Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (9

SEAKR to Provide Advanced RF Signal Processor for Northrop Satellites

Northrop Grumman has selected SEAKR Engineering to provide an advanced space signal processor on two new GEOStar satellites scheduled to launch in 2022. This is SEAKR's second major customer utilizing the Wolverine processor, a new RF reconfigurable processor which can flexibly process 10 GHz of bandwidth for a variety of applications. SEAKR's Wolverine technology is highly flexible with on-orbit re-programmable capabilities. This feature is something most satellite customers are looking for.

SEAKR's RF processor leverages four generations of architectural capability supporting the full spectrum of payload processing performance requirements, with a high level of on-orbit reconfigurable processing capability. Pulling from its established heritage capabilities, strength in RF communications, along with the continuous product and architectural advancement, SEAKR continues to define leading edge, state-of-practice processing systems in partnership with Government, Civil and Commercial entities. Click here to read more.

IMS 2020 is Now Open for Paper Submissions!

The 2020 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS2020) is set to take place from 21 to 26 June 2020 in Los Angeles, CA, USA. The event will be the centerpiece of the Microwave Week, offering technical sessions, interactive forums, plenary and panel sessions, workshops, short courses, microwave application (MicroApps) seminars, industry workshops, and exhibits.

IEEE MTT-S has announced the call for submission of papers and proposals to be presented at the event. Click here to read more.

Analyze Spectrum from 8 kHz to 8 GHz Using this Portable Monitoring Receiver

At the ITU Telecom World in Budapest, Rohde & Schwarz has unveiled the new R&S PR200 portable monitoring receiver. The R&S PR200 is an indispensable tool for regulatory authorities, mobile network operators, police forces, military units and other security organizations. Using the portable receiver, they can search for and analyze known and unknown radio emissions and localize signal sources. The receiver offers various display options, markers and other tools for signal analysis.

With a very wide frequency range from 8 kHz to 8 GHz, or even up to 18 GHz with the HF907DC SHF handheld antenna with integrated down-converter, it is highly versatile. Thanks to its high linearity and effective pre-selection, the receiver is especially suited to handle complex signal environments. To prevent overloading and enable adaptation to any given situation, the receiver also offers automatic gain control (AGC) to attenuate or amplify the input signal. Click here to read more.

Qualcomm Introduces mm-Wave Antenna Module for its Snapdragon 5G Chipset

Qualcomm Technologies has introduced a new mm-Wave antenna module for the Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System. The Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System is the world’s first fully integrated extended-range mmWave solution for 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) – allowing mobile operators to offer fixed internet broadband services to homes and businesses using their 5G network infrastructure.

The new QTM527 mm-Wave antenna module expands the capabilities of the Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System to deliver a comprehensive modem-to-antenna platform for flexible, cost-effective, high performance 5G mmWave customer-premises equipment (CPE) designs. By building on its existing 5G mmWave technology leadership with a high-power CPE solution for Power Class 1 devices, Qualcomm Technologies is enabling mobile carriers and OEMs to accelerate the expansion of high-speed internet access to under-served suburban and rural communities, as well as dense urban environments, with a plug-and-play, multi-gigabit alternative to cable and fiber. Click here to read more.

Real-time RF Emulator Simulates Channel Interactions among 256 Wireless Devices

Over the past three years, DARPA’s Spectrum Collaboration Challenge (SC2) has relied on a custom-built virtual testbed called the Colosseum to host thousands of competitive matches and scrimmages, which will include the final match to determine the winner of the $2 million grand prize. The SC2 is a first-of-its-kind collaborative machine-learning competition, where competitors have been challenged to reimagine new spectrum access strategies in which radio networks autonomously collaborate to dynamically determine how the radio frequency (RF) spectrum should be used moment to moment, avoiding interference and jointly exploiting opportunities. SC2 teams have been working onsolutions by taking advantage of recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and the expanding capacities of software-defined radios.

Working with engineers at John Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (JHU APL) and National Instruments (NI), DARPA constructed a 256-by-256 RF channel emulator that can calculate and simulate in real-time more than 65,000 channel interactions among 256 wireless devices. This massive emulator is at a scale never before realized – 20x more total RF bandwidth than currently available in commercial systems. To replicate an array of complex RF environments – from open fields to dense cities – that put the competitors’ radio designs through their paces, the Colosseum relies on 128 two-antenna software-defined radios and 64 field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Click here to read more.

60 GHz WiGig Chipset for Fixed Wireless and Small Cell Applications

Peraso Technologies has launched a high-performance pre-802.11ay WiGig® chipset, targeted at fixed wireless access and small cell backhaul applications. The X720 chipset is targeted at a variety of high-performance applications. FWA Equipment using the X720 will reach distances of 1.5 km, significantly higher than anything currently available on the market today. Using a dish configuration for applications such as 5G backhaul, the chipset will be able to achieve 5 km link distances with a throughput of 2 Gbps.

The X720 is a great example of continuous innovation that will fuel higher than average growth in the 802.11-based FWA and backhaul markets that use the 60 GHz band. Based on a number of market research reports, the 60 GHz FWA ecosystem is expected to grow at a 16% CAGR from 2018 to 2024. Click here to read more.

UMS to Highlight its Latest Advancements in GaN Process Technology at EuMW

United Monolithic Semiconductors (UMS) has confirmed its participation in the upcoming European Microwave Week 2019 (EuMW 2019). The European Microwave Week is one of the largest events in Europe that is dedicated to microwave components, systems and technology. It is being held from October 01- 04 in Paris. The event consists of a conference and exhibition.

At the Exhibition that will take place from 1-3 October, UMS will be present at booth #A630 where visitors will have the opportunity to meet company representatives to discuss their needs and see UMS’ latest innovations and foundry services. On the booth, attendees will also have the opportunity to enter a UMS Raffle to win 4mm² on one of the next UMS shared foundry runs. Click here to read more.

NXP to Showcase its Latest RF & Microwave Products at EuMW 2019

At this years European Microwave Week (EuMW) in Paris, NXP will be showcasing its latest products and technologies from its RF power portfolio. The company will also be presenting technical sessions and workshops on various topics. European Microwave Week is one of the largest events in Europe that is dedicated to microwave components, systems and technology. It is being held from October 01- 04 in Paris.

We have summarized NXP's planned activity for EuMW 2019 Click here to read more.

Facebook's All-in-One VR Gaming System Uses Skyworks Wi-Fi FEM

The highly integrated SkyOne® solution for WiFi (SKY85813-11) from Skyworks has been integrated in to Facebook’s Oculus Quest. Quest is the first all-in-one virtual reality (VR) gaming platform allowing players to wirelessly connect to the cloud for a seamless and immersive experience.

Oculus has become a pioneer in VR gaming with its next-generation headset which features a camera-based positional tracking system and does not require a wired connection to a PC or phone to operate. By leveraging Skyworks’ innovative capabilities, the device delivers real-time wireless connectivity and offers users untethered six degrees of freedom - or the ability to move in any direction and walk through virtual space just as they would in the physical world. Click here to read more.

Vapor-Sealed Microwave/RF Cable Assemblies for Airborne Environments

W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (GORE) has released a new series of RF/Microwave cable assemblies for airborne environments. The new GORE Microwave/RF Assemblies, 7 Series have been developed to prevent the ingress of water vapor, fuels, oils, chemicals and other hazardous contaminants commonly found in airborne environments. With their rugged, vapor-sealed construction, these assemblies routinely maintain low insertion loss, low return loss, and excellent phase stability at frequencies up to 18 GHz, while providing outstanding shielding effectiveness in challenging aerospace environments.

Research has shown that more than 75% of microwave/RF assemblies are frequently replaced because of damage during installation or operation. Costs can quickly add up with replacing assemblies, extra labor, and more maintenance and downtime. With a smaller, more flexible construction and tighter bend radius, GORE Microwave/RF Assemblies, 7 Series are proven to provide exceptional mechanical protection and electrical performance, along with easier installation and routing, unmatched by standard rigid assemblies. Click here to read more.

dB Control Acquires EW Solutions Expert, TTT-Cubed

dB Control has announced the acquisition of TTT-Cubed, Inc. (TTT), a leading designer and manufacturer of radio frequency receivers and sources. The acquisition of TTT will add high-end frequency locked oscillators, integrated digital control units, RF sources, detectors and controllers to dB Control’s existing line of high-power TWT amplifiers (TWTAs), microwave power modules (MPMs) and high-voltage power supplies (HVPS) for defense and aerospace applications. Specific financial terms and details of the all-cash transaction were not disclosed. TTT will operate as part of dB Control and will relocate to its facility in Fremont, CA.

dB Control is part of HEICO’s Electronic Technologies Group. Most of TTT’s team will remain with the business post-closing. Click here to read more.

u-blox has sold over 500 Million GNSS Receivers

u-blox, a supplier of positioning and wireless communication technologies, has announced that it has recently sold its 500 millionth global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver. As the only technology capable of delivering absolute position anywhere on the planet, GNSS-based positioning has found its way into a wide range of consumer, industrial, and automotive applications, allowing connected devices to efficiently qualify the origin of transmitted data with accurate time and position information.

u-blox’s portfolio of GNSS receivers targets a broad range of established and emerging applications and use cases. Standard meter-level GNSS receivers, which are the dominant solution today, continue to become smaller, lower cost, and more power-efficient. Meanwhile, the market for high-precision GNSS receivers for automotive and consumer applications is increasing rapidly. Additionally, it is also representing the first automotive applications requiring functional safety for highly automated driving. Click here to read more.

RFS Deploys the Highest Power Broadcast Antennas in China

Radio Frequency Systems (RFS), a designer and manufacturer of products for wireless and broadcast infrastructure, has announced that two of its high-power broadcast transmission antennas are deployed at the Nanyue TV and FM transmission station on Mount Heng, one of the Five Great Mountains of China. The Nanyue TV and FM transmission station is operated by the Hunan Broadcasting System and is one of the most well-known broadcast transmission stations in China.

Each of the RFS antennas selected for the high-profile deployment sets a new benchmark for broadcast transmission power in China: Click here to read more.

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Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (9 - 13 Sept, 2019)