Aeroflex adds new 3GHz Modular Digital RF Signal Generator to PXI 3000 Series comprehensive RF test platform

Ideal for RF engineers performing communications test, the new 3020C covers the frequency range of 1MHz to 3GHz, supporting applications in high frequency (HF), very high frequency (VHF) and ultra high frequency (UHF) bands. The 3020C has wideband width modulation up to 90MHz for broadband communications standards or multicarrier test applications as well as RF output power from -120dBm to +6dBm.

“Aeroflex’s configurable, scalable PXI 3000 Series RF measurement system set the industry benchmarks for flexibility, speed and performance of RF instruments,” said Tim Carey, PXI product manager, Aeroflex Test Solutions. “We continue to evolve this revolutionary RF test platform, adding new modules and updating the software to extend the performance and flexibility for our customers.”

As with all 3020 Series signal generators, the 3020C boasts excellent frequency and level settling times for high speed test applications and a built in dual-channel arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) for supplying complex modulated signals. The 3020C AWG is supplied with a generous 0.5GB of on board memory supporting up to 128 M x 16bit I and Q samples. The 3020C can perform high-speed switching in less than 250 microseconds (ms) when in list mode, which minimises test set up time in automated systems and improves production throughput.

The 3020C is a lower cost option for wideband test applications below 3GHz than the flagship 3025C module, which offers the same high RF performance, but with an extended frequency range to 6GHz. Entry level modules 3020A and 3025 continue to provide the best economies for applications between 250MHz and 2.7GHz and 80MHz to 6GHz respectively where RF modulated signal bandwidths of up to 28MHz are sufficient.

The 3020C is directly complimentary to the recently introduced 3030C Wideband RF Digitizer. Together they support wideband signal generation and signal analysis for RF component and transceiver testing. The 3020C is used with the 3010 RF synthesizer, which provides a low phase-noise, highly agile local oscillator input, from which modulated and levelled RF output signals are derived. The 3020C is a PXIe (Hybrid compatible module) that can be fitted to PXI chassis’ supporting standard cPCI, PXI-1 or PXI Hybrid slots.

Another major milestone achieved in the continual development of the innovative software-defined modular RF measurement platform, Aeroflex has updated the PXI 3000 Series software to further increase its test speed. Software updates include changes to module drivers, standard and optional measurement libraries and application software. This software is compatible with all Aeroflex 3000 Series PXI modules.