Signal detection with EMI receivers

Certain EMI receiver settings, such as dwell time or sweep time, receiver display mode and IF detection are very important when trying to capture and analyze emissions from EUTs (equipment under test). In the case of broadband signals, special attention and operator skill is required to select the appropriate values for these instrument settings. The receiver state can directly influence the probability of broadband signal intercept, and thus can determine if this type of signal is detected or not. Furthermore, the type of EMI receiver used (i.e., stepped or swept) must also be considered to prevent erroneous measurement results when measuring broadband signals. This paper addresses issues related to measurement procedures, frequency and receiver display resolution, and receiver detection modes, and explains their impact on signal detection