Electromagnetic Compliance: Troubleshooting with Near-Field and Current Probes
October 20, 2017
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) can cause a host of problems, especially when developing a product or attempting to pass mandatory electromagnetic compliance (EMC) tests. Garbled displays, bad data, or complete malfunctions can occur when a design is effected by EMI. To minimize the effects of interference, government agencies like the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in North … Continued
Electromagnetic Compliance: Pre-Compliance Conducted Emissions Testing
October 19, 2017
Electromagnetic compliance (EMC) testing involves measuring the radio frequency (RF) output of a product and comparing the results to published limits that are set forth by a government agency responsible for creating and enforcing standards, such as the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) in the United States. Any product that has the ability to generate RF … Continued
Electromagnetic Compliance: Pre-Compliance Test Basics
October 19, 2017
Today’s products are subjected to more standardized test requirements than ever before. These standards (UL, CE, and others) ensure consumer safety and add to the quality and dependability of products. But, these tests also add cost to the manufacturer, which is passed to the consumer. This is especially true with electronics. Any product that has … Continued
Testing Open Socket Communications Using PuTTY
October 19, 2017
Many instruments include the ability to be controlled via a remote connection to a computer using an Ethernet connection. In many cases, these instruments require a special software library that can help establish and maintain the communications link between the instrument and controlling computer. This can be annoying for a few reasons… the software library … Continued
Build AM NRSC masks for SIGLENT SSA3000X/SVA1000X using a Python script
October 19, 2017
Many broadcast applications require monitoring a transmitter and observing the output amplitude vs. frequency. For AM radio applications, a common mask is defined by the National Radio Systems Committee (NRSC) and is commonly referred to as the AM NRSC mask. Table 1 shows the general analog AM NRSC-2-B mask values around a center frequency (fc). … Continued
Measuring Filter Characteristics Using the SSA3000X Spectrum Analyzer
October 19, 2017
A filter is a universal, two-port, frequency-selective device used in a wide variety of electronic circuits and applications. A low-pass filter is one which passes signals with a frequency lower than a certain cut-off frequency while attenuating the higher frequencies. Low-pass filters are often used in radio transmitters, audio devices, and communication systems. They can … Continued