Top News Stories of the Week : 4th March, 2016

TM500 Network Test System Now Supports 4G IoT

The TM500 Test System from Cobham Wireless now has the capability to emulate tens of thousands of Machine Type Communications (MTC) devices, sometimes known as M2M devices. This enables network operators and infrastructure vendors to validate 4G cellular network performance in preparation for deploying Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.

The next-generation TM500 can evaluate the effect on the network of connecting large numbers of low-power, low-complexity UEs (user equipment) for MTC applications. Non-speech devices that will use MTC will include smart meters, security cameras, environmental sensors, and a whole range of industrial and commercial sensors and controllers. Read more

Signal Generator Supports Higher Order MIMO Scenarios with Realtime Fading

Rohde & Schwarz has enhanced its R&S SMW200A high-end vector signal generator to include an option that permits developers of base stations and mobile devices to simulate a large number of complex MIMO scenarios such as 4x8, 8x4 or 2x4x4 with realtime fading. The result is a compact solution that will appeal to cost-conscious users.

Multiple input multiple output transmission is used for a number of digital communications standards, including LTE, LTE-Advanced and WLAN (802.11n, 802.11ac). The technology will likely also play a key role for 5G. Read more

High Frequency Chip Inductor Series with Excellent Q Characteristics

Over the years with the increase in multiband capability, multi-functionality and more sophisticated functions, the configuration of the RF circuits in smartphones and other compact mobile devices is becoming more complex, and the number of components being incorporated is increasing. At the same time, the volume accounted for by the batteries inside these mobile devices has become larger and larger, necessitating the RF circuits to be configured in more limited spaces. This is one reason for the rising demand for ultra-compact RF inductors with high Q characteristics capable of reducing circuit loss to the absolute minimum. Read more

ON Semiconductor & RFMicron Launch Battery Free IoT Sensor Platform

ON Semiconductor, teamed with RFMicron, and developed a game-changing ‘plug-and-play’ development tool to speed the deployment of wireless passive sensor solutions onto any Internet of Things (IoT) cloud platform. The IoT Platform Development Kit brings together a series of performance-optimized computing and connectivity modules to facilitate quick and effective deployment of battery-free wireless sensing technology and IoT hardware in locations where power and space constraints are of particular concern. This streamlined and flexible solution takes the approach of moving much of the system’s intelligence away from where the sensors are situated, and placing it on the cloud. Read more

GaN based S-band SSPA for Air Traffic Control Radars

Advantech Wireless has announced the launch of the second generation Gallium Nitride (GaN) based S-band power amplifiers that have been designed for air traffic control radar systems. The S-band solid state pulse amplifier operates in the 2.7 to 2.9 GHz band and replaces traveling wave tubes with solid state technology. GaN technology reduces power consumption and operating costs due to its very high reliability.

Recent tests have shown that the amplifier also produces a cleaner pulse due to the system’s linearity, resulting in better range and resolution of a radar system. Read more

ADS 2016 Improves Layout Performance for ICs, Laminates & RF PCB Design

Keysight Technologies has introduced the latest release of its powerful Advanced Design System (ADS) software, ADS 2016. The software improves design productivity and speeds circuit and electromagnetic simulation performance. ADS 2016 provides new RF printed circuit board, laminate, module, and silicon RFIC products, as well as technologies, capabilities and other enhancements.

ADS is the industry's leading electronic design automation software for RF, microwave and signal-integrity applications. Read more

Anite Speeds up MIMO OTA Testing more than Ten Times

Anite has introduced a capability that enables users of Propsim channel emulators to speed up mobile device MIMO OTA testing by more than ten times compared to conventional testing methods.

In August last year, CTIA released a standardised MIMO OTA performance test plan, which many manufacturers and mobile operators aim to conform with to ensure high levels of end-user experience. In order to comply with this test plan, chipset vendors, device manufacturers and test houses conduct a great deal of pre-certification testing in the development phase. Read more

Anritsu Provides 4x4 MIMO Device Acceptance Solution US Carrier

Anritsu has announced exclusive support for LTE 4x4 Multiple-In-Multiple-Out (MIMO) Carrier Acceptance Test (CAT) requirements for a major U.S. carrier. This new coverage, based on the ME7834LA Mobile Device Test Platform, builds on the leading 3G and LTE CAT test offering for this carrier. With this announcement, Anritsu is the first test solution provider in the world to offer a device acceptance solution for 4x4 MIMO.

MIMO is an essential part of LTE that allows an increase in data rates without adding bandwidth. This is accomplished using “spatial multiplexing” of multiple streams of data on the same carrier. Read more

New Tracking Antenna to Communicate with Rockets & Satellites

The European Space Agency (ESA) has introduced a new tracking dish in Australia, marking a significant step in the Agency’s worldwide satcom network. The new antenna is sited at ESA’s existing ground station, in New Norcia, Western Australia, and will be used for communicating with rockets and new satellites, taking advantage of the ideal geographic location under the flight paths of launchers departing from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

The essential task of all ESA tracking stations is to communicate with spacecraft, transmitting commands and receiving scientific data and status information. Read more

AtlanTecRF Introduces Range of In-Stock Military Certified Amplifiers

AtlanTecRF has launched its high-spec stock programme by offering same-day dispatch on its miniature drop-in X-Band Amplifiers complete with MIL-883 high reliability screening. The products have been designed to eliminate waiting times for military and commercial organisations by providing stock availability on a range of high-spec products. This gives designers of high reliability microwave systems to order high specification components at short notice.

They have implemented plans to provide such products from stock with the introduction of its model AGM-1005-15 Amplifier, which covers the full 8.0-12.0 GHz frequency range. Read more

Integrated Isolator and 2 Way Power Divider for Space Applications

Crane Aerospace & Electronics has introduced a new K-Band 2-way Iso-Divider for space applications. The Iso-Divider combines the functions of high performance power dividers with ferrite isolators to provide an integrated high-isolation power divider solution for satellite receiver applications.

Integration of the two functions into a single package provides enhanced product reliability due to fewer external components, interconnects and transitions. Additionally, marrying the power divider and isolators in the same package allows the performance of the integrated unit to be carefully matched, providing better overall performance. Read more

Wolfspeed GaN RF Devices Have Provided Over 1.3 Gigawatts of Power

Wolfspeed (a Cree Company) announced that at the end of 2015, it shipped GaN-on-SiC RF power transistors with a combined RF output power of more than 1.3 gigawatts. Wolfspeed achieved this milestone while maintaining a failure-in-time rate (FIT rate) of 5-per-billion device hours, illustrating the industry-leading reliability and performance of Wolfspeed’s GaN-on-SiC devices.

To put this in to prospective, 1.3G W is the same power output as the energy required to power all of the LED street lights in Los Angeles for 22 years, or enough energy to power more than 124,900 U.S. residential homes for a year. Read more