What is a spectrum analyzer and what measurements can it make? A spectrum analyzer displays received signals with respect to amplitude vs. frequency. This is called frequency domain analysis.
The terms spectrum analyzer and signal analyzer are used almost interchangeably, however, there are some slight differences. Spectrum analyzers, by definition, measure the phase of a signal. Signal analyzers, on the other hand, measure the amplitude and phase of the input signal at a single frequency.
If you transmit an RF signal from your device, a signal analyzer can down convert the signal to a digital signal and the signal analyzer can display your device’s signal in terms of constellations, spectrum, spectral masks, etc.
Signal analyzer analyzes, how they work?
Basically, a signal analyzer analyzes both amplitude and frequency and phase of your signal of interest, which you can’t do on a spectrum analyzer.
The main use of a spectrum analyzer is to measure the power of a signal’s various frequency components like radio frequency and audio signals.
A spectrum analyzer allows you to analyze a device’s signal and circuit performance in a way that isn’t possible using other means, say, looking at it in the time-domain.
Spectrum and signal analyzers can make a large variety of measurements ranging from harmonic distortion tests for transmitters, WLAN and spectral masks for showing limits of unwanted emissions to two-tone tests on an RF power amplifier.
Because of how powerful a spectrum analyzer is, it’s practically owned across all engineering labs for design development and testing of engineers’ devices. If you need to see the frequency make-up of your signals a spectrum analyzer is a great tool to have.
Tune in for future What The RF (WTRF) episodes covering more spectrum analyzer capabilities and fundamental measurements to see how you can test more efficiently!
