Measuring Digitally Modulated RF Signals - Sponsored Whitepaper

Digitally modulated radio-frequency (RF) signals manifest unique characteristics at personal communications (PCS) frequencies when they are reflected. Reflections add out-of-phase data symbols that cause bit errors. Paradoxically, simple signal-strength measurements at PCS frequencies (using signals with a narrow bandwidth, such as a continuous wave [CW]) can be deceptive because, although the signal may even appear to be quite strong, when it is digitally modulated, the bit-error rate (BER) performance may be poor.