Great video on a often overlooked electrical parameters of RF Amplifiers. One of my beef's with the P1dB specification of many RF AMPLIFIERS is that it does take into consideration WIDEBAND and ULTRA WIDEBAND derating. For example, if in the example provided in the video, IF you were to actually "SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLY" the 10Mhz to 1Ghz signal (versus the narrowband sweep that is performed by the VNA) you would see signal degradation of any complex modulated signal. There needs to be a standardized characterization of RF Amplifiers that allow you to input frequency range and average power level of that overall area under the curve of the wideband signal and give you metrics on the intermodulation distortion and harmonics created.
Great video! I put out one on the same subject a couple months back using an Aeroflex 7100 to take the measurements, but using a network analyzer as you did is the "proper" way to take this measurement. 😁👍
Just to clarify the P1dB is the input signal level (in this case it P1dB = -10 dBm) and the Output OP1dB is the output power OP1dB = P1dB + Gain = -10+18=8dBm
As I understood, he's talking with the output value for the compression point. -8 dBm is the output (input+gain). and I think it is reasonable because it is the amount of output power that determines the 1dB compression point.
Great video on a often overlooked electrical parameters of RF Amplifiers.
One of my beef's with the P1dB specification of many RF AMPLIFIERS is that it does take into consideration WIDEBAND and ULTRA WIDEBAND derating.
For example, if in the example provided in the video, IF you were to actually "SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLY" the 10Mhz to 1Ghz signal (versus the narrowband sweep that is performed by the VNA) you would see signal degradation of any complex modulated signal.
There needs to be a standardized characterization of RF Amplifiers that allow you to input frequency range and average power level of that overall area under the curve of the wideband signal and give you metrics on the intermodulation distortion and harmonics created.
Thank you so much
I actually have an exam where this is being questioned soon and this really helped me :)
Great video! I put out one on the same subject a couple months back using an Aeroflex 7100 to take the measurements, but using a network analyzer as you did is the "proper" way to take this measurement. 😁👍
Just to clarify the P1dB is the input signal level (in this case it P1dB = -10 dBm) and the Output OP1dB is the output power OP1dB = P1dB + Gain = -10+18=8dBm
Why is the 18db gain added to the input power to get the 1db point? Wouldn't it be the input (-10dbm) value we want?
As I understood, he's talking with the output value for the compression point. -8 dBm is the output (input+gain). and I think it is reasonable because it is the amount of output power that determines the 1dB compression point.
10:20 your diagram would've been perfect if you had put -10dBm as input instead of 0dBm. Because at 0dBm the ideal output is 20dBm and not 10dBm.
When amplifier is in compression, will it create distortion/harmonics?
You bet it will.
Excellent
Ron Plain
THat looked like the 0.75 dB compression point to me...
Thanks!