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T A K I N G
M E A S U R E M E N T S
3 Taking Measurements
Learn how to take amplitude, frequency, and modulation
measurements with the Signal Hound
T
he Signal Hound is capable of making a wide range of measurements. The
internal I/Q demodulator captures up to 2 Megabytes of information each
second, with a hardware-limited bandwidth of 250 KHz. The trace is actually
a combination of several sweeps, mathematically combined to reject image
and spurious responses. When taking measurements of highly modulated signals
which exceed this 250 KHz bandwidth, or any combination of signals with a
bandwidth of >250 KHz, great care must be taken, as the I/Q demodulator will reject
out-of-band responses. In other rare instances, multiple CW input frequencies that are
not harmonically related can mix to produce spurious responses. For these reasons,
the Signal Hound is not recommended for taking measurements of signals with
a bandwidth of greater than 250 KHz.
For signals within the 250 KHz bandwidth limit, a high degree of accuracy and
sensitivity are available. The I/Q demodulator has dual 24-bit DACs, yielding a very
high internal resolution.
3.1 Measuring Frequency and Amplitude
3.1.1
Using the Markers
The Signal Hound has several tools for identifying a signal's frequency and amplitude.
The easiest to use is the Marker. There are 9 markers available, each with its own
reference.
To activate the marker and place it at the peak frequency, locate the Marker PEAK
button on the Control Panel. The frequency and amplitude readout of the marker is
located below the graticule. The marker's accuracy is dependent on the SPAN and
RBW. Narrower spans & RBWs have higher marker accuracy.
accuracy is NOT dependent on the vertical dB/div, since the I/Q data is linear in
voltage and has much higher resolution than is displayed.
14
Chapter
3
The amplitude
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