Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (25 - 29 Nov, 2019)

New mm-Wave GaAs FEM for 5G Network Rollouts in the US

Qorvo has made it easier for US equipment manufacturers to develop 5G base stations that operate in-band n258 (24.25 to 27.5 GHz) with a new gallium arsenide (GaAs) front end module (FEM). The new QPF4010 FEM supports the rollout of 5G millimeter wave (mm-Wave) base stations by reducing the number of required base station antenna array elements by up to 50 percent and offering a compact package size for smaller system configurations.

The QPF4010 integrates a power amplifier, power detector, switch and low noise amplifier into a compact 4mm x 4mm package. It is based on Qorvo's 90nm GaAs technology and provides best-in-class noise figure as well as higher output power and gain than products based on other semiconductor processes, such as silicon-germanium (SiGe) or silicon on insulator (SOI).

Qorvo designed the QPF4010 to accelerate 5G network expansion in the U.S. This new FEM supports many mmWave 5G use cases and enables equipment manufacturers to easily upgrade their base stations while reducing the number of required antenna array elements by up to 50 percent.

The QPF4010's higher output power and compact form factor enable mobile operators more network flexibility to build highly efficient and cost-effective base stations that achieve maximum power and bandwidth necessary to achieve Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP). Operators can build smaller, more powerful arrays to transmit, thus reducing overall cost while maintaining or improving performance.

The enhanced capabilities of the QPF4010 reduce total cost of ownership over the life of the system:

Global Spectrum Regulators Allocate 10 GHz of mm-Wave for 5G Services

The GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) has welcomed the decision of the global spectrum regulators at the ITU's World Radio Conference 2019 (WRC-19) to identify several millimeter-wave frequency bands for 5G IMT. They have agreed to allocate over 10 GHz of spectrum for 5G in the 26, 40, 47 and 66 GHz ranges. This decision will pave the way for governments and regulators around the world to make frequency bands available for ultra-fast 5G services in hotspots and home broadband environments by relying on a global ecosystem.

GSA members have participated in the difficult negotiations that have taken place in the run-up to this decision, particularly with regards to 26 GHz, keeping in mind the need to protect satellite services in the adjacent spectrum while remaining committed to the delivery of high–performance economical solutions to the global markets. Click here to read more.

Portable Monitoring Receiver Analyzes RF Signals from 8 kHz to 8 GHz

At this year's MILIPOL event in Paris, Rohde & Schwarz showcased the new R&S PR200 portable monitoring receiver. MILIPOL is the leading event for homeland security and safety. The R&S PR200 operates over a wide frequency range from 8 kHz to 8 GHz, and can even up to 18 GHz with the R&S HF907DC SHF handheld antenna and an integrated downconverter. Thanks to its high linearity and effective preselection, the receiver is ideal for complex signal environments. To prevent overloading and adapt to any given situation, the receiver offers automatic gain control (AGC) to attenuate or amplify the input signal.

The R&S PR200 is an indispensable tool for regulatory authorities, mobile network operators, police forces, military units, and other security organizations. They can use the portable receiver to search for and analyze known and unknown radio emissions and to localize signal sources. The receiver offers various display options, markers, and other signal analysis tools.

Low weight was a design criterion in the development of the R&S PR200. At only 3.5 kg, the receiver features a long operating time of more than 3.5 hours, perfect for longer field operations. Thanks to extensive beta-user feedback, Rohde & Schwarz was able to position the R&S PR200 as THE go-to-tool.

The R&S PR200 offers wide-ranging recording capabilities for documentation purposes and subsequent signal analysis. The receiver can record and reproduce all measured values over a prolonged period, for example, the amplitude, bearing, spectrum and demodulated audio information of a received signal. The receiver can take a snapshot of the I/Q signal with up to 60 million samples. Numerous options and extensions for the R&S PR200 support a wide range of applications. Another important feature is the additional DF function in combination with the R&S MobileLocator. Temporarily installed in a vehicle, this combination enables effective geolocation of all radio emissions even in difficult environments such as dense urban areas.

The R&S PR200 performs signal processing in two separate paths, each with up to 40 MHz realtime bandwidth, making it possible to simultaneously display the spectrum and analyze in the frequency domain, as well as to display the signal and demodulate in the time domain. The R&S PR200 reliably detects signals with a duration of 1.5 microseconds, so virtually no signal goes undetected.

Click here to learn more about the R&S PR200. Click here to read more.

AT&T Selects Emite Test Platform for 5G Over-the-Air Device Testing

EMITE, a leading RF Test & Measurement company, has announced the selection of its H-Series 5G OTA Test Platform by AT&T for testing 5G devices over the air (OTA). The selection ends a lengthy and thorough evaluation with several platforms considered.

Among the many EMITE-inherent technical advantages considered for the selection, was an outstanding fully-automated and complete system and instrument control GUI software capable of batch testing overnight, the integration of climatic-control, the use of different 3GPP-approved test methods, an astonishing 0.5 dB inter-lab repeatability and the ability to operate diverse signaling boxes were considered key factors. Click here to read more.

Ericsson Forecasts Over 2.6 Billion Global 5G Subscriptions by 2025

Every few months, Ericsson publishes a Mobility Report which highlights trends, forecasts and the status of technologies like 5G and IoT. According to the latest Mobility Report published in November 2019, the global number of 5G subscriptions will cross the 2.6 billion within the next six years. This will be driven by sustained momentum and a rapidly developing 5G ecosystem.

According to the report, average monthly data-traffic-per-smartphone is forecast to increase from the current figure of 7.2 GB to 24 GB by the end of 2025, in part driven by new consumer behavior, such as Virtual Reality (VR) streaming. With 7.2 GB per month, one can stream 21 minutes of HD video (1280 x 720) daily, while 24 GB would allow streaming 30 minutes of HD video with an additional six minutes of VR each day. The report also projects that 5G will cover up to 65 percent of the global population by the end of 2025 and handle 45 percent of global mobile data traffic. Click here to read more.

New Sigfox Monarch Modules Enable Cost-Effective Global Asset Tracking Solutions

Leading wireless connectivity module manufacturer, SeongJi Industrial Co. Ltd, has released two modules for Sigfox Monarch applications to feature in its global logistics and tracking device solution. Monarch is a unique feature of the Sigfox network, providing IoT devices with the ability to seamlessly move and communicate across continents. It removes the barrier of global mobility while keeping the LPWA promise (low battery consumption, simplicity and cost-effectiveness).

The SRM100A and SRM200A Sigfox Monarch modules provide a unique radio recognition service enabling devices to manage the radio frequency changes, without any additional hardware such as a GPS or Wi-Fi chipset. This service enables devices to run seamlessly in all parts of the world, by automatically recognizing and adapting to the local radio-frequency standards. It unlocks endless use cases in logistics and supply chain, in the consumer industry, and in the automated maintenance for the shipping, aircraft and railway industries. Click here to read more.

Multi-Channel ADC Supports 6.5 GHz Input Bandwidth

Leading RF technology solutions provider, Teledyne e2v, has announced the release of a new 12-bit quad-channel analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the EV12AQ605. A variation on the company’s popular EV12AQ600 ADC, the latest signal conditioning solution offers almost identical functionality, but at a lower price point that will appeal to high volume, cost-sensitive markets. Bridging the gap between the analog RF and digital worlds, the EV12AQ605’s input bandwidth exceeds 6.5 GHz (in extended bandwidth mode). The number of channels used, gain, offset and sample delay are all programmable through its SPI interface.

The only key differences between the two ADCs are the number of interleaving mismatch calibration settings saved on the one time programmable (OTP) memory and the temperature range supported (-40°C to +110°C, rather than the EV12AQ600’s -55°C to +125°C). As these ADCs are pin-to-pin compatible, engineers have a straightforward replacement path that doesn’t require alterations to existing EV12AQ600-based designs. Click here to read more.

Aesthetically Designed 5G-Ready Indoor Small Cell Antennas

At the Microwave Workshops & Exhibition (MWE) 2019, taking place in Japan from Nov. 27-29, Huber+Suhner, is showcasing its new indoor small cell connectivity solution, SENCITY Occhio, the latest addition to its antenna portfolio.

With 5G on the horizon, operators will require access to more bandwidth than ever before. Reliable, fast coverage, extended capacity and simplistic installation processes are vital factors and top priorities for operators as they look for the best technology on the market to support their journeys to 5G. Along that journey, always-on mobile communications, especially within indoor environments has become critical. Click here to read more.

Korean SATCOM Expert Showcases World’s First Satellite Based 5G Connection

KT SAT, the satcom subsidiary of leading Korean telecom operator, KT Corporation, has successfully conducted the world’s first 5G data transmission using a satellite connection. The test was aimed to expand 5G technology linked to KT’s 5G network and KT SAT’s KOREASAT 6, located some 36,000 kilometers above the equator.

KT SAT and the KT Institute of Convergence Technology worked on the project together. They implemented hybrid terrestrial-satellite 5G transmission, which uses different networks to deliver data better than typical 5G services and 5G edge cloud media transmission using satellite communication backhaul links. This meshes satellite communications with the content delivery network (CDN) for video transmissions from the 5G edge cloud. The 5G edge cloud can be seen as a virtual data center. It handles data generated from user terminals at the nearest possible spot in order to maximize the 5G capacity for ultra-low latency. Click here to read more.

These New TCXOs Offer Incredibly Low Phase Noise

Leading multinational ceramics and electronics manufacturer, Kyocera Corporation has introduced compact temperature-compensated crystal oscillators (TCXO) offering the industry's lowest phase noise (based on research by Kyocera, as of October 31, 2019). Samples of the new Kyocera KT1612 Series and KT2016 Series TCXOs are now available worldwide, with volume production planned to start in March 2020.

Increased communication speeds and data capacities required for new 5G and Wi-Fi technologies have brought about a shift toward multilevel modulation systems that send multiple signals to a single section of a single wavelength. However, since noise and frequency fluctuations can produce data errors, circuit designers seek compact TCXOs that can provide higher frequency stability with less degradation. In these applications, a TCXO has two important performance indices: Phase Noise: Amplitude and phase fluctuations due to inherent noise in the device; and Phase Jitter: Shifts and fluctuations in the time domain of the waveform. Click here to read more.

Mini-Circuits Opens New Regional Sales Office in Japan & South Korea

Mini-Circuits has opened a new regional sales office in Japan to expand its service offering for customers in Japan and South Korea. Located in Shin-Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan the new office will work in conjunction with Mini-Circuits’ local sales representatives and distributors to provide additional resources and support in growing business and addressing customer needs.

The company has appointed Thomas Joyce as Regional Sales Director, Japan and South Korea to manage the office in Yokohama and to continue growing its sales and service presence in the region. Mr. Joyce brings 33 years of experience in electronics design, management and marketing as well as extensive knowledge of the Japanese and South Korean markets. Click here to read more.

Multi-Radio Wi-Fi / Bluetooth Module for Automotive and Industrial Applications

u-blox continues to strengthen its product offering for both in-vehicle communication and industrial automation, with the introduction of new multi-radio hardware. The JODY-W2 is a feature-rich, ultra-compact wireless module with industry-leading performance specifications. Furthermore, a 13.8 x 19.8 mm footprint allows it to address the acute space constraints that car manufacturers now face, while an operating temperature range spanning from -40ºC up to 105ºC means it also has all the necessary ruggedness for the most demanding in-vehicle environments. JODY-W2 is also well suited for industrial applications.

The highly robust JODY-W2 module incorporates the latest AEC-Q100 qualified wireless system-on-chip (SoC) technology. One variant (non AEC-Q100) is specifically targeting demanding industrial control and monitoring applications, such as patient monitoring, plus surveillance systems, and in-building asset tracking. It has dual band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), covering 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency channels, as well as built-in WPA3-compliant security mechanisms. Alongside this, it offers Bluetooth 5 capabilities, with both Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth low energy. To achieve best possible cross-protocol coexistence, there are separate antennas for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Highly optimized for deployment in modern automobile infotainment, telematics systems, and industrial gateways, the JODY-W2 can provide an access point for connection with up to 8 devices, offering enough bandwidth for video streaming via several devices at once. It has the capacity to support parallel transportation of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals, and can simultaneously act as an access point and as a station, or conduct peer-to-peer communication.

As this module has the same form factor as the u-blox JODY-W1, it complements the company’s current portfolio of host-based multiradio solutions intended for both the automotive and industrial sectors. This makes it much easier for engineers to upgrade their existing designs.

Lockheed Martin Using R&S Software Defined Radios for the New F-16 Aircrafts

Leading defense solutions expert, Lockheed Martin, has announced the selection of Rohde & Schwarz as the preferred supplier of airborne radio communications for their new F-16 Block 70 aircraft. The F-16 Block 70 is the newest and most advanced F-16 production configuration.

Rohde & Schwarz will provide its AN/ARC-238 software-defined radio (SDR) on F-16 Block 70 aircraft for international customers. The AN/ARC-238 is the U.S. version of the company’s R&S MR6000R/L radio. The SDR’s excellent RF characteristics make it suitable for applications in military environments including all types of airborne platforms. Click here to read more.