everything RF recently interviewed Katie Wright, the Vice President of Marketing and Strategy at BirdRF. Katie is a recognized leader in RF power measurement solutions with a background in electrical engineering and a deep understanding of the RF and electronics industries. She drives innovative growth strategies that enhance brand visibility and support business expansion. Her expertise spans B2B marketing, product management, and strategic leadership, ensuring that BirdRF continues to deliver cutting-edge solutions for its clients. Katie’s technical foundation allows her to effectively translate complex advancements into market opportunities, keeping BirdRF at the forefront of RF technology.
Q. Can you give us a brief history of Bird? When was the company formed and what were the objectives? How has the company evolved over the years to become what it is today?
Katie Wright: Bird was established in 1942 by J. Raymond Bird at a time when precise RF measurement was becoming increasingly important for the rapidly growing Broadcast and Defense industries. Accurate RF power measurement was essential for ensuring reliable communications during World War II and beyond.
From those early days, Bird has grown to serve markets such as wireless, semiconductor, medical, aerospace, and public safety, all while maintaining our reputation as the global standard in RF power measurement. Our largest market today is the Semiconductor industry, where our precision instruments are crucial for testing and calibration of RF generators in chip manufacturing environments. Our product portfolio includes advanced RF power sensors, analyzers, and calibration equipment, designed and manufactured in the United States in our Solon, Ohio facility. With over 80 years of continuous innovation, Bird remains committed to supporting the most demanding RF applications.
Q. Can you tell us about your product portfolio? What product segment is the largest for you?
Katie Wright: Bird offers a diverse product portfolio focused on RF test and measurement solutions. Our key offerings include high-power RF power meters and sensors, handheld spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, antenna and cable testers, RF loads and attenuators.
The largest product segment for us is our precision RF power measurement solutions, which are widely used across multiple industries for their accuracy and reliability. Bird’s 0.5%, metrology-grade RF sensor is the best-in-class and the de facto standard in the Semiconductor industry.
Q. What Industry segments do you cater to? Which segment is the largest for you?
Katie Wright: Bird serves a wide range of industries, providing RF measurement and testing solutions for sectors where precision and reliability are paramount. Our key industry segments include:
- Semiconductor: We serve the semiconductor industry with metrology-grade RF sensors and analyzers used in the manufacturing of advanced semiconductor components.
- Wireless: Bird’s RF solutions are widely used in telecommunications for maintaining and troubleshooting signal integrity across networks, especially in land mobile radio and cellular communication systems.
- Medical: Bird’s RF calibration products are essential in medical environments, particularly in the calibration and maintenance of MRI machines, where precise RF measurement is required for accurate diagnostics.
- Military and Defense: Bird provides rugged, high-power RF measurement tools for military applications, including communication systems, radar, and electronic warfare, where reliable RF performance is critical to mission success.
- Aerospace and Aviation: Bird’s precision RF products are used in both commercial and defense aviation systems to ensure reliable communication and navigation systems, contributing to the safety and efficiency of air travel.
- Utilities: Bird supports power grid and energy transmission companies with RF solutions that monitor and maintain critical communication networks, helping prevent disruptions in service.
- Broadcasting: In the broadcasting industry, our RF power monitors and analyzers ensure that television and radio transmissions remain clear and uninterrupted.
Our solutions are trusted in any industry where RF testing, measurement, monitoring, and analysis are essential. The semiconductor and wireless communication sectors are our largest, as they demand high precision and reliability for RF solutions.
Q. Can you tell us more about your Spectrum Analysis product line?
Katie Wright: Our spectrum analysis product line includes handheld analyzers that provide portable, easy-to-use solutions for field technicians, ideal for detecting and troubleshooting signal interference in remote or mobile environments. These analyzers are packed with advanced capabilities like Angle of Arrival (AOA) technology, which helps pinpoint the source of RF signals with high accuracy, a Waterfall display to analyze intermittent signal sources, and signal source vectoring to triangulate the location of an interfering signal.
Q. Bird has recently launched a series of compact vector network analyzers (VNAs). Can you tell us more about these products? What made you enter this space?
Katie Wright: Bird recently launched the BNA100 and BNA1000 Series USB Vector Network Analyzers (VNAs), marking our entry into the microwave frequency and low RF power domains. These compact VNAs are designed for affordability and portability, offering high-end functionality at a competitive price.
The highly compact BNA100 Series is ideal for small business operations and educational settings, with a frequency range of up to 6.5 GHz or 8.5 GHz, and a +10 dBm output power level. The BNA1000 Series targets more complex RF and microwave product designs, featuring a dynamic range of 130 dB and a broad frequency range of up to 6.5, 8.5 or 20 GHz.
The BNA1000 Series is particularly suited for manufacturing and RF engineering applications due to its high-throughput capability and automation options. Both series offer time domain analysis, gating limit testing, and robust calibration features, making them adaptable to users of varying expertise.
Bird entered the VNA space to meet the growing demand for affordable, versatile RF testing solutions. These VNAs are a natural extension of Bird’s long-standing expertise in RF technology and our commitment to providing precise, reliable solutions for evolving industry needs.
Q. What are RF power monitors? How do they differ from RF power meters and sensors? Can you share some test cases where these monitors have been particularly useful?
Katie Wright: Unlike traditional RF power meters and sensors, which typically measure power at a single point in time, power monitors offer the ability to track performance over long periods. This continuous data collection makes them invaluable in environments where maintaining consistent RF performance is critical, such as broadcasting, telecommunications, and utilities.
A notable use case for RF power monitors comes from one of our customers in the utilities industry. Bird’s Channel Power Monitors supervise RF signals to ensure the reliability of its communication networks that support the transmission of electricity across the country. By continuously monitoring RF signals, they can quickly detect and resolve any signal interference or power inconsistencies that could disrupt critical communications. Monitoring large-scale, mission-critical environments where even brief communication failures can have significant consequences.
A classic use case for power monitors is in the public safety market. In public safety communications, RF power monitors play a crucial role in ensuring that emergency responders, law enforcement, and the military maintain seamless communication during critical situations. During disasters or emergencies, reliable RF communication is essential for coordinating response efforts, sharing real-time information, and ensuring public safety. RF power monitors help public safety networks avoid signal degradation, interference, or outages that could compromise emergency communications.
Q. Is the Medical Sector Important for Bird? Can you tell us more about the MRI RF Calibration Kit?
Katie Wright: While Bird’s expertise spans multiple industries, the medical sector is particularly significant. Our MRI RF Calibration Kit is a crucial tool for ensuring precise and reliable RF measurements in MRI systems. This kit is indispensable for maintaining the accuracy of MRI machines, ensuring patient safety, and delivering high-quality imaging. With its ease of use and industry-leading precision, the kit has become a must-have for technicians who demand the best in RF calibration.
Q. How has 2024 been for Bird so far? What is Bird’s product and solutions roadmap for the next three years?
Katie Wright: 2024 has been a strong year for Bird, marked by the successful launch of our BNA100 and BNA1000 Series Vector Network Analyzers, which have expanded our presence in the RF testing market. We've also seen growth across key sectors such as semiconductors, telecommunications, and the military as demand for high-performance RF solutions continues to rise.
Over the next three years, Bird will focus on enhancing our core product lines, including RF power sensors, spectrum analyzers, and calibration tools, while also expanding into AI-driven diagnostics and remote monitoring solutions. Our roadmap emphasizes innovation in Bird’s core competencies of providing RF measurement insight with best-in-class accuracy, ensuring we continue to meet the evolving needs of industries that rely on precision RF measurement.
