The ST-5S Smart Tweezers handles on-board inductance, capacitance, and resistance measurements and PCB testing. The ST-5S tweezers are a valuable solution for quickly testing and identifying surface mount devices, as well as for troubleshooting complex electronic PCBs. Its mechanical and electronic design combines a pair of precise gold-plated tweezers and a digital LCR meter in […]
Meters & Testers
Source measurement unit software simulates classic curve tracer functions
Keithley I-V Tracer software brings many of the features loved in classic curve tracers to Keithley SourceMeter Source Measure Units (SMU). Because an SMU can source voltage or current while measuring voltage and current, it has similar hardware qualities to a curve tracer. The new software leverages the touchscreen interface of 2400 Series Graphical SMUs […]
Validation for 5G comes to integrated LTE, WCDMA, GSM conformance test system family
The Global Certification Forum GCF and PTCRB certification organization have accepted first test-case validations in various FR1 and LTE band combinations using the new 5G RF conformance test system R&S “TS8980FTA-3A” from Rohde & Schwarz. The solution is the latest version of a successful family of RF conformance test systems and the only one in […]
SMU modules handle tests involving low current, high capacitance
Two new source measure unit (SMU) modules for the Keithley 4200A-SCS Parameter Analyzer can perform low-current measurements even in the presence of high load capacitance due to long cables and complex test setups. Among the notable test applications facing this challenge are LCD display manufacturing and nano FET device testing on a chuck. The new […]
RF instrumentation adds 5G protocol test functions
The Radio Communication Test Station MT8000A has been upgraded with 5G Protocol Test functions. The upgrade uses NR (New Radio) Fading software that, when implemented with built-in baseband fading tests, allows the MT8000A to support 3GPP TS 38.521-4 B.1/B.2 V15.0.0-compliant 5G NR channel (TDL) model tests. With the software, the MT8000A can conduct fading tests […]
All-in-one multi-technology handheld tester handles wired, wireless network test data
The EtherScope nXG Portable Network Expert is a powerful handheld network tester that enables network engineers and technicians to quickly discover, test, verify and troubleshoot enterprise access networks. As the first handheld tool to offer a single user-interface (UI) that fully integrates both wired and wireless network test data, the EtherScope nXG dramatically increases network […]
Pocketable RF signal source provides test signals with or without PC connection
The VSG2G5C RF Vector Signal Generator is a cost-effective pocketable USB-connected RF signal source with capabilities that provide standalone and PC-controlled functions comparable to full-size analog RF signal generators. Offering frequencies from 100 Hz to 1 MHz (low-band) and 100 MHz to 2.5 GHz (RF band) with a frequency resolution of 1 Hz, this handy […]
Poor earth ground on satellite dishes can put you in orbit
In a satellite dish, as sometimes used to receive internet signals transmitted via satellite, the signal transmitted by a satellite transponder is reflected by and propagated through a circular or rectangular tube, which is part of the feedhorn. This tube, like all waveguides, has dimensions based on the wavelength of the signal. Its purpose is […]
How to measure current and energy use accurately
General-purpose test equipment can have trouble measuring small currents, particularly if they only happen briefly. New specialized instruments go a long way toward solving this problem. Matt Liberty | Jetperch LLC The direct measurement of current is difficult. It’s usually impractical to count individual electrons, so the two primary techniques for measuring current actually measure […]
Remote Communication with USBTMC
Simple connections employing USB can replace more expensive GPIB setups in test instrumentation. Aaron Fernando, B&K Precision Corp. Engineers from a variety of industries use USB and USBTMC (USB Test & Measurement Class) to remotely control test and measurement instruments from a host computer. It is useful to compare USBTMC to the widely used GPIB […]
