Noisecom UFX7000A Series Demonstration

Abstract

Product: Demonstrate the effect of broadband additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) on digital broadcast signals using the UFX7000A series. We show how the picture quality degrades as the noise level is increased (Eb/No decreased). Do you know how much noise your system can handle?

Broadband noise can be deadly for picture quality

Test your satellite system's immunity to broadband noise

Noisecom UFX7000A Series Demonstration

Product: 
Demonstrate the effect of broadband additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) on digital broadcast signals using the UFX7000A series. We show how the picture quality degrades as the noise level is increased (Eb/No decreased). Do you know how much noise your system can handle?   

Target Users:
Satellite modem design and verification engineers, satellite component (LNA/PA) and system engineers working with data, video, voice and broadcast  (DVB-S, DVB-S2) systems in military and civilian applications. Working with broadband noise generated by various sources such as civilian and military radar interferes with the operation of the satellite and earth station receiver.

Test Set-up:


About UFX7000A series:
The Noisecom UFX7000A broadband noise generator creates complex and custom broadband noise signals for advanced test systems. The flexible computer architecture allows control of multiple precision attenuators, switches, and filter banks to provide high output power broadband noise with superior flatness. The broadband noise source and noise path attenuator in 1 dB (0.1 dB optional) steps as well as custom frequency and noise output power levels combined with an optional signal combiner & signal attenuator allow independent control of the noise & signal paths to vary SNR while performing BER or MER vs. Eb/No (C/N) testing. 

Combined with optional switching circuitry, the designer can create many different path combinations using low pass, high pass, band pass, or band reject filters in any combination. The input / output connectors can be located on the front, or rear panel to provide convenient customer access on the bench, or in a rack system.
 
The unit has a touch-screen TFT display, mouse, and keyboard for manual control or standard Ethernet for ATE remote control. Optional IEEE 488.2 GPIB and RS232 remote interfaces are also available.  If there are additional requirements for your noise application, please contact the factory for more information about custom designs.

Significant Features of UFX7000AA series:
- Custom broadband noise frequencies and output power.
- Manually controlled by a touch screen display. 
- Remotely controlled via Ethernet, GPIB (IEEE 488.2) or RS232/RS422/RS423.
- Optional 0.1 dB step attenuator to adjust noise and signal levels.
- 75 ohm or 50 ohm input/output impedance.
- Switchable filters for custom tailored noise bands.
- Front or rear panel input and output connectors. SMA, BNC or N types.
- Removable harddrive (military/defense applications).
 
Measuring effect of noise (Eb/No) on a broadcast signal using a UFX7000A:
UFX7000A series allows the user to characterize BER vs. Eb/No (C/N) performance for data communication systems or Modulation Error Rate (MER) vs. Eb/No (C/N) performance for broadcast systems by injecting precise AWGN in 0.1 dB steps to the desired incoming signal. Our test set-up works with an incoming CATV broadcast signal as the input signal to the UFX7000A.  The broadband noise level is varied to change the Eb/No or C/N ratio in 0.1 dB steps.  The output of the UFX7000A is connected to a CATV modem that converts the incoming signal to baseband video & audio and drives the HDMI input of a high resolution monitor. The noise output level is initially set so that the video quality of the broadcast signal is good quality (Fig.1).  The broadband noise level is then increased in 0.1 dB steps to create worsening Eb/No and picture quality (MER) until the modem cannot process the signal (Fig.2). 
 

Fig.1 Good picture quality	Fig.2 Degraded picture due to noise

Existing and Comparable Products:
UFX7000A series is Noisecom’s flagship noise generator. With options and customization capabilities Noisecom can configure the unit to the user’s requirements. For the state of art the Eb/No testing system Noisecom also offers CNG-EbNo its high-end Eb/No measurement instrument. It automates Eb/No(C/N) vs. BER/MER measurements by automatically measuring and controlling signal and noise levels. This eliminates the need for external power meters to monitor and test software to control power levels of injected noise and desired signal.