RF test equipment

“ Quality equipment makes quality products ”

The company's RF design equipment provides the capability to work up to 6 GHz and beyond, covering the major RF standards. Telestrian also offers the hire of the RF lab.

RF circuit testing

The RF circuit design process has not significantly altered over the evolution of modern digital and multi carrier standards.

Amplifiers still need to be stable (K,B), achieve a required linearity (P1dB, IIP3, ACP) and be correctly matched for a combination of gain, noise figure or power. Signal sources must achieve spectral purity or phase noise targets, power levels, pushing and pulling specifications.

Telestrian's network analyzer, spectrum analyzers, signal generators and power meter are used to measure these types of parameters.

RF system testing

At an early stage in the design process the system performance must be evaluated using the real modulated signal. The transmitter must usually achieve a certain overall signal quality, most often measured by one of the many EVM metrics. Receiver demodulation must be evaluated in the presence of noise.

Some standards are present in signal generators. Other simpler modulation types, not defined within signal generators, may be added. This is accomplished by downloading a data list to the instrument and defining the modulation, symbol rate and data filter. This method was successfully utilized by Telestrian for both 802.15.4 and GPS.

Complex standards can be generated by using VSS™ from AWR™ coupled with an AMIQ (an high quality dual channel arbitrary wave form generator), WINiqSIM™ and a vector signal generator such as an ESG or SMIQ. The 802.11 standards were generated by downloaded a data file by WINiqSIM™ into the AMIQ which then modulated an SMIQ vector signal generator.

Transmitted signal quality information may be obtained from a FSIQ or 89441A VSA. Again if the standard is not present within the instrument, a data capture may be made that can then be externally processed.

These methods allow Telestrian to generate and measure most modulation standards.

Automated testing

GPIB control of instrumentation enables functional, module and system design verification testing (DVT) to be performed. The equipment is controlled by GPIB scripts allowing looping of repetitive tasks over different variables.

All the RF test equipment at Telestrian is GPIB controllable.

Phase noise measurement

Telestrian's equipment also includes an E5501B phase noise measurement system, enabling high quality phase noise measurements to be made of VCOs or synthesizers.