Aeroflex Adds RF Signal Generator to Radio Test Set

It is the direct replacement for all versions of the Aeroflex 3900 Series, including the 3901, the 3902, and the 3920.

The instrument features a new low phase noise RF signal generator providing enhanced spectral purity with SSB phase noise specified at -110dBc/Hz at 10kHz offset.  This level of performance is achieved at an offset from the carrier that is significantly less than the industry standard for this type of specification, which is typically 20kHz. The ability of the test set to achieve such low phase noise specifications close to the carrier, makes it an ideal test solution for today’s digital narrowband or analogue receiver testing where narrowband phase noise is critical.

“Today’s narrowband digital radios employ very sensitive and high performance receivers. These new digital radios routinely provide receiver sensitivity levels better than -119 dBm. In order to test these receivers accurately, it is important to understand that these receivers can be adversely impacted by the incidental phase noise of the generator used to test sensitivity or selectivity. Digital technologies such as P25 Phase II employ phase modulation techniques (H-CPM) where any added phase noise from the generator can cause erroneous measurements, especially when determining the digital sensitivity of the receiver using Bit Error Rate (BER) calculations,” said Rob Barden, Director of Product Marketing for Radio Test Systems at Aeroflex.

The new test set includes all the features and function of the 3920. This includes Aeroflex’s expanding library of Auto-Test II capabilities for automated test and alignment of a wide range of mission critical radios. It also provides Auto-Test II capabilities for Motorola APX, Motorola XTS and XTL Series as well as Harris, EF Johnson, Relm/BK and Kenwood radios, with support for additional radios coming in the near future.