Question
What transmitter performance parameter does a two-tone test analyze?
Answer Options
- A) Linearity
- B) Percentage of suppression of the carrier and undesired sideband for SSB
- C) Percentage of frequency modulation
- D) Percentage of carrier phase shift
Correct Answer: A
Explanation
A two-tone test is designed to push a Single Sideband (SSB) transmitter to its peak power level with a constant, complex signal. If the amplifier stages are operating linearly, the output signal should only contain the two desired tones. However, if the stages are non-linear (distorted), unwanted frequencies called intermodulation products (IMD) are generated.
Therefore, the primary parameter the two-tone test analyzes is the linearity of the transmitter’s amplifying stages. A highly linear amplifier produces very low IMD, which is critical for preventing ‘splatter’ into adjacent channels and maintaining a clean, high-quality SSB signal.
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