spectrum analyzer looks just like an oscilloscope except with more features and graphics. However, while both an oscilloscope and a spectrum analyzer display a signal’s amplitude on the vertical axis, the difference between them is what’s shown on the horizontal axis; an oscilloscope displays time, whereas the spectrum analyzer shows frequency. Figure 1 shows multiple frequency measurements being displayed on Rigol’s DSA815- TG Spectrum Analyzer. According to Keysight Technologies, a spectrum analyzer “measures the magnitude of an input signal versus frequency within the full frequency range of the instrument. Its primary use is to measure the power of the spectrum of known and unknown signals.” [2] In other words, a spectrum
Are you an electrical engineer…? Have you ever used a spectrum analyzer? Most (and hopefully all!) electrical engineers – and perhaps many engineers from disciplines other than electrical – know what an oscilloscope is and have used one. I imagine the oscilloscope was introduced to the majority of electrical engineers during their freshman year of college. However, when dealing with spectrum analyzers, some practicing electrical engineers might not know what one is, let alone have ever used one.
What is a spectrum analyzer?
To many electrical engineers, a
Figure 1: Spectrum analyzers display frequency measurements on the horizontal axis. Image source: Rigol Technologies
Spectrum analyzers: what are they and what are the different types
Written by Nick Davis
we get technical
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