Test Methodology & Notes

This collection of RF, microwave, and analog test methodology notes from industry, academia, and personal websites will give you a good start in your search for assistance. If you cannot find what you need here, you might want to try a Google search.

Agilent Metrology Forum

metrologyforum.tm.agilent.com

"The Metrology Forum offers enlightenment to the uninitiated and soul-food for fellow calibration practitioners." (their words, not mine)

AM Radio Field Strength Measurements

ztechnology.com/pdf/AMTesting.pdf

503-614-9800 / Beaverton, OR Knowledge of field strength confirms primary coverage over the city of license, quantifies additional areas served by the station, and assures directional protection of distant co-channel stations from Z Technology.

Anritsu Test Notes

us.anritsu.com/downloads

Downloadable application notes on RF & microwave test methodology Antenna Pattern Measurements:

(1) Concepts & Techniques

ce-mag.com/archive/02/Spring/fogelle1.html

(2) Theory & Equations

ce-mag.com/archive/02/Spring/fogelle2.html

The first article of this two-part series explores the basic concepts and techniques of antenna pattern measurement and evaluates the benefits and drawbacks of various measurement methods. The concepts relating to near-field and far-field pattern testing are discussed as well. The second article presents the theory and equations governing antenna properties and includes a complete description of a site calibration for pattern-measurement testing. By Dr. Michael D. Foegelle.

Antenna Selection & Use for Outdoor Field Testing

ztechnology.com/Measurement_Antenna_Selection.html

503-614-9800 / Beaverton, OR

There are many antenna types available for signal coverage measurement. This application note will discuss some of the factors you should consider in making a selection, from Z Technology.

Bit Error Rate (BER) Testing

home.agilent.com/agilent/editorial.jspx?cc=US&lc=eng&ckey=341551&nid=-11143.0.00&id=341551

From Agilent Technologies

Bluetooth Testing

literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5968-7746E.pdf

From Agilent Technologies.

Capacitor S-Parameter Measurements

johansontechnology.com/technicalnotes/spm

From Johanson Technology

Delay By Events Trigger Qualifier

boonton.com/products/4400a-4500a/app notes/Delay by Events Trigger 4400A_4500A.pdf

From Boonton.

DTV Signal Coverage Measurements

ztechnology.com/appnote-10.html

503-614-9800 / Beaverton, OR

From Z Technology.

Implementation Effects on GSM's EDGE Modulation

tropian.com/tech/tech_docs/edge_paper.pdf

ETSI Standards by Stephan V. Schell.

Electronic vs. Mechanical Calibration Kits: Calibration Methods and Accuracy

cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5988-9477EN.pdf

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the differences between electronic and mechanical calibrations and how these differences affect measurement accuracy. From Agilent Technologies.

EMC - Reducing Measurement Uncertainty in EMC Test Laboratories

appliedemtech.com/docs/Reducing-Measurement-Uncertainty-total.PDF

Compliments of Applied Electromagnetic Technology.

Finding Power/Ground Defects on Connectors - A New Approach

adcontent.reedbusiness.com/chipzlinks/Finding Connector Opens 20070613b-for-TMW-Aug-2008.pdf

Printed circuit boards are steadily becoming faster, and as a result, relatively ordinary defects in connectors and sockets can now have more subtle and damaging effects. At the same time these defects defy detection by conventional technologies. This paper surveys existing tests for these defects and introduces a new solution based on Network Parameter Measurements. By Agilent.

Frequency Counter Measurements

literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5967-6038E.pdf

From Agilent Technologies.

Fundamentals of RF & Microwave Power Measurements

my.ece.ucsb.edu/yorklab/Useful Stuff/Tutorials/RFPower_Meas AN64-1B.pdf

Agilent Application Note 64-1B is a major revision of the 1977 edition of AN64-1, which has served for many years as a key reference for RF and microwave power measurement.

Gain Bandwidth Product Tests To Cut Production Costs

noisecom.com/applicationnotes/appnote110.pdf

From Noisecom.

HSDPA Testing

reed-electronics.com/tmworld/article/CA6302574.html?industryid=3125

Test methodologies must evolve as GSM and WCDMA combine with High-Speed Downlink Packet Access. Dr. Salim Manji, Spirent Communications -- Test & Measurement World, 2/1/2006.

Intermodulation Distortion (IMD) Measurements of Ferrites

macom.com/Application Notes/pdf/ANI-001.pdf

From M/A-COM.

Intermodulation Measurements Theory

maurymw.com/support/pdfs/5C-043.pdf

From Maury Microwave

Logic Analyzer Measurements

literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5968-5700E.pdf

From Agilent Technologies

Measurement Uncertainty

educatorscorner.com/index.cgi?CONTENT_ID=2490

Agilent Educator's Corner feature.

Measuring Peak-To-Peak Average Power of Digitally Modulated Signals

boonton.com/pdf/AN50.pdf

From Boonton Electronics.

Network Analyzer Calibration

literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5965-7709E.pdf

From Agilent Technologies.

Network Analyzer Measurements

literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5965-8166E.pdf

From Agilent Technologies.

Noise Figure

cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5966-4008E.pdf

Agilent note for using Spectrum Analyzer.

Oscilloscope Measurements

literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5968-8756E.pdf

From Agilent Technologies.

Passive Intermod Measurements

summitekinstruments.com/passive/docs/pimprimer.pdf

From Summitek Instruments.

Power Supply Transient Response Considerations When Testing Portable Wireless Devices

client.ggcomm.com/Keithley/Documents/2032PowerSupply.pdf

A white paper, compliments of Keithley Instruments, by Kevin Cawley.

Metrology Forum

metrologyforum.tm.agilent.com/contents.shtml

From Agilent Technologies.

Mixer Noise Measurements

bessernet.com/articles/mixerNoise/mixerNoise.htm

From BesserNet.

Residual BER Measurement

tmintl.agilent.com/images_agilent/us/BER-8.pdf

From Agilent Technologies

RF Power Measurements

literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5965-8167E.pdf

From Agilent Technologies

Selecting a DMM for Wireless Test Stations

keithley.com/Keithley/Documents/DMM-Art1.pdf

A handy Keithley app note in a flow chart format.

Signal Generators

literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5967-5661E.pdf

From Agilent Technologies.

Signal Generators

tek.com/Measurement/programs/301889X312609

From Tektronix. "XYZs of Signal Generators" is an extensive document the covers from the basics to advanced techniques.

Spectrum Analyzer Basics

cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5965-7920E.pdf

From Agilent Technologies

Spectrum Analyzer Measurements

literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5965-7009E.pdf

From Agilent Technologies

Selecting a Spectrum Analyzer for Wireless

electronicproducts.com/ShowPage.asp?FileName=tektronix.jul2006.html

It's important to select a spectrum analyzer with the features needed for design and debug of today's wireless products, one that can not only help validate real-life performance, but also troubleshoot highly integrated transmitters. A tutorial by Tektronix.

Spectrum Analyzer Tutorials

spectrum-analyzer.info

This site is intended to explain the fundamentals of swept-tuned, superheterodyne spectrum analyzers and discuss the latest advances in spectrum analyzer capabilities.

Tektronix

www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tifinder.lotr?va=1

800-835-9433 / Beaverton, OR

Test & measurement, communications and video test application notes and technical documents.

Test Equipment Usage: Suggestions for New Engineers

highfrequencyelectronics.com/Archives/Apr07/HFE0407_Tutorial.pdf

Here's a bit of sage advice from the folks at High Frequency Electronic magazine. This tutorial is directed to inexperienced engineers and engineering students. The suggestions listed here are intended to help them avoid problems and make the best use of modern instruments and the internal “intelligence” built into them.

Testing Amplifier Linearity With Noise Power Ratio

noisecom.com/applicationnotes/appnote117.pdf

From Noisecom.

Testing Modern Radios

www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=afs&ci=12622&lc=EN

Solutions for designing Software Defined Radios that employ legacy and modern modulation schemes with frequency hopping techniques. By Tektronix.

Uncertainty In Testing

metrologyforum.tm.agilent.com/uncert.shtml

From Agilent Technologies.

Understanding Linear Power Supply Operation

cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5989-2291EN.pdf

From Agilent Technologies.

Free VNA Calibration White Paper

test-rsa.com/vna/ie3bnr1008/RS0908-22_VNA_WhitepaperV2.pdf

by Rohde & Swartz

The Basics of ZigBee Transmitter Testing

zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/6631?metc=mti3rv

National Instruments Alliance Partner SeaSolve has developed a test suite including transmit (Tx), receive (Rx) and compliance testing for ZigBee. In this application note, we will describe test methodologies and techniques for each type of testing.