Evaulation_Engineering_August_2020 - 13

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(for 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz networks), which
offers analysis and reporting functionality
for IT and A/V technicians, system integrators, and troubleshooting consultants in
indoor and outdoor environments. "It also
addresses one of the customer concerns
highlighted already-affordability-coming in at under $700 at Newark."
Saelig is another distributor offering
signal-analysis products, including the
aforementioned SIGLENT SSA3075X-R
and SSA3075X Plus, according to CEO
Alan Lowne. The company also offers the
Aaronia AARTOS drone/UAV detection
system and handheld Bug Finder monitoring device, the Microrad NHT 3DL
electromagnetic field safety analyzer,
the ThinkRF R5x50 real-time 8/18/27GHz spectrum analyzers, and spectrum
analyzers from AIM-TTi and Triarchy.
Saelig also offers Pico Technology's line
of PicoScopes, which, Lowne said, include FFT capabilities that let them serve
spectrum-analysis applications, albeit at
lower sensitivity than is available with
dedicated spectrum analyzers.
Wetjen and Zarrinkoub said MathWorks
has introduced products and features that
support wireless-signal design, analysis,
and validation. To address the challenges
of conformance testing at millimeter-wave
frequencies, the company has introduced
software-based scopes such as a spectrum
analyzer into several of its add-on products
like DSP System Toolbox and RF Blockset,
said Zarrinkoub, adding, "The Spectrum
Analyzer lets designers view the detailed
spectrum of a simulated signal and perform specific measurements associated
with the development of individual system
components."
"Since these spectrum analyzers are
software-based, we don't need to wait for
RF circuitry necessary to transmit and receive millimeter-waves to be ready before
we can test them. Using software models
of radio-frequency frontends, power amplifiers, and digital pre-distortion (DPD)
units we can perform simulated measurements including channel power, occupied
bandwidth, frequency offset, harmonic
distortion, and SNR to name a few. The
scopes also enable the design of custom
measurement tools that can be used on
live or prerecorded signals."

"At some point in the design cycle, engineers move from simulation to validation of a signal that is transmitted over a
cable or OTA," said Wetjen. "To address the
challenge of improving the time to setup
and configure OTA validation tests, we
have added a number of hardware support features that can be used to quickly
bring data into the MATLAB environment
from SDRs or benchtop signal analyzers
from vendors."
Wetjen continued, "To help engineers
prototyping with SDRs, we have introduced hardware support packages that can
be used to enable radio-in-the-loop testing and prototyping from MATLAB and
Simulink. Specifically, we've added support for popular platforms like the USRP
E310 from National Instruments and the
Xilinx Zynq-based software defined radios.
With these support packages, engineers
can quickly connect to the SDR platform
and send and receive IQ signals which can
be further analyzed in MATLAB."
Zarrinkoub explained that the continuous evolution of communication standards
has prompted MathWorks to provide
standards-compliant waveforms for use
with MATLAB. "For each of these wireless
standards, we enable engineers to design,
simulate, and test communication systems
including the ability to perform channel
modeling, channel coding, and receiver
operations. Engineers working in this
wireless space need the tools they rely on
to stay current so that they can generate
and decode these signals."
He continued, "MathWorks toolboxes
like 5G Toolbox and WLAN Toolbox
are keeping up with the latest wireless
standards such as 5G Release 15, WLAN
802.11ax, and Bluetooth Low energy. These
up-to-date software solutions, combined
with flexible RF front ends on T&M gear or
software-defined radios provide a powerful
combination that helps engineers test and
verify their work on the latest versions of
these standards before there is widespread
support for those standards in the marketplace. In addition, communication engineers can modify the standards-compliant
signals provided in our add-on products to
explore potential variants of the standard."
Samtec addresses signal analysis with
its precision RF interconnect portfolio,

Samtec precision RF interconnect.

according to Matt Burns, technical marketing manager. "With performance to 110
GHz and a combination of PCB connectors,
RF cable connectors, RF cables, and RF
cable assemblies, Samtec offers the ideal
solution for precision RF interconnect on
signal and spectrum analyzers," he said.
Burns cited a proliferation of RF protocols using high carrier frequencies-40
GHz, 50 GHz, 65 GHz, and beyond. "New
signal and spectrum analyzers need to
push their performance to keep up," he
said. "They also need components-such as
precision RF interconnect-that support
those needs as well. Burns added, "As carrier frequencies get higher, RF interconnec
typically gets smaller. Signal and spectrum
analyzer designers are always looking for
the optimal interconnect solution for their
application."

Applications
According to Chonko at SIGLENT, "Our
products are used in antenna design/
characterization and installation, wireless
data monitoring, satellite up/downlinks,
wireless microphone/soundstage production testing, RF site surveys, transmitter
troubleshooting and verification, and a
host of broadcast testing applications."
Leeke and D'Amore at Keysight said
signal and spectrum analyzers find use
in areas like 5G and wireless development, defense development, and automotive technology. "In wireless, the analyzers ensure reliable data transfer, such
as short-range, high-data-rate networks
like IoT," they said. "Ultrawideband analyzers ensure a view of the entire signal,
ideal for EVM measurements and satellite
tests. This brings us to defense development, where deeper views of elusive and
wideband signals make all the difference."
AUGUST 2020 EVALUATIONENGINEERING.COM

13
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