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Representing High Technology Manufacturers Since 1987

RF and Microwave

Articles - General

Measuring Radar Cross Section with Handheld VNAs

Calibration Techniques Help Ensure Accurate VNA Measurements
By Bob Buxton, Anritsu Company
In this installment, we focus on a critical element in making accurate S-parameter measurements with a VNA — calibration. While the VNA is a highly linear receiver that has sufficient spectral purity in its sources to make accurate measurements, imperfections exist that limit measurements done without calibrations.

Mixer VNA Measurements
By Anritsu Company

Frequency-translated devices are key components of any communication system, whether they are up-converters, down-converters, or basic mixers. Since their input and output frequencies are different, they require special features and setups for vector network analyzer (VNA) measurements. With the frequency offset capability of today's VNAs, where the source and receiver are independently synthesized, such measurements are possible and require a much less complicated setup.

Calculating VNA Measurement Accuracy
By Anritsu Company

Vector network analyzers (VNA) are a primary resource when analyzing and characterizing systems and components for RF and microwave measurements. They are regarded as accurate measuring instruments, however, quantifying the accuracy performance of a VNA in a specific application can be challenging. The Anritsu Exact Uncertainty program is available to help obtain the uncertainty data that is appropriate for specific applications.

Vector Network Analyzer Primer

"Reflectometer Measurements - Revisited"

Twenty-four years ago Wiltron (nor Anritsu) published a Technical Review "Why Tolerate Unnecessary Measurement Errors," long since out of print. Thousands were printed and it was widely used by test engineers. This review will include some of the material originally presented in 1975 - as it still very important - and addresses problems that regularly appear in current applications.

"Practical Tips on making WiMax field measurements Part 1"

"Practical Tips on making WiMax field measurements Part 2"

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) digital communications technology is based on wireless transmission methods defined by the IEEE-802.16 air interface standard. Intended for wireless metropolitan area networks, it provides broadband wireless access up to 30 miles for fixed stations, and 3 to 10 miles for mobile stations. WiMAX has a range of potential uses, including providing high-speed mobile data and telecommunications services (such as 4G), as a wireless alternative to cable and DSL for last mile broadband access, and to connect Wi-Fi hotspots with each other and to other parts of the Internet.

Smart Signal Analyzer Decodes 100 Hz to 8 GHz

An innovative front-end architecture based on a 9.5-to-17.5 GHz LO arms the Signature analyzer to capture modulation bandwidths to 30 MHz with stunning frequency and amplitude accuracy.

Impedance matching and the Smith chart – The fundamentals.

The Smith chart is built by considering impedance (resistor and reactance). Once the Smith chart is built,

it can be used to analyze these parameters in both the series and parallel worlds.

Antenna Pattern Measurement: Concepts and Techniques

by Michael D. Foegelle

A-GPS Antenna Performance: Over-the-Air Test Method

GTEM

Application of GTEM Cells to Wireless Communication Transceiver Designs

By Pink Hui, Nokia Mobile Phones

Avoiding The Most Common Power Meter Mistake
By Jason Kovatch, RF Test Engineer, AR Modular RF
At least 50% of all power meter users make this mistake. It has happened to you. You measured an RF power level and later someone said, "...but I measured the power and got a different number." Who was right? Measuring RF power appears easy. Modern wattmeters and power meters are simple to use and can provide digital measurement data to several decimal places in dBm or watts. But if they are so accurate, why is it so difficult to make good measurements? If you are making the most common mistake, correcting for it will dramatically improve your measurement accuracy.

Application Note #57 The Pros and Cons of Dual-Band RF Amplifiers

RF Amplifier Output Voltage, Current, Power, and Impedance Relationship
Application Note #57 The Pros and Cons of Dual-Band RF Amplifiers