20

MEASUREMENTS OF FM TRANSMITTERS
During operation of transmitters faults can occur that may not necessarily cause complete shutdown of a transmitter but can nevertheless impair the quality of transmission. Such faults can be detected by measurement either during operation of transmitter or outside of transmission period. Measurements are also to be made on transmitter to access the limits of specifications.

LIST OF MEASUREMENTS
The following measurements may be carried out on transmitter :1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Checking up of Panel Meter Readings. Monitoring of RF output at test points. RF output power measurements. Frequency range capability Transmitter frequency measurements. VSWR Measurements. Spurious and Harmonics Measurements. Input sensitivity of transmitter Frequency response. Total Harmonic Distortion. Signal to Noise Ratio. Stereo Channel Separation (Stereo cross talk measurement). 19 kHz Pilot Rejection. Inter Modulation Distortion Efficiency Test Endurance Test Checking up of Power supply variation limits. Functional checks

From the above, the measurements other than simple and routine measurements, which can be easily performed within the available resources of the stations are discussed below: A standard measurement set up as shown in the figure can be made for the following measurements: 1) 2) 3) 4) Frequency Response THD S/N Ratio Stereo cross talk

STI(T) Publication

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007/2003

Measurements of FM Transmitters

AF GENERATOR

FM TRANSMITTER

FKDL

LEVEL METER

NB 1. Input to transmitter is fed at ST3 pin 0 (L-signal) & pin 9 (R-signal) of Exciter. 2. FKDL Test and Monitoring FM Demodulator. 3. AF Generator & Level Meter - Neutrik or any DNL Meter.

A.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

FREQUENCY RESPONSE MEASUREMENT

Set AF generator to 40 Hz, -8 dBm level. Connect generator to Audio I/P (Left or Right channel) of FM Tx. Measure the level on level meter and take it as reference. Switch OFF pre-emphasis on FM Tx. Exciter. Vary frequency keeping level constant on AF generator. Note the corresponding level variation on level meter w.r. to reference. The set of above readings gives frequency response. This should be within + 0.5 dB (40 Hz - 15 KHz).

B.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION MEASUREMENT

Set AF generator 500 Hz, 6 dBm level. Connect generator to Audio I/P (left or right channel) of FM TX. Measure the distortion on distortion Analyser. Vary frequency keeping level constant on generator and note corresponding distortion at different frequencies. The above set of readings gives Harmonic distortion at different frequencies. This should be within 0.5% for mono or stereo (40 Hz - 15 kHz, Deviation + 75 kHz).

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FM Transmitter

C.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

FM SIGNAL/NOISE RATIO MEASUREMENT

Set the AF generator frequency 500 Hz, 6 dBm level. Connect AF generator to Audio I/P (left or right channel) of transmitter. transmitter in STEREO mode. Measure deviation on FM Demodulator and set if required, (75 kHz). Measure level on level meter and take it as reference. Switch OFF AF generator and measure on AF level meter. Put level meter to unweighted mode and measure unweighted noise. Follow same procedure for mono signal noise measurement except change in set up (stereo decoder not used). Put transmitter in MONO mode. S/N ratio may be better than 60 dB (Mono or Stereo, frequency deviation - 40 kHz, modulating frequency 500 Hz). Put

D.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

STEREO CROSSTALK MEASUREMENT

Set AF generator to 500 Hz, 6 dBm level. Connect generator to left I/P of Transmitter. Connect Stereo decoder left O/P to level meter and take readings as reference. Change to Right channel on stereo decoder and take readings which is cross talk (from left to right). Vary frequency on AF generator and take corresponding readings. Similarly feed in Right channel and take readings on left channel, which gives cross talk (from right to left). This may be better than 35 dB for the frequencies 40 Hz to 100 Hz and better than 40 dB for 100 Hz to 15 KHz.

STI(T) Publication

195

007/2003