A better FFT and better measurements, WaveForms style

Suggested by rpro on the EEVblog forum. Thank you!

done, in the next release · DHO800/900, MHO900

What's new

Spectrum markers
RBW
3D waterfall
Tone measurements
Measurements

How it works

Spectrum markers

M1 to M4 on the FFT, each reading the level at its frequency, the frequency and level from another marker, a level held when it was fixed, or the noise density in dBc/Hz. Peak puts a marker on the highest tone; Next left, Next right and Lower step from tone to harmonic without stopping on the noise or a window's side lobes. Every marker is listed in a table on the plot, and a bar over the plot's foot sets them while the spectrum stays in view. Over SCPI: :NOVAos:SPECtrum:MARKer<n>.

RBW

The Spectrum measurements sheet sets the FFT's resolution bandwidth: Auto, or a 1-2-5 step at a time, with the spectrum's own RBW shown beside it.

3D waterfall

The last 8 to 128 spectra stacked in depth in the trace's place, the newest in front, hidden lines removed, coloured by level or by age; beside the spectrogram. The FFT plot can also run on a log frequency axis from a start frequency to the span's end, and everything on it follows.

Tone measurements

The FFT's single-tone analysis is a set of measurements like any other: listed from the Measure sheet with statistics, trends and the histogram, and over SCPI (:NOVAos:MEASure:ITEM THD,CHAN1).

Measurements

Every measurement's statistics carry its median; the measurements can be limited to the span between the cursors on every model; and a data logger writes the listed measurements, the counter and the DVM as timestamped CSV rows to the internal disk, a USB stick or a network disk, at every update, every Nth, at an interval or on a limit crossing.

Where it stands

  1. DoneCompared with WaveForms

    Digilent WaveForms' math, measurements, spectrum, Bode, displays and export compared with NovaOS area by area, and the gaps ranked.

  2. DoneBuilt

    Each of the above, with tests on known signals on both families' screens and command sets.

  3. NextOn our DHO924S and MHO934

    The markers, the RBW and the tone measurements checked on the built-in generator's square wave on a release installed on both scopes.

What rpro asked for

Markers and their table on the spectrum, the resolution bandwidth in hand, spectrum measurements, waterfalls and a 3D view; More measurement statistics and ranges, and a way to keep long records of the results.

vastly better FFT: RBW, sets of cursors and markers, tables, averages and peak hold, measurements, waterfalls, 3D
vastly better measurements and math

Try it and tell us what to change: reply on NovaOS's thread on the EEVblog forum.