Sector News

Software expands IQ measurement / analysis in spectrum analysers, says Anritsu

Thu, Jun 30, 2022

IQ Signal Master MX280005A vector signal analysis software delivers expanded post processing measurements and analysis of IQ data files captured on an Anritsu Field Master Pro MS2090A, Remote Spectrum Monitor MS27201A, and Remote Spectrum Monitor MS2710xA spectrum analysers, claimed the company. The software is designed for challenging field environments. It can assist government regulators to inspect the RF spectrum, security agencies to track illegal or nefarious signals, spectrum owners to protect a licensed spectrum and defence electronics companies to analyse radar and EW (electronic warfare) signals, said Anritsu.

A suite of enhanced functions allows users to analyse the modulation of captured signals or replay the captured IQ data with enhanced resolution. It includes an IQ file browser with a detailed view of IQ file metadata, as well as an IQ data capture control that allows users to quickly configure the spectrum analyser for IQ data capture. A basic IQ data viewer that provides a quick and easy method to interpret images of any captured IQ data file to validate that the file contains information of interest is also included.  

An optional IQ file format converter enables IQ data captured using an Anritsu spectrum analyser to be converted to the format required by the Anritsu Vector Signal Generator MG3710E and downloaded for playback to enable simulation of captured signals in a controlled lab environment.  The VSA mode of the MX280005A features the same modulation quality measurements included in the initial release of the software. 

The expanded MX280005A enhances the performance of the Field Master Pro MS2090A, and Remote Spectrum Monitors MS27201A and MS2710XA, said Anritsu. The MS2090A has continuous frequency coverage from 9kHz to 54GHz and a 110MHz real time option to deliver a displayed average noise level (DANL) of -164dBm, and third order intercept (TOI) of +20dBm (typical). 

Wide area spectrum monitoring up to 43.5GHz can be conducted with the MS27201A.  Anritsu offers three models of remote spectrum monitors in the MX2710XA family. The MS27101A is housed in a half-rack enclosure with 1U height, the MS27102A is an IP67-rated device for outdoor applications and the MS27103A is a multi-port spectrum monitor for applications requiring the use of multiple antennas.

http://www.anritsu.com 

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Bluetooth soC pinpoints movement and location

Wed, Jun 29, 2022

Enhanced positioning capabilities in the BlueNRG-LPS SoC, claimed STMicroelectronics. This third-generation Bluetooth SoC has Bluetooth direction finding technology for location-tracking and real-time positioning applications.

By determining the direction of a Bluetooth Low Energy signal, the Bluetooth 5.3 certified BlueNRG-LPS SoC can precisely estimate movement and location with centimetre accuracy. It uses Bluetooth-specified technology including both angle-of-arrival (AoA) and angle-of-departure (AoD), as computed from signals captured by an antenna array. The SoC now enables a wide variety of applications that require indoor navigation, geo-fencing, and asset tracking, as well as real-time location finding for tools, assets, and goods.

With its streamlined architecture and I/O peripherals, and program and data memories (192kbyte eFlash and 24kbyte SRAM, respectively) sized for lightweight end products, the BlueNRG-LPS is intended for cost-sensitive and high volume applications, such as general purpose wireless sensors, medical appliances, keyless -entry systems, remote controls, and smart remote metering. The integrated high efficiency step-down converter and protection circuitry, also contribute to simplifying the SoC and reducing the required bill of materials (BoM) and allows for a much cheaper two-layer PCB design, said ST.

The architecture supports the latest Bluetooth LE Power Control specification, which enables fine-tuning of RF output power in 1dBm increments, and up to +8dBm, to permit longer battery runtime. Bluetooth Path-Loss Monitoring enhances radio link quality and prevents interference, ensuring robust connections for improved interaction between devices, even in crowded places, and faster response times. Support for Bluetooth 5.3 long range, 2Mbits per second high speed data rate, periodic advertising, simultaneous connection and multi-role specifications also ensure superior user experiences with equipment powered by BlueNRG-LPS. There are also dedicated hardware functions and cryptographic IPs to support enhanced security.

The STEVAL-IDB012V1 tool is available to support evaluation and development for the BlueNRG-LPS.

The BlueNRG-LPS SoC is in production now and available in a 5.0 x 5.0mm 32-pin QFN32 package.

http://www.st.com

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Power amplifier does not need DFD, CFR or ET, says Guerilla RF

Tue, Jun 28, 2022

Guerilla RF has developed its latest InGaP HBT power amplifier for wideband linear output power in 5G applications that cannot employ digital pre-distortion (DPD), crest factor reduction (CFR) or envelope tracking (ET). The GRF5317 power amplifier delivers 18dBm of wideband linear power and is the first of a series of 0.1W linear power amplifiers being developed by the company.  

The InGaP HBT amplifiers were designed specifically for 5G wireless infrastructure applications requiring exceptional native linearity over large 500MHz bandwidths and temperature extremes of -40 to +85 degrees C.

Spanning a frequency range of 1.5 to 2.0GHz, the GRF5317 is tuned to operate within the n1, n2, n3, n25, n34, n39, n65, n66, n70, n80, n84, and n86 5G new radio (NR) bands. The devices typically deliver 18dBm of linear power over the entire operating temperature range while maintaining adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) levels of better than -45dBc and IMD3 levels less than -25dBm are achievable without the aid of supplemental linearisation schemes like DPD.

The ability to beat the -45dBc ACLR performance metric without DPD is critical for cellular applications like home and commercial repeaters / boosters, femto cells, and pico cells, as well as cable loss compensators which are used in conjunction with automotive ‘shark fin’ antennas. Typically, sensitivity to cost, power and size constraints prohibits the use of elaborate linearisation techniques, meaning designers must rely on the power amplifier’s native linearity to meet the stringent emissions mask requirements imposed by the latest 5G standards.

The GRF53xx series was developed by Guerrilla RF, blending power and linearity to maximise the effective range and throughput for cellular systems. It was also designed to be footprint-compatible, enabling customers to rapidly customise designs for many cellular frequencies.

Ryan Pratt, CEO and founder of Guerrilla RF, commented: “GRF now provides pin-pin compatible linear [power amplifiers] PAs that can cover the 0.1W, 0.25W and 0.5W power spectrum, giving customers the ability to simply swap in different devices to address a variety of output power scenarios. The GRF53xx series can also work in conjunction with its 0.5W cousins, serving as linear drivers for the higher power cores.”

The GRF5317 comes in a 3.0 x 3.0mm, 16-pin QFN package. The power amplifier is sampling now. Evaluation boards for the GRF5317 are also available.

https://guerrilla-rf.com/

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Wideband test suite supports FiRa Consortium PHY conformance

Tue, Jun 28, 2022

Rohde & Schwarz has added an ultra-wideband (UWB) PHY test suite for the R&S CMP200 radio communication tester. A PHY conformance test tool (PCTT) supports conformance testing of the UWB PHY layer as specified by the FiRa Consortium.

The FiRa Certification Program is intended to support interoperability of UWB-enabled devices on different layers. This includes physical layer conformance testing performed by FiRa Authorized Test Laboratories (ATLs). 

The FiRa-validated UWB PCTT supports further development of an open and standardised UWB ecosystem. UWB-enabled devices can accurately and securely measure the distance and direction of connected devices. These capabilities make UWB a suitable technology for indoor navigation, social distancing, hands-free access, asset tracking, ticket validation, mobile payment and point-and-trigger applications. 

Rohde & Schwarz collaborates with industry partners and organisations like the FiRa Consortium to develop UWB test suites for R&D, certification, chipset characterisation and production. The set of UWB test capabilities of the R&S CMP200 radio communication tester are controlled by the new UWB PHY test suite for test automation to allow flexible pre-conformance testing. It also offers an option to run as a PCTT for FiRa certification.

Christoph Pointner, senior vice president for mobile radio testers at Rohde & Schwarz, said the company is pleased to support the FiRa Consortium in its efforts to establish a strong certification framework for an open UWB ecosystem by providing a validated physical layer test tool.

https://www.rohde-schwarz.com

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