Amateur ExtraE4A03

Which of the following test instruments is used to display spurious signals and/or intermodulation distortion products generated by an SSB transmitter?

B
Answer
Receivers, transmitters, and measurements
Type
A
Differential resolver
B
Spectrum analyzer
C
Logic analyzer
D
Network analyzer

Answer Notes

A spectrum analyzer is an instrument that displays the amplitude of signals on the vertical axis and frequency on the horizontal axis. This frequency-domain view allows an operator to see the fundamental signal alongside any unwanted emissions at different frequencies. Because intermodulation distortion (IMD) products and spurious signals occur at frequencies distinct from the main carrier, a spectrum analyzer is the ideal tool to visualize and measure them. You can easily see if your SSB transmitter is splattering or generating out-of-band emissions. Other options are incorrect for this purpose. A logic analyzer is used strictly for digital signals, while a network analyzer is used to measure the transmission and reflection characteristics of components or circuits, not to monitor the live spectrum of a transmitter.
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Which of the following parameters does a spectrum analyzer display on the vertical and horizontal axes?
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How is compensation of an oscilloscope probe performed?