Hello, all
this is my first time to post thread at this board, I really look forward to your help.
As for power amplifier, there is the 1dB-compression point specification, which defines where the PA saturates. It is recommended to use the PA in its linear region.
My question is, does signal generator has similiar parameters? I noticed that for our current available model, when the output level is close to its upper limit, unleveled message occurs.
In other words, for the generation of same signal at frequency f=400MHz, output power P=15dBm. Which of the following would be preferred?
(a) SG 400MHz, output=15dBm
(b) SG 400MHz, output=-25dBm, plus a 40dB power amplifier
I guess it would be strongly dependent on the PA specifications. What specs. would be most important when viewing the PA's spec. sheet? If no spec. sheet is available, are there any simple method to check the signal quality using the spectrum analyzer?
Sorry that my question is rather general and please forgive me for raising this naive question.
Your help would be highly appreciated!
Yours,
Yiliu
this is my first time to post thread at this board, I really look forward to your help.
As for power amplifier, there is the 1dB-compression point specification, which defines where the PA saturates. It is recommended to use the PA in its linear region.
My question is, does signal generator has similiar parameters? I noticed that for our current available model, when the output level is close to its upper limit, unleveled message occurs.
In other words, for the generation of same signal at frequency f=400MHz, output power P=15dBm. Which of the following would be preferred?
(a) SG 400MHz, output=15dBm
(b) SG 400MHz, output=-25dBm, plus a 40dB power amplifier
I guess it would be strongly dependent on the PA specifications. What specs. would be most important when viewing the PA's spec. sheet? If no spec. sheet is available, are there any simple method to check the signal quality using the spectrum analyzer?
Sorry that my question is rather general and please forgive me for raising this naive question.
Your help would be highly appreciated!
Yours,
Yiliu
I got some help from the Agilent application note 5980-3079EN.
Here the related page is attached.
Still I have further question, it is mentioned that "Class A Amplifiers at the output of the sources" (in the middel column of that page) is helpful in power combination.
Usually for signal generators, PA used would be which type? Class A or others? Even if it is class A, the ALC circuit is included, so adding a class A PA(without ALC) would be preferred?
Thank you for your great help!
Yours,
Yiliu