RF / MICROWAVE FUNDAMENTALS

GUIDE TO CALIBRATING SPECTRUM ANALYZER

Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

ARCHITECTURE OF SPECTRUM A ANALYZER

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

KEY ELEMENTS OF SPECTRUM ANALYZER

RF Input Attenuator
Reduces the input signal to prevent mixer saturations

Mixer
Down-converting the input signal to a fixed IF signal

IF Gain
Variable Gain Amplifier at IF frequency to ensure the reference level at the top of the display to corresponds to the required input signal level

IF Filter
Tunable IF bandwidth or resolution bandwidth Determines how well input signals with small frequency differences can be distinguished from each other Determines the Noise floor

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

KEY ELEMENTS OF SPECTRUM ANALYZER (CONT)

Detector/Log Amplifier
Converting RF signal into corresponding Analog Voltages to be displayed on the screen

Video Filter
Uses LPF to average and smooth the displayed traces

Display
Shows the Spectrum of the measured input signal

Sweep Generator
Controls the frequency of the Local Oscillator to ensure fixed IF frequency during the sweep

Local Oscillator
For down-converting input signal into a fixed IF signal via the Mixer

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

LIST OF CALIBRATION TESTS

Display Linearity Noise Floor Input Attenuator Frequency Response and Absolute Amplitude Accuracy Filter Bandwidth and Shape Noise Sidebands Residual FM Calibration Amplitude Accuracy Marker Count Accuracy

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

LIST OF CALIBRATION TESTS (CONT)

Filter Bandwidth Accuracy IF Gain Uncertainty Filter Bandwidth Switching Reference Level Accuracy Frequency Span Accuracy Frequency Readout Accuracy Sweep Time Harmonic Distortion Third-Order Intermodulation Intercept Gain Compression

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

DISPLAY LINEARITY

Calibrates the detector/log amplifier, video filter and display components of the Spectrum Analyzer

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

DISPLAY LINEARITY (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

DISPLAY LINEARITY (CONT)

Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

DISPLAY LINEARITY (CONT)

Verifies Amplitude linearity over a wide dynamic range Requires fixed input attenuator and reference level settings Requires signal source with high-precision attenuation linearity as a reference standard Factors affecting display linearity calibration
Accuracy of reference step attenuators Mismatches Display resolution of Spectrum Analyzer Signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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NOISE FLOOR TEST

Has significant bearing on the Spectrum Analyzers ability to measure low-level signals

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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NOISE FLOOR TEST (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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NOISE FLOOR TEST (CONT)

Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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NOISE FLOOR TEST (CONT)

Need to apply a passive 50-ohm terminator to the Spectrum Analyzers input Need to perform Display Linearity and Reference Level Accuracy Calibration prior to this calibration Mean Noise Level, PM=PR + AR in dBm Factors affecting Noise Floor Calibrations
Resolution of Spectrum Analyzer Display Display Linearity of the Spectrum Analyzer

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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INPUT ATTENUATOR TEST

Calibrates the attenuator circuits of the spectrum analyzer

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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INPUT ATTENUATOR TEST (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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INPUT ATTENUATOR TEST (CONT)

Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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INPUT ATTENUATOR TEST (CONT)

Stepped Attenuator is important as it prevent Mixer from Saturations and damage Monitor MKR while increasing external step attenuator and decreasing the Analyzers input attenuation accordingly Attenuator Accuracy,
ACC = (ATTNOM ATTEXT ACTUAL) - MKR

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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INPUT ATTENUATOR TEST (CONT)

Factors affecting Input Attenuator Calibrations
Accuracy of the external reference step attenuators Mismatch between the 1dB step attenuator and the Spectrum Analyzer input Display resolution of the Spectrum Analyzer Display linearity of the Spectrum Analyzer Signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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ABSOLUTE AMPLITUDE ACCURACY AND FREQUENCY RESPONSE TEST

Calibrates the attenuator and mixer components of the Spectrum Analyzer

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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ABSOLUTE AMPLITUDE ACCURACY AND FREQUENCY RESPONSE TEST (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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ABSOLUTE AMPLITUDE ACCURACY AND FREQUENCY RESPONSE TEST (CONT)

Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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ABSOLUTE AMPLITUDE ACCURACY AND FREQUENCY RESPONSE TEST (CONT)

Measures Amplitude error of the Analyzer as a function of frequency Verifies Analyzers amplitude response at a fixed level over its entire frequency Requires Power Meter and power sensors Compares the Spectrum Analyzer Absolute Power reading and the Power Meter reading at given frequency Performed over 25 to 40 frequency points

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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ABSOLUTE AMPLITUDE ACCURACY AND FREQUENCY RESPONSE TEST (CONT)

Factors affecting Calibration Accuracy
Frequency response of reference power sensor Mismatch between the power splitter and the power sensor and between the power splitter and the Spectrum Analyzer Resolution of the Spectrum Analyzer display Display linearity of the Spectrum Analyzer Harmonic content of the signal generator output

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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RESOLUTION BANDWIDTH AND SELECTIVITY TEST

Calibrates the bandwidth and bandwidth selectivity of the Spectrum Analyzers individual resolution filter

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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RESOLUTION BANDWIDTH AND SELECTIVITY TEST (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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RESOLUTION BANDWIDTH AND SELECTIVITY TEST (CONT) Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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RESOLUTION BANDWIDTH AND SELECTIVITY TEST (CONT)

Bandwidth selectivity (Shape Factor) measures the ability of the Analyzer to resolve closely-spaced signals of unequal amplitude Bandwidth Selectivity = f60dB/ f3dB Factors affecting Bandwidth Selectivity Test
Frequency Span/delta-marker Uncertainty of the span per division Display linearity of the Spectrum Analyzer

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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FILTER BANDWIDTH SWITCHING TEST

Calibrates the gain and filter circuits of the Spectrum Analyzer

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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FILTER BANDWIDTH SWITCHING TEST (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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FILTER BANDWIDTH SWITCHING TEST (CONT) Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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FILTER BANDWIDTH SWITCHING TEST (CONT) Verifies that the filter gain remains constant for different filter bandwidth and span settings Factors affecting Filter Bandwidth Switching Test
Display Linearity of the Spectrum Analyzer Resolution of the Spectrum Analyzer Display

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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REFERENCE LEVEL ACCURACY

Calibrates the IF Amplifier and gain switching circuits

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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REFERENCE LEVEL ACCURACY (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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REFERENCE LEVEL ACCURACY (CONT) Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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REFERENCE LEVEL ACCURACY (CONT) Factors affecting Reference Level Accuracy

Accuracy of the Step Attenuator Mismatches Resolution of the Spectrum Analyzer Display

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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NOISE SIDEBAND TEST

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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NOISE SIDEBAND TEST (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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NOISE SIDEBAND TEST (CONT) Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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NOISE SIDEBAND TEST (CONT)

Verifies that the noise levels at frequency offsets above and below the carrier signal drop off rapidly enough to fall within the specified limits Important to ensure that the signal generator used in this test is known to have low phase noise Can be expressed in dBc or dBc/Hz which shows the sideband noise level normalized to a rectangular 1-Hz bandwidth

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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NOISE SIDEBAND TEST (CONT)

Factors affecting Noise Sideband Test
Display linearity of the Spectrum Analyzer Resolution of the Spectrum Analyzer display Amplitude modulation noise of the Spectrum Analyzer Uncertainty of the 3dB filter bandwidth Amplitude modulation noise of the generator signal Noise sideband of the signal generator

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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RESIDUAL FM TEST

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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RESIDUAL FM TEST (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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RESIDUAL FM TEST (CONT)

Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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RESIDUAL FM TEST (CONT)

measures the residual FM caused by inherent short-term instability of the analyzers local oscillator system uses the linear part of the analyzers IF filter response as an FM demodulator Factors affecting Residual FM Test
Display linearity of the spectrum analyzer Resolution of the spectrum analyzer display The residual FM of the signal generator Uncertainty of the frequency span as tested Nonlinearity of the IF filter response

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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FREQUENCY SPAN TEST

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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FREQUENCY SPAN TEST (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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FREQUENCY SPAN TEST (CONT) Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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FREQUENCY SPAN TEST (CONT) determines the accuracy of the analyzers frequency span test the linearity of the analyzer displays frequency axis Factors affecting Frequency Span Test
Resolution of the spectrum analyzer display and maker readout Frequency accuracy of the synthesizer

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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SWEEP TIME ACCURACY TEST

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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SWEEP TIME ACCURACY TEST (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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SWEEP TIME ACCURACY TEST (CONT) Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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SWEEP TIME ACCURACY TEST (CONT) Sweep Time = (1/fFG) (number of cycles of waveform) Factors affecting Sweep Time Accuracy Test
Resolution of the spectrum analyzer display Frequency accuracy of the function generator

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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HARMONIC DISTORTION TEST

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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HARMONIC DISTORTION TEST (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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HARMONIC DISTORTION TEST (CONT) Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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HARMONIC DISTORTION TEST (CONT)

verifies that any unwanted harmonic distortion generated within the analyzer is within the specified limits Factors affecting Harmonic Distortion Test
Harmonic content of the test signal Uncertainty of the reference level Display linearity of the spectrum analyzer Resolution of the spectrum analyzer display Signal-to-noise ratio

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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THIRD ORDER INTERMODULATION INTERCEPT TEST

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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THIRD ORDER INTERMODULATION INTERCEPT TEST (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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THIRD ORDER INTERMODULATION INTERCEPT TEST (CONT)

Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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THIRD ORDER INTERMODULATION INTERCEPT TEST (CONT) the mixer generate unwanted intermodulation if two signals are present simultaneously at the spectrum analyzer input amount of intermodulation produced is described by the Intermodulation Intercept figure Together with the results of the noise floor test, the intermodulation intercept test will determine the dynamic range of the spectrum analyzer third order intermodulation intercept, TOI = RL+(IR3/2)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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THIRD ORDER INTERMODULATION INTERCEPT TEST (CONT)

Factors affecting Third Order Intermodulation Intercept Test

Resolution of the spectrum analyzer display Display linearity of the spectrum analyzer Uncertainty of the reference level Intermodulation rejection of the signal generators combined with the power coupler

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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GAIN COMPRESSION TEST

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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GAIN COMPRESSION TEST (CONT)

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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GAIN COMPRESSION TEST (CONT) Test Setup

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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GAIN COMPRESSION TEST (CONT)

Determines how well the spectrum analyzer can measure low amplitude signals in the presence of high amplitude signals Require two signal generators, a power meter to level each source and a coupler to introduce both signals simultaneous to the spectrum analyzer input Factors affecting Gain Compression Test
Resolution of the spectrum analyzer display Display linearity of the spectrum analyzer Uncertainty of the reference level

RF MICROWAVE FUNDEMENTALS - Guide to Calibrating Spectrum Analyzers

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