RadiMation Error: 536872031

IF overload is detected

When you are starting a test or during the test you can be confronted with this error. This error notifies you that the IF circuit in the spectrum analyser/receiver has been overloaded. This means that a signal that is to hard for the input of the receiver or spectrum analyser.

Solution

The solution is to reduce the amplitude of the signal provided on the input of the receiver or spectrum analyser.

This can be achieved in multiple ways, also depending on the actual test configuration that is used, and the cause of the actual signal triggering the IF overload:

• Sometimes IF overload situations are caused by unintentional discharges or spikes. It is possible that with repeating the measurement it is possible to perform the measurement. By clicking on 'Automatic' again in the multiband emission test, the test will repeat the last sweeps with the spectrum analyser, and will continue to perform the measurement from where it was interrupted.
• Increase the reference level (in most analyzers this also increases the attenuation level) by specifying a higher reference level in the test configuration or increase the attenuator value in the test configuration.
• Use fixed value for the reference level instead of auto. An auto setting is not always available on the actually used spectrum analyser, and setting a fixed value for the reference level ensures that the value that you have set is actually the value used during measurement. When fixed settings can be used this is always advised.
• Turn of the internal preamplifier in the used spectrum analyser. In the test configuration this can be done by specifying a value of 0 dB for the Preamp.
• If the signal level is still to high after raising the reference level and/or the attenuator value, you are possibly dealing with a signal that is to high for the input. In this case you need to bring the level down by using a physical attenuator before the input. Be aware that adding an additional attenuator in front of the analyser also requires that a correction is applied in software for that attenuator to maintain correct measurement results.
• Remove any physical external preamplifier in front of the input of the spectrum analyser. Be aware that removing the external preamplifier also requires that the external preamplifier is removed from the testsite in RadiMation, and that possibly applied corrections should be removed to maintain correct measurement results.

If you remain having issues with IF overloads please get in touch with our software support team for further assistance so that we can further help and advise.