Tag: phase-noise

Frequency Distribution Amplifier 2017.01

1:8 frequency distribution amplifier based on LMH6702 and LMH6609 op-amps.

In particular the power-supply section using a common-mode choke, a Murata BNX025 filter, and low-noise regulators LT1963 and LT3015 seems to work quite well. I also used ferrites (2 kOhm @ 100 MHz) as well as an RC-filter on all supply pins. Perhaps overkill? Performance with the intended AC/DC brick is still to be verified.

Measurements around 10 MHz show a 1 dB compression at over 14 dBm and an IP3 of around 27 to 30 dBm. The gain extends beyond 100 MHz with some gain-peaking.

Some measurements of residual phase-noise with a 3120A phase-meter, at 10 MHz. My earlier distribution amplifier required shielding with aluminium foil as well as powering from a lead-acid battery to achieve a reasonably quiet phase-noise spectrum. These measurements were done with lab power-supplies for +/-12 V to the board and without any shielding.

Finally some measurements of gain vs. frequency with a Rigol spectrum analyzer.

 

White Rabbit Workshop, Amsterdam

I gave a talk at the White Rabbit Workshop in Amsterdam about our long link, ideas for fiber asymmetry calibration, and recent stability measurements. The slides are online.

I updated my earlier picture with the noise-floor of three different phase-noise measurement setups. The picture now includes a typical good OCXO trace and the CLK2 10MHz output of a GM-locked White Rabbit Switch (v4.2 firmware).

phase_noise_WR

SRS FS710 noise measurement

Update: changing the main electrolytic capacitors as well as the tantalum caps around the 7805/7905 voltage regulators did not help. There is still about 600 mVpp of ripple on the +/- 13.9 VDC inputs to the regulators.

Here's a noise measurement on an old second-hand SRS FS710 distribution amplifier. I wonder if the excessive noise at 50 Hz and harmonics is within spec or a result of old age?

Measurement setup: 10MHz signal to a Mini-Circuits ZFSC-2-1+ splitter, one branch to 3120A REF-input, the other branch to the FS710 input, and FS710 output1 to the 3120A DUT input. Noise floor was measured with the same setup but bypassing the FS710.