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Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: julian1 on December 28, 2016, 01:00:03 am

Title: Trying to understand 1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: julian1 on December 28, 2016, 01:00:03 am
Using a 9V battery as dummy DC source (source doesn't matter here )
 

My 1054Z shows a clean 200mV peak to peak signal at 100MHz,

(http://s3.julian1.io/rx100/smaller/DSC02498.JPG)

It's AC coupled, timebase is 5ns. The factory probes are definitely set to 10x.

The scope is 50MHz unhacked - so I'm somwhat surprised it even shows a clean signal.

I've tried swapping probes, and swapping channel inputs with the same result. Input is hiZ (there's no physical 50ohm termination).

Turning on the 20MHz BW filter and the signal drops to 70-80mV p2p.

The only thing I can of is a couple of local FM radio transmitters in this area - 100.9 and 99.3. Would that make sense?
Title: Re: Trying to understand1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: ataradov on December 28, 2016, 01:11:20 am
What happens if you short the probe to ground? And what happens if you short the input BNC connector?
Title: Re: Trying to understand1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: julian1 on December 28, 2016, 01:19:47 am
short the probe to ground and it's there

unplug the probe from the scope and it's gone.

short the bnc on the scope with a short piece of wire (5cm) and me touching it and it's there.

short the bnc with a bnc adapter and it's gone (edit actually can still trigger if increase vert-resolution one step) . but if i move my hand near (but not touching) it appears.
Title: Re: Trying to understand1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: julian1 on December 28, 2016, 01:26:47 am
I've changed vertical resolution, but it's still there. And more pronounced when move hand near.

(http://s3.julian1.io/rx100/smaller/DSC02501.JPG)
Title: Re: Trying to understand1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: ataradov on December 28, 2016, 01:28:24 am
Hm. Well, I guess it is possible that this is FM radio, and your body acts as an antenna.

In absence of other ideas, I'd try to record a chunk of it and try to demodulate it to see what happens. You may want to hack the scope for bigger memory depth for this :)
Title: Re: Trying to understand 1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: DimitriP on December 28, 2016, 02:03:16 am
A) Also get one of these and check your wall plugs ... https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71AGESwD7kL._AC_UL320_SR240,320_.jpg (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71AGESwD7kL._AC_UL320_SR240,320_.jpg)

B) and last but not least use different wall outlets (in different rooms).
C) unplug your TV and router and computer(s) and try again

 

Title: Re: Trying to understand 1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: BrianHG on December 28, 2016, 07:39:25 am
Have you tried a FM radio next to the scope with the antenna really small or off.  Are you getting a blank dead carrier, mute audio, at that frequency?
Title: Re: Trying to understand 1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: Simon on December 28, 2016, 08:29:23 am
You will see whatever frequencies can be represented with 1GS/s, all the 50MHz does is attenuate it.
Title: Re: Trying to understand 1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: julian1 on December 31, 2016, 01:56:51 am
I have tested the outlets for wiring issues, and tried moving the scope to use different wall outlets around the house.

The common variable seems to be that in rooms towards the front of the house - in view of a known RF mast some kilometers away - the signal is very strong. In other rooms towards the rear its only just detectable.
Title: Re: Trying to understand 1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: cdev on December 31, 2016, 01:58:44 am
What you are seeing is FM radio, you can do the same with an RTLSDR (rtl2832 and r820t based USB TV dongle) and SDR software. (a poor man's spectrum analyzer) Your input is likely picking up a strong signal as it is intended to.
Title: Re: Trying to understand 1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: julian1 on December 31, 2016, 02:17:54 am
I've got a 820t2 currently serving a media center, but purchased with the intention of playing with SDR! Just never had the time to play with it yet.

I wonder if higher MHz rated probes would provide better insulation? It's quite annoying in turning the trace into a thick band at much slower time divisions.
Title: Re: Trying to understand 1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: tggzzz on December 31, 2016, 08:35:34 am
I wonder if higher MHz rated probes would provide better insulation? It's quite annoying in turning the trace into a thick band at much slower time divisions.

Unlikely.

Set the 20MHz bandwith limit.
Title: Re: Trying to understand 1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: cdev on December 31, 2016, 10:57:58 pm
You're seeing what is there, so your equipment is doing it's job.

A small loop, say 5 cm is useful as an antenna for locating the source of nearby RF signals.
Title: Re: Trying to understand 1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: Gary350z on January 01, 2017, 02:22:59 pm
I get the local FM radio station (99.9MHz) on my scope, but at a much smaller amplitude.
See my post here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/radio-stations-detected-on-oscilloscope/msg965930/#msg965930 (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/radio-stations-detected-on-oscilloscope/msg965930/#msg965930)
Title: Re: Trying to understand 1054Z with 200mV p2p noise/signal at 100MHz ?
Post by: cdev on January 01, 2017, 08:58:46 pm


What's All This Scope Probe Stuff, Anyhow?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vzvWUqUtb8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vzvWUqUtb8)

The Bob Pease show.