MEASURE ADJACENT-CHANNEL POWER WITH A SPECTRUM ANALYZER

POWER measurements with spectrum analyzers have been greatly altered b y the requirements of wireless communications applications. These meas urements include the power in the transmit channel as well as in adjac ent and alternate channels. Power measurement of modulated signals is one of the most important measurements for wireless transmitters and c omponents. Spectrum analyzers with special routines for power calculat ion are typically used for these measurements. However, limitations in herent in spectrum analyzers can cause power measurements and adjacent -channel power measurements to be slow or unstable, A faster, more-acc urate method involves the use of a spectrum analyzer with a power (RMS ) detector. This approach improves test speeds up to a factor of 10 wh ile delivering significantly more stable results.