The R&S FSWP phase noise analyzer and VCO tester from Rohde & Schwarz, the industry standard for phase noise testing, has just received a major performance update. It is the optimal test solution for radar applications and when developing and manufacturing synthesizers, OCXOs, DROs and VCOs. With the new option R&S FSWP-B56G, Rohde & Schwarz has extended the frequency range for absolute phase noise measurements from 50 GHz up to 56 GHz. Done simply by pushing a button, no external converter is needed. These frequencies are needed for satellite communication and for jitter measurements in high-speed digital applications such as ultra-fast LAN IEEE 802.3dj or CEI-224G (Common Electrical I/O).
Speeding up measurements with external high-end signal sources
In addition, the updated R&S FSWP now supports external signal sources as local oscillators for absolute phase noise measurements up to 56 GHz. Using a high-end signal source enables users to get their results much faster, because only a few cross correlations are needed to measure the phase noise of the DUT, such as another high-end oscillator. Depending on the quality of the source, users can measure up to 1000 times faster compared to the internal source. The R&S FSWP provides tuning outputs to lock the signal source frequencies used as local oscillators to the DUT frequency. In this mode, users can measure with one or two external oscillators to get the full advantage using cross-correlation techniques. Alternatively, they can use this mode to measure two identical sources against each other (2 DUT method) and correct the results by 3 dB.
Additive and residual phase noise measurements up to 56 GHz
Equipped with R&S FSWP-B56G option, the instrument is also useful for additive and residual phase noise measurements up to 56 GHz with a frequency offset of 40 MHz on amplifiers or other components. The frequency range of the internal source for this application is now extended to 50 GHz, or up to 54 GHz with the R&S FSWP-B56G option. With external sources users can measure up to 56 GHz.
In addition, the R&S FSWP features a new marker function “NOISE FIGURE MARKER”. Users can measure the noise figure of an amplifier easily, just connecting it between the output of the signal source and input of the R&S FSWP. This easy new method for measuring the small signal noise figure of amplifiers is based just on the phase demodulation same as the phase noise measurement. As the R&S FSWP is equipped with a signal and spectrum analyzer, it delivers both the Y-factor measurement based on noise sources with a calibrated ENR in the spectrum analyzer as well as the new noise figure measurement based on demodulation in the phase noise tester.
