Budget option for precision phase noise testing

There is good news for engineers who need to do basic phase noise testing but haven't been able to afford the cost of a high-end phase noise test set.

There is good news for engineers who need to do basic phase noise testing but haven't been able to afford the cost of a high-end phase noise test set.

Aeroflex reckons it is bringing high performance phase noise testing capability into a new era with the PN8000, a low cost automated phase noise test system.

The PN8000 is designed for manufacturers of crystal oscillators, synthesisers and PLL (phase lock loop) components who do not need the additional performance of the options available in the PN9000 or PN9500.

Compared with modular phase noise test systems, the PN8000 test set is more compact - taking up just half the footprint and weight - and costs about 40% less.

The Aeroflex PN8000 is part of the Aeroflex family of phase noise test systems designed to make extremely sensitive phase noise measurements on RF and microwave sources.

To ensure that the performance of these devices is not degraded by any deficiencies in the components, it is essential that spectral purity parameters, such as phase noise and spurious content, are measured for quality verification of production units.

The PN8000 is ideally suited to these requirements because it is an integrated system designed specifically to facilitate automated measurements for crystal oscillators and synthesisers.

The PN8000 demodulates the phase fluctuations of the source under test by using a quadrature-locked low-noise reference signal scheme.

A balanced mixer operates as a phase comparator and produces a signal that comprises the time representation of the phase fluctuations of the source.

The phase-locked loop includes proportional and integral gain that allows measurement on a frequency-drifting source.

All necessary parameters are programmable and the system automatically verifies that the parameters are self-consistent.

The PN8000 is priced at US $27,500.

The dual RF and 18GHz microwave phase detector option (PN9348-10) is priced at US $5750.

The 1 to 20MHz offset FFT extension option (PN9490-10) is priced at US $2,750.

A standard desktop controller or a notebook controller is also available as options.

Delivery for the PN8000 and options is 8 weeks from receipt of order.

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