is concluded that by decreasing the RBW (resolution
bandwidth), two closely spaced signals (spaced by f) can be
distinguished. The RBW for this must be less than the frequency difference
between the two signals.
 FREQUENCY SKIRT, DISCERNING CLOSELY SPACED
SIGNALS OF DIFFERENT MAGNITUDE

Two signals are generated using signal generators

These signals have same frequency of 2.4GHz
The amplitude level is kept different for the two signals
P1= -10 dBm
P2= -7 dBm
The two signals are displayed as a single signal on spectrum
analyser.
The frequency of second signal is gradually increased at 10 kHz
step size.
When the frequency difference between the two signals is
approximately 70 kHz, the signals can be differentiated.

BLOCK DIAGRAM

RF
Generator
Signal Spectrum
1
Combiner Analyser
RF
Generator
2

RESULT
It is therefore concluded that two signals of different magnitude but same
frequency must be separated by at least one half the n dB bandwidth of
the filter in order to resolve the signal of smaller amplitude.
 EFFECT OF RF ATTENUATOR ON SPECTRUM
ANALYSER SNR

BLOCK DIAGRAM

RF Signal RF
Generator attenuator Spectrum
Analyser

Spectrum
Analyser

The RF attenuation of the spectrum analyser is gradually increased

from 20 dB to 70 dB
With the gradual change of attenuation level, the effect on output
SNR is observed
As attenuation is changed from 20 to 70 dB the noise floor level of
spectrum analyser rises from -75 dBm to 40 dBm

RESULT
As the RF attenuation is increased, the signal level of signal generated
from signal generator remains constant but the (amplified) noise level
increases by roughly ndB. This is because of the reason that after the
mixer, internal noise is generated. By changing the value of RF attenuator,
actual noise level is not affected, but the signal level at input of spectrum
analysers mixer stage changes hence, SNR degrades.

AM MODULATION ON SPECTRUM ANALYSER

AM modulated signal is generated using signal generator

This modulated signal is observed on the spectrum analyser
The modulated data appears as sidebands at a carrier frequency of
2.4 GHz with 2.4 GHz 500 MHz.
 BLOCK DIAGRAM

RF
Generator
Signal Spectrum
1
Combiner Analyser
RF
Generator
2

RESULT:
The position of two sidebands show small variation because the two RF
signal generators are not synchronized. This can be prevented by phase
locking the signal generators.

EFFECT OF VIDEO BANDWIDTH ON SIGNAL

RF signal generator is used to produce a signal

This signal is then displayed on spectrum analyser
The video bandwidth (VBW) of the analyser is gradually changed
Change in the displayed noise level is observed

Video Noise peak level

Bandwidth change
Initial 1 kHz -60 dB
Increased 300 kHz -58 dB
Decreased 500 Hz -65 dB

BLOCK DIAGRAM

RF Spectrum
Generator Analyser
 RESULT
As video bandwidth (VBW) is reduced, the signal becomes smoother and
noise fluctuations are decreased. Average noise level is not affected by
changing the VBW. However, the peak to peak variation of noise are
changed.

CONCLUSION

The lab gave an experience of using spectrum analyser and provided

understanding of most basic functions of spectrum analyser like viewing,
discerning and analysing signals of different amplitudes and frequency
spacing.
AM modulation and effect of resolution bandwidth, video bandwidth and
RF attenuation on displayed signal were observed.