usrp-users@lists.ettus.com

Discussion and technical support related to USRP, UHD, RFNoC

View all threads

WBX daughterboard - transmit LO signal harmonics

RA
Ralph A. Schmid, dk5ras
Fri, Jul 12, 2013 6:50 AM

I want to add that very often harmonics are generated in the spectrum
analyzer, when input level is too high. An external attenuator may help.

Ralph.

From: USRP-users [mailto:usrp-users-bounces@lists.ettus.com] On Behalf Of
Matt Ettus
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 6:36 PM
To: Perper
Cc: usrp-users@lists.ettus.com
Subject: Re: [USRP-users] WBX daughterboard - transmit LO signal harmonics

On Thu, Jul 11, 2013 at 9:07 AM, Perper perper@o2.pl wrote:

Hi all,

I'm want to transmit signal using WBX daughterboard.
I encountered one serious problem: when I transmit signal on a carrier
frequency fc I have also very strong repetition of it on odd multiplies
of fc (3fc, 5fc, 7*fc...)
On each of those frequencies I have the same spectrum as spectrum from
baseband frequency.
I suppose it is effect of mixing of the signal with an LO signal that is
VERY far from being sinusoidal and this LO signal have very strong odd
harmonics.

Question for Ettus Research - are you aware of this effect and is it by
design? Therefore WBX daughterboard should always be used with some
lowpass filter that will cut unwanted repetitions that effect from
mixing with harmonics of LO? Can I somehow change LO signal so it will
have better quality (much lower harmonics)?

This is by design.  You can reduce the harmonics somewhat by reducing power,
but not that much.  The reality is that mixers and amps have harmonics, and
the only way to get rid of them is with filters.  The WBX has such a wide
range of frequencies (50 MHz to 2.2 GHz that we would need 8 or more filters
and that would dramatically increase cost.  The intended use is for you to
do one of the following:

  • Use external filters that you can switch if you are operating over a large
    frequency range

  • Replace FIL1 on the WBX grand-daughterboard with an LPF that fits your
    frequency range if you are operating over a narrower range (< 1 octave).
    Minicircuits makes a whole line of pin-compatible filters that fit there.

or

  • Operate at low enough power or over cables so that it doesn't matter

Matt

I want to add that very often harmonics are generated in the spectrum analyzer, when input level is too high. An external attenuator may help. Ralph. From: USRP-users [mailto:usrp-users-bounces@lists.ettus.com] On Behalf Of Matt Ettus Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 6:36 PM To: Perper Cc: usrp-users@lists.ettus.com Subject: Re: [USRP-users] WBX daughterboard - transmit LO signal harmonics On Thu, Jul 11, 2013 at 9:07 AM, Perper <perper@o2.pl> wrote: Hi all, I'm want to transmit signal using WBX daughterboard. I encountered one serious problem: when I transmit signal on a carrier frequency fc I have also very strong repetition of it on odd multiplies of fc (3*fc, 5*fc, 7*fc...) On each of those frequencies I have the same spectrum as spectrum from baseband frequency. I suppose it is effect of mixing of the signal with an LO signal that is VERY far from being sinusoidal and this LO signal have very strong odd harmonics. Question for Ettus Research - are you aware of this effect and is it by design? Therefore WBX daughterboard should always be used with some lowpass filter that will cut unwanted repetitions that effect from mixing with harmonics of LO? Can I somehow change LO signal so it will have better quality (much lower harmonics)? This is by design. You can reduce the harmonics somewhat by reducing power, but not that much. The reality is that mixers and amps have harmonics, and the only way to get rid of them is with filters. The WBX has such a wide range of frequencies (50 MHz to 2.2 GHz that we would need 8 or more filters and that would dramatically increase cost. The intended use is for you to do one of the following: - Use external filters that you can switch if you are operating over a large frequency range - Replace FIL1 on the WBX grand-daughterboard with an LPF that fits your frequency range if you are operating over a narrower range (< 1 octave). Minicircuits makes a whole line of pin-compatible filters that fit there. or - Operate at low enough power or over cables so that it doesn't matter Matt