To the uncertainty of DFT-based DSP algorithms used for processing multifrequency signals

The paper analyses effect of windowing a multi-frequency signal on the result of calculating signal parameters based on DFT. Influence of window side-lobes of nearby harmonic signals on the result of computation depends on the on the used window and on the difference in the two components magnitudes and frequencies. There are several other sources of resulting bias and uncertainty of measurements based on such algorithms. These influences are also briefly mentioned. The presented examples concern two methods of estimating RMS value, but the described principle is applicable to all algorithms based on DFT. Both theoretical relations and simulation results are included.