Signal analyser eases path to test mmWave innovations

Target markets are 5G, aerospace & defence and satellite communications.

Allied to the signal analyser is the V3050a SA frequency extender – “a solution that meets customers’ bandwidth and frequency needs,” contends Sean Lee, Business Development Manager for RF Products at Keysight.

And for users looking to put icing on their T&M cake, Keysight has also introduced the RCal receiver calibrator.

At mmWave frequencies, signals are more susceptible to impairments that affect the signal quality, such as IQ modulation errors, phase noise, distortion, signal-to-noise ratio, amplitude, and phase linearity.

Keysight’s new N9042B UXA X-Series signal analyser provides wide analysis bandwidth and deep dynamic range to help customers solve their most difficult mmWave challenges including tight design margins and timelines, complex modulation and stringent standards.

“Understanding signal fidelity is critical to the performance of products in 5G, aerospace and defence, satellite and automotive radar markets,” said Kiran Unni, vice president, industrial technologies practice, Frost & Sullivan. “At mmWave frequencies, signals are more susceptible to impairments that affect the signal quality, such as IQ modulation errors, phase noise, distortion, signal-to-noise ratio, amplitude and phase linearity. For designers and manufacturers, addressing these challenges is crucial when characterizing and testing the true performance of mmWave products.”

Keysight’s N9042B UXA X-Series signal analyser delivers the following customer benefits:

• Ensures designs meet the latest standards with ready-to-use measurement applications and signal analysis software.
• Sees signals clearly with an unbanded, preselected sweep from 2 Hz to 110 GHz and up to 11 GHz of analysis bandwidth.
• Tests the true performance of a 5G new radio (NR) transmitter with an advanced error vector magnitude (EVM).
• Finds out-of-band emissions or spurs quickly in radar designs with superior swept displayed average noise level (DANL).
• Develops high-throughput satellite communication designs with 4 GHz of corrected analysis bandwidth.

“With the increasing demand for data, higher frequency and bandwidth, Keysight’s signal analyser and generator solutions embody our deep expertise in mmW design and measurements, for the latest 5G wireless, radar, aerospace defence, satellite and communications research,” said Joe Rickert, vice president and general manager of high frequency measurement R&D for Keysight’s communications solutions group. “We’re excited to partner with our customers on their test and measurement needs to accelerate industry innovations.”

To ensure designs meet the latest standards with ready-to-use measurement applications for cellular communication, wireless connectivity, and aerospace/defence, the company integrated PathWave X-Series measurement applications with the UXA X-Series signal analyser.

These applications simplify complex tasks and deliver repeatable results.

In addition, the 89600 PathWave Vector Signal Analysis software, a comprehensive set of tools for demodulation and vector signal analysis, offers support for more than 75 signal standards and modulation types, and enables customers to explore every facet of a signal and optimise their most advanced designs.

Cellular Communications Testing 5G components and devices per the 3GPP 5G New Radio (5G NR) standard Releases 15 and 16 requires a solution with higher accuracy, sensitivity, and bandwidth capability.

The N9042B signal analyser tests the true performance of transmitter designs with error vector magnitude (EVM) and 5G NR signal analysis software which perform transmitter downlink and uplink measurements with one-button simplicity.

Today's satellite communication systems require a sophisticated approach to wideband component characterization. Customers need to characterise amplifiers and components at bandwidths wider than the target application.

The N9042B UXA X-Series signal analyser provides a wide analysis bandwidth and unbanded, preselected frequency range to help customers characterise the performance of their satellite designs.

The Keysight V3050A Signal Analyser Frequency Extender which delivers unmatched measurement accuracy of wideband signals at very high frequencies.

It provides outstanding sensitivity, unbanded and preselected frequency coverage up to 110 GHz, high dynamic range and a seamless interface to the N9042B UXA signal analyser.

Keysights RCal receiver calibrator corrects system path losses and frequency responses up to 5 GHz IF bandwidth without the need for an external vector network analyser, cabling and manual test-plane characterisation. The palm-sized RCal seamlessly transfers precision factory calibration data to the Keysight X-Series signal analyser over a USB connection, reducing the effort and complexity required to improve measurement accuracy for the test receiver system.

Keysight's companion VXG microwave signal generator offers high output power with ultra-low phase noise and wide bandwidth for demanding wireless, as well as aerospace and defence applications. The VXG's dual-channel architecture, quickly switches from blocker and interferer tests to dual channel MIMO and beamforming tests.