ELEC 332

Goals

In Exercise 1, we were introduced to the RF signal generator. Although this is a useful piece of equipment in its own right, having it as our only RF instrument is sort of like trying to do 241 lab with only the function generator: we can make signals, but not look at them. Of course we can look at them on the scope, but it can only see so far. It has an upper frequency limit of 100 MHz, and only shows signals in the time domain.

Our primary viewing instrument for RF signals will be the spectrum analyzer. In 241 we used a Labview spectrum analyzer VI to look into the frequency domain. For our higher frequency, lower amplitude signals, we will use the Advantest R3131A RF spectrum analyzer, which will display signals up to 3 GHz.

To provide some signals a bit more interesting than the bare sine waves the signal generator produces, we will also examine the behavior of a mixer circuit. This circuit, represented as a multiplier in ELEC 241 diagrams, is at the core of nearly every modulation and demodulation system used in wireless communication.