Signal and Spectrum Analyzer Offers 320-MHz Analysis Bandwidth

June 13, 2013. Rohde & Schwarz has doubled the analysis bandwidth of its high-end R&S FSW signal and spectrum analyzer from 160 MHz to 320 MHz.

Users who need to analyze radar signals with very short pulses of less than 10 ns or wideband signals in radar systems will find the analyzer to be a suitable tool. Analyzing automotive radar signals (FM CW radar or pulsed radar) requires at least 200 MHz, for example, the company reports. The instrument is also suitable for performing interference analysis on radar signals and digital communications signals and for testing multistandard radio base stations.

In addition, the analyzer can be used for carrying out modulation analysis on radio links with a channel bandwidth of 250 MHz. During measurements for determining the digital predistortion required for amplifier linearization, signals with a wider bandwidth than that of the actual signal have to be captured. The R&S FSW now makes it possible, for example, to include both adjacent channels of an 80-MHz wide WLAN signal in the analysis.

In the past, measuring these kinds of wideband signals required complicated test setups consisting, for example, of a digital oscilloscope and a downconverter. The R&S FSW simplifies the test setup and offers wider dynamic range and is easier to calibrate. Users can upgrade their R&S FSW from 160 MHz to 320 MHz by entering a key code. No hardware modification is necessary.