How to Characterize Radar Pulses

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Signal Analyzer
+ Signal Analyzer
Signal Analyzer
+ Signal Analyzer

Characterizing modern digital modulated radar pulses with a signal analyzer

Characterizing radar pulses requires understanding the signal's waveform, frequency, duration, power, and angle of arrival. The evolution of radar, especially the shift from analog to hybrid analog / digital designs, has introduced complexities involving complex modulated waveforms, wide frequency bands, and high pulse repetition frequency (PRF). A loud pulse transmits in radar systems and the system listens for echoes and uses the time delay of the echoes to determine the object’s distance.

A signal analyzer equipped with pulse profiling measurement software is indispensable to characterize modern radar pulses. Since radar pulses can span a wide range of gigahertz of frequencies, analyzing large data sets becomes necessary to identify individual pulses and quantify various performance metrics. The measurement must accommodate different modulation schemes, including continuous wave, linear FM (frequency modulation), triangular FM, Barker Phase, binary phase-shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), Frank Code, P1 Code, P2 Code, P3 Code, and P4 Code.

Radar pulse characterization solution

Characterizing modern radar pulses requires a measurement solution that can automatically identify pulse-modulated radar signals and verify their accuracy across various metrics. The Keysight UXA signal analyzer provides the industry's broadest analysis bandwidth and the deepest dynamic range to enable the comprehensive testing performance of millimeter-wave (mmWave) innovations in radar communication. Paired with a radar pulse analysis application, it facilitates thorough radar analysis of FM linear chirp, frequency hopping, and pulsed RF signals across time, frequency, and modulation domains.
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