The Essential Signal Generator Guide Building a Solid Foundation in RF – Part 1

How do signal generators help eliminate uncertainties in test results?

Engineers designing consumer electronics, wireless communications, or radar devices face ongoing bandwidth limitations, operating in spectrum increasingly filled with interference. Signal generators offer the precise and stable test signals you need to characterize your device. They also let you apply impairments to test your design within and beyond its limits.

Getting to market faster with test results you can trust starts with selecting the right test instrument for the job. This two-part white paper series provides a better understanding of how signal generators work, and which specifications are critical for your projects. Part 1 discusses:

• basic signal generator functionality, different types of signal generators, and key specifications
• key power parameters, including the difference between average power, envelope power, and peak envelope power, as well as measurement applications for high or low output power
• what accuracy is, why it matters, and specifications of interest
• critical speed specifications and how to improve test throughput and efficiency for more productive testing

Part 2 covers more advanced features such as modulation, spectral purity, and distortion.
 

What is an RF signal generator?

RF signal generators create the waveforms needed for testing RF applications. One type of RF signal generator is an analog signal generator (ASG) that creates amplitude-modulated (AM), frequency-modulated (FM), phase modulation, and pulse modulation signals. As signal modulation becomes more complex, you need a vector signal generator (VSG) to create intricate digital signals. Popular modulation formats for vector signal generators are quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), and binary phase shift keying (BPSK).
 

Why do you need a signal generator?

Engineers use signal generators to create repeated or non-repeated waveforms to design, test, and manufacture systems and individual components. Other common names for signal generators are signal sources, sources, and RF signal generators.
 

What is a signal generator used for?

Signal generators are test instruments that generate waveforms used to test and evaluate electronic test equipment. They simulate real-world signals and conditions, enabling engineers to test the performance and behavior of electronic systems.
 

What are the types of signal generators?

There are various types of signal generators, including:

• Function generator: produces simple, repetitive waveforms.
• Arbitrary waveform generator (AWG): produces both standard and intricate custom waveforms.
• Pulse generator: specializes in producing digital pulses.
• Digital pattern generator: produces a sequence of logic levels or digital patterns.
• RF signal generator: produces electromagnetic signals in the RF frequency range and above. Two groups within the RF signal generator category are analog signal generators, which primarily generate simple continuous wave signals, and vector signal generators, which produce complex modulated signals.

These white papers focus on RF signal generators, which vary in form factor, including benchtop, portable, and modular configurations.
 

What is the difference between an oscilloscope and a signal generator?

Oscilloscopes and RF signal generators perform different test functions, but they are both commonly used across various industries. Engineers use oscilloscopes to visualize waveforms, measure signal properties, and troubleshoot circuit performance.

RF signal generators produce waveforms used to test and evaluate electronic test equipment. The digital test equipment equivalent to this is a function generator or AWG. The RF test instrument equivalent to an oscilloscope would be a signal analyzer.

To learn more about these and other RF signal generator basics, read this white paper.