Spectrum analyser software

Agilent Technologies has introduced a software application for its spectrum analyser families, which allows multichannel power amplifier designers to achieve the lowest possible distortion and highest linearity with the least amount of effort and complexity. The 89604A distortion test suite can be used with ESA-E or PSA series spectrum analysers or 89600 series vector signal analysers.

When used with a spectrum analyser, the ESG or PSG series digital signal generator, and a PC running any current Windows operating system, the 89604A delivers the processed (delay-corrected and amplitude normalised) signal files designers need to program advanced curve fitters that control the linearity of MCPAs.

The test suite also graphically shows the incremental signal degradation contributed by the MCPA, as well as many other characteristics useful for optimising amplifier performance.

The test suite and its accompanying instruments use stimulus signals that are similar to those the amplifier will experience in service.

Traditional techniques use a single swept CW signal or multiple CW signals as a stimulus, which do not accurately imitate the complexity of today's broadband digital modulation schemes.

As a result, amplifiers optimised using these stimulus signals can perform poorly. The distortion test suite works with real-world signals provided by a base station, test signals produced by a signal generator, or even additive white gaussian noise. Thus, MCPAs characterised with the distortion test suite are much more likely to meet or exceed tight telecommunications industry standards.