What Is Spectrum Analyzer – Its Working Principle And Its Types!

A spectrum analyzer is one of the essential testing equipment used to measure frequencies and various other parameters. This device can also be used to measure the power of the spectrum of both known and unknown signals. Due to its different models and configurations, this device has versatility in the instrumentation and measurement field. A 3GHz spectrum analyzer is used to test various circuits and systems that operate at radio frequency levels.

What do you mean by spectrum analyzer?

A spectrum Analyzer is a critical testing instrument that is used for testing radio frequency (RF) circuits, modules, and units. This device is used in various areas of the electronic and electrical stream, like RF design, general electronic circuit design, electronics manufacturing, testing, service, and sometimes in field repair. This test instrument plots amplitude vs. frequency and is used for displaying and monitoring signal bandwidths and locating anomalous signals.

Types of Spectrum Analyzer –

Various types of spectrum analyzers are –

Swept-tuned or superheterodyne –

A swept-tuned or superheterodyne spectrum analyzer is used to transform a portion of an input signal to the center frequency of a bandpass filter by varying the frequency of a voltage-controlled oscillator. This spectrum analyzer facilitates analyzing the whole frequency range. The resolution bandwidth in this spectrum analyzer is directly related to the minimal bandwidth observable by the instrument and is controlled by the bandpass filter.

Portable Spectrum Analyzer –

This spectrum analyzer is specifically designed for satellite, TV, radio broadcasting, TCSM, wireless, and GPS. A portable spectrum analyzer provides LO frequency offsets and displays direct frequency readout, including fast refresh rates up to 13/sec. In addition, this analyzer can have an easy-to-use front panel interface, even if you are wearing bulky gloves.

Whether you are using this device for satellite installation, troubleshooting a CATV (Cable TV), setting up a remote telemetry system, or trying to locate eavesdropping devices, these portable spectrum analyzers are one of the best products in the series. These devices are designed for use in the teleport, oil, maritime, broadcast, gas, military, and wireless community.

Fast Fourier transform –

Some types of digital spectrum analyzers may use Fourier transform – a way of decomposing a signal into its frequencies. Due to the fact that frequency resolution is inversely proportional to the duration during which a wave is sampled, and Fourier processed, these analyzers may require a sampling frequency that is at least twice the bandwidth.

Real-time analyzer –

Using the fast Fourier transform (FFT) technique, this analyzer takes real-time bandwidth measurements and samples the incoming RF spectrum in a small amount of time. Due to its real-time data collection, there is no blind time or gaps in the calculated RF spectrum.

What do spectrum analyzers measure?

Spectrum analyzers are used in various measurements, including –

. Frequency response, noise, and distortion characteristics for all radio-frequency circuitry.

. Occupied bandwidth and interference sources used in telecommunications.

. Basic pre-compliance testing for EMC testing.

Apart from this, some other measurement techniques involved are – setting up the spectrum analyzer to test the harmonics of audio signals by musicians and audio engineers, using reflective or refractive techniques to separate the wavelength of light waves using optical spectrum analyzers, and vibration amplitudes at various component frequencies, etc.

Working principle of signal spectrum analyzer –

With various spectrum analyzers, users can set a start, stop, and center frequency halfway. These are also referred to as the axis for the frequency used to regulate the span, aka passband, for instance, the range between the start and stop frequency. A spectrum analyzer can evaluate the radio noise floor and determine how close two signals can be without being unable to be resolved as two distinct peaks. It employs a linear scale for measuring signal frequency and a decibel scale for measuring signal amplitude.

Connecting the spectrum analyzer's interface to a wireless receiver or personal computer enables the visual identification and analysis of electromagnetic signals within a specified frequency band. This technique, known as "panoramic reception," can assist in regulating the frequencies of interference sources for wireless networking equipment, such as Wi-Fi and wireless routers.

Various applications for which you can use a Spectrum analyzer –

Whether in the field or the lab, a real-time 3GHz spectrum analyzer can be used for various applications like voice and data communications (cellular radio or radio communications) and video broadcast distributed via satellite using DVB-S and DVB-S2 formats. On the other hand, digital video can be broadcasted using the DVB-T design, radar, like radar transmitter test analysis, and spectrum management and interference hunting. Apart from this, one of the most famous applications is Wireless local area network (WLAN) testing, also referred to as Wi-Fi testing.

So, the above-mentioned are some of the details about the spectrum

analyzer and its working principle. So, if you are planning to buy any spectrum analyzers, like a 3GHz spectrum analyzer or portable spectrum analyzer, look no further than AVCOM. They are one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality commercial spectrum analyzers and signal monitoring products across the USA.

Contact their expert team at (804) 794-2500 now!