TEST & MEASUREMENT APPLICATION NOTES AND WHITE PAPERS

  • RF Test Setup For Measuring Power & Harmonics

    Power measurement is accomplished by using a high-power calibrated coupler or attenuator, which gets attached to the Amplifier RF output connector. Harmonics are recorded similarly by increasing the input drive from the signal source. 

  • Directivity And VSWR Measurements: Understanding Return Loss Measurements

    The characterization of microwave networks requires discriminating between forward and backward traveling waves. Unfortunately no directional device is perfect, leading to potentially dramatic measurement errors. In this note we show that return loss and VSWR measurements are greatly complicated by the finite performance of the directional device used to measure the reflected power.

  • Noise Figure: What Is It And Why Does It Matter?

    Noise figure is a key parameter that quantifies receiver performance by measuring how low a power a signal receiver can detect. This white paper covers the basic principles of noise figure, how to make sense of its specifications, how it is measured, and why this parameter is important in high-performance applications.

  • Accurate Test Fixture Characterization And De-Embedding

    This application note provides practical hints to accurately characterize and de-embed these lead-in and lead-out structures with R&S Vector Network Analyzers ZNA, ZNB, ZNBT and ZND.

  • Electronic Packaging: Using EMI Material-Based Solutions

    It can be difficult when individual components could pass EMI testing but, as the components are combined into subsystems or into the final product, the DUT fails. Incorporating EMI shielding materials as part of an initial design is the most cost-effective way to prevent these last-minute issues during testing.

TEST & MEASUREMENT SOLUTIONS

The dB-3908 TWT Amplifier (TWTA) is designed to use two wideband, periodic permanent magnet (PPM)-focused TWTs to amplify CW, AM, FM or pulse-modulated signals. The dB-3908 offers higher saturated output power and improved harmonic performance when compared to a single TWT approach.

The series of GORE® VNA microwave/RF test assemblies from W.L. Gore are designed to provide the most precise VNA measurements in laboratory conditions, setting the standard for vector network analyzers (VNAs) through 70 GHz. These test assemblies deliver the highest accuracy and greatest time intervals between recalibrations for many applications, including those with vector network analyzers, critical measurements, and laboratory testing.

The EVO-RSA-6070A is part of the EVO Series of extended frequency spectrum analyzers from Avcom designed for higher performance and agility in applications with continuously changing requirements. The included SDR-style technology analyzer includes a wide bandwidth receiver and employs FPGA, DSP, and high-performance processors.

The dB-9003 and dB-9005 from dB Control are custom-mounted Integrated Stabilized RF Sources (ISRFS) designed to operate in the I and Ka-band frequency range. Both products feature high accuracy and a wide temperature operating range. They can be controlled and set up with a digital port. The units are packaged in a custom configuration with conduction cooling.

Electrostatic discharge testing is utilized worldwide by electronics manufacturers to determine the ESD susceptibility of their devices. It is extremely difficult to estimate the exact cost of ESD loss annually, but it can safely be stated that ESD requires the development and testing of many hardware prototypes and contributes to a high number of warranty claims and loss of consumer confidence if failure occurs in the hands of the customer. Given the high cost in time and materials associated with ESD hardware testing, the ability to simulate the ESD testing process in XFdtd is extremely valuable, allowing engineers to pinpoint locations susceptible to ESD damage and optimize ESD mitigation during the concept and design stage of product development.

Pentek offers the Talon® RTX 2684 as a 26 GHz sentinel intelligent signal scanner recording system. The system provides SIGINT engineers the ability to scan the RF spectrum from 1 GHz to 26 GHz for signals of interest and monitor or record bandwidths up to 500 MHz wide.

The dB-9004 is a custom-mounted Integrated Antenna Digital Control Unit (IADCU). It operates in the C, X and Ku-band frequency range and provides highly accurate RF output (FM, AM and pulse-shape modulated)

Holzworth’s multi-channel RF synthesizer architecture is a complete success story. These compact, 1U high, 19in rack mountable chassis can be configured with up to 8 independently tunable channels. All integrated channels are 100% phase coherent. Holzworth has designed the multi-channel platform for integration of our HSM Series Single Channel Synthesizers to maximize channel-to-channel stability via a conductively cooled, fan-less enclosure.