After getting things worked out with the loop filter, some quick check for spurious responses. To do such analysis near the noise level, a FFT/dynamic signal analyzer can be used, but I find it somewhat troublesome, and rather use a swept frequency analyzer for any such work that goes beyond 1 kHz. Below 1 kHz, the FFT is hard to beat. One of the few exemptions is the HPAK 3585A spectrum analyzer, which covers from about DC to 40 MHz, and has resolution bandwidth filters of down to 3 Hz (discrete hardware, not software filters), with baseline at -135 dBm, or lower.
The 3585A doing its thing…
The results – 1 to 500 Hz
Mainly 60 Hz harmonics – well, will need to keep the cables short (especially the coarse tune cables) and everything far away from mains transformers.
10 Hz to 5 kHz
Signal at 1 kHz is about -70 dBm, not much. No spurs.
5 to 30 kHz
Two unexpected spurs – 1st: 19.986 – this is an artifact of the 3585A. 2nd: 18766, this seems unreleated to the PLL (doesn’t change with frequency or divider settings), maybe some switchmode supply stray. Well, down below -100 dBm.
25 kHz (with some 60 Hz harmonic sidebands, -115 dBm) – reference spur, about -93 dBm.
All in all, with some refinement of the software, and a bit of mechanical work to get this all mounted into a nice case, the setup should work find and provide great service.
Sure enough, some direct phase noise measurements on the SG-811 output will eventually follow, once the opportunity is right and the equipment at hand.