I used 20 dB attenuator because it is the only one available in my lab. My VNA max input power 26 dBm. So, I think 20 dB attenuator is enough (40-20= 20 dBm).Hi. How did you decide 20 dB attenuation is enough for your setup? 20 dBm of power is considered high and even dangerous for many instruments.
Use at least 40 dB of attenuator in your tests.
First, check your PA with a spectrum analyzer to make sure its stability.
Do you have DC at the output? If so, make sure your instruments are tolerant to that DC level or provide appropriate DC blocking.
Adjust Bandwidth to maximum ( it should have 30GHz or whatsoever..) and decrease RBW to minimum or closer value to observe low level oscillations.How I can check the stability with spectrum analyzer? Can you please explain more?
Yes.. If there is an oscillation, you'll able to see it without any RF Input."Without any input signal applied": Do you mean to switch off RF input at the signal generator but still connecting the cable from SG to the amplifier's input?
To ensure the stability, should have no oscillation in and out of band (0-30 GHz)? or only in band of interest (3.4-3.6 GHz)?Yes.. If there is an oscillation, you'll able to see it without any RF Input.
This after I check the stability with spectrum analyzer.Yes.. If there is an oscillation, you'll able to see it without any RF Input.
How there is an oscillation at 2.7 GHz and the signal looks like smooth at this frequency if we compare it with rest of frequencies where there is many spikes?As I said.. There is an oscillation at 2.7GHz.Ensure the stability is well maintained then continue to measure.Otherwise VNA will always be saturated by this oscillation signal ( fortunately it's small amplitude, it might have very strong so might blow up the VNA..) and measurements will be impossible.
In regard of signal amplitude, oscillation-I think- occurs at the Output Side. If it was at Input Side, the amplitude would be higher.
By using this method. Could you please explain clearly how I can Identify the oscillation in the signal observed on the SA screen?Adjust Bandwidth to maximum ( it should have 30GHz or whatsoever..) and decrease RBW to minimum or closer value to observe low level oscillations.
And check oscillations if there are without any Input Signal applied.Don't forget to insert an appropriate attenuator btween PA Output and SA otherwise the PA may roast your SA.And decrease this attenuator step by step slowly unless there is no explicit oscillation.
Yes that is why i used the SA to measure the stability. As with VNA, I use 40 dB attenuator between the output of the amplifier and port 2 of VNA. In this case S12 and S22 will not be accurate. As a result, can not calculate K-stability factor to ensure the stability.Not sure how else to explain it. A stable amplifier with no input signal should only produce noise (and maybe power supply ripple) on its output. But your SA shows a clear tone at 2.7GHz. This implies oscillation, as there's no other plausible explanation for the tone.
The SA plot doesn't really give any insight into why the oscillation occurs, but it does show it exists. The VNA is better suited to debugging oscillations, but only if you can measure all four network parameters. But if you try to measure S22 or S12 by connecting the amplifier output directly to the VNA, then you will very likely end up destroying the instrument.
Theoretically, if the S parameters of the attenuators and cables are known, you can disembed the true S parameters of the DUT using the measured S parameters from the VNA. But this becomes very difficult as the attenuation rises, a practical limitation is probably 10dB.Yes that is why i used the SA to measure the stability. As with VNA, I use 40 dB attenuator between the output of the amplifier and port 2 of VNA. In this case S12 and S22 will not be accurate. As a result, can not calculate K-stability factor to ensure the stability.
How if I remove the external attenuator, and set the internal attenuator of the VNA. Will S12 & S22 be accurate?
Can the poor layout causes this oscillation? Especially the DC ground connection as I have used square batch with one centered hole for ground connection through metallic screw. I have saw in some PA layout they use symmetrical array of hole.Theoretically, if the S parameters of the attenuators and cables are known, you can disembed the true S parameters of the DUT using the measured S parameters from the VNA. But this becomes very difficult as the attenuation rises, a practical limitation is probably 10dB.
Whether the attenuation is external or internal doesn't really matter. But I doubt the built-in attenuators on your VNA will stand up to your unstable DUT.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?