Aeroflex S-series digital signal generator/vector signal analysers

Aeroflex has expanded its S-series family of benchtop RF measurement instruments. Two S-series digital signal generators, the SGD in both 3 GHz and 6 GHz models, and two vector signal analysers, the SVA, available in a 6 GHz and a 13 GHz model, have been added.

The SGD-3 and SGD-6 both feature +13 dBm output power, with a +20 dBm option. They incorporate an IQ modulator with 300 MHz RF bandwidth, which can generate wide bandwidth modulated signals. A dual channel arbitrary waveform generator (AWG), operating at up to 250 MS/s, with memory options up to 4 GB, offers faster waveform generation and the ability to store multiple signals. The embedded IQCreator waveform generation tool enables the user to set up a modulation scheme and create an AWG file using modulation templates.

The SGD has low single sideband phase noise of -135 dBc/Hz at 1 GHz offset, and a frequency settling time of 100 µs, enabling accurate receiver testing with a significant reduction in measurement time and cost. The high dynamic range of the IQ modulators provides for an adjacent channel leakage ratio of -71 dBc on WCDMA signals, enabling the user to design and test amplifier performance to higher specifications.

The extended frequency range, up to 13 GHz for the SVA-13, allows the instrument to be used for analysing second harmonic performance of signals in popular communications bands. A wide maximum instantaneous bandwidth of up to 90 MHz makes it suitable for measuring and analysing both narrow- and wide-bandwidth communication systems.

Peak signal power levels up +30 dBm can be input directly to the instrument. With a maximum sensitivity of -148 dBm/Hz, very low level signals can easily be discriminated from noise when measuring transmitter spurious outputs.