A vector signal generator covering both existing wireless frequencies as well as bands in the emerging 5G area won its creator, Rohde & Schwarz, a 2021 Leap Award.

The Leap Award competition addresses products across 12 categories. More than 100 entrants were received for the annual event which celebrates the most innovative and forward-thinking products serving the design engineering space. This year’s winners were chosen by an independent judging panel of 12 engineering and academic professionals.

The R&S SMM100A vector signal generator covers the entire frequency range from 100 kHz to 44 GHz. The instrument covers the bands below 6 GHz used by existing wireless standards, plus the newly defined bands for 5G NR FR1 and Wi-Fi 6E up to 7.125 GHz and the 5G NR FR2 bands up to 44 GHz.

The internal baseband generator in the R&S SMM100A supports a maximum RF modulation bandwidth of 1 GHz. Digitally modulated broadband signals can thus be generated as required by the prevalent wireless standards. The R&S SMM100A is well prepared for future bandwidth requirements.

Currently, state-of-the-art vector signal generators in the midrange are faced with strict requirements. Use of the new R&S SMM100A gives a flexible option concept in combination with outstanding signal quality into the mmWave range as well as an excellent price/performance ratio.