Radio Amateur Quiz Canadian License

EN FR

Question A-005-001-005

Why must a very stable reference oscillator be used as part of a phase-locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizer?

Correct Answer

Any phase variations in the reference oscillator signal will produce phase noise in the synthesizer output

Explanation

In a PLL, the output signal's phase is locked to the reference oscillator's phase. Therefore, any instability or phase noise from the reference will be transferred or even multiplied to the output signal.

Warning: Generated by AI