[Boatanchors] Re: IF Filter testing...

[J. Forster]

Barry L. Ornitz wrote:

> Jordan Arndt, VE2SWL, asked:
>
> > Hi.. is there a simple method of testing IF filters for  throughput and
> resonant frequency..??
>
> In a completely unknown filter, finding the proper frequency can be
> difficult.  Mechanical and crystal filters shown a very
> large number of spurious responses outside the passband of the filter.
> Finding the correct response is sometimes difficult.

There is another way to test filters which will give you a good overall view of
a filter and help identify spurious responses. If you apply a broad band noise
source to the filter's input, and look at the output with a spectrum analyzer,
you can get a pretty good idea of what's going on. This eliminated the need of a
tracking generator or ANA.
-John