Wide-Dynamic-Range Spectrum Analyzer Spans 20 Hz To 50 GHz

Sept. 20, 2004

Very low displayed average noise levels prevail in the FSU50 spectrum analyzer, which features a dynamic range of 20 Hz to 50 GHz. At 50 GHz, the analyzer exhibits a displayed average noise level of 118 dBm (at a 10-Hz bandwidth). At 2 GHz, displayed average noise level runs 142 dBm (at a 10-Hz bandwidth). The instrument comes with a wide variety of filter types and comprehensive measurement functions for precise power measurements of wideband signals.

Rohde & Schwarz's FSU50 features a 1-dB compression point of the input mixer of 22 dBm and a typical third-order intercept point of 13 dBm (at a 10-Hz bandwidth and 50 GHz). Phase noise is another key parameter for measuring frequency-processing equipment or when searching for interference signals. In this vein, the FSU50 has values close to the carrier frequency and at larger frequency offsets. At a 10-MHz offset, the analyzer features phase noise of 160 dBc (at a 1-Hz bandwidth).

As for accuracy, the instrument achieves a total measurement uncertainly of 0.3 dB in the frequency range up to 3.6 GHz. Even at 50 GHz, that value is still 3 dB, without the customary peaking of the preselection filters. The analyzer also can perform 80 measurement sweeps/s (manually) and 70 measurement sweeps/s (remote control) for production testing.

Available now, the FSU50 goes for $86,500.

Rohde & Schwarzwww.rohde-schwarz.com (888) 837-8772, ext. 7982 (U.S.); +1 410 910 7982 (Germany)See associated figure

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.