Test & Measurement
Setting new standards for midrange signal generators
Frank-Werner Thümmler, product manager for analog signal generators in the area of component tests; and Matthias Weilhammer, signal generator product manager, Rohde & Schwarz
R
ohde & Schwarz introduces two new, compact midrange signal generators, the R&S SMB100B analog RF signal generator and the R&S SMBV100B vector signal generator. These generators set new standards in their class, offering unprecedented output power and outstanding spectral purity. With the previous generation R&S SMB100A analog signal generator and R&S SMBV100A vector signal generator, Rohde & Schwarz established the market segment of compact benchtop signal generators up to 6 GHz with a width less than 19 inches wide and uncompromising performance. Now this successful family of
better alternative. Three different RF output power stages can be chosen to scale the maximum output power to specific needs. The generators offer a calibrated one-box solution by delivering up to +34 dBm output power (at 1 GHz, see Fig. 1) without an external amplifier. This integrated solution simplifies test setups and eliminates downtime for calibration.
High absolute level accuracy The R&S SMB(V)100B features excellent absolute level accuracy. The specified values of < 0.5 dB (200 kHz < f ≤ 3 GHz) and <0.7 dB (f > 3 GHz) at levels above –90 dBm are best in class.
DUTs are not usually connected directly to a generator. There are often cables and other components between the generator and the DUT. This shifts the reference plane from the generator's RF output to the DUT. An R&S NRP power sensor can be connected via USB to allow extremely precise calibration at this new reference plane (Fig. 2). The user can read the measured power directly from the generator display and easily adjust the RF output power to obtain the desired level at the new reference plane.
Unmatched level repeatability and linearity
The new R&S SMB100B and R&S SMBV100B compact benchtop signal generators from Rohde & Schwarz cover the frequency range up to 6 GHz
After calibration, it is important for the generator to repeatedly set the RF power level for each test sequence with high precision. Here, the R&S SMB(V)100B delivers top performance with a level repeatability of better than 0.02 dB (see Fig. 3). Another critical parameter is level linearity. It is crucial for the generator to keep deviations from the nominal value extremely low across a wide amplitude range. With a measured accuracy of better than 0.2 dB (see Fig. 4), the new generators also excel in this respect.
Figure 1: Measured output power of the R&S MB(V)100B in the standard configuration, with the R&S SMB(V)B K31 high output power option, and with the R&S SMB(V)B K31 high output power and R&S SMB(V)B B32 ultra high output power options. Source: Rohde & Schwarz
signal generators has been enhanced. The new R&S SMB100B analog signal generator and R&S SMBV100B vector signal generator (R&S SMB(V)100B for short) once again set standards in the midrange class. Offering frequency ranges of 8 kHz to 1 GHz, 3 GHz or 6 GHz and various optional performance enhancements, the new instruments can be tailored to a wide variety of applications in RF semiconductor development, telecommunications, and aerospace and defense. The intuitive graphical user interface together with the high-resolution touchscreen makes the instruments very easy to use.
Perfect for output power Applications such as interference testing or compensation for losses in test setups often require very high output power. In many cases, this means that an amplifier has to be connected to the output of the signal generator. The R&S SMB(V)100B offers a
34 October 2019
Perfect for signal quality Single-sideband (SSB) phase noise and wideband noise are key parameters when it comes to signal quality, not only in CW applications such as LO substitution, but also in the case of digitally modulated signals since they directly influence the error vector magnitude (EVM). Thanks to
its innovative synthesizer design, it has very low SSB phase and wideband noise even in the standard configuration, making it the right choice for generating high-quality CW and digitally modulated signals. The R&S SMB(V)-B1H high- performance OCXO reference oscillator option can further reduce close-in SSB phase noise (see Fig. 5). Key benefits of this option include significantly improved long-term stability of the reference frequency and greatly reduced temperature dependency.
Wide modulation bandwidth with outstanding accuracy To satisfy the need for more modulation bandwidth, the vector signal generator is equipped with a high-performance baseband module. The generator's intelligent internal realtime frequency response correction achieves extremely high measured amplitude flatness of better than 0.1 dB (see Fig. 6) over the entire 500 MHz bandwidth.
Figure 2: Additional components and cables in the test setup alter the generated signal. To ensure that the desired signal is applied to the DUT, the developer can use the R&S NRP power sensor with the R&S SMB(V)100B RF signal generator to measure and adjust the generated signal at the new reference plane downstream of these additional components. Source: Rohde & Schwarz
Components in Electronics
Combining a large RF modulation bandwidth with excellent signal quality, makes it ideal for testing and characterizing wideband receivers and multicarrier amplifiers. With measured EVM values of less than 0.2 % for 20 MHz LTE signals and less than 0.4 % for 160 MHz IEEE 802.11ac signals, the R&S SMBV100B offers far better EVM performance than is required for DUT measurements. This ensures that the true performance of the DUT is measured, allowing engineers to focus on core development tasks without having to worry about the performance of the signal generator. A unique feature of the generator is its excellent EVM performance even at high output power levels. It achieves an EVM value of less than 0.4 % for an LTE downlink signal with +18 dBm RMS output power.
www.cieonline.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
