RF Measurements:Principles & Demonstration

Course 135

San Jose, CA	Mar 21-Mar 25, 2011
Course 135-4347	Presented by Al Scott and Rex Frobenius
Register by 2/14/2011 and pay $2195, otherwise pay $2395

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Summary:

This 5-day lecture-based course explains essential RF measurements that must be made on modern wireless communications equipment - cellular, PCS and 3G phones, wireless LANs, GPS navigation systems, and DBS TV. The newest models of the necessary RF test equipment will be explained and demonstrated, including vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, digitally modulated signal generators and vector signal analyzers. Video projection techniques will be used so that all participants can see complete details of the measurement screens.

All of the measurements will be demonstrated on actual RF wireless components including power amps, LNAs, mixers, upconverters, and filters. These measurements will include traditional tests of power, gain, group delay, S parameters, AM to PM, intermodulation products, harmonics and noise figure. The unique measurements of wireless communications will then be made with PSK and FSK digitally modulated signals including spectral regrowth, constellation diagram distortion and ISI, error vector magnitude, and bit error rate.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completing the course, the participant will be able to:

• Describe the RF measurements that must be made on modern consumer wireless communication equipment.
• Explain why the various measurements must be made.
• Operate the RF test equipment that is used to make these measurements
• Make measurements on power amps, LNA's, mixers, upconverters and filters
• Make traditional tests of power, gain, group delay, S parameters, AM to PM, intermodulation products, harmonics, and noise figure with CW signals.
• Make measurements with PSK and FSK digitally modulated signals of spectral regrowth, constellation diagram distortion and ISI, error vector magnitude, and bit error rate.
• Perform uncertainty analysis on the measurements and determine how to improve accuracy.

Target Audience:

Design and production engineers and technicians interested in improving measurement skills through a practical approach will benefit from this course. The lecture includes a review of wireless communication systems, RF components and the tests that must be made.

Outline:

Day One

Course Objectives and Course Outline
• Review of RF principles • dB and dBm • Conversion between mismatch expressions • S-parameters
RF Test Equipment
• Signal generators • Power meters • Frequency meter • Vector network analyzer • Demonstration: how to operate a VNA • Spectrum analyzer • Demonstration: how to operate a spectrum analyzer • Noise figure meter • Vector signal analyzer

Day Two

Measurement Uncertainties
RF Communication system block diagram
• Specifications of components to be tested
Transmitter components
• Phase locked oscillator • principles of operation • measurement of phase noise
Upconverter
• principles of operation • demonstration: measurement of conversion gain using a spectrum analyzer
Power Amplifier
• principles of operation • demonstration measurement : swept gain, power, phase on the Vector Network Analyzer • Harmonic power

Day Three

Receiver Comonents
Noise and Noise Figure
Filters
• Principles of operation • Demonstration measurement : passband, inband loss, match, group delay on the Vector Network Analyzer
Low Noise Amplifiers
• principles of operation • Noise figure • intermodulation products • demonstration measurement : gain, power, phase as a function of input power on Vector Network Analyzer • demonstration measurement : S-parameters on the Vector Network Analyzer
Mixer
• principles of operation • demonstration measurement : conversion gain, output power on the Spectrum Analyzer • Noise figure measurement • demonstration measurement : intermodulation products • IP3/TOI using a spectrum analyzer
Overall Receiver Performance
• Typical overall receiver performance • Calculating system performance using software

Day Four

Performance of RF components with digital signals
RF Communication Systems
• Block diagram • Digital modulation fundamentals • demonstration measurement : Adjacent Channel Power (ACP) performance vs. power amplifier nonlinearity with different modulation techniques
Vector Signal Analyzer Modulation Quality Measurements
• Distortion of digital signal due to power amplifier nonlinearity • Distortion of digital signal due to IF filter group delay • Troubleshooting digital modulation with a Vector Signal Analyzer

Day Five

Measurement of Bit Error Rate (BER)
New Directions in RF Testing
• Vector network analyzer measurements on non-packaged devices • RF test equipment with Microsoft Windows interfaces • Multi-function RF test equipment
Class Project
• Assembly and test of complete wireless communication system, using components discussed in class

Subject Areas Covered

RF and Wireless Measurements

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