M9063A Analog Demodulation X-Series Measurement Application for PXIe Vector Signal Analyzers

Keysight Technologies

M9063A Analog Demodulation

X-Series Measurement Application for PXIe Vector Signal Analyzers

Technical Overview

•  Demodulate AM, FM, PM, or FM stereo/RDS signals
•  Quad view, simultaneously displays RF spectrum, demodulated waveform, AF spectrum, and demodulating metrics
•  Results for MPX, mono, stereo, left and right channel of FM stereo signal, and RDS/RBDS decoding – Selection of post-demod filters
•  PC-based SCPI remote interface and manual user interface
•  Built-in context sensitive help with SCPI command reference
•  Transportable license supports up to four PXI VSA channels in one mainframe

Analog demodulation measurement application

Expand the capabilities of your M9391A and M9393A PXIe vector signal analyzers (PXI VSAs) with Keysight Technologies, Inc. library of measurement applications - the same applications used to increase the capability and functionality of its X-Series signal analyzers. Eleven of the most popular applications are now available for use with Keysight's new M9393A PXIe performance VSA and the M9391A PXI VSA. When you combine the raw hardware speeds of the PXI VSAs and the X-Series measurement applications for modular instruments, you can test more products in less time, while ensuring measurement continuity from design to manufacturing.

The M9063A analog demodulation X-Series measurement application for modular instruments transforms PXI VSAs into easy-to-use transmitter testers for analog modulated signals, helping you design, evaluate, and manufacture your analog devices quickly and accurately. Even in the modern digital world, the analog demodulation measurement application helps you to troubleshoot distortions due to unintentional, analog modulation from digitally modulated transmitters --allowing you to stay on the leading edge of your design and manufacturing challenges.

Proven algorithms and a common user interface across the X-Series analyzers and modular PXI VSAs create a consistent measurement framework for signal analysis that ensures repeatable results and measurement integrity so you can leverage your test system software through all phases of product development. The analog demodulation measurement application is just one in a common library of several measurement applications. You can further extend your test assets by utilizing up to four PXI VSAs with one software license.

Keysight's X-Series applications for modular instruments also include a unique "Resource Manager" that provides direct access to PXI VSA hardware drivers for the fastest power and spectrum-based measurements, while simultaneously using the X-Series applications for fast modulation quality measurements and 89600 VSA for fast spectrum measurements.

Analog modulation and demodulation overview

Modulation is the process of translating some low-frequency or baseband signal (such as voice, music, or data) to a higher frequency (carrier signal). The primary reasons for modulation include allowing the simultaneous transmission of two or more baseband signals by translating them to different frequencies, and to take advantage of the greater efficiency and smaller size of higher-frequency antennae.

Analog modulation is the most fundamental modulation method. In analog modulation, the variations to the carrier are applied continuously in response to the analog information signal. By definition, the analog signal is continuous in time and amplitude, as opposed to a digital or discrete signal.

A high-frequency carrier signal commonly has sinusoidal form. There are two properties of a carrier signal that can be altered: 1) the amplitude (A) and 2) the angular position. Thus, there are amplitude modulation (AM) and angle modulation. Angle modulation can be further characterized as either frequency modulation (FM) or phase modulation (PM).

FM stereo is an enhancement to FM that uses stereo multiplexing. An FM stereo signal carries stereophonic programs in which signals are transmitted for L (left) and R (right) audio channels. Radio data system (RDS) consists of the text information such as traffic, weather, and radio station information carried in the FM signals. This information can be displayed on the screen of the end-user's device. RBDS is the United States version of RDS.

Table 1 summarizes these three formats of analog modulation.

Analog demodulation is a reverse process of the analog modulation. It offers quantitative assessments for analog modulation qualities. Analog demodulation is not only essential in testing FM or AM transmitters, but is also a powerful troubleshooting tool for analyzing unintentional signals from digitally modulated transmitters such as 2G/3G cellular phones, and wireless LAN and WiMAX™ devices.

The FM demodulation measurement is also an excellent alternative for high-volume manufacturing of low price digital wireless devices, such as Bluetooth®, where test throughput and manufacturing costs are critical.