The new R&S FSW-B500 is a hardware option for the R&S FWS family of signal/spectrum analyzers which can be used for measurements in a frequency range up to 67 GHz. The analyzer is especially well-suited for sophisticated measurement tasks in radar or satellite applications as well as for tests on fast wireless connections such as WLAN or Beyond 4G (5G). In the past, 320 MHz was considered an excellent value. Rohde & Schwarz is the first company to offer analysis bandwidth of 500 MHz.
The large analysis bandwidth enables users to test pulse rise and fall times from approximately 3 ns or very short pulses from an 8 ns pulse width. The analyzer can therefore be used in the development of radar systems for automotive applications, for example. Users can fully record and measure radar chirps with up to 500 MHz bandwidth. Hopping sequences in frequency-agile communications systems such as tactical radios can also be easily analyzed. Researchers working on satellite applications will be able to characterize the components for the future transponder generation with up to 500 MHz analysis bandwidth. Components for microwave links can also be measured with up to 500 MHz bandwidth.
The R&S FSW now offers developers of RF amplifiers for mobile radio or WLAN the ability to measure digital predistortion of amplifiers with up to 160 MHz bandwidth, as required for WLAN 802.11ac signals, for example. In the past, measuring these kinds of wideband signals often required complicated setups consisting of a digital oscilloscope and a downconverter.
