peter-tanner.github.io/_posts/2023-08-09-Aliexpress-DC-block-characterization.md

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Aliexpress DC block characterization Peter Tanner 2023-08-09 19:41:27 +0800
Electronics
rf
microwave
electronics

I recently purchased this DC block from Aliexpress to protect our HP 8560A spectrum analyzer. I did some basic tests on the DC block and it looks alright.

DC block

Firstly, I did a continuity check with a multimeter and it does not conduct DC, and it has a capacitance of about 2.2 nF.

Broadband performance

The DC block performs well over the 1 MHz to 2.9 GHz frequency range. At 2.45 GHz and 915 MHz there is an insertion loss of -0.2 dB. The response is "linear enough" for my tests. There is of course some non-linearity but it seems the loss in this frequency range varies, up to a maximum of -0.5 dB. The HP 8560A has a maximum frequency of 2.9 GHz, so I was not able to test it's performance up to the stated 6 GHz maximum frequency, quoted on the DC block's specifications.

Performance near 0 Hz

The -3 dB cutoff point is at ~850 kHz. The figure shows the performance from 300 kHz to 2 MHz (Note that the minimum frequency of the HP 8560A tracking generator is 300 kHz). So if you are using this block above 1 MHz, you should be fine.