X-COM Systems, a subsidiary of Bird Technologies, has introduced the IQC5255B, the latest model in its IQC5000 Series of RF record and playback systems that expands their signal-capture bandwidth to 255 MHz to address the increasingly-demanding requirements for evaluating the performance of electronic warfare, radar, and communication systems. In addition, the IQC5255B combined with the new N9040B UXA Series or N9030B PXA-B Series signal analyzers also introduced today by Keysight Technologies, forms the most integrated, comprehensive, high-performance solution for capturing, analyzing, and characterizing signals over periods from seconds to days with 16 bits of resolution at carrier frequencies up to 50 GHz with 100% probability of intercept.
The compact IQC5255B measures only 12 x 3.5 x 10.5 in., and is designed to be used in the field or in laboratory and production environments, where its signal capture files can be analyzed using signal analysis and characterization tools from X-COM and Keysight. Typical applications include recording, storing, and playing back RF signals for threat analysis and to build libraries and system validation in electronic warfare systems, as well as radar system validation in the laboratory or on a radar test range. It is also well suited for interference analysis as well as spectrum monitoring and management.
When combined with the Keysight UXA signal analyzer, the IQC5255B provides spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of 78 dB in 255 MHz of bandwidth, the highest in the industry, making it possible to detect weak signals in the presence of stronger ones. When recording a single channel at its full 255 MHz bandwidth, the system can continuously record, store, and play back more than 50 minutes of uninterrupted IQ data in a single channel or two time-synchronous channels of 160-MHz bandwidth. By adding external data packs up to a total of 15 Tbytes, the IQC5255B will continuously record or play back a single channel for more than 3 hours at full bandwidth. Dual-channel record and playback makes it possible for users to note differences in timing between the two data streams to evaluate overall system performance.
Integrated Turnkey Solution
The IQC5255B is designed to work seamlessly with the Keysight Technologies UXA Series signal analyzers to create a turnkey system with the analyzer acting as a single point of control for both instruments. All IQC5255B functions are controlled directly by the signal analyzer, so there is no need for an external controller such as a laptop computer along with associated cables. This not only simplifies system setup and operation but eliminates issues associated with bringing an unsecured computer into a secure location.
The powerful computer in the UXA Series instruments can also incorporate X-COM’s comprehensive Spectro-X signal analysis software and RF Editor drag-and drop graphical editing tool, as well as Keysight’s 89600B vector signal analysis software, and The Mathworks’ MATLAB. Spectro-X can simultaneously analyze up to four files of any size over any range of frequencies with file alignment of +/-1 sample, allowing the user to “zoom in” to signals of interest contained within files containing hundreds of thousands of emitters.
Among the many other features of the IQC5255B are the ability to offload signal files to the UXA Series via eight lanes of PCIe 2.0 at greater than 800 Mbytes/s, precise event triggering with markers of time and location that makes it easy to locate signals of interest in a large data files, pulsed signal characterization for quickly finding signals of interest, measurement tools that enable rapid characterization of CW, linear FM, and custom waveforms, and GPS and IRIG-B event stamps that add situational awareness to the data.
Pricing and Availability
The IQC5255B is available now from X-COM Systems, and is priced from $65,000.
