RF Noise Generator

Design

• Useful as a filter test signal source
  • Pass filters
  • Crystal filters
• From Experimental Methods in RF Design
  • Fig 7.72
  • Described as "not flat"
• "Junk box" parts
  • (2) 2N3904 transistors
  • (2) 5V (nominal) zener diodes
• Noise figure -50 dBm @ 10 MHz

Schematic

Prototype

• Unique nodes in red
• Prototype on single sided copper clad PCB
• KiCAD zener packages have backwards silkscreen (will need to fix on OshPark PCBs)

Meaurements

• 12V, 43mA current draw

tinySA Measurements

• 1-30 MHz
• Power Off

• Power On

• 100 KHz-1 MHz
• Power Off

• Power On
• Lot more energy at ~400 KHz
• -30 dB

Rigol DS1054Z Measurements

• • 50 MHz scope with mods
  • UltraScope settings
    • SCAL 1.00 V
    • H 200nS
  • FFT settings
    • CF = 16 MHz
    • 2 MHz start, 50 MHz stop
• RBW 416.6 KHz
• Background noise
• Generator off
• Average ~ -64 dB

• Noise Generator On
• Falls off with frequency, but better than -50 dB

• Measured performance per EMiRFD (predicted - 50 dB)

Better Design

• C1 is connected Emitter of Q1 to GND to reduce power supply noise
• Higher noise than EMiRFD design
• Falls off quickly with frequency
  • Usable from 1-10 MHz
  • ~ -60 dBm
• Nearly zero power supply current

• Off

• On

Build / Enclosure

• Used very old, but high quality chassis mount BNC connector
  • Silver connector has a nice patina
• Built onto Single Side PCB material
  • Acts as ground plane
  • Pads cut from PCB material and superglued down onto the Base PCB
• Hot glued down into plastic enclosure

Assembly Sheet

RF Noise Generator Rev 1