Detection of Digital-RF Signals - How?
I have a 418 Mhz carrier (from a non-ADI transmitter chip Mfg) digitally modulated with a digital data stream at less than 5 Khz. The modulated carrier "chirps" about 3 times per second, with each chirp lasting about 120 milliseconds. I want to detect and verify the presence of this digital RF signal. I don't need to make accurate power measurements - I only need to verify the signal's presence.
Can I use an analog RF probe that uses exotic low barrier microwave detector diodes, attaching the probe to my digital scope to see the voltage that should be registered during each chirp of the transmitter? Or, will the detection of this digital RF signal require something more exotic?
Also, does ADI offer a detection chip suitable for detecting digital-RF signals? And a simple (as simple as possible) application circuit for constructing a digital-RF probe or antenna-based detector?
Hi,
It seems that your question does not relate to ADI DSPs, but rather the use of the RF/IF components. Please note that tThe purpose of the EngineerZone is to provide forums for the support of Developers using ADI DSPs and related tools. We are unable to answer non-DSP questions such as yours via this forum.
Please see the Analog Devices Support page, via the link below, for details of the appropriate contact:
regards,
Craig.
Hi CraigG,
Sorry for posting my question in the wrong forum. Just for the record, my analog detector for digitally-modulated RF signals does work extremely well clear into and past the 2.4 Ghz band. Since the RF is OOK (On-Off-keyed) modulated, what appears on the scope on the output of my detector is quite distinguishable as an OOK-modulated 433 Mhz carrier. Using an AD820 OpAmp to amplify the weak post-Barrier Diode signal, I can pick up very weak signals on the order of a few microwatts.
I needed this detector to diagnose a problem in the wireless link between two devices I designed and constructed (prototype #2). Using this detector, I was able to resolve the problem completely. It lay in a faulty antenna design, which was pointedly antenuating the RF signal out of the transmitter device. I scrapped the purchased antenna product and designed my own antenna, which I then proved, modified and perfected (using my RF detector) by real-world trial and error. Sound a bit familiar? Apple, shame on you!
I hope it was OK for me to post this result here, in case anyone needs to employ a similar solution. By the way, AD chips rule! What a 1st-class company!
William Stroupe
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