1

Practicum Microwaves and Millimeter Waves II

Two-Tone Frequency-Domain Based PA Characterization

Two tone measurement:
Intermodulation Distortion
Intermodulation distortion (IMD) measurements are used to characterize the non-linearity of RF
components. When two tones (f1 and f2) are combined and their resulting output measured on a spectrum
analyzer.
IMD describes the ratio between the power of fundamental tones and third-order distortion

products.

The third order, and occasionally the fifth order, products are the frequency IMD products that are
measured. It measures how large the signal for WCDMA.

Figure 1: Frequencies generated by intermodulation distortion [1]

Two-tone third-order intermodulation distortion (IMD3) is the measure of the third-order distortion
products produced by a nonlinear device when two tones closely spaced in frequency are connected into
its input. This distortion product is usually so close to the carrier that it is almost impossible to filter out
and can cause interference in multichannel communications equipment
If f1 and f2 are the frequencies of the two tones, then the third-order distortion products occur on both
sides of these tones at 2f2 f1 and 2f1 f2 also the power levels for the two tones are equal as shown in
the above figure. However 5th order IMD products can also be calculated at 3f1-2f2 and 3f2-2f1, 7th order
at 4f1-3f2 and 4f2-3f1.

Md Nahidul Islam [33109091]

WS 2014

Practicum Microwaves and Millimeter Waves II

Measurement Procedure:
In this practicum a GaN-HEMT is used for two tone measurements at centre frequency 2.14GHz with
5MHz, 7MHz, 15MHz and 20MHz spacing. Input signal is from power amplifier connect to the input of
GaN-HEMT. Then the output terminal of GaN-HEMT was connected to spectrum analyzer to observe the
output characteristics. Input signal was varied from -10dBm to 0dBm.GaN-HEMT was connected with Tbias in its input and output. T-bias attenuation was 2.2dBm.

Calculation:

For frequency spacing, f=7 MHz

Centre frequency, fc=2.14 GHz and f1= fc-f/2=2.14 GHz -3.5 MHz =2.1365 GHz and f2
= fc+ f/2=2.14 GHz +3.5 MHz =2.1435 GHz IMDL=2f1-f2=22.1365-2.1435=2.1295 GHz and
IMDU=2f2-f1=22.1435-2.1365=2.1505 GHz
For frequency spacing, f=20 MHz
Centre frequency, fc=2.14 GHz
f1= fc-f/2=2.14 GHz -10 MHz =2.13 GHz and f2= fc+f/2=2.14 GHz +10 MHz =2.15 GHz
IMDL=2f1-f2=22.13 -2.15 =2.11 GHz and IMDU=2f2-f1=22.15-2.13=2.17 GHz

Result and Discussion

In the following data sheet at different spacing for f1 their corresponding gain values is measured and
characteristics gain curve was also plotted.
Input power(dBm)
10
5
4
3
2

Gain of 7MHz
spacing for f1
22.1
23.05
23.65
24.29
26.25

Gain of 15 MHz
spacing for f1
23.75
25.08
25.5
25.75
26.68

Gain of 20 MHz
spacing for f1
23.6
24.4
24
25
27

Table 1: Input power and Gain of f1 at different pacing

In the experiment there was also some frequency in the spectrum analyzer also with IMD products. For
example at 20 MHz spacing and -10dBm power 2.090GHz, 2.1898 GHz, 2.20989 GHz and 2.0699 GHz

Md Nahidul Islam [33109091]

WS 2014

Practicum Microwaves and Millimeter Waves II

Figure 2: Input power vs. gain curve of f1 at different spacing

Discussion:

The gain of f1 at 7MHz, 15MHz and 20 MHz frequency spacing is always decreasing with the increasing
of input power. The decreasing trend of the curve is non-linear compared to single tone measurement.

In the following data sheet at different spacing for f2 their corresponding gain values is measured and
characteristics gain curve was also plotted.

Input power(dBm)
10
5
4
3
2

Gain of 7MHz
spacing for f2
22.22
23.07
23.65
24.29
26.38

Gain of 15 MHz
spacing for f2
24.63
26.24
26.68
27.06
28.23

Gain of 20 MHz
spacing for f2
23.13
24
24
24.999
25.12

Table 2: Input power and gain of f2 at different spacing

Md Nahidul Islam [33109091]

WS 2014

Practicum Microwaves and Millimeter Waves II

Figure 3: Input power vs. gain of f2 at different spacing

Discussion:
From table 2 and figure 3 the gain of f2 with 15MHz spacing is higher than gain of f2 with 20MHz and
7MHz spacing. Following tables are calculating with 30dB attenuation loss and 2dB of T-bias loss.
Power of IMDL with different frequency spacing
Input

Power of IMDL 20 MHz

Power of IMDL 7MHz

Power of IMDL 15MHz

10

28.75

23.9

19.09

19.8

15.6

9.07

17

14.6

8.22

13.41

6.23

14.42

5.67

Table 2: Power of IMDL at different spacing

Md Nahidul Islam [33109091]

WS 2014

Practicum Microwaves and Millimeter Waves II

Figure 4: Input power vs. IMDL power

Discussion:
In the above graph it was observed that power of IMDL for 7MHz spacing was almost linear for most of
the input power. Power is always increases with the increasing of input. It might conclude that after
further increasing it decreases. In table 3 it was observed that there is no value for -3dBm and -2dBm
input at 20 MHz spacing because it was beyond -1dB compression power.

Power of IMDU with different frequency spacing

Input

Power of IMDU 20 MHz

Power of IMDU 7MHz

Power of IMDU 15MHz

10

26.98

25.1

18.28

19.3

16.9

9.8

20

15.96

8.33

14.78

6.51

16.92

6.1

Table 3: Power of IMDU at different spacing

Md Nahidul Islam [33109091]

WS 2014

Practicum Microwaves and Millimeter Waves II

Figure 5: Input power vs. IMDU power.

Discussion:
From table 4 and above figure we see that the power of IMDU with 15MHz and 20MHz spacing are
higher than the 7MHz.

It was observed that for different frequency spacing gain curve is non-linear because of IMD products.

Literature
[1] http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/rf-technology-design/passive-intermodulation-pim/basicstutorial.php
[2] http://www.ni.com/white-paper/4384/en/
[3] Practicum manual of MMW2

Md Nahidul Islam [33109091]

WS 2014