Product category:
Stand-Alone Instruments
News Release from: Aeroflex | Subject: 2500 series
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 17 June 2005
Frequency synthesisers aid high-speed
applications
Aeroflex has made a number of design enhancements to its fast switching frequency synthesisers, the 2500 series.
Aeroflex has made a number of design enhancements to its fast switching frequency synthesisers, the 2500 series The 2500 series represents Aeroflex's highest performance synthesisers and exemplifies cutting edge performance
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 3 Oct 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
PXI-based platform heralds new wireless strategy
The Aeroflex 3000 series is a PXI-based modular test suite for mobile phone and general-purpose wireless test.
Deeper analysis for broadband signals
Aeroflex has added a broad array of new signal measurement capabilities to its Celerity CS35000 Series broadband signal analyser and recorder family (BSA).
The 2500 series synthesisers are faster, cleaner, smaller and more rugged than their predecessor, the FS5000, and also have improved reliability.
The performance leader in frequency synthesis for over 20 years, Aeroflex's 2500 series family is ideal for high-speed applications such as agile radar and radar simulators, radar upgrades, fast antenna and RCS (radar cross section) measurements, electronic warfare systems and ultra-fast automated test equipment (ATE) applications.
Designed to save substantial time and money over building a custom measurement system in-house, the 2500 family is used for stringent applications where the highest performance is required.
Further reading
Radio tester takes on land mobile radio option
Aeroflex has licensed Trident Micro Systems' Passport protocol for use in its wireless communications test systems.
Software sppeds setup for microwave test systems
Aeroflex has integrated National Instruments' NI TestStand development system into its high-performance synthetic microwave test systems.
Broadband testers gain fast RAID storage option
Aeroflex has developed an ultrafast storage capability for its Celerity CS35000 broadband signal analyser (BSA) and CS25000 broadband signal generator (BSG) systems.
The modular design is impervious to vibration and is proven in airborne and shipborne applications and other extremely rugged environments.
The 2500 frequency synthesisers are broadband sources operating over the range of 300MHz to 26.5GHz with a standard resolution of 1.0Hz.
The series has submicrosecond switching speed (200ns) over the entire frequency range.
The 2500 family can step from any frequency (F1), to any other frequency (F2), up or down, in 1us.
Output amplitude is +10dBm +2dB into an impedance of 50ohm.
The 2500 family includes over 30 models and is housed in a full 3U rack chassis with front panel keyboard for manual control, GPIB and parallel binary coded decimal (BCD) interface for remote programming.
Aeroflex's modular architecture and iterative frequency models make it ideally suited for custom OEM applications.
Four standard modules are available: 2513 (300MHz to 13.5GHz), 2518 (300MHz to 18GHz), 2520 (300MHz to 20GHz) and 2526 (300MHz to 26.5GHz).
Many other configurations are available for custom order.
The frequency generation technique used by the 2500 family is direct analogue frequency synthesis, implemented in a patented, modular architecture.
Based on mixing, adding and dividing fixed frequencies using wideband mixers, ultrafast switches and switched filter banks, this technique is unique in providing, simultaneously, the attributes of fast switching speed, high spectral purity and wide frequency range.
Direct analogue frequency synthesis is also inherently rugged and reliable-there are no loops to unlock and no vibration-sensitive oscillators.
The 2500's fundamental frequency generation range is 4.8 to 13.5GHz, an order of magnitude higher than the Aeroflex 2200 series synthesisers.
Synthesis at X band microwave frequencies allow for wide bandwidths, small size and superior spectral purity.
The output frequency can be extended to 26.5GHz using one frequency doubler, which increases spurious signals and phase noise by just 6dB.
The 2500 series technology consequently provides not only superb frequency agility, but also spectral purity rivaling low noise fixed frequency references.
At X band the 2500 delivers 200ns frequency switching time, phase noise of -120dBc at 10kHz offset, spurious signals better than -70dBc, and harmonics suppressed to better than -50dBc.
Even lower noise modules are available with phase noise of -130dBc at 10kHz offset and spurious signals better than -80dBc at X band.
The 2500 family is available immediately on receipt of order.
The 2500 family is modular with over 30 configurations possible and more with options.
The 2500 series base price for a starting system - a 2513 at 300MHz to 13.5GHz - starts at US $119,900.
• Aeroflex: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• Electronicstalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
