As name suggest, this post describes usage of spectrum analyzer in layman perspective.
First we will think on below topics:
Lets start,
1. What is unique in spectrum analyzer than in oscilloscope?
To start with, Oscilloscope showcase characteristic of signal in time domain, means the signal plotted is amplitude in volts versus time in sec. where as spectrum analyzer showcase characteristic of signal in frequency domain, means the signal plotted is amplitude in dBm versus frequency in hertz.
When we connect the input to spectrum analyzer we can see the components of input signal we are receiving in terms of frequency.
Also this means, two signals (eg. sine wave) of two distinct frequency is passed to input of oscilloscope (after mixing), we will only able to see the cumulative effect of those signals in time domain else we need to have a FFT of the output signal to understand individual characteristics of each signal .
In spectrum analyzer, individual frequencies are tuned to check whether it is present in input signal. Here each frequency component and its strength in input signal is shown in spectrum analyzer.
Now we will go to second question related to quantifying signal in spectrum analyzer.
First we will think on below topics:
- - What is unique in spectrum analyzer than in oscilloscope
- - What is dBm, why to use that as a quantifying scale in spectrum analyzer
- - How to quantify signal, its strength and how far it can reach
- - What is bandwidth (RBW, VBW)
- - What is span and what is zero span
- - What is sensitivity of a system
Lets start,
1. What is unique in spectrum analyzer than in oscilloscope?
To start with, Oscilloscope showcase characteristic of signal in time domain, means the signal plotted is amplitude in volts versus time in sec. where as spectrum analyzer showcase characteristic of signal in frequency domain, means the signal plotted is amplitude in dBm versus frequency in hertz.
When we connect the input to spectrum analyzer we can see the components of input signal we are receiving in terms of frequency.
Also this means, two signals (eg. sine wave) of two distinct frequency is passed to input of oscilloscope (after mixing), we will only able to see the cumulative effect of those signals in time domain else we need to have a FFT of the output signal to understand individual characteristics of each signal .
In spectrum analyzer, individual frequencies are tuned to check whether it is present in input signal. Here each frequency component and its strength in input signal is shown in spectrum analyzer.
Now we will go to second question related to quantifying signal in spectrum analyzer.
No comments:
Post a Comment