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Article: Direct phase noise measurements using a modern spectrum analyzer.
- Article from:
- Microwave Journal
- Article date:
- August 1, 1992
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1992 Horizon House Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Introduction
The advances that have been made in synthesizer technology have transformed the spectrum analyzer from a tool capable of only making crude measurements into a modern, precision measuring instrument.1 Modern microprocessor technology increases the performance of the microwave spectrum analyzer and even complex measurements can be performed at the touch of a button. Today, even phase noise below -100 dBc/Hz and 10 kHz from the carrier can be measured using a high-end spectrum analyzer.
Even though modern reference oscillators have SSB noise of -170 dBc/Hz ([delta] f = 10 kHz), in practice, a number of microwave signal sources, for example ...