Best in Test Finalists 2010: RF/microwave instruments (general purpose)

-- Test & Measurement World, 12/22/2009 12:00:00 PM

Return to the entire list of Best in Test finalists for 2010.

--7200 Configurable Automated Test Set, Aeroflex Test Solutions
--HFS-865 High Precision RF Probe, INGUN Prüfmittelbau
--Lab Brick Miniature USB-Powered Signal Generator, Vaunix
--N9030A PXA Signal Analyzer, Agilent Technologies
--PXI Microwave Downconverter Modules, Phase Matrix
--VectorStar VNA, Anritsu

 

7200 Configurable Automated Test Set
Aeroflex Test Solutions
www.aeroflex.com

The 7200 Configurable Automated Test Set (CATS) is a high-performance modular communications test platform with options for avionics, radar, and other advanced technology testing. The 7200 CATS is based on Aeroflex's new Common Platform (CP) with a "true" synthetic instrument architecture that leverages many industry standards including PXImc, MicroTCA, LXI Class B, PCIe, sRIO, CORBA, and software-defined radio SCA.

Hardware and software elements are highly modular, even down to the power supplies and the touch-screen GUI, enabling the 7200 to adapt quickly to customer and market requirements. The 7200 includes a real-time state-based control system for control and trending of any data on the 7200, external instruments, and the device under test, and it "automatically" optimizes test times. With its future-proof modularity and scalability, the 7200 keeps total life-cycle costs low.

Price: $59,995.

 

HFS-865 High Precision RF Probe
INGUN Prüfmittelbau
www.ingun.com

The HFS-865 is a spring-loaded ultra-precision impedance-defined RF-probe for the frequency range up to 12 GHz. Instead of "connecting" to a coaxial interface, it "contacts" the counterpart—a secure and low-abrasive method. The product is mainly intended for use in semi-automated in-circuit or functional tests in the production line where throughput is high and manual tests would be inefficient.

Ingun touts the probe has having outstanding RF characteristics, saying that with its excellent return and insertion loss behavior, even difficult RF-measurements are not a problem. The probe can be used for several thousand cycles with excellent impedance stability and is thereby suited for high-volume tests. The probe also offers a modular design: It can contact test points on printed-circuit boards and other coaxial components like RF-switches through the use of different outer-plungers and inner conductors.

Price: graduated pricing scheme for higher quantities.

 

Lab Brick Miniature USB-Powered Signal Generator
Vaunix
www.labbrick.com

Lab Brick Signal Generators harness the power and simplicity of USB connectivity to generate clean RF/microwave signals from 50 MHz to 6 GHz. Palm-sized and running completely from the USB power source, Lab Brick Signal Generators are ideal for portable applications as well as for use in automated test equipment stands.

While using less than 2% of the power of most conventional benchtop signal generators, Lab Brick sources offer a range of features: +13 dBm output power, a minimum of 50 dB of power control, 100-kHz frequency resolution, a frequency-sweep mode, a selectable internal/external reference, a graphical user interface, a rugged cast-aluminum housing, and API DLL and LabView-compatible drivers.

Prices range from $1899 to $2499.

 

N9030A PXA Signal Analyzer
Agilent Technologies
www.agilent.com

The high-performance PXA signal analyzer enables customers to accurately characterize signals. The instrument offers up to 75 dB of spurious-free dynamic range, a 140-MHz analysis bandwidth, ±0.19-dB accuracy, sensitivity of –172 dBm DANL (which approaches kTB), and a close-in phase noise of –128 dBc/Hz. Agilent's "Noise Floor Extension" technology characterizes and removes the analyzer's own noise, improving DANL measurements by 3.5 to 12 dB.

The N9030A provides a broad set of measurement applications and demodulation capabilities. It supports Agilent's 89600 vector signal analysis software with over 70 signal standards and modulation types, and it also supports Matlab for custom analysis. Plus, it has transportable measurement applications and free trial licenses. The instrument is flexible enough to accommodate future enhancements, with its seven expansion slots; its user-replaceable CPU module, which permits CPU, memory, drive, and I/O upgrades; and its license-key upgradeable hardware and software options.

Prices: $51,965 to $66,290.

 

PXI Microwave Downconverter Modules
Phase Matrix
www.phasematrix.com

Phase Matrix claims that PXI Microwave Downconverter Modules are the only downconverters in the industry that use the small, portable PXI form factor and cover a range from 100 kHz to 26.5 GHz. Users can program the modules to perform various RF and microwave signal-analysis functions or emulate older and obsolete instruments when operated in conjunction with PXI or PXI Express digitizers and controllers and DSP (digital signal processing) software. The five modules in the family are the PXI-1410 preselector, the PXI-1420 microwave downconverter, the PXI-1430 RF downconverter, the PXI-1440 IF downconverter, and the PXI-1450 local oscillator.

Price: none provided

 

VectorStar VNA
Anritsu
www.us.anritsu.com

Anritsu's VectorStar microwave vector network analyzers deliver frequency coverage of 70 kHz to 70 GHz, dynamic range of 103 dB at 67 GHz, and a measurement speed of 20 us/point. The 70-kHz low-end model provides seven octaves of additional information below the traditional 10 MHz cut-off of conventional microwave VNAs, while VectorStar's dynamic range and excellent receiver compression level allow users to more tightly specify devices with greater confidence.

VectorStar features an innovative architecture to achieve its performance. For applications from 70 kHz to 2.5 GHz, a mixer-based receiver with bridges for directional devices is used. Above 2.5 GHz, a harmonic-sampling receiver is incorporated, with the traditional couplers for directional devices. The result is superior stability. Anritsu uses NLTL (Non-Linear Transmission Line) technology for the VectorStar receiver, resulting in what the company calls uncompromising performance to 70 GHz and beyond.

Price: $80,950.