Keithley signal generator

Keithley has introduced a range of RF test instruments, the first one being the 2910 vector signal generator. It uses industry innovations, such as its software-defined radio (SDR) architecture, synthesiser technology and power levelling techniques to provide a flexible platform that uses software to adapt as test requirements change. It makes operation simple for even the novice user.

The generator has a touch screen graphical user interface, built-in 100Base-T ethernet and USB interface, GPIB interface and LXI (LAN eXtensions for instrumentation standard) Class C compliance.

It also supports the physical, programmatic, LAN and web portions of the LXI standard. The device features a 64 MS arbitrary waveform generator which supports simultaneous loading of multiple signal waveforms and enables switching between these signals in <5 ms.

The generator offers optional built-in signal generation software personalities for key cellular formats targeted at mobile phone testing, including GSM, GPRS, EDGE, W-CDMA, cdmaOne and cdma2000. Users can upgrade to new and emerging standards as they become available.

For signal formats not included in its initial release, the device supports downloading of virtually any externally generated signal waveforms with up to 40 MHz of bandwidth.