University of Tripoli

Faculty of Engineering
Electrical and Electronic
Engineering Department

EE421 Communication & Electronics Lab I

Spectrum analyzer

Name: Mohammed Ali Ellafi

ID: 022171469
Experiment Date: 20/6/2022
Instructor: Mustafa Al-Hamdy
 Abstract: -
In this experiment, we studied and worked with spectrum analyzer device to show the frequency
response of different signals and compare the results with theoretical calculation.
Results show that usually most of the power is contained in the fundamental frequency
component, and that power decreases with each of the increasing frequency harmonics with
varying levels depending on the signal. These results show each of the periodic signals produces
a unique frequency spectrum, which is discrete in the frequency axis.

Objectives: -
 To understand how to use a spectrum analyzer in the analysis of a signal.
 To use spectrum analyzer and a dipole antenna to discover the radio channels.

Introduction: -
Spectrum analysis of electrical signals is a very important task for engineers and scientists, non-
electrical functions can be converted to electrical signals using corresponding transducers, which
can be analyzed using Fourier series for periodic signals and Fourier, transform for non-periodic
signals.
Electrical Signals can be expressed in two methods, time domain or frequency domain, a signal’s
time domain can be represented using an oscilloscope (amplitude as a function of time), and a
signal’s frequency domain can be represented using a spectrum analyzer (amplitude as a function
of frequency) and the components of the signal in frequency domain are called harmonics.
Fourier series states that any periodic signal can be displayed with an infinite series of sinusoidal
signals each with a different harmonic frequency and amplitude.
Sinusoidal signals are one of the most basic signals, they can easily be generated, their properties
are known, and are encountered very often.
According to the Fourier series, the frequency domain representation of any periodic signal is the
frequency of the sinusoids versus their amplitude or power, and since the sinusoids are
harmonics of the fundamental frequency, they can be represented by a discrete frequency axis.
 Theory
A) Harmonics of a square wave:

Figure 1 below shows a square wave with period of T 0=2.

Figure 1

It can be seen that the signal is odd, therefore, we only have bn coefficients.
2π
ω 0= =1
T0
❑ π 2π
1
a 0= ∫
T0 T
f ( t ) dt a 0=∫ 1∗dt+∫ −1∗dt a 0=π−π=0
0 0 π

❑
2
a n= ∫ f ( t ) cos n ω 0 t dt
T0 T 0
 π 2π
a n=2∫ 1∗cos nt dt+ ¿2 ∫ −1∗cos nt dt ¿
0 π

[ ] [ ]
π 2π
1 −1
a n=2∗ sin nt +2∗ sin nt =0
n 0 n π

❑ π 2π
2
b n= ∫ f ( t ) sin n ω0 t dt b n=2∫ 1∗sin nt dt+¿ 2 ∫ −1∗sin nt dt ¿
T0 T 0 0 π

[ ] [ ] ( −1n cos nπ + 1)+2∗(1− 1n cos nπ )b =4∗(1− 1n cos nπ )

π 2π
−1 1 b n=2∗
b n=2∗ cos nt +2∗ cos nt n
n 0 n π

{
8
,n odd
b n= n
0 , n even
∞
sin(2∗i−1) t
∴ f ( t )=8 ∑ ∴ f ( t )=8(sin t +sin 3 t /3+ sin5 t /5+sin 7 t /7+ …)
i=1 (2∗i−1)

B) Harmonics of a triangular wave:

Figure 2 below shows a triangular wave with period of T 0=2 π .

 Figure 2

It can be seen that the signal is odd, therefore, we only have bn coefficients.
a n=a 0=0
π
❑ 2 π
2 32 nπ nπ
b n= ∫ f ( t ) sin n ω0 t dt b n=2∫ 2t sin nt dt+ 2∫ ( 2−2t ) sin nt dt b n= 2 2 cos sin3
T0 T 0 0 π π n 4 4

{
2

8
, n=1,5 ,…
π n2
2

b n= −8
2 2
, n=3,7 ,…
π n
0 , n even

∞
8 i +1 sin(2∗i−1)t 8
∴ f ( t )= 2 ∑ (−1 ) 2
∴ f ( t )= 2 (sin t−sin 3 t/9+ sin5 t /25−sin7 t /49+ …)
π i =1 ( 2∗i−1 ) π
Equipment
 Spectrum Analyser.
 Function waveform Generator.
 Dual Trace Oscilloscope.
 2-input combiner 20 DB attenuator
 Low-pass filter
 Cables and BNS adaptors
 Multisim simulation software
 One-piece schottky diode for pulse cct
 One piece 47 mH inductor
 Three-piece capacitors

Procedure
:

:Assignment one
First of all, before starting the experiment, we turn on the spectrum analyzer and
let it for thirty minutes

:Assignment two
Apply a single tone sinusoidal voltage wave with a frequency equal to
0.4MHz and amplitude 0.6 Vp-p, then read and record the frequency and
.power amplitude in dBm using the marker change the frequency
:the input frequency
 VP-P = 0.6V, Ts = 2.5 μsec , Fs = 0.4MHz

Figure (3) sinusoidal in time domine

Figure (3) the spectral of sine wave

7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st Harmonic

2.8 2.4 2 1.6 1.2 0.8 0.4 Frequency

(MHz)

87.7- 92.4- 84.2- 93.5- 72.3- 78.5- 30.8- Power

(dBm)
 0.000041 0.000024 0.00006 0.000021 0.00024 0.00012 0.029 Volt(v)

Table (1)

:and THD (total harmonic distortion) is

le 7 6 5 4 3 2 N Tab
0.04955 0.02884 0.07413 0.025 0.292 0.143 Dn = (2)
An/A1
T
100 %∗√ D1 + D 2 …+ Dn =HD
2 2 2

THD=33.93%

Now we comparing between theoretical difference and measured difference

.for the power of harmonics of squire wave

Percentage error Measured (P1-Pn) Theoretical 10log (A1/An) ² N

!! 335% 41.5 9.54 3
283.62% 53.4 13.92 5
236.69% 56.9 16.9 7

Table (3)

Assignment three:
Change the type of signal to a square voltage wave, we measured the power of the
first seven harmonics like in assignment 2
 Figure (4) square wave in time domine

Figure (5) the spectral of square wave

:The measurements as follows

9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st Harmoni
3.6 3.2 2.8 2.4 2 1.6 1.2 0.8 0.4 Frequency
(MHz)
51.4- 62.2- 47.7- 62- 43- 60.6- 39.3- 60.3- 28.3- Power
(dBm)
0.0027 0.00078 0.004 0.0008 0.0071 0.001 0.011 0.001 0.038 Volt (v)
Table (4)

:and THD (total harmonic distortion) is

7 6 5 4 3 2 N
0.0575 0.033 0.121 0.0424 .0 0.653131 Dn =
An/A1

Table (5)

THD=33.94%

Now we comparing between theoretical difference and measured difference for the
.power of harmonics of squire wave
Percentage error Measured (P1-Pn) Theoretical 10log (A1/An) ² N
15.3% 11 9.54 3

5.6% 14.7 13.92 5

14.79% 19.4 16.9 7

Table (6)

:Assignment four
Change the type of signal to a triangular voltage wave, we measured the power of
.the first seven harmonics like in assignment 2 & assignment 3
 Figure (6) triangular wave in time domine

.Figure (7) the spectral of triangular wave

:The measurements as follows

7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st Harmonic
2.8 2.4 2 1.6 1.2 0.8 0.4 Frequency
(MHz)
65.8- 80.2- 59.7- 77.1- 52.4- 68.3- 33.1- Power
(dBm)
0.00051 0.000098 0.00104 0.00014 0.0024 0.00038 0.022 Volt (v)

Table (7)

:and THD (total harmonic distortion) is

7 6 5 4 3 2 N
0.033 0.01 0.0579 0.0163 0.137 0.033 Dn =
An/A1

Table (8)
THD=15.71%

Now we comparing between theoretical difference and measured difference

.for the power of harmonics of triangular wave

Percentage error Measured (P1-Pn) Theoretical 10log (A1/An) ² n

1.15% 19.3 19.08 3
4.66% 26.6 27.9 5
3.25% 32.7 33.8 7

Table (9)
Simulation section
:

1) This is the LPF:

fc=6.778 KHz
 1
fc= =188.12KHz
2biRC

N |x|
1 0.3
2 0.18
3 0.17
4 0.12
5 0.11
6 0.1
7 097.

Y-Values
|x|

nw

with increased frequency decrease |x|.

∴ This is the HPF

CONCLUSION:
spectrum analyzer plots the amplitude vs frequency of the -
.signal
The Spectrum analyzer is Important tool for measuring the
power of signal which measurement of the critical factor the
.effect the performance of the signal
The spectrum analyzer is very sensitive to the input signal
amplitude always make sure that it is less than 10mV.

:Reference

https://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/spectrum-
analyze