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Vector network analysers (VNAs) from Anritsu offer performance and cost advantages up to 43.5GHz, said the company. The ShockLine ME7869A series conducts long distance, full vector S-parameter measurements over distances up to 100 meters.  —

Anritsu has released three models in the distributed modular two-port vector network analysers operating up to 8GHz, 20GHz and 43.5GHz, respectively provide unprecedented cost efficiency, flexibility, and ease of use to a variety of existing and emerging commercial and military antenna design applications.

The ME7869A is configured with two MS46131A 1-port VNAs that can each be directly connected to the antenna under test (AUT). Cable length for each VNA module can be equal or different lengths, depending on the application. It eliminates the need for long RF coaxial cables that create high loss, and phase and magnitude instability. The design addresses the need to accurately and repeatably measure antennas over long distances, such as in anechoic chambers and antenna test ranges. 

Anritsu’s PhaseLync synchronisation technology enables two MS46131A VNAs to phase synchronise with each other over the full 100 meter distance. PhaseLync improves dynamic range and measurement stability of S-parameter measurements by eliminating the need for long cables necessary with conventional benchtop VNAs.

The distributed modular VNA solution in the MN25132A control module simplifies installation. It acts as a junction for the cables and supplies power to the two MS46131A VNAs. There is no need to attach separate power supplies to the two VNA heads. The control module also interfaces the two VNAs to a laptop configured with ShockLine software, explained Anritsu.

The ShockLine ME7869A brings can be used in an insertion loss application that requires long cable runs at frequencies up to 43.5GHz compared to alternative expensive benchtop VNAs that require superior dynamic range. For example, it can be used in satellite, materials measurement, aerospace and defence and signal integrity environments. 

http://www.anritsu.com 

Believed to be the first PCI Express (PCIe) 6.0 protocol validation tools, the cable-free protocol analyser and protocol exerciser enable semiconductor, computer, and peripheral makers to perform complete silicon chip, root complex, and endpoint system verification in a real time development environment, said Keysight Technologies.

The PCIe 6.0 specification is a new high-speed serial interface standard released by the PCI-SIG supporting the higher data traffic and bandwidth requirements of data centres. The standard enables new designs for servers, endpoint devices, switches, storage devices, and compute engines at speeds up to 64Gtransfers (Gt) per second, equipment and device companies need protocol test solutions to validate PCIe 6.0 technology designs and ensure interoperability with other PCIe 6.0 specification compliant designs.

PCI Express 6.0-based I/O technology is expected to deliver a breakthrough performance in high-performance I/O interfaces and enable innovations including accelerator interconnects like Compute Express Link (CXL)  and on-chip communications such as Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express.  

The cable-free PCIe 6.0 protocol analyser and PCIe 6.0 protocol exerciser enable analysis of the data link / transaction layer of PCIe 6.0 technology designs. They also support all PCIe technology speeds 2.5, 5.0, 8.0, 16, 32 and 64GT per second (PAM4) and lane widths from one to 16.

It also provides emulation of root complex and endpoint devices when validating PCIe and CXL technology designs and supports debugging with PCIe 6.0 technology and CXL 1.1 / 2.0 protocol visualisation and analysis tools.

Other features are cable-free protocol analysis in a streamlined card electromechanical (CEM) form factor and a complete PCIe 6.0 standard test solution for the entire design cycle.

Dr. Joachim Peerlings, vice president of network and data centre solutions at Keysight commented: “In the race to advance artificial intelligence applications, physical layer and protocol validation of devices including networking interface cards, graphics processing units, and accelerators is key.”

http://www.keysight.com