3026

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Features

• 2 MHz Real-time Signal Capture
• Simultaneous Time and Frequency Domain Capture
• 50 Hz to 3 GHz Frequency Coverage
• Frequency, Time and Phase Analysis
• 25,000 Frames/Second Measurement Speed
• Display Update Rate of 40 Microseconds

Applications

• Cellular/PCS Manufacturing Test
• Pager Manufacturing Test
• RF Component Manufacturing Test Including DLL and Synthesizer Settling
• Network Ingress Monitoring and Analysis
• CATV Return-path Ingress Monitoring
• Radar System Fault Location and Maintenance
• Time and Code Domain Consumer Product Manufacturing Test
• Microwave Data Link Fault Location
• Computer Manufacturing/Test for EMC
• Surveillance
• Performance Verification of Consumer Products that Use Time or Code Domain Commands

The new 3026 real-time Spectrum Analyzer provides design engineers and manufacturing final test evaluators of communications equipment an affordable product that can be used to quickly evaluate a design or the final product for transient (Burst) phenomena that otherwise might not show up until it is in the end user's hands.

The 3026 offers a full 2 MHz of real-time bandwidth with measurement speed of 25,000 frames/second and a 1024 point update interval of 160 microseconds. The captured events can be conveniently displayed in a variety of formats selectable by the user: Spectrum, Spectrogram and Waterfall. The analyzer architecture makes it possible to capture time domain data and frequency domain data simultaneously.

To catch instantaneous phenomenon like a transmitter startup, or the beginning of a digital TDMA or CDMA transmission, the 3026 provides frequency domain and time domain real-time triggering with a mask pattern that is easily edited in the built-in editor.

The 3026 consists of a 3 GHz down converter unit which converts the RF signal to IF, the A/D converter which converts analog signals to digital, the digital down converter (DDC) which down-converts the center frequency and changes the span, the real-time FIFO which frames the data stream, the FFT processor which extracts the spectrum components, a memory system which captures the time and frequency domain data, and the system controller which covers the user interface and hardware control.

The system architecture is based on the ISA bus. The instrument software operates under the VxWorks. Instrument controls and functions are implemented in C language. The display is a 6.5 in. VGA TFT-LCD. The 3026 includes a 3.5 in. floppy disk unit and 1.5 GB hard disk drive. GPIB and Ethernet interface are standard along with a parallel printer port.

The 3026 with its real-time analysis capability has much to offer:

• Greater ability to measure PLL lock time
• Frequency trigger for capture of CDMA burst when in low speech rate mode
• Fast measurement of transmitter power
• Capture of transient or intermittent signals
• Phase jump measurement capability
• Fast file transfer via Ethernet
• Simultaneous capture of frequency and time domain characteristics of signals
• Color spectrogram

Application Examples

Digital Cellular/PCS Design, Test and Manufacture

Current spectrum analyzers do not do a very good job of analyzing burst or intermittent signals. They sweep over a band of frequencies and are therefore not able to capture simultaneously the spectrum over a band of frequencies. This makes it difficult, or sometimes impossible, for a developer to identify problems, such as phase jumps, which will adversely affect a digitally modulated system.

Transient noise burst problems that are often associated with high frequency solid state communications equipment can be captured with a measurement speed of 25,000 frames/second and a 1024 point update interval of 160 microseconds reducing intermittent problem test time.

EMC

Common Carrier and CATV Network operators have to deal with Ingress that can disrupt transmission in both the forward and return paths. This interference is often impulsive in nature and very difficult to capture with a conventional spectrum analyzer. The 3026 with its real-time capture capability allows rapid detection and analysis of such interference.

In the screen photo (1) (lower section of photo) below an interfering burst 4.8 MHz above the spectrum center is captured for analysis. In the upper spectrogram section the amplitude vs. frequency of the complete spectrum is displayed as a function of time (vertical axis). In the Spectrogram display, each line of pixels represents a frame, with the most recent frame displayed at the bottom.

Radar

Radar signals have modulation formats such as Pulse Amplitude, Pulse Code and Frequency Shift, and are complex in their spectral distribution. The 3026 real-time capture allows capture of single pulses in repetitive or frequency hopping radar for detailed analysis.

The 3026 can measure PW (pulse width), PRF (pulse repetition frequency) and Chirp (FM) characteristics in both time and frequency simultaneously.

In the following photo, the 2 GHz Pulsed-RF test signal is modulated with a 600 ms pulse which is also modulated, a distinct modulation pattern is visible within the 600 ms spectrum display. (lower section of photo)

Transitional Signal Analysis

Bursting signals such as TDMA employ Phase Locked Loops (PLL) for frequency stability, a critical measurement of interest is the frequency change as the transmitter is keyed on and off.

The 3026 can capture this transition in time, frequency and phase as shown in this screen capture.

In the lower portion of the photo (2), we can see the change in Frequency vs. Time (spectrogram) and in the upper portion of the display we can see the phase change during transmitter activation. From this example, we find this transceiver makes a significant frequency, amplitude and phase shift until it stabilizes.

Noise Analysis (EMI)

Measuring Noises from a Microwave Oven

Many electric appliances operated by a microprocessor can be found in the home. In this example, noise from a microwave oven was measured using an electro-magnetic probe placed 8 inches from the front of the oven. Below, the spectrogram display and time vs. amplitude chart are displayed. From the spectrogram display, we can see noises diffused intermittently and in wide broadband. From a time vs. amplitude chart, we can see many noise spikes with very narrow pulse widths being discharged.

Signal Analysis

Measuring Pager Signal

A conventional spectrum analyzer is not suitable for measuring signals which have rapid time changes such as digital cell phones and pager applications. In this example, the 3026 shows actual pager signal waveform received from an antenna. You can see several FSK signals in a spectrogram display. The 3026 can also measure digital data patterns of the signal transmitted using the analog demodulate function (AM, PM, FM). The 3026 has automatic measurement functions (C/N, OBW, ACP, NOISE POWER and POWER) so that you can measure signal characteristics.