Special Project: Receive a Spectrum Analyzer and Demonstrate EMI debugging, low power design, or IoT Application

I have been talking to one of our valued test equipment suppliers, Rohde&Schwarz, and they would like to sponsor some special projects using its FPC Spectrum Analyzers. The participants would get an FPC1500FPC1500. Each participant would need to demonstrate one of the following tasks using the product:

EMI debugging a switched-mode power supply
EMC pre-compliance testing
IOT: testing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transmit signals
IOT: Antenna matching in IoT and low power devices

We have roadtested these products in the past:

3GHz Spectrum Analyzer - R&S FPC1000

FPC1500 Spectrum Analyzer

Roadtests are open product reviews where the roadtester decides on how to roadtest the product. This special project is more application/task-focused. R&S would like to see element14 demonstrate the FPC1500's capabilities in the areas above (my bullet points). Here's the applications page for more information: https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/application/fpc/

These products are expensive. So, the participants will be required to provide me a proposal or complete an application similar to what I would do for a roadtest or a design challenge. I would like to see what you would like to do with it. Moreover, what other gear or resources you would need. This last point is important. We would like to get a better idea of what materials, resources, equipment you would need, as appropriate.

Are you Interested? Please vote in the Poll.

What Would You need besides the Spectrum Analyzer? Please leave a comment describing your set up.

Do you have any (better) ideas on how to do this special project? Please leave a comment.

At this point, I am still brainstorming on how I will do this special project. R&S is very interested. Any other feedback you can provide is welcome.

Randall

-element14 Team

Top Comments

misaz over 5 years ago

It is completly out of my skill range but I am very interested in learning and understanding this kind of analysis techniques and problem solving. I browsed over documentation and found references to teaching kit which looks good for beginers. Some links to Teaching kit documentation if someone is interested:

https://scdn.rohde-schwarz.com/ur/pws/dl_downloads/dl_common_library/dl_brochures_and_datasheets/pdf_1/Fact_Sheet__FPC-Z…
https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/manual/r-s-fpc-z10-teaching-kit-getting-started-manuals-gb1_78701-584833.html
https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/cz/manual/r-s-fpc-z10-teaching-kit-user-guide-manuals-gb1_78701-979971.html
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dougw over 5 years ago

Wow. This is a fantastic opportunity to dive into some esoteric measurement applications.
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gordonmx over 5 years ago

This project is indeed very interesting. Would the expected outcome be similar to an app note or other reference document? I would target either the EMI debugging of a switch-mode power supply or EMC pre-compliance testing.

R&S EMC accessories like the HZ-14 active, HZ-15 and/or HZ540 EMC near-field probe sets would be useful for both projects along with the EZ-17 current probe. Other hardware options should include the FPC-B22 SA preamplifier. Software options should include at least the FPC-K42 VNA and FPC-K55 advanced measurements.

Gordon
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fmilburn over 5 years ago

This is a fantastic opportunity! I like that R&S has posted ideas on what they would like to see demonstrated.
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rscasny over 5 years ago in reply to neuromodulator

Hi Miguel.

I was not given the model and options. If you want to suggest what you need/like, I will earmark them.

At this point, I think we have not firmed up what range of projects we want the participants to do. So, proposing something else would be appropriate. They gave me those applications to work from. But I can propose something else.

Randall
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neuromodulator over 5 years ago

Hello Randall,

This looks very interesting, what model and options are going to be supplied?
With better ideas do you mean that we could propose a different project than the listed ones?
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shabaz over 5 years ago

Amazing! Such a cool device, and opportunity. I think it's the only review where I ended up giving the instrument the highest score.. because any issues were miniscule compared to the capabilities it provides to users.
Several years on I still use it, and love it - totally silent, compact, and feature-rich.
It seems like these special projects will be a great way to show everyone how the FPC1500 can benefit them, since these are all interesting/relevant topics for a lot of engineers.
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