SteppIR SARK-110, User Manual

Page: 46 / 78

SteppIR
SARK-110
User’s Manual
Rev 1.1.7 October 29 th , 2014 - 46 - © Melchor Varela – EA4FRB 2011-2014
11 Signal Generator Mode
The SteppIR SARK-110 can be used as a programmable RF signal source in Signal Generator
Mode. It outputs a sinusoidal RF signal at a frequency programmable from 100 kHz to 230 MHz with
eight user selectable amplitude levels ranging from -73 dBm to -10 dBm. In addition, frequency
sweeps can be programmed with linear, bi-linear, logarithmic, or bi-logarithmic functions.
This signal generator mode is ideal for receiver testing and alignment, sensitivity tests, RF signal
tracing and troubleshooting.
Use Navigator A to highlight
«Mode»
in the main menu. Press the Select
[ ■ ]
button to activate the
Mode popup submenu and use Navigator B to highlight «Signal Generator» submenu mode option.
Finally press the Select [ ■ ] button to enter into Signal Generator mode.
The screenshot below shows the signal generator screen in continuous frequency operation mode.
The screen includes the programmed frequency in Hertz and the output power level expressed both
in dBm and volts.
Frequency can be changed as usual; see chapter 4.4.
For changing the output level, use Navigator A to highlight «Level» in the main menu. Use
Navigator B to select the desired level or press the Select [ ■ ] button to activate the level selection
pop up dialog.
There are eight selectable output levels ranging from -73 dBm to -10 dBm. The «Maximum» output
level setting produces the device’s maximum output signal level that the hardware can support at
the assigned frequency. Note that when using this setting there is both a more noticeable amplitude
roll off with frequency as well as higher distortion of the output signal.