Measurement Errors and Pitfalls¶
This page summarizes real-world SDR mistakes.
Receiver overload¶
Symptom:
- flat-topped waveform
- distorted FFT
Fix:
- reduce gain
- add attenuation
DC offset¶
Symptom:
- spike at zero frequency
Fix:
- enable DC removal
Aliasing¶
Symptom:
- mirrored spectrum
Fix:
- correct sampling rate
CFO (Carrier Frequency Offset)¶
Symptom:
- rotating constellation
Fix:
- frequency correction
Clipping¶
Symptom:
- distorted constellation
Fix:
- gain control
Engineering takeaway¶
Every SDR measurement must be treated critically.