Keithley has new vector signal analyzer
by Design World Staff
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Cleveland, Ohio - Keithley Instruments, Inc. (NYSE:KEI) introduces the Model 2810 RF Vector Signal Analyzer, optimized for automated testing of wireless devices and transmitter circuits in production test environments, as well as in new product and device research and development.
The Model 2810 combines high performance, complex signal analysis capability with unprecedented ease of use for even those with little training, background, or practical experience in RF measurement to serve a wide range of measurementneeds on wireless devices, transceiver modules, and RF components. Keithley’s Model 2810 is the lowest cost, widest signal acquisition bandwidth, stand-alone vector signal analyzer with both manual and automated operation on the market today.
Industry-Leading Measurement Speed
Mobile handset manufacturers and wireless component manufacturers are under tremendous pressure to reduce costs, address new technologies, and increase their manufacturing flexibility. The Model 2810 reduces testing time with industry leading measurement and data acquisition times. Keithley’s Model 2810 Vector Signal Analyzer uses an advanced software-defined radio architecture with a 500MHz digital signal processor, enabling fast data acquisition and processing. Production test engineers can drastically reduce test times, while R&D engineers and scientists can reduce the time it takes to acquire large sets of data. For example, in the case of users searching for spurious emissions from devices under test, the Model 2810 can perform a 200MHz span sweep using a narrow resolution bandwidth of 100Hz in approximately 15 seconds. A conventional spectrum analyzer needs 1000 times longer to perform the same sweep.
Wide Signal Acquisition Bandwidth
Another factor contributing to the Model 2810’s outstanding processing power is greater than 30MHz of 3dB measurement bandwidth with 20MHz of flatness within 1dB. Wide bandwidth signals can be captured in one acquisition, which is essential for capturing the new high bandwidth, high throughput transmission signals such as WLAN and WiMAX signals. This exceptionally wide signal acquisition bandwidth is much greater than conventional spectrum analyzers and wider than most VSAs in the $30,000 and under price range. The Model 2810 has the performance now to acquire the future 4G technology signals under development in R&D labs.
The Model 2810 is more than a spectrum analyzer. In addition to being able to decompose a waveform into its constituent frequencies, it can also decompose digitally modulated signals into their I and Q phase components. With the I and Q components, a vector signal analyzer can determine the quality of a modulated signal. Research and development personnel working with modulation schemes can easily transfer the acquired signal components to a PC for more extensive analysis.
Mobile Phone Demodulation Options
The Model 2810 offers firmware options to enable more cost effective modulation quality analysis on GSM and EDGE signals, cdma2000 Reverse Link signals, and WCDMA Uplink signals. These measurements are performed much faster than analyzers commonly used today. A suite of GSM/EDGE measurements including time mask conformance, phase error or EVM, and channel power can be acquired and computed in 27msec. According to Keithley, This is twice as fast as the industry’s current leading analyzers.
Flexible Interfacing
The Model 2810 includes three standard interfaces to meet current and future system integration requirements. An IEEE-488 interface enables users of legacy systems to easily integrate the Model 2810 into their test systems. Users looking for higher data transfer rates can use the USB or LAN interface. The LAN interface is compatible with the new LXI standard. Specifically, the Model 2810 conforms to the LXI-C standard.
Price and Availability
The Model 2810 RF Vector Signal Analyzer is priced at $15,500 (USD). Several different signal analysis options are also available starting at $1,500 (USD) list. Availability is four weeks ARO (After Receipt of Order).
For More Information
To learn more about the Model 2810 RF Vector Signal Analyzer or any of Keithley’s other RF test solutions and to view a short online product presentation, visit http://www.keithley.com/pr/061, or contact the company at:
Telephone: 800-688-9951
FAX: 440-248-6168
E-mail: publisher@keithley.com
www.keithley.com
Keithley Instruments, Inc.
28775 Aurora Road
Cleveland, OH 44139-1891