Trade-Off Phase Noise for Switching Speed When Choosing a Signal Generator for Radar Test? Maybe Not!

When testing up and down-conversion systems in agile radars, it is often necessary to isolate the performance of the internal local oscillators (LOs). Using a high quality and fast switching signal generator as a substitute LO allows engineers to isolate the true performance of their convertor chain. It enables them to evaluate signal chains without the performance being masked by the characteristics of the LO or to determine if the LO
is the source of issues when the systems are not performing as expected.

Learn the key factors in choosing the right signal generator for your application and why you don’t need to choose between switching speed and phase noise.