RF and Wireless Measurements

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• APC-7 Connector • Attenuator • Barrel Adapter • Bit Error Rate (BER) • BNC Connector • Boltzmann's Constant • Bullet Adapter • Carrier to Noise Ratio • dBm • dBW • Decibel • Electromagnetic Spectrum • F Connector • Frequency Modulation (FM) • Frequency-shift Keying • Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) • Group Delay • Harmonic • Intermodulation • Modulation • Noise Figure • Noise Temperature • Noise-equivalent Power • Oscilloscope • Peak Envelope Power • Phase Distortion • Phase Jitter • Phase Noise • Reflection Coefficient • RF Connector • Root Mean Square • Shot Noise • Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) • SMA Connector • Smith Chart • S-parameters • Spectrum Analyzer • Third-order Intercept Point • Transmission Line • Vector Network Analyzer

Bessernet Suggested Resources

Besser Associates Besser Associates offers courses related to: RF and Wireless Measurements

Article-RF Testing of Wireless LAN Products AN 1380-1
Agilent Technologies
Application note on wireless LAN testing from Agilent Technologies

Article-Characterizing Digitally Modulated Signals with CCDF Curves
Agilent Technologies
Application note on Complimentary Cumulative Distribution Function measurements for modern digital communications systems.

Article-Fundamentals of RF and Microwave Noise Figure Measurements AN 57-1
Agilent Technologies
Application note about noise figure measurement techniques. Good summary of traditional techniques and formulas for measuring noise figure.

Article-Measuring Noise Figure with a Spectrum Analyzer
Agilent Technologies
Application note about spectrum analyzer-based noise figure measurements. The note focuses on software personalities that can be added to the spectrum analyzer as well as sources of measurement uncertainty.

Article-10 Hints for Getting More from Your Function Generator
Agilent
Advances in software, microprocessors and display technology have expanded the capabilities of modern function generators. The latest models can produce a variety of signals, including common waveforms, arbitrary waveforms and sophisticated modulated waveforms. Many use direct digital synthesis (DDS), which creates a stable, accurate output for clean, low-distortion sine waves. DDS also enables square waves with fast rise and fall times. The added capability gives you more fl exibility for testing your devices. The hints in this application note will help you take advantage of the features of your function/arbitrary waveform generator so you can get your job done more easily.(Includes hint on why the measured voltage will be double that of the generator display when measured on an oscilloscope.) 59890-1456EN.pdf

Applet-Reflectometer Calculator
BesserNet
Animated demonstration of waves reflecting at an impedance mismatch on a transmission line. New feature shows waves reflecting from two mismatches. Also translates between four common representations of mismatch: reflection coefficient, SWR, return loss, and mismatch loss.

Book-Noise in Linear and Nonlinear Circuits
Stephen A. Maas
Overcome the effects of noise to push the level of circuit performance with this practical reference. Thoroughly explaining the theory of noise in high-frequency circuits, the book focuses on the real-world problems noise creates. It provides you with a full understanding of methods for analyzing and minimizing noise in linear and nonlinear circuits. The book pays special attention to phase noise in oscillators, offering you a comprehensive and accessible treatment of this critical topic. Additionally, this authoritative volume examines noise in low-noise amplifiers, mixers, and frequency multipliers.

Book-Production Testing of Rf and System-On-A-Chip Devices for Wireless Communications
Keith Schaub
With the increasing number of integrated wireless devices being developed with SOC (system on a chip) technology, a merger of RF and mixed-signal test approaches is quickly becoming a necessity. Addressing this need head-on, this first-of-its-kind resource offers you an in-depth overview of RF and SOC product testing for wireless communications. The book introduces new, creative methods that lead to more efficient testing, such as multi-site and parallel testing. You learn how to determine critical measurements for specific applications, including Bluetooth, WLAN, and 3G devices. Moreover, the book shows you how to perform these measurements cost effectively in a production test environment.

Instructor bio for Keith Schaub

Book-RF Measurements for Cellular Phones and Wireless Data Systems
Al Scott, Rex Frobenius
Consult RF Measurements for Cellular Phones and Wireless Data Systems, the only source for practical, real-world information on radio frequency (RF) measurements for cellular phones and wireless data systems. Find a review of basic RF principles and terminology, descriptions of RF measurement equipment, an explanation of the RF devices used in cellular phones and wireless data transmission equipment, and information about the testing of RF devices and systems with digitally modulated signals that represent the voice, video, or data carried by RF. You will rely on this guide to cell phone and wireless equipment technology.

Site-Spectrum Analyzer Info Website
Spectrum Analzyer.info
Website with a tutorial about spectrum analyzer fundamentals

Book-OFDM for Wireless Multimedia Communications
Richard Van Nee and Ramjee Prasad
A practical guide on how to plan, design, and use Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDM) to generate mobile multimedia communications...also examines the basics of direct sequence and frequency hopping CDMA.

Article-RF Connectors Tutorial
wa1mba
This tutorial provides a good overview of different RF connector types and their history.

Book-RF Measurements of Die and Packages
Scott Wartenberg
Reference book for using probes and test fixtures in RF measurements.

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