Overview

Spectrum analyser is a measuring instrument, which is used to display many different kinds of signal. This chapter is an introduction to the spectrum analyser and covers the most important parts of the analyser performance that need to be understood. This overview of spectrum analysers is split into four parts.

Part 1: Introduction. Describes the basics of signal analysis and compares the oscilloscope time-domain display with the spectrum analyser frequency-domain display and some basic spectrum analyser measurements are also described.

Part 2: How the spectrum analyser works. Provides an explanation of how a basic spectrum analyser works. It includes a description of the importance and significance of the main operator controls and how they are used to ensure a clear understanding of the display and to reduce or prevent mistakes.

Part 3: The important specification points of a spectrum analyser. Describes the important specification points that need to be known and understood in order to select the correct instrument for a particular measurement. Some sources of errors and measurement uncertainties are also covered in this section.

Part 4: Spectrum analyser measurements. Discusses some of the common measurements that are made using a spectrum analyser and the measurements reviewed include harmonic and intermodulation measurements as well as the measurement of modulated and pulsed signals.

16.1 Part 1: Introduction