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UTS7000A-PNM Phase Noise Measurement option for UTS7000A series

$1,299.00
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Description

UTS7000A-PNM (Phase Noise Measurement) Specialized tool for oscillator designers, frequency synthesizer engineers, and anyone requiring precise phase noise characterization. Delivers accurate phase noise plots from close-in offsets to far-out noise floor for evaluating local oscillators, PLLs, and signal sources.


Top Specifications

For use with the UTS7000A-Series

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UNI-T UTS7000A Options Series

OVERVIEW

DOCUMENTATION

UTS7000A-PNM: Phase Noise Measurement

Overview

The UTS7000A-PNM software option provides one-button phase noise measurement with calibrated SSB (single-sideband) phase noise plots in the standard dBc/Hz format. Phase noise—the random frequency fluctuation of an oscillator—is one of the most critical specifications for any system that relies on frequency accuracy: communications receivers, radar Doppler processing, frequency synthesizers, and precision clocks. Without the PNM option, measuring phase noise requires manually setting narrow RBW, careful marker placement, and manual normalization to 1 Hz bandwidth—a tedious and error-prone process. The PNM option automates all of this, delivering a calibrated log-frequency phase noise plot with one button press.

The UTS7000A's native phase noise performance—typically better than -110 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset from a 1 GHz carrier—establishes the measurement floor. You can confidently characterize oscillators with phase noise specifications above this level, which covers the vast majority of VCOs, PLLs, frequency synthesizers, and signal generators in commercial applications.

Why Phase Noise Measurement Matters

Oscillator and Synthesizer Development: If you're designing a VCO, PLL, or frequency synthesizer, phase noise is likely the primary specification that determines whether your design is competitive. The PNM option provides direct measurement of your oscillator's phase noise profile across offset frequencies from 10 Hz to the maximum span—revealing the close-in (1/f³) noise, the PLL loop bandwidth, the reference spur levels, and the far-out noise floor in a single measurement. This is the feedback loop that drives oscillator optimization: change a loop filter component, remeasure phase noise, iterate.

Communications System Performance: Phase noise directly limits receiver sensitivity in digital communications. In an OFDM system (Wi-Fi, LTE, 5G NR), local oscillator phase noise causes inter-carrier interference that degrades EVM—and the relationship isn't linear. A few dB of excess phase noise at close-in offsets can cost you an entire modulation order (e.g., forcing 64-QAM instead of 256-QAM). The PNM option helps you characterize the LO sources in your receiver chain and verify that phase noise doesn't limit system performance.

Radar Doppler Sensitivity: In coherent radar systems, LO phase noise sets the minimum detectable velocity (Doppler shift). Phase noise at offsets corresponding to target Doppler frequencies directly masks weak returns. The PNM option enables characterization of radar LO sources to verify that phase noise specifications are met at the offsets that matter for your target detection requirements.

Integrated Phase Jitter: The PNM option calculates integrated RMS phase jitter over user-defined offset ranges—the specification that clocking and data converter engineers care about. Phase jitter at the ADC sampling clock directly limits achievable SNR, and the PNM measurement provides this number directly rather than requiring manual integration of the phase noise curve.

Technical Specifications

Parameter Specification
Measurement Type SSB phase noise (dBc/Hz) via direct spectrum method
Carrier Frequency Range 100 kHz to 40 GHz (model dependent)
Offset Frequency Range 10 Hz to maximum analyzer frequency
Display Log-frequency phase noise plot (standard dBc/Hz format)
Integrated Jitter RMS jitter calculation over user-defined offset range
Signal Tracking Yes (maintains lock on drifting carriers)
Multi-Trace Reference comparison capability
Analyzer Phase Noise Floor (1 GHz carrier, Typ.) 100 Hz offset: -80 dBc/Hz (Nom.)
1 kHz offset: -104 dBc/Hz
10 kHz offset: -110 dBc/Hz
100 kHz offset: -110 dBc/Hz
1 MHz offset: -124 dBc/Hz
Option Type Software (can be added at any time)
Compatible Models All UTS7000A models including standard and -NB variants

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I measure phase noise without the PNM option?

Technically, you can estimate phase noise using manual marker measurements: set a narrow RBW, place a delta marker at the desired offset, read the power relative to the carrier, and normalize to 1 Hz bandwidth. But this gives you a single-point measurement, not a complete phase noise curve, and the manual normalization is error-prone. The PNM option automates the entire process across multiple offset decades, applies proper corrections, and produces a calibrated phase noise plot—saving time and reducing measurement uncertainty.

What limits the measurable phase noise floor?

The analyzer's own phase noise sets the measurement floor. You can't measure a source that's quieter than your measurement instrument. The UTS7000A's typical phase noise (-110 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset, 1 GHz carrier) is sufficient for characterizing most commercial VCOs, PLLs, and synthesizers. For ultra-low phase noise sources (OCXOs, sapphire resonator oscillators), a dedicated phase noise analyzer with cross-correlation capability would be needed.

One-button phase noise measurement with calibrated dBc/Hz plots and integrated jitter—from 100 kHz to 40 GHz.

DATA SHEET
USER MANUAL
PROGRAMMING MANUAL
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