PLL in rf signal generator

Sep 12, 2007 3 Replies

What I;m doing now is doing test of a rf signal generator.



My professor might buy it via e-bay.



When I turned it on, it showed Uncal warning and generated no rf signal.



Meaning of error code was that PLL is unlocked.



I'm ,however, newcomer to RF generator world.



.. What does "PLL unlocked " means for RF signal generator.



The model I'm doing test is



fluek 6060 B



"sperelat"

** Means the RF gene is in sulking mode.

Its sulking cos it don't like being put on eBay when it is stolen property.

..... Phil

A PLL locks an oscillator frequency to a reference, possibly through a frequency divider so it can deliver a variety of frequencies. If the PLL is unlocked it means that it can't pull the oscillator frequency in to match the reference.

So either your output signal is the wrong frequency (perhaps very wrong) or it isn't there at all.

Tim Wescott Control systems and communications consulting http://www.wescottdesign.com Need to learn how to apply control theory in your embedded system? "Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" by Tim Wescott Elsevier/Newnes, http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

PLLs use a reference frequency, a VCO (or several), programmable dividers, loop filters and phase detectors. The basic idea is simple but many instruments use loops within loops and swallow counters and the poop hits the fan. Not for beginners!

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