SPECTRUM ANALYZER
Virtual Laboratory Instrumentation Suite
● SYSTEM LIVE
Noise Floor:
-105 dBm
RBW:
100 kHz
TRC1 AVG: 16
Engineering Physics: Frequency Domain Analysis
The Fourier Transform
The Spectrum Analyzer converts time-domain signals into the frequency domain using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). This allows us to see individual energy components that are invisible on a standard oscilloscope.
X(f) = ∫ x(t) e-j2Ï€ft dt
Resolution Bandwidth (RBW)
RBW determines the analyzer's ability to resolve two closely spaced frequencies. A narrower RBW lowers the Displayed Average Noise Level (DANL), allowing you to see smaller signals at the cost of slower sweep speeds.
Rule: DANL improves by 10log10(RBWnew / RBWold).
The Waterfall Plot
Technically a Spectrogram, the waterfall display adds a third dimension: Time. Brightness/Color represents amplitude. This is critical for spotting "Transient Signals" (signals that turn on and off rapidly, like WiFi or Bluetooth).