Copper Mountain Technologies (CMT) has released the PE0312-75, a port extender that expands the company’s product portfolio for 75 Ω test applications. The port extender enhances the flexibility of multi-port testing for broadband, telecom, cable, and RF research and production applications in 75 Ω environments. The PE0312-75 is a USB-controlled, 12-port extender, or switch, designed […]
vector network analyzers
OFC 2025: Test equipment
This year’s OFC in San Francisco featured one thing, or so it seemed: 1.6T. Every company making optical modules was showing them lest they be left behind in the always accelerating data rate race. As with any emerging technology, test equipment must lead the way. After all, how do you know if anything works unless […]
Signal Hound claims first 40 GHz USB VNA
RF components such as connectors, cables, antennas, and PCB traces need characterizing so you know how they will perform. That’s where a vector network analyzer (VNA) can help. Signal Hound, well known for its USB spectrum analyzers, has introduced the VNA400, a 40 GHz VNA that connects to and gets power from its single USB-C […]
How to determine noise figure: part 4
Two incompatible definitions of noise factor can lead to confusion, which you can alleviate by understanding where the differences lie.
How to determine noise figure: part 3
Noise factor and noise figure as defined in an IEEE standard can be derived from a two-port device’s equivalent noise temperature. In part 1 and part 2 of this series we discussed several ways to indicate the noise performance of a device under test (DUT). We first introduced the concept of noise factor based on […]
How to determine noise figure: part 2
The relationship between noise and temperature prompted a precursor of the IEEE to promulgate an alternative definition of noise figure in 1959. In part 1 of this series, we described the work of the Danish-American radio engineer Harald Friis, who described noise factor F of a device or system as the ratio of the input-power […]
How to interpret a QAM display: part 1
A constellation diagram plots a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signal’s in-phase and quadrature components. The EE World article “Should I use a spectrum, signal, or vector network analyzer?” in part 3 mentioned that vector-signal analyzers (VSAs) can display modulation-domain and frequency-domain information. Other instruments incorporating digital signal processing (DSP) capabilities, including oscilloscopes, can provide insights into […]
Should I use a spectrum, signal, or vector network analyzer? part 3
In part 2 of this series, we looked at a swept-tuned spectrum analyzer and how it could sweep a frequency span of interest from 1 MHz to 1.1 MHz with a sweep time of 50 msec. As Figure 1 shows, the analyzer readily identifies a signal at 1.03 MHz but misses the intermittent signals shown […]
Should I use a spectrum, signal, or vector network analyzer? part 1
Signal analysis is invaluable for applications ranging from amplifier characterization to signal intelligence. In a recent series, we discussed specs such as 1-dB compression and third-order intercept points. At the end, I pointed to some application notes that explain how to use specific spectrum, signal, and vector network analyzers to make these measurements. These instruments’ […]
New products at the EMC & Compliance International Conference
At the annual UK event, Tekbox, Y.I.C. Technologies, and Harogic Technologies were among the companies exhibiting new EMC measurement equipment. The EMC & Compliance International conference and training was held again in Newbury, UK, from May 22 to 23 this year (Reference 1). This was my first opportunity to attend this annual conference hosted by […]
