eCÓDIGO: FO-DOC-112

UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS LLANOS VERSIÓN:

PÁGINA: 1 de 2
01
PROCESO GESTION DE APOYO A LA ACADEMIA FECHA: 02/09/2016
FORMATO GUÍA PARA PRÁCTICAS DE LABORATORIO VIGENCIA: 2016
Spectrum Measurements
ACADEMIC UNIT: F.C.B.I
COURSE: Telecommunications I
LAB ASSIGNMENT Nº 6: Spectrum Measurements
1. OBJECTIVES
1.1 Learn how to operate a spectrum analyzer
1.2 Learn the parameters that have to be configured for each measurement.
1.3 Measure the power of signals with the tools provided by the spectrum analyzer

2. PRELIMINARY STUDY
Before doing the practical part of this assignment, the student should have a solid knowledge about the
logarithmic units dBm, dBw, and dB. This includes knowing how to do calculations with these units and
conversions from logarithmic units to linear units and vice versa.

3. THEORY
Spectrum analyzers (SA) are devices that allow us to see signals in the frequency domain. Most of the students
of the course are already familiar with scopes, devices that allow for the observation of signals in the time
domain. However, important information is hidden when a signal is seen in the time domain. On the other hand,
important signal features show when the observation is made in the frequency domain. That is why knowing how
to operate spectrum analyzers and interpret the information they provide is a key component of any course on
wireless networks.
Independently of the brand, any SA has three main buttons: amplitude, frequency, and span. The amplitude
button is for setting the power range; it establishes the maximum power to be observed in the screen by means
of the parameter REF Level. The frequency button is for setting either the central frequency or the start and stop
frequency observable on the screen. When the central frequency is set, the span button is used to define the
frequency range observable on the screen. When the start and stop option is used, the span button is not
needed.
Any spectrum analyzer has markers and peak search buttons that provide the values of frequency and power at
specific points of the screen. The SA to be used during this lab assignment has 5 markers. We can activate and
position the markers at points of the signal, whose power and frequency we want to know. The peak search
button is for reading the frequency and power of the signal peaks. We can also activate the marker table or the
peak table to summarize the information.
By default the power values shown by the SA are in dBm, a logarithmic unit to express power; therefore, we
need to understand this unit in order to interpret the results. Similarly, to compare signals, we need to know how
to use the unit dB.

Created by: Job Position: Date:

IVAN
N REYES Assistant Professor 17- January - 2017
 eCÓDIGO: FO-DOC-112
UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS LLANOS VERSIÓN:
PÁGINA: 2 de 2
01
PROCESO GESTION DE APOYO A LA ACADEMIA FECHA: 02/09/2016
FORMATO GUÍA PARA PRÁCTICAS DE LABORATORIO VIGENCIA: 2016
Spectrum Measurements
4. EQUIPMENT
 Spectrum Analyzer.
 Radio frequency generator.
 USB memory.

5. METHODOLOGY
a. Observe the spectrum in these bands: FM band, Analog TV, Digital TV, 850 MHz and 1800 MHz cellphone
bands, WiFi band (11 channels). You need to look for the channel frequencies assigned to the broadcasting
stations and operators. You also need to look for the frequency range for each WiFi channel.

b. Use peak tables to summarize the results. Identify each frequency either with the name of the radio station
(FM band), or the number of the channel.

c. In all the cases store the measurements in a USB memory.

6. RESULTS
The lab report should show:
 The list of frequencies you observed
 The screenshots of the SA in each frequency

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Cuadro nacional de atribución de frecuencias.

 GW Spectrum Analyzer User Manual.

Send the report in PDF format by May 19 th 2023

Created by: Job Position: Date:

IVAN
N REYES Assistant Professor 17- January - 2017