Vector Signal Analysis Basic

January 2017
Hewlett-Packard Journal article December 1993
details 89400 Series Vector Signal Analyzer
The Worlds First
Vector Signal
Analyzer (VSA)

Page 2
89600 VSA Software
A comprehensive toolset for demodulation & vector signal
analysis
Time Frequency Modulation

Magnitude and High Demodulation

phase time resolution, & signal quality
domain data FFT-based measurements
analysis spectrum
analysis

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 Explore virtually every facet of today’s most
complex signals
– Measure your signal: supports >75 standards and modulation types

– Leverage a first-to-market track record with support for emerging standards

LTE-Advanced 3GPP Release 10 & WLAN 802.11ac

– Analyze proprietary signals with flexible tools for custom APSK, IQ & OFDM
Cellular Wireless Audio/Video Detection, Positioning, General
Communications Connectivity Broadcasting Tracking & Navigation RF & MW

LTE-Advanced FDD/TDD 802.11ac WLAN ATSC, ATSC-M/H SOQPSK AM/FM/PM demod

LTE FDD/TDD 802.11n WLAN DVB-C, DVB-S, Custom APSK Flexible digital demod
W-CDMA/HSPA/HSPA+ 802.11a/b/g/p/j WLAN DVB-S2/S2X Custom IQ Custom OFDM
TD-SCDMA/HSPA 802.16 WiMAX J.83A/B/C RFID AM/AM, AM/PM,
GSM/EDGE/EDGE Evo Bluetooth DOCSIS, ISDB-C Pulse analysis gain compression
cdma2000/1xEV-DO ZigBee DAB, DVB-T/H/SH FMCW radar analysis Channel quality meas
Wi-SUN

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 Agenda
 Introduction to Vector Signal Analysis

 Comparison between scalar SA/VSA

 Capabilities
 Block diagram

 Fundamental signal processing

 Windowing - Resolution Bandwidth

 Time Capture

 What about real time?

 Recordings

 Vector Modulation Measurements

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Swept Spectrum Analyzer Compared to Vector Signal Analyzer

Key Characteristics
• Swept Analyzers do not measure all signal characteristics (i.e. no phase)
• Very long sweeps times required for narrow Resolution-Bandwidths
• Provides accurate amplitude vs. frequency for time stationary signals
• Gating provides accurate amplitude .v. freq. for repetitive burst signals
• Measures RF Spectrum by sweeping a signal past a fixed I -F filter

Carrier
Frequency Resolution
Bandwidth
I-F Filter

Sweep Span
Start Frequency Stop Frequency

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 Vector Signal Analyzers
A new Class of Analyzer
• Digitizes complete signal, magnitude and phase
• Measures RF signals IF signals or baseband signals
• Measures Time Domain, Frequency Domain and Modulation Domain
• Accurately measures time varying signals
• Record and Playback functionality
• Transforms the digitized signal data into information via Digital Signal Processing
• Measures Vector Modulated signals
• General purpose user defined Digital demodulator

t
Time Domain Frequency Domain Modulation Domain

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 Modern Signal Analyzer Block Diagram

Display

Mixer IF filter

Memory
DSP
RF signal A/D
Signal Processor

VCO

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 Modern Keysight Signal Analyzer Block Diagram
Digital Detectors
Digital IF Filter •Normal
• 160 Settings •Peak
• 1 Hz to 8 MHz RBW •Minimum Peak
Wideband PreAmp • CISPR and MIL BW •Sample
Improve 1GHz • 1 Hz to 50 MHz VBW •RMS
DANL from –153 Analog IF Filter • Min Switching •Quasi Peak
dBm to –167 dBm (Single Pole) Uncertainty •CISPR RMS Average

Digital Signal Processing

FFT
ADC Log Detectors

Attenuator Filters
2 dB Step

VCO 16 Bit ADC Sweep .v. FFT Digital Log Amp

• Fast Tune • Autoranging • Fast Sweep • Min Linearity
• Stepped for FFT • Dither on/off • Narrow BW Contribution
• Optimization for • High Selectivity • > 100 dB
Close in PhaseNoise Dynamic Range
Far out Phase Noise

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 Vector Signal Analyzer Block Diagram

Instrument Hardware or PC and software

Instrument Hardware Display

Mixer IF filter

Memory
A/D
DSP
RF signal
Signal Processor

VCO

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Background information - IF Processing Past
Analog
RBW filter Amplitude Only - Spectrum Analyzer (HP856x)
set here
RBW IF2 Bits
RF Log Amp/
ADC
Detector
Detected and logged level
LO1 LO2 called video, mostly dc or slow moving

Quadrature - Network Analyzer (HP8510A,..)

Bits
ADC

Audio rates
Cos(ωt) Analog
RBW filter at best
RF/IF Sin (ωt)
set here <12bits
Gain/Phase match errors
Bits
ADC

Analog -- Digital

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Background information – IF Processing Today

Amplitude or Vector Analyzer, X-series, PSA, 89600…

ASIC
Push the digitizers up the RF chain
I
Bits
IF (MHz) Cos(ωt)
RBW filters
RF ADC Sin (ωt) done digitally

Q
LO • ADC digitizes IF!
•not detected amplitude Q

• Fewer analog adjustments Analog -- Digital

• No temperature dependence
• Fewer components I
• More flexible processing

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Vector Modulation Basics

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The Advantages of Digital
Transmission

• One transmission system for all types of data

• Signal Processing applied to

• Error correction

• Data compression

• Encryption

• Advanced switching and multiplexing

• and many others

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Polar Display - Magnitude and Phase Represented Together
• Magnitude is an absolute value

• Phase is relative to a reference signal

Phase
0 deg

Page 15
Phasors and Signal Space

Phase
0 deg Phase
0 deg
Magnitude Change Phase Change

0 deg

0 deg
Both Change Frequency Change

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Polar vs. "I-Q" Format
• Project signal to "I" and "Q" axes
"Q"
• Polar to Rectangular Conversion

Q-Value

0 deg
"I"
I-Value

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Vector Modulation Basics

BPSK QPSK
One Bit Per Symbol Two Bits Per Symbol

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Digital, or Vector, modulation- Getting bits on
to a carrier.
State or Constellation diagram

Q Example QPSK

Quadrature Phase Shift Keying

01 00 Two bits per symbol

Bit Rate = 2 x Symbol Rate

I

11 10

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Digital, or Vector, Modulation.
States, Bit Rate & Symbol Rate

Bit Rate
is the number of bits transferred per second in the
01 00
system

Symbol Rate = Bit Rate / No. of bits per symbol,

11 10 AKA Baud Rate

Symbol Rate
determines the minimum system bandwidth
requirement

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Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
16 QAM 32 QAM
Q

4 Bits per Symbol 5 bits per Symbol

Symbol Rate = 1/4 of Bit Rate Symbol Rate = 1/5 of Bit Rate
Corner states are not used.

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Using Less Bandwidth for the Same Data
Same Bits/sec
Modulation Format Number of bits Transmission Bandwidth
per symbol

BPSK 1

QPSK 2

F/2

16QAM 4

F/4
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Major Modulation Goal: Spectral Efficiency
• Theoretical Bandwidth Efficiency Limits:
Modulation Format Spectral Efficiency
BPSK 1 bit/second/Hz
QPSK 2 bits/second/Hz
8PSK 3 bits/second/Hz
16QAM 4 bits/second/Hz
32 QAM 5 bits/second/Hz
64 QAM 6 bits/second/Hz
128 QAM 7 bits/second/Hz
256 QAM 8 bits/second/Hz
512 QAM 9 bits/second/Hz
1024 QAM 10 bits/second/Hz
2048 QAM 11 bits/second/Hz
4096 QAM 12 bits/second/Hz
8192 QAM 13 bits/second/Hz
16384 QAM 14 bits/second/Hz
Note: The figures are theoretical limits and CAN NOT be achieved in practical radios

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Transmission Bandwidth
• The spectrum of a digital signal is very wide.

• Theoretically infinite.

-20dB/decade

f Log f
Roll Off rate is a function of pulse risetime, for 0 risetime pulses
the power spectrum rolls off at –20dB/decade

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 Pulse Spectrum (baseband)
NRZ baseband signal

Sample Interval between symbols (bits shown here)

0 Hz
Sinc(x) - the envelope of the
spectral energy
Sin( x)
Sinc( x) =
– Freq + Freq x

1
= Symbol (Bit) Rate
Sample Interval

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 The Spectrum Analyzer View
• Sinc(x) Magnitude • Sinc(x) Magnitude One Sided

• Spectrum Analyzer View

• All voltages folded over and

doubled, except the DC.

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The Nyquist Bandwidth
In a radio transmitter the filtering
is done at baseband.

Ideal “brick-wall” filter at the minimum bandwidth

Envelope of digital baseband spectrum.

frequency
fn= Nyquist Frequency
= Symbol Rate/2
This condition gives zero ISI (Inter Symbol Interference)

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Inter Symbol Interference
Response of two successive impulses

Zero ISI condition

time
0 TS

Design a filter so that at sample times the

response of the previous pulse is zero.

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Filter Bandwidth Parameter "∝“
Practical Filter Shapes
1

0.8

α= 1.0
0.6
α = 0.5

α = 0.3
0.4
α=0 brickwall

0.2

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Fs : Symbol Rate
Alpha describes the "sharpness" of the filter.
Occupied bandwidth is approximately: Symbol rate X (1 + ∝)

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Frequency and impulse response of raised
cosine (RC) filters

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Modulation Quality Error Vector Magnitude (EVM)
32QAM Which
symbol is
it???
Magnitude
Q
Error
Error Vector
Measured
Vector

Reference Q:
Vector What if the signal doesn’t land
on a constellation point?

Phase Error A:
Symbol error!
I

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Demo!

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Error Vector Magnitude Measurements
Constellation Errors Signatures
• Ideal Symbol Point 64 QAM Constellation
Q
• Random Noise

• Phase Noise

• AM/AM Distortion
I

• AM/PM Distortion

• Delay Distortion/ISI

• Spur / Interference

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 Why do you need a Window ?
Implied Periodicity of the Fourier Transform assumes x(t) is periodic in T.

Original signal x(t)

Correctly Incorrectly sampled

Time record
sampled
Time record

Implied Periodicity

Implied Periodicity

One spectral
line no leakage Spectrum
Log Log with leakage
dB dB

f
f
Exact Result

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Windows Reduce Leakage

Original
signal

Window Modified
Function Waveform

Sampled Window functions reduce the

record X = leakage errors in the
frequency domain by
modifying time domain
Implied waveform.
replication

True
spectrum
Log Reduced leakage
Log
Spectrum dB spectrum
dB
with leakage

f f

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Window Functions Frequency

dB
Uniform 1 Sin x/x first side lobe -12 dB

0 ∆f
0 T/2 T
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

1
Hann

dB
0
∆f
0 T/2 T 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

1 0
-20
-40
Gaussia

dB -60
n

-100
0 -120
-140
0 T/2 T

1
dB
Flattop

-95 dB
0
∆f
0 T/2 T 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Page 36
Window Comparison

Page 37
Window Characteristics Comparison
Time Domain Shape Freq. Domain Shape

WINDOW SUMMARY
Parameter Uniform Hanning Gaussian Flat Top (Default)
Leakage Performance: Poor Relatively Good Best Good
Frequency Resolution Poor** Relatively Good Best Better
main length fixed :
Frequency Resolution: Good Good Best Better**
RBW fixed
Normalized Equivalent 1.00 Hz-sec 1.50 Hz-sec 2.215 Hz-sec 3.8194 Hz- sec
Noise BW:
3 dB BW 0.8844 Hz-sec 1.438 Hz-sec 2.091 Hz-sec 3.767 Hz-sec
Window Shape Factor 716:1 9.1:1 4.0:1 2.45:1
Maximum Amp. Error* 3.92 (dB) 1.42 (dB) 0.68 (dB) < 0.01 (dB)
Highest Side lobe -13 (dB) -31 (dB) -125 (dB) -95 (dB)
Side lobe Fall Off -20 dB /dec. -60 dB /dec. -20 dB /dec. -20 dB /dec.
* The maximum amplitude error occurs when a signal is halfway between frequency bins.
** Frequency resolution is best for equal amplitude signals (e.g. two closely spaced sine waves), Flat Top
window side lobes are well below the dynamic range & noise floor of the VSA.

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Vector Modulation Measurements

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VSA Digital Demodulation Block Diagram
Result
Search Pulse Length
Length Detector Carrier
Freq Error

Input Carrier and Measure I-Q Measured

BW Compensation
signal Symbol Lock Filter Time/Spectrum
Filter
Droop
Span Origin Offset α / BT
Center
Frequency
Reference Reference IQ Reference
Clock Adjust Generator Filter Time/Spectrum
Symbol
Symbol Rate Timing Symbol
Recovery Detector Symbols (Bits)

Pts per Sym

Sync
Detector I-Q Origin Offset

I- Q I-Q Error Phase

Sync
Measured Position Error
I-Q Error Magnitude
Sync Calc.
Word I- Q Measured
- Droop
Σ Error Vector
I- Q Reference + Time/Spectrum

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Theory of Operation
Block diagram

Hardware front-end 89600 VSA software

Page 41
What about real-time?
• The real-time bandwidth is the frequency span at
which the FFT processing time equals the time
record length-this means all input data is included
in the average (in other words, there is no gap
between the end of one time record and the
beginning of the next).

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 REAL-TIME Bandwidth
• The widest bandwidth (span) that can be selected such that every sample from
the digital filter is used in the Spectrum.

• Real Time Bandwidth is also referred to as the "gap free" rate.

• Double Buffering allows Calculations on previous data record while collecting

next data record.

T1 T2 T3

CALC1 CALC2 CALC3

T1 T2 T3
Real Time Processing
CALC1 CALC2 CALC3

gaps!
NOT Real Time
T1 T2 T3
CALC1 CALC2 CALC3

Calculation time includes windowing, FFT, power spectrum, Linear to Log conversion, and averaging calculation plus display update!

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Overlap Processing
• When in real time operation the analyzer can do additional signal processing.

0% Overlap
T1 T2 T3
CALC1 CALC2 CALC3

Processor idle
Tn -nth Time Record
T1 CALCn -Processing of nth Time Record
T2
T3
Window Function T4
T5
50% Overlap
T6
CALC1 CALC2 CALC3 CALC4 CALC5 CALC6

 More averages/unit time

 Quicker variance reduction
 Recovers data lost due to window function

Page 44
Recording signals

Why record signals

•No gaps! Continuous time record at full bandwidth.

•Long records. Up to 512 mega samples (Keysight XSA Family).
•Powerful post processing. More control over the analysis.
•Analyze in the frequency, time, analog or digital demodulation domains.
•Slow playback with overlap processing.
•Porting of simulations back to design software.
•Archiving. Save signal records for future analysis.

Page 45
Gap free analysis
• Overlap Processing

• Recording playback requires that the recording buffer be broken into time records
for processing and display. Shown in blue below, is the normal way to do that.
This method results in the fastest playback speed.

• Overlap processing advances through the recording buffer by "sliding" the time
record window through the buffer. You controls the rate at which data is replayed
(0% to 99.99%). The result is a slower playback. Data lost by the FFT windowing
process is now analyzed as well.

Page 46
 Recording signals
To record a signal

1. Acquire the signal in the normal

fashion. See Acquiring a signal.
Be sure that the Span chosen will
contain the signal characteristics
of interest.
Choose the most sensitive Range
without the possibility of overload.

2. Use triggering to ensure when the

recording will start.
Consider pre-triggering (negative
trigger delay) to start recording
before the event of interest
occurs.

3. Set up recording length. Click

Input > Recording > Length.
This can be specified in points,
records, or seconds.

4. Click Control > Record or click the

record button.

5. When a qualified trigger occurs

the recording will begin.
Recording is immediate when no
triggering is specified.

Page 47
Playback recordings
• Recording playback can be started by clicking the Play key or Control > Restart.

• Or

• Click Window > Player.

• The player lets you:

• Start and pause the playback

• Drag the bar to any position in the record

• Back up and rewind

• Loop the recording

• Set start and stop times

• Re-record

Page 48
Playback Control
To view all or a large portion of the Recording Buffer, increase the number of Frequency Points..
Expanded view of Time Gated Signal

Anti-alias Anti-alias
filter (analog)
ADC
filter (digital)

Time Recording RAM RAM

Buffer
Post
Processing

Start Loop Control

Set Start at Set End at
Current Current
Position Position

– The Start Time for Analysis can be set by typing in a Time in the Player dialog box or click and dragging
the slide bar of the time Record buffer data to be used for a measurement.

Page 49
 Keysight 89601B Player Control Window
Detail
Control Icons and Indicators on Player Window Interface
Set Start time Set Stop Time
to Current to Current Graphical Time
Position Position Advance Indication

Start

Pause Full Time Loop Control

Re-Record

Page 50
Summary Recording Post-processing
Changes in Measurement Parameters
• After data has been Recorded, many measurement parameters can be
changed, for each pass through the Recording.
Changes can be made to:
• Center Frequency & Span
• Resolution BandWidth
• Number of Frequency Points
• Window - ResBW
• Time length
• Gate Delay & length
• Average types, overlap processing
• Sweep mode, Single or Continuous
• Demodulation type
• Analog - Demodulation
• Digital - Demodulation

Page 51
Keysight Vector Signal Analyzers

Page 52
Vector Signal Analysis Block Diagram
Analog RF

Signal Capture Instrument Hardware Instrument Hardware or PC and software

Spectrum Analyzer
Display

Mixer IF filter

Memory
Signal DSP
A/D
input Signal Processor

VCO

Page 53
Vector Signal Analysis Block Diagram
Analog IF or IQ baseband
Instrument Hardware or PC and software

Signal Capture Instrument Hardware

Oscilloscope Display

Memory
Signal DSP
A/D
input Signal Processor

Page 54
Vector Signal Analysis Block Diagram
Digital IF or IQ baseband
Instrument Hardware or PC and software

Signal Capture Instrument Hardware

Logic Analyzer Display

Memory
Signal DSP
input Signal Processor

Page 55
 Keysight Vector Signal Analyzers
16900 Series Logic Analyzer M9391 PXI VSA

M9703 Series High Speed

digitizer

X-Series Signal Analyzers 89601B Infiniium Series Oscilloscopes

VSA Software

Keysight ADS or SystemVue

N4010A Bluetooth and WLAN Tester

Page 56
First-to-Market in Wireless
– IEEE 802.11ac WLAN
• All signal BWs: 20, 40, 80, 80+80, 160 MHz
• All modulation formats: BPSK to 256QAM
• Up to 8x8 MIMO & multi-user MIMO

– LTE-Advanced 3GPP Release 10

• Carrier aggregation
- Contiguous and non-contiguous spectrum
allocations
- Uplink & downlink signals
- Analyze up to 5 CCs simultaneously
• Enhanced uplink
- Clustered SC-FDMA
- Simultaneous control and data
channel support

Page 57
Robust Analysis in A/D, Automotive & Satellite

Pulse Analysis FMCW Radar Analysis Channel Quality

– A/D Radar and EW – Linear FM Chirp Measurements
Analysis – Multi-tone group delay
– General Radar for satellite systems
– Automotive Radar

Supports new UXA signal analyzer,

up to 1 GHz bandwidth

Page 58
Industry-Standard Tools for Proprietary Signals

– Custom APSK
• APSK constellations, staggered
• High-order PSK (e.g. 16PSK, 32PSK)
• Amplitude Shift Keying (on-off keying)

– Custom IQ
• IQ constellation editor for custom,
proprietary, non-standard, unique,
asymmetric signals
• Longer symbol length with
synchronization robustness

– Custom OFDM
• Demodulation of custom, proprietary
OFDM-based signals
• Support for multiple streams and users

Page 59
 Apply Vector Signal Analysis Across the Lifecycle
Produce consistent, comparable results from simulation to production

Supports >45 Keysight

measurement platforms
Compatible file
formats

Simulation Baseband IF, RF, uW System Quality Production

Design Design Verification Assurance

• ADS • Logic • Signal • Signal • Signal • Signal

• SystemVue analyzer analyzers – analyzers – analyzers – analyzers –
• Oscilloscope benchtop & benchtop & benchtop & benchtop and
• Modular modular modular modular modular
digitizer • Oscilloscope

Page 60
Thoroughly Characterize Designs
Complex stimulus-response measurements
– Measure device distortion with the signals it will see during real-
world operation
• Wide bandwidth, high PAPR signals, like OFDM, stress devices
much more than CW tones.

– Measurement results include

• AM/AM
• AM/PM
• Gain Compression
• Differential (∆) EVM
• ∆ EVM vs. Time
• Propagation delay
• Best fit curve

Page 61
Verify Signal Problems Quickly
Powerful display increases clarity
– Isolate unexpected
behavior with unlimited
markers and marker
coupling between traces

– Intuitively analyze
today’s most complex
signals with color-coded
results by channel and
user

Page 62
Analyze & Display Multiple Signals—Simultaneously
Multi-measurements
– Perform multiple measurements at once;
display all results together

– Control multiple instruments to obtain wider

frequency coverage

– Use multi-measurements to simultaneously:

• Demodulate different signal types
• Analyze signals at varying frequencies
• Check for interactions between signals
• Measure signals at different physical test
points
• Analyze both uplink & downlink signals EVM ACPR
Span: 600 kHz Span: 2 MHz
• Use different analysis parameters
(span, demod properties, etc.)

Page 63
Multi-Measurements
Signal acquisition styles
Simultaneous
Shared: Acquire once, then perform
multiple, truly simultaneous meas.
F1 F2 F3 F4 within the max span width.

Unlimited BW
Independent, multi-box:
Synchronized measurements at
same/different freqs, spans, formats,
etc. using multiple HW front ends and
triggering.

Fast switching Independent, same-box: Non-

F1 simultaneous measurements at
F2 various freq’s, spans, formats, etc.
F3 using a single HW front end.
F4

Page 64
Pinpoint the Answers to Signal Problems
Advanced troubleshooting tools for capture & playback
– Easily record signals with familiar controls

– Catch elusive signals with flexible

triggering
• Trigger acquisition based on
magnitude, frequency or external

– Play back gap-free recorded signals for

detailed analysis
• Modify parameters like overlap
processing during playback
• Utilize persistence displays to analyze
behavior over time
• Download recorded signal files into
Keysight vector signal generator for
playback
Page 65
View & Organize Your Results
Flexible GUI enables greater insight
– View unlimited traces with unlimited markers

– Optimize trace arrangement to see signal patterns & interactions

– Adjust trace shape to extend event observation time or increase viewable

Trace
format
Trace
data

Hotspot

Page 66
89600 VSA Software
See through the complexity

– Measure signals in cellular,

wireless connectivity, aerospace,
defense, and general-purpose
applications

– Multiple simultaneous views

– Advanced troubleshooting tools

– Works across your design process:

supports >45 measurement
platforms

Subscription service keeps

you up-to-date

Page 67
89600 VSA Ordering Information
89601B (transportable), 89601BN (floating)

Page 68
Try 89600 VSA Software Today
Free 30-day trial
– Play recorded demo signals – Learn more with Dynamic Help
• >110 signals available • Click any feature to view text
• File > Recall > Recall Demo • Help > Dynamic help

www.keysight.com/find/vsa_trial

Page 69
Additional Resources

– Web Page: www.keysight.com/find/89601B

– Literature
• Vector Signal Analysis Basics, application note, literature number
5990-7451EN
• Brochure, literature number 5990-6553EN
• Configuration guide, literature number 5990-6386EN

Page 70
Thank You

Page 71