Noise measurement, LO substitution, receiver stress testing, power measurement, CCDF and PAPR characterization, and antenna-pattern measurement play critical roles in link budget, bit-error rate, and SNR requirements.
Sensing
What is an instrument driver and why do I need one?
Instrument drivers take some of the sting out of controlling test instruments by adding an abstraction layer. Almost everyone who uses computers has had experiences with drivers, and probably not good ones. In the olden days, if you had wanted to hook an old printer up to a new computer, you would have searched through […]
I’ve got the measurement blues again
Back from a three-year hiatus, I’m covering test and measurement again. This time, it’s for EE World.
Engineer ambitiously or be acquired?
Emerson Electric makes a significant offer to acquire NI, which is fighting back.
Putting the spotlight on infrared sensor technology
William Herschel was a gifted musician and composer who by chance obtained a 10-foot long, 30-inch reflecting telescope from the estate of his deceased friend, a violinist. Due to damage in moving it, he had to rebuild the instrument. This drew him into telescope making and then astronomy. He also discovered infrared radiation by placing […]
RF power sensors handle up to 90 GHz
New R&S NRP90S and R&S NRP90SN power sensors from Rohde & Schwarz combine an extraordinary frequency range of 50 MHz to 90 GHz with a dynamic range from -70 dBm to 20 dBm along with high measurement speeds of 50,000 measurements per second. Compared to current thermal power sensors for measurements over 67 GHz, the […]
RF power sensors cover –60 to +20 dBm, 50 MHz to 50 GHz range
The new R&S NRPxxP RF sensor family includes units with a measurement bandwidth up to 30 MHz, a new improved design and an extended frequency range. The three-model family covers frequency ranges from 50 MHz to 18 GHz, 50 MHz to 40 GHz, and a new top model for 50 MHz to 50 GHz. R&S […]
BNC interface lets piezoelectric sensors hook up to data acquisition gear
A new interface allows the use of IEPE sensors on all data acquisition devices with a 1-MΩ BNC interface. The TA487 IEPE Signal Conditioner is a simple adaptor that allows any PicoScope or oscilloscope to capture and measure signals from a large selection of piezo-electric IEPE sensors, such as the Pico Technology TA095 accelerometer. Integrated […]
YouTube videos shed light on frequency and wavelength
Today, an advanced multimeter such as the Fluke 287 in volts mode accurately displays frequency. High frequencies are displayed in a bench-type frequency counter, which can read above 100 GHz. At still higher frequencies, measurements are made indirectly via heterodyning to down-convert the signal. Using a diode or similar device as a mixer, a frequency […]
Measurements of air velocity, temperature, pressure and humidity combined in one instrument
The iQx instrument system is a device that measures air temperature and velocity, surface temperature, air pressure drop, and humidity. Measurements can be made concurrently or individually. The iQx system is equipped with input ports for up to eight air temperature/velocity sensors, four J type thermocouples, two pressure sensors and one humidity sensor. These can […]
