Tracking generator as a simple signal generator? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Noody
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2016, 05:06:04 pm
content: Is it possible to use tracking generator as a simple signal generator also? I have just got an SSA-3021x and as it outlputs and tracks it, I figured that it's just a 2.1 GHz signal generator. Is it possible to simply tell it to send a signal at a particular frequency?Thanks

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2016, 05:23:01 pm
content: Did you try zero span?

author: TurboTom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2016, 06:33:07 pm
content: If you need an accurate output level, you will have to feed (a portion of the) signal back into the SA and correct it. TG output level is only specified accurate within +-3dB of adjusted value. Moreover, signal quality is only half-way decent with the first harmonic at round about -35dB (tested 10...500MHz) and a measured THD between 2.5 and 3%. Yet, in many situations the TG comes in handy as a signal gen, I frequently use it as such.Cheers,Thomas

author: rf-loop
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2016, 06:48:06 pm
content: Yes, zero span and tune freq what you want.Signal is not as from High-End RF generator but more than nothing. Also level accuracy is "poor". In normal TG use we have "Normalize" function for set correction curve. Also level range is -20 to 0dBm.But, so or so, here 28MHz.

author: Noody
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2016, 09:36:02 pm
content: Zero option is what does it! I knew that I must be easy to do - if onlyIhad known what to do!Thank you all so much and Merry Xmas!

author: jfphp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 11:48:22 am
content: The main problems with the TG even mounted in costly SA systems (Agilent, Anritsu...) are1. spurious and sub/harmonics content : it is not important because the SA always follows the main output but if you feed the TG into another SA is is horrible ;2. as previouly explained level precision (of course with such a forest of signals varying with frequency) and maximum leveled power is frequently around 0 dbm. Using an amplifier at the TG output will degrade (if still possible ! ) spurious, harmonics and, more important broadband noise (have a look at the band 0 10 Mhz-2...3 Ghz of various sweepers in comparison with the upper bands) ;3. stability : apart some very costly stand alone TG, all the oscillators involved in the output frequency synthesis (in fact the reverse path relative to the SA) -- at least one oscillator -- are not synthesyzed and there is a frequency drift specified (X Hz in Y seconds).

author: tefe
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2016, 01:53:25 am
content: In 0 span, the SA is not only as a simple RF gen, it can also be an oscilloscope with a narrow bw. But of course, the osc can only see an wave envelope, not the shape. You may have noticed the marker frequency became a time.That's the miraculous 0 span!

author: cncjerry
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 26, 2016, 06:22:01 pm
content: I've done this many times but an SA (sometimes) doesn't have fine DB control of the TG output. If you can live with that, then you have a signal, settable with some degree of accuracy when in zero span.

author: outremer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2016, 09:16:15 pm
content: Hi NoodyI use the tracking generator from my DSA815TG spectrum analysor in zero span; spectral purity is far from being good especially below 1 MHz. But frequency accuracy can be excellent when using an external 10 MHz reference source (I use a cheap GPDSO). The measurements I made with other means up to 165 MHz show a "not so bad" signal.Having a true 1.5 GHz calibrated signal generator would anyway be out of reach for me.Regards

author: JohnPen
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2016, 09:18:37 am
content: The Scotties Spectrum analyser group use the the attached 'leveler', designed by Sam Wetterlin, to provide a calibrated o/p for up to 1G. It will help, but not solve the harmonics problem, but does however give a an almost constant output level ~-8dBm over a wide frequency range.