Connectors and cabling can be as important as the test instruments used to check out systems operating in the 5G realm. John Muzzio, Times Microwave Systems Andrew Dinsdale, SV Microwave Unlike previous cellular technology generations that were focused on a specific frequency band, 5G deals with a much larger potential frequency range. For example, 4G […]
Test and Measurement Tips
Measuring picoseconds without breaking the bank
Modern analog/digital converters can help implement equivalent time sampling to provide picosecond timing resolution. Dave Guidry, Texas Instruments Inc. A picosecond is an astonishingly short period of time. Imagine a stopwatch with a trillion divisions between each tick of the second hand. While it sounds fantastical, this resolution of time measurement is indeed necessary for […]
Five key considerations for spectrum analyzers
A bevy of specifications define how spectrum analyzers perform. But just a handful of qualities can be pivotal when it comes to selecting instrumentation. Contributed by Signal Hound As wireless technologies pervade our lives, more engineers find they must make RF measurements. In the past, RF testing required the use of expensive equipment handled only […]
Scopes feature 5.6-in full HD touchscreen, 1 million wf/sec update rate
The new R&S RTO6 digital oscilloscope offers six different bandwidth models from 600 MHz to 6 GHz and a sample rate of up to 20 Gsample/sec. The fully integrated test solution for the time and frequency domain, as well as protocol and logic analysis, supports design engineers from all industries. The instrument features a high waveform update rate, excellent […]
Handheld microwave spectrum analyzers feature resistive touchscreens
The SAF Tehnika Spectrum Compact SG Series RF Signal Generators are hand-held and easy-to-use RF signal generators for the 6 GHz – 40 GHz licensed microwave frequency bands. There are four models in the SG range, covering specific frequency ranges: 6 GHz-12 GHz (J0SSAG11), 10 GHz-18 GHz (J0SSAG12), 17 GHz-24 GHz (J0SSAG13) and 24 GHz-40 […]
Sorting out PC-based instrumentation
It used to be the case that only a few kinds of relatively simple instruments were based on PCs. Now several categories of lab-grade instrumentation take the PC approach. Trevor Smith, Pico Technology The diversity of measurements that must be made by electronics engineers constitutes a huge challenge. The debugging and validation of components and […]
Raspberry Pi for DAQ
Though they are more closely associated with the maker space, Raspberry Pi boards can be effective at handling stringent industrial measurements. Steve Radecky, Measurement Computing Corp. Originally designed to be a cheap, almost disposable computer, Raspberry Pi was created to get kids interested in programming. Since its introduction in 2012, Raspberry Pi has become the […]
When a coronagraph comes in handy
You can think of a coronagraph as having the same effect as a total eclipse of the sun where only its outer edge is visible. It is a telescopic attachment designed to block out the direct light from a star. The early coronagraphs were intended to view the corona of the Sun. But a new […]
Instrument monitors optical fiber Bragg grating sensors in static and dynamic apps
A new optical interrogator, the MXFS, provides stability against external influences and a high-sensor capacity of 128 channels per device, making it a candidate for use among engineers carrying out measurements within unpredictable environments, such as construction sites or laboratories. MXFS is a fibre Bragg grating measurement device, based on the BraggMETER technology, that is […]
The challenge of testing obsolete PCBs
How to test and maintain obsolete systems when the relevant documentation is absent. Alan Lowne, Saelig Co. Inc. Obsolete PCBs or boards lacking circuit schematic diagrams present a conundrum when there’s a need for repair. Online searches for old datasheets may not be productive. What happens when obsolete boards must be fixed but there is […]
