National Association of Broadcasters Engineering Handbook, 10th Edition

CHAPTER 8.3 Radio Frequency Signal Analysis

DONALD MARKLEY

Markley & Associates, Peoria, Illinois

INTRODUCTION

The analysis of radio frequency (RF) signals has benefited greatly from the newer generation of digital test equipment. In particular, the digital spectrum analyzers and vector network analyzers have changed the way in which transmitted signals and RF networks can be analyzed and adjusted.

In its simplest form, the spectrum analyzer can be visualized as a self-tuning receiver with adjustable bandwidth. The operator selects the center frequency around which measurements are desired. The receiver bandwidth and the width of the band of frequencies to be measured can then be set. The spectrum analyzer then scans across those frequencies ...