Improve Your Phase Noise Measurements

Introduction

Generation of radio frequency  (RF) and microwave signals are essential when testing highperformance systems in critical industries such as communications and aerospace and defense. Phase noise limits system efficiency in cutting-edge radar and communications systems.  In radar systems, phase noise degrades the ability to process Doppler information, while in digitally modulated communications systems, it degrades error vector magnitude.

Testing frequency converters involves capturing many parameters, including gain, phase, delay, intermodulation distortion, and noise figure. When you have your test results, you need to know the source of the output signal phase noise. Is it from the device itself or the input signal? Or is the phase noise being impacted by the device local oscillator (LO)?

Use Case Summary

Phase noise is defined as a ratio of the power density at an offset frequency from the carrier to the total power of the carrier signal. Measuring phase noise can be challenging and time-consuming as it depends on different factors: internal architecture, type of oscillator, internal and external frequency references, and the effects of built-in capabilities. Testing your setup simultaneously by integrating clean signal generation and high-performance spectrum analysis creates even more of a challenge.

Solution Overview

The Keysight phase noise measurement solution helps you improve your phase noise measurements. The Keysight PNA-X network analyzer enables you to simplify the measurement setup to measure gain, delay, error vector magnitude, noise power ratio, gain compression, and other key parameters —  all at the same test station. With proprietary direct digital synthesizers (DDS) as signal sources, the phase noise measurement solution makes phase noise measurements more stable while  delivering improved measurement performance.

Learn more at: Measure the phase noise of a frequency converter with an internal local oscillator

Summary

• Frequency converters are key elements of satellite receivers and transponders, radar, and communications systems.

• Design engineers must capture many parameters, including gain, phase, delay, intermodulation distortion, and noise figure when characterizing frequency converters.

• Test setup that is consistent and reliable gives you both high-performance spectrum analysis and clean signal generation to simplify making measurements and reducing overall test time.

For more information: Frequency Converter Phase Noise Measurement