TEST & MEASUREMENT APPLICATION NOTES AND WHITE PAPERS

  • RF Amplifier Output Voltage, Current, Power, And Impedance Relationship

    How much output voltage, current, and power can you expect from your amplifier? In rare cases, this can be answered by applying Ohm’s law, assuming that the net power or power delivered to the load is the rated power output of the amplifier. In most cases, practical issues such as VSWR and forward power concerns must be considered before applying Ohm’s law. This application note addresses this issue and discusses an approach to be used that applies actual test data when calculating output parameters.

  • Ensuring Test Site Compliance for Radiated Emissions With Normalized Site Attenuation

    This application note provides a synopsis of Normalized Site Attenuation (NSA) and Reference Site Method measurements which indicate a challenging but important aspect of radiated emissions measurements on an OATS, SAC, or FAR.  

  • Introduction To RNVNA, A Multiport Network Analysis Solution

    In many RF applications it is necessary to make multiport measurements. The RNVNA, a multiport network analysis solution, links up to 16 1-Port analyzers together into a multiport network analysis system. Each of the 16 analyzers will make individual vector reflection measurements and scalar transmission measurements from port to port.

  • 5G New Radio Over-The-Air Base Station Receiver Tests

    This application note describes all mandatory RF receiver tests, according to the Release 16 (V16.3.0). It also offers a brief introduction about the different R&S OA antenna test solutions and how they are applicable for base station conformance testing.

  • Field Probe Correction Factors

    To better achieve accurate field level measurements, it is helpful to have an understanding of field probe calibrations, the factors generated, and what’s presented as data during testing. This application note presents how to utilize the factors presented for inclusion into test data, how to generate composite measurements, and why calibrations are performed at selected frequencies.

TEST & MEASUREMENT SOLUTIONS

The RFvision-3 is a tunable ultra-wideband spectrum processing solution designed for 1 GHz bandwidth RF spectrum recording with advanced pulse processing. This rack-mount (3U) system is based on the DTA-9590W ultra-wideband tuner and DTA-5000 RAID server with 24 TB SSDs. It operates from 500 MHz to 18 GHz (expandable up to 40 GHz) and features 100 MHz instantaneous bandwidth.

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.

dB Control’s family of traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs) features a combined frequency range of 2 to 18 GHz up to 15kW output power. dB Control utilizes our proprietary transformer fabrication, encapsulation and high-voltage potting techniques developed for demanding military applications which results in superior reliability, low cost and ease of maintenance.  Products in this series are ideal for several applications, including: test and measurement, electronic warfare (EW) simulation, RFI/EMI/EMC Testing, electronic countermeasures (ECM), and antenna pattern and radar-cross section measurements.

Qorvo offers the 1800 W, 65 V, 1.0 – 1.1 GHz QPD1025L as the highest GaN transistor on the market. This discrete GaN on SiC HEMT has a package that features input pre-match resulting in ease of external board match and saved board space.

The SI893x’s 0 to 2.25 V specified input range is ideal for isolated voltage sensing. The Si8935/36/37 provides delta-sgma modulated output with flexible options for external or internally generated clock.

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.

Microwave Systems offers the MS010620 multi-octave, high-power GaN amplifier designed to operate from 1 to 6 GHz. It is ideally suited for use in communications systems, radar systems, test instrumentation, broadband RF telemetry, point to point radio, and fiber optics applications.

The SMS7630 Series comprises low-cost, surface mountable, plastic packaged silicon mixer Schottky diodes designed for RF and microwave mixers and detectors. They include low barrier diodes and zero-bias detectors that combine Skyworks advanced semiconductor technology with low-cost packaging techniques. All diodes are 100 percent DC tested and deliver tight parameter distribution, which minimizes performance variability.