Spectrum Analysis: Averaging or Max Holding - RF Cafe Forums

The original RF Cafe Forums were shut down in late 2012 due to maintenance issues - primarily having to spend time purging garbage posts from the board. At some point I might start the RF Cafe Forums again if the phpBB software gets better at filtering spam.

Below are the old forum threads, including responses to the original posts.

-- Amateur Radio
-- Anecdotes, Gripes & Humor
-- Antennas
-- CAE, CAD, & Software
-- Circuits & Components
-- Employment & Interviews

-- Miscellany
-- Swap Shop
-- Systems
-- Test & Measurement
-- Webmaster

Waverider

Post subject: Spectrum Analysis: Averaging or Max Holding

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:57 am

Captain

Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2006 2:37 am
Posts: 7
Location: SoUtH EaSt of AsIa

Greetings all,

I have a question regarding parametric spectrum analysis.

When we measure parameters like 90% occupied Bandwidth, system noise floor, random spurious signals and phase noise, should we use video averaging or max hold on the spectrum analyzer? How about other linearity parameters like harmonics and IP3?

What are the criteria and conditions we must consider when choosing averaging or max holding?

Thanks.

Posted 11/12/2012

RF Cafe began life in 1996 as "RF Tools" in an AOL screen name web space totaling 2 MB. Its primary purpose was to provide me with ready access to commonly needed formulas and reference material while performing my work as an RF system and circuit design engineer. The World Wide Web (Internet) was largely an unknown entity at the time and bandwidth was a scarce commodity. Dial-up modems blazed along at 14.4 kbps while tying up your telephone line, and a lady's voice announced "You've Got Mail" when a new message arrived...

All trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other rights of ownership to images and text used on the RF Cafe website are hereby acknowledged.

My Hobby Website: AirplanesAndRockets.com

My Daughter's Website: EquineKingdom

everythingRF RF Engineering Resources Database - RF Cafe

Maury Microwave / Noisecom UFX7000B Noise Generator - RF Cafe

Windfreak Technologies Frequency Synthesizers - RF Cafe