The PN400 from Signal Hound is a Phase Noise and VCO Test System that operates from 100 kHz to 43.5 GHz. This test solution is designed to bring excellent phase noise, VCO testing, and spectrum analysis measurements together in one powerful and precise workflow. It harnesses the power of two SM family of spectrum analyzers to create the phase noise and VCO tester. This test system can conduct up to 500 cross-correlation measurements in 392 ms (per correlation) and achieves phase noise floors that are 20-30 dB lower than the capabilities of a single SM200/SM435 spectrum analyzer. It has a phase noise of -178 dBc/Hz (at 100 kHz offset).
The PN400 also has an internal low noise variable power supply and tuned voltage to facilitate precise voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) testing and characterization, which include tuning sensitivity and VCO pushing. It can be controlled via a USB 2.0 interface and is fully automated with SCPI commands. This phase noise and VCO tester requires a DC supply from 0.5 to 5.5 V and consumes less than 10 W of power. It is available in an enclosure that measures 7.21 x 3.74 x 1.78 inches and has 2.4 mm/2.92 mm connectors. This test system is ideal for phase noise testing, VCO testing, source characterization, system-level debugging, SDR characterization, production/manufacturing testing applications.
