Vector signal analyzer: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:22, 26 July 2011

Revision as of 02:46, 11 August 2011

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[[Image:VSA screenshot.PNG|right|400px|thumb|A vector signal analyzer display featuring a constellation diagram, demodulation error data, signal spectrum, and the real-time measured signal]]

A '''vector signal analyzer''' is an instrument that measures the magnitude and phase of the input signal at a single frequency within the [[Intermediate frequency |IF]] [[bandwidth]] of the instrument. The primary use is to make in-channel measurements, such as [[Error vector magnitude|error vector magnitude]], code ___domain power, and [[Spectral flatness |spectral flatness]], on known signals.

Vector signal analyzers are useful in measuring and [[Demodulation|demodulating]] [[Modulation #Digital modulation methods |digitally modulated signals]] like [[W-CDMA (UMTS)|W-CDMA]], [[3GPP Long Term Evolution|LTE]], and [[Wireless LAN|WLAN]] <ref>National Institute of Technology and Standards [http://www.eeel.nist.gov/kate_papers/R13_NIST_TN1546_Modulated_Signal_(Web)1.pdf], ''Measurement to Support Modulated-Signal Radio Transmissions for the Public-Safety Sector'', pg. 15, April, 2008, accessed July 19, 2011.</ref>. These measurements are used to determine the quality of [[modulation]] and can be used for design validation and compliance testing of electronic devices.

===Operation===

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===Typical Functionality===

Typical vector signal analyzer displays feature the [[spectrum]] of the signal measured within the [[Intermediate frequency |IF]] [[bandwidth]] , a [[Quadrature amplitude modulation |constellation diagram]] of the demodulated signal, [[Error vector magnitude|error vector magnitude]] measurements, and a [[time ___domain]] plot of the signal. Many more measurement results can be displayed depending on the type of modulation being used (symbol decoding, [[MIMO]] measurements, radio frame summary, etc.).

==References==