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Introducing the 2009 ZigBee Resource Guide
The 2009 ZigBee Resource Guide is an annual publication focused on products, applications and standards issues surrounding this robust short-range wireless technology.
Performance Evaluation of MIMO Base Station Antenna Designs By Ramya Bhagavatula, Robert Heath Jr. and Kevin Linehan
Cellular standards like the third generation partnership program (3GPP) long term
evolution (LTE), ultra-mobile broadband (UMB), high speed downlink packet access
(HSDPA) and IEEE 802.16e (WiMAX) support multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)
wireless communication technology. MIMO uses multiple antennas at the transmitter
and receiver along with advanced digital signal processing to improve link quality and
capacity. Existing base stations use antenna arrays to provide transmit and receive diversity;
it is not clear if shifting to MIMO will require a change in the base station antenna
designs. In this article, we describe some features of an effective MIMO base station
antenna. We evaluate the performance of two popular existing base station antenna
designs - a vertically polarized planar array and a pair of two dual polarized base station
antennas to determine if they will work well as MIMO base station antennas. We show
that the dual pol array is more effective as a MIMO base station antenna. We optimize
the array with two dual pols for space, cross-pol pattern isolation and port-to-port isolation
to obtain the best tradeoff of data rate versus design specifications.
New Sessions Added to the 2009 Antenna Systems Conference Program
Join leaders at the forefront of today's wireless technology revolution as they discuss how recent developments in antenna and related wireless technology are impacting product and system performance for a variety of industries and applications.
The 2009 Antenna Systems Conference, taking place Sept. 1-2 in Philadelphia, will feature an interactive exhibition, the chance to attend informative pre-conference workshops, unmatched networking / business opportunities, and more than 20 technical presentations, including these just announced ...
RF Exposure Prediction In Relation to Safety Codes Guenther Schweigl, Director, Sales & Marketing • i2s Technologies, Inc.
TEM-Horn Broadband High Power Antennas Operating in the Frequency Range from 100 MHz to 10 THz Andrew S. Podgorski, President • ASR Technologies Inc.
Multiband and Multibeam Antenna System Advancements Dr. John Howard, President & CEO • Electromagnetics Technologies Industries, Inc.
Ku-band Phase Shifters for Antenna Array Using Thin-Film BaSrTiO3 Capacitors Nan Ni, Senior RF Engineer • Agile RF, Inc.
Advancements in Directional Antenna Alignment Techniques Bruce Clifford, President • MultiWave Sensors, Inc.
Bluetooth Technology: Low Energy, High Speed and Everything in Between Sean Meckley, Marketing Program Manager/Market Research Analyst • BLUETOOTH SIG
Valuable Training Opportunities – Increase Your Technical Skill-Set
See the pre-conference workshops here.
For program questions, contact Heather Krier at 800-803-9488 x129.
For sponsor/exhibitor questions, contact Laura Mayo at 800-803-9488 x130.
'Bluetooth' Signals Show Airport Security-Line Waiting Times
Researchers have used Bluetooth signals from cell phones and other wireless devices to track how long it takes travelers to get through security lines at the Indianapolis International Airport.
The research expands previous work that has focused on measuring motor-vehicle travel times and could lead to systems that help reduce waits at airport security checkpoints, said Darcy Bullock, a professor of civil engineering at Purdue University.
"This is the first time anyone has tracked Bluetooth signals to measure how long it takes travelers to get through security lines in the US," he said. "We expect the data can be used to help airports make more accurate staffing decisions and aid security officials comparing wait times at airports across the country."
Bluetooth technology exchanges information for cell phone hands-free headsets, wireless keyboards, Internet access for personal digital assistants and wireless networks for laptops and personal computers. The wait time estimation procedure detects and records "media access control" identification signals, or addresses, each time a Bluetooth device passes a detector.
The researchers used two electronic readers, one at the beginning and one at the end of the security lobby, to record signals from portable devices carried by ticketed passengers.
"This technique is more efficient than conventional methods and easier to implement because it automatically calculates waiting time," said Robert Spitler, director of security at Indianapolis International Airport.
The addresses consist of a string of numbers and other characters, but only a portion of each address was recorded to track people, preserving the privacy of travelers.
"It's kind of like writing down only part of someone's license plate," Bullock said. "You can't identify people by tracking only a portion of their addresses."
The data showed security wait times peaked at 20 minutes during the heaviest passenger processing times in Indianapolis, which occurred around 6 a.m. Wait times diminished rapidly after 6:30 a.m. and leveled off for the rest of the day at about six minutes per passenger.
"What we are really interested in is what is the worst-case scenario and how long does it take somebody to get through security," Bullock said. "What we saw in Indianapolis is that it really never takes anybody longer than 20 minutes. Most of the time, it's less than 10 minutes."
Researchers used the system from May 8 to June 1 to observe the impact of increased passenger traffic associated with the Indianapolis 500, Bullock said.
The number of passengers passing through Concourse B screening on Monday, May 18, was typical at 7,549. However, on Monday, May 25, the passengers passing through Concourse B totaled 10,568, an increase of about 40 percent.
Despite this surge in passengers, the Bluetooth travel-time monitoring showed that screening wait times remained less than 15 minutes throughout the day, Bullock said.
"We are fortunate in Indianapolis because we have a new terminal with spacious security checkpoint areas and multiple processing lanes, so passengers are able to clear security relatively quickly and make their way to the gate," Spitler said. "But from a technology standpoint, this Bluetooth system is an intriguing tool because it has the potential to provide continuous, real-time wait information at our fingertips. We have been debugging the process, and if it develops into a formal product that continues to work well, we might pursue using it in Indianapolis on a daily basis."
The system could be especially helpful for more congested airports and to manage unexpected surges of airline customers.
"This is a prototype, but I think the system could be put in every airport in the country," Bullock said. "As a traveler, I would love to know if one line is moving faster than another line or if I arrive at 6 a.m. I am going to have a 20-minute line, but if I arrive at 9 a.m., I only have to plan for a five-minute wait."
The researchers have used the same technology to measure motor vehicle travel time, and the Indiana Department of Transportation uses it to monitor traffic on Interstate 65 south of Chicago, where construction frequently causes backups. Motorists are alerted to delays on large electronic signs, providing an opportunity to exit the highway to take alternative routes.
"If you know what the delay is, you as a motorist or airline passenger can make an informed decision," Bullock said.
Future work may involve additional airport studies and may be expanded to additional sections of highway, Bullock said.
"This approach represents a treasure trove of valuable traffic information for monitoring travel time across a variety of transportation modes," he said. "The demand for this type of data is rapidly increasing, and small businesses are starting to enter this market. In fact, we used one of the commercial devices produced by Traffax Inc. for part of this study."
Pemel Security AB Selects Proxim Wireless as Wireless Infrastructure Partner
Proxim Wireless Corp., a provider of end-to-end broadband wireless systems that deliver the quadruple play, has announced that Pemel Security AB, a camera surveillance businesses in Sweden, has selected Proxim Wireless as its wireless networking partner.
"Proxim Wireless has an extremely strong track record as the provider of innovative and reliable wireless solutions for next generation video surveillance," said Ralf Labeda, director of Sales, Northern Europe at Proxim Wireless. "We have been actively searching for an expert distribution partner in Sweden focused specifically in the security and surveillance field, and Pemel Security AB brings an impressive breadth and depth of video surveillance expertise to our growing partner portfolio."
Proxim Wireless' equipment not only offers a cost-effective alternative to optical or copper infrastructure, but also enables service redundancy, faster deployment, high-speed mobility, as well as location-based services that, when paired with video surveillance equipment, can increase security for enterprise and government entities worldwide. Based on Proxim Wireless' technology leadership, new innovative high-quality security services can be created while reducing cost for enterprise and government customers.
"Pemel Security AB is a value-added distributor (VAD) of high quality visual surveillance solutions in Sweden," said Anders Johansson, CEO at Pemel Security AB. "We focus on working with the best of breed vendors in each solution space, which is why we chose Proxim Wireless as the partner for our wireless communication requirements."
Ethernet Alliance Successfully Completes Industry’s First Data Center Bridging Interoperability Event
The Ethernet Alliance has released the summarized results of the Ethernet in the Data Center subcommittee interoperability plugfest for IEEE 802.1 Data Center Bridging (DCB). Member participants included Cisco, Dell, Finisar, Fulcrum Microsystems, Intel, NetApp, QLogic and Spirent Communications. The participants successfully conducted multi-vendor interoperability testing of DCB utilizing 10GBASE‑SR and 10GBASE-LR optical interfaces.
The plugfest was held May 4 - 8 at the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab (UNH-IOL) and focused on interoperability testing of draft standards being developed by the IEEE 802.1 DCB task force. Testing was completed in two phases. In the first phase, participants completed individual tests of specific DCB features such as Priority-based Flow Control (IEEE P802.1Qbb), Enhanced Transmission Selection (IEEE P802.1Qaz), and DCB Capability Exchange Protocol (IEEE P802.1Qaz). The second testing phase included building a large DCB-based network and exercising higher layer protocols such as Fibre Channel over Ethernet and iSCSI.
The plugfest results were impressive considering that this was the first time multiple vendors had participated in testing products based upon the IEEE 802.1 DCB draft standards. Participants were able to demonstrate effectively the interoperability of their products and participate in a lossless Ethernet fabric simultaneously on the same network. These plugfests help to review the IEEE 802.1 DCB draft standards and to create interoperable products.
“The IEEE 802.1 DCB draft standards offer significant improvements in how data moves through Ethernet networks and permits convergence of multiple traffic types onto a single network,” stated Brad Booth, Ethernet Alliance Chair of the Board. “Ethernet Alliance sponsored plugfests help to prove the feasibility of the technology, to demonstrate interoperability and to prepare for the development of certification criteria.”
Additional information on the interoperability demonstration will be available in a white paper published later this month and can be found on the Ethernet Alliance Web site at www.ethernetalliance.org.
This plugfest is the first in a series that the Ethernet Alliance Ethernet in the Data Center subcommittee intends to drive. A second plugfest, to be held later this year, will demonstrate interoperability of additional DCB features and will welcome additional industry participation.
Antenova’s M10264 GPS RF Antenna Module Selected by G-CORE
G-CORE Ltd., the GPS Golf navigation leader, has selected Antenova’s M10264 GPS RF Antenna Module for G-Core Pro – the ultimate portable GPS golf range finder.
Antenova’s M10264 is the industry’s first planar mount GPS RF Antenna Module incorporating the market leading SiRFstarIII GPS chipset with Antenova’s high performing antenna technology in a compact low profile package. All front-end components are contained in a 28 by 13 by 4.7 mm³ single package laminate base module providing a complete GPS receiver for optimum performance and easy integration, making it an ideal solution for portable handheld GPS enabled devices like the G-Core Pro Digital Yardage Book.
“Accuracy and reliability are essential performance requirements in offering the best GPS golf navigation products,” said Sun Gab Kim, president of G-CORE. “The high performance and reliable accuracy of Antenova’s M10264 RF Antenna Module, coupled with its small size and low profile form factor, made it the clear choice for our latest generation G-CORE Pro Portable GPS Golf Range Finder.”
"With the proliferation of GPS technology, we’ve experienced a notable increase in innovative applications for our GPS RF Antenna Modules, particularly from historically non-wireless industries such as the Golf industry,” said Greg McCray, CEO of Antenova. “G-CORE is an innovator and market leader who enjoys the prestigious honour of being the Official Golf Range Finder of the Korean Pro Golf Association (KPGA). Having met G-CORE’s stringent performance, reliability and size requirements, Antenova’s M10264 was chosen over the competition for its ultimate GPS golf range finder – the G-CORE Pro. Having been selected by G-CORE is a testament to Antenova’s technical excellence and superior customer service, and we look forward to enjoying more design successes with G-CORE.”
The M10264 is a highly integrated GPS RF antenna module suitable for L1-band GPS and A-GPS systems. M10264 operates on a single 3.6 V positive bias supply with low power consumption and available low power modes for further power savings. M10264 is supported by SiRF stand alone software and uses a UART as the host processor interface. The M10264 also incorporates an antenna switch with built-in current sensing for optional active antenna connection.
USB Powered Digital Attenuators Offer Programming Through 6 GHz Complementing a line of compact Lab Brick Universal Serial Bus (USB) powered and controlled signal generators, Vaunix Technology Corp. has released a family of Lab Brick Digital Attenuators with 63 dB of programmable attenuation through 6 GHz. The first two standard models are the LDA-102, with frequency coverage of 0.1 to 1,000 MHz, and the LDA-602, with a frequency range of 6 to 6,000 MHz. Both units are powered and controlled by connection to a personal computer's USB port or a powered USB hub, and provide programmable attenuation from 0 to 63 dB with simple control via the included graphical user interface (GUI) software.
The LDA-102 and LDA-602 Lab Brick Digital Attenuators are well suited for engineering and production test laboratories as well as integration into high speed automatic-test-equipment (ATE) systems. They can also be used in development of low-cost fading simulators for Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) and Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) communication systems such as WiMAX, 3G and LTE. They are based on GaAs monolithic-microwave-integrated-circuit (MMIC) attenuator technology for excellent repeatability of attenuation values. Both units provide attenuation resolution of 0.5 dB by means of programmable steps from 0.5 dB through the maximum attenuation value of 63 dB (see table). The guaranteed attenuation accuracy is ±0.3 dB plus 5 percent of a given attenuation setting.
In addition to their programmable attenuation values, the LDA-102 and LDA-602 Lab Brick Digital Attenuators do exhibit some insertion loss as a function of frequency. For the LDA-102, for example, dissipative signal losses are a maximum of 6 dB from 0.1 to 100 MHz and a maximum of 7 dB from 100 to 1,000 MHz. For the higher-frequency LDA-602, the insertion loss is a maximum of 7 dB from 6 to 1,000 MHz, a maximum of 8 dB from 1,000 to 2,000 MHz, a maximum of 9 dB from 2,000 to 4,000 MHz, and a maximum of 10 dB from 4,000 to 6,000 MHz (see plot).
Due to the nature of GaAs technology, the Lab Brick Digital Attenuators provide a maximum input level of +20 dBm. For both models, the 0.1 dB compression point occurs at an input power level of +22 dBm. The input third-order-intercept point (IP3) is achieved at +46 dBm for a 0 dB attenuation setting on both units, and at +32 dBm for all other attenuation settings.
However, the LDA-102 and LDA-602 Lab Brick Digital Attenuators both enjoy the benefit of fast attenuation switching speed as a result of the GaAs technology. Both units are rated for maximum switching speed of 80 ns, measured as the time for the unit to shift from a 50-percent control level to within 90 percent of a new attenuation setting, no matter how large the step size or change in attenuation.
The LDA-102 and LDA-602 Lab Brick Digital Attenuators are designed for 50-Ohm environments and exhibit maximum input and output VSWR of 2.0:1 for a 0 dB attenuation setting. The input and output VSWR drops to 1.70:1 for an attenuation setting of 0.5 dB and to a maximum value of 1.50:1 for all other attenuation settings, resulting in repeatable and accurate attenuation performance.
The Lab Brick Digital Attenuators draw power from a USB connection and require no additional DC supply voltage. They are controlled by means of an easy-to-install, simple-to-use GUI program (Figure 2). Once the GUI is installed on a computer, connection of a Lab Brick Digital Attenuator loads the GUI, which displays the serial number for the active unit. Multiple programmable attenuators can be run on the same personal computer simply by opening a new instance of the GUI for each added attenuator.
The Lab Brick Digital Attenuator GUI is compatible with Microsoft Windows standard operating systems for personal computers, including Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista. The GUI provides selectable attenuation steps of 0.5, 1, and 10 dB, and also allows an operator to program a desired step in increments of 0.5 dB from 0.5 to 63 dB. The GUI also allows attenuation ramps to be programmed over the full range from 0 to 63 dB, or from any start value to any stop value. The dwell and idle times of these attenuation ramps can be programmed from as short as 10 ms to as long as 20,000 ms.
The LDA-102 and LDA-602 Lab Brick Digital Attenuators are housed in rugged aluminum enclosures each measuring 3.86 by 2.52 by 1.35 inches and weighing just 0.5 lbs. They are equipped with female SMA connectors and supplied with a 6-ft.-long USB 2.0 Type A to Mini B cable for connection to a personal computer, laptop computer or USB hub. The Lab Brick Digital Attenuators are supported by a Windows programming API dll complete with an example program and a LabVIEW-compatible software driver for ease of installation into ATE systems and custom test setups. In addition to the standard Lab Brick Digital Attenuator models, custom units can be tailored to specific performance requirements.
Embedded Wi-Fi in PIC Microcontroller Designs Enabled by Microchip Technology with ZeroG Wireless-Based Development Tools Microchip Technology, Inc., a provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, has released the ZeroG Wireless ZG2100M and ZG2101M Wi-Fi Modules, ZeroG IEEE 802.11 Development Kit for Explorer 16 and the ZeroG Wi-Fi PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter Board. Microchip and ZeroG Wireless, Inc. signed a multi-year, non-exclusive deal, which began with a joint engineering program to develop an optimized Wi-Fi solution for embedded designers and resulted in modules for Microchip’s 8, 16 and 32-bit PIC microcontrollers (MCUs) and dsPIC Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs). The agreement ensures long-term compatibility and availability of this joint solution.
The ZeroG Wireless “Wi-Fi I/O” (ZG2100M and ZG2101M) is an easy-to-implement, low-power, low-system-cost Wi-Fi solution that provides Wi-Fi connectivity for nearly any electronic device. The Microchip development tools are based on the standard Microchip PICtail and PICtail Plus daughter-board connectors, which allow a designer to easily plug Wi-Fi connectivity into a variety of Microchip development kits. These kits allow easy development with the 8-bit PIC18, 16-bit PIC24 and 32-bit PIC32 MCUs, as well as the dsPIC DSCs using the broad Microchip development tools and MPLAB Integrated Development Environment.
“We have watched the Wi-Fi market continue to grow, and have correspondingly seen an increase in our customers’ requests for an embedded Wi-Fi solution,” said Steve Caldwell, director of Microchip’s RF Products Division. “ZeroG Wireless has developed an embedded Wi-Fi product that meets the needs of PIC microcontroller designers, and our tools make it easy to integrate.”
“Partnering with Microchip to develop and distribute a highly optimized solution for their customers has provided us with an opportunity to directly reach thousands of customers who would like to ‘just add Wi-Fi’ to their embedded design,” said Tim Colleran, vice president of marketing, ZeroG Wireless. “Microchip is a leader in the embedded market, and we feel our unique business model has provided us with the opportunity to team with such leaders.”
The ZeroG Wi-Fi PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter Board is available for $59.99, and consists of the ZeroG ZG2100M FCC and Wi-Fi certified module. This daughter board allows designers to create a direct connection to the Internet by connecting to standard wireless access points. In managing the connection, the ZeroG ZG2100M module controls the MAC and baseband layers, and is connected to the host MCU or DSC via an SPI port. The 8/16/32-bit PIC MCU or dsPIC DSC that resides on the Microchip development board controls the free Microchip TCP/IP networking stack and runs the system application. Additional key features of the daughter board include:
FCC, IC and ETSI Certified, providing considerable cost savings and quick time to market
Wi-Fi Certified and IEEE 802.11b Compliant wireless solution
ZG2100M small-footprint module with integrated antenna, MAC, baseband, RF and power amplifier
Microchip’s free TCP/IP stack supports standard suite of Internet Protocols
Supports WEP, WPA and WPA2 security protocols
The ZeroG IEEE 802.11 Development Kit for Explorer 16 is available for $189.99. This kit demonstrates 802.11 Wi-Fi connectivity using the separately available Explorer 16 development board, which supports all of Microchip’s 16-bit PIC24 MCUs, 32-bit PIC32 MCUs and dsPIC DSCs. Everything needed to connect and begin development with the Explorer 16 is contained within the kit, including:
ZeroG Wi-Fi PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter Board
Pre-programmed PIC24FJ128GA010 Plug-in Module for the Explorer 16, with TCP/IP and Web server application
Pre-configured wireless broadband router
The ZeroG ZG2100M and ZG2101M Wi-Fi transceiver modules are also available for $31.95 each in single-unit quantities. The modules provide a complete Wi-Fi wireless connection with full FCC, ETSI, IC and Wi-Fi certification, which reduces the overall design risk, eliminates design and certification cost, and enables quick time-to-market for customers wanting to add Wi-Fi to their PIC microcontroller-based products.
Antennas Direct Introduces ClearStream 5 to Resolve VHF Signal Loss
While people may know that 24 percent of DTV stations are reverting back to their original VHF channel assignments, few are prepared for the dramatic power reduction for some of these stations, resulting in millions of Americans losing DTV reception. To meet the demand for reliable digital reception, Antennas Direct created the ClearStream 5, a powerful antenna for low-power, high VHF DTV channels; channels 7 to 13.
“For years, there have been warnings about the problems with DTV broadcasting on the VHF band; lower fractional bandwidth, increased interference from noise and adjacent markets, and the reluctance of customers to install significantly larger, performance-compromised combo UHF/VHF antennas,” said Richard Schneider, president of Antennas Direct. “But now things have become even worse because some VHF stations have cut their ERP (effective radiated power) by 95 percent, making reception nearly impossible. With all these factors at play, we predict that a huge percentage of the country will lose VHF DTV reception.”
In fact, widespread VHF signal loss was the reason Louisiana Media Co. recently decided to revert back to it UHF DTV channel assignment. The media company petitioned the FCC to restore WVUE Fox’s UHF digital channel 29 assignment and terminate its VHF channel 8 assignment in order to reach the “significant number of viewers” who reported complete signal loss while the station was transmitting on the VHF band.
“Typically, VHF frequencies propagate better than UHF signals, but the reduction of ERP on the VHF band in some cases is so sever, the channel becomes nearly unwatchable,” Schneider said. “We’ve designed the ClearStream 5 with the highest possible gain for channels 7 to 13 to offer consumers the best chance for receiving high VHF DTV in those low-powered markets.”
“The assumption was that ATSC (digital) broadcasting can be 10 times more efficient than analog, that transmitter power could be cut, electric bills would be slashed and the station could maintain the same coverage area, but that’s not how it ended up,” he said, “Yes, digital does offer efficiencies, but not nearly enough to make up for the dramatic reduction in transmitting power that we’re seeing across the country.”
While viewers wait to see if the estimated 400 VHF DTV broadcasters decide to increase power or move to the UHF band, Antennas Direct will be shipping the Clearstream 5 high-band VHF antenna to afford them higher reception rates. The C5 will be the most powerful compact VHF antenna ever offered, with a nearly uniform gain of 8.4 dBi for high VHF channels 7-13. Also, the efficiency of the ClearStream 5 allows a significant majority of the available broadcast signal to reach the incoming antenna cable without being lost to impedance mismatches.
Antennas Direct designed the 28-by-23-inch square loop antenna to be 80 percent smaller than typical VHF antennas, which can have a width of more than 100 inches. Its small size makes the C5 easier to install as a supplement to UHF antennas. Each ClearStream 5 comes with a low-loss UHF/VHF signal combiner.
The ClearStream 5 has a reception range of up to 65-plus miles and will retail for $119.
Giga-Tronics Introduces New Solid-State Broadband Microwave Power Amplifiers
Giga-tronics has introduced the GT-1040A and GT-1050A solid-state broadband microwave power amplifiers, which cover 2 GHz to 40 GHz and 2 GHz to 50 GHz respectively, with high output power, low noise figure and low harmonics. Designed using Broadband MMIC technology, these amplifiers typically provide 0.5 watt (+27 dBm) at 40 GHz and 0.25 watt (+24 dBm) at 50 GHz with > 20 dB gain and < 12 dB noise figure. Gain flatness is typically ± 3 dB to 40 GHz and ± 5 dB to 50 GHz.
“The GT-1040A and GT-1050A microwave power amplifiers are focused on the many applications in ATE and bench testing in aerospace and defense, commercial communications, and microwave component test that require higher power than is currently available in microwave signal generators” said Malcolm Levy, vice president of Sales and Marketing of Giga-tronics, Inc. “We are continually innovating to provide our customers with solutions to their test and measurement needs that improve performance, reduce their test times and provide bottom-line benefits in productivity.”
The Giga-tronics solid-state broadband 40 GHz and 50 GHz amplifiers were designed in response to customer requests for higher power at higher frequency from our microwave signal generators. Providing these amplifiers as external to the signal generators allows their placement closer to the device under test or integrated into a switch matrix. The amplifiers are easily used in R&D lab applications and manufacturing automated test systems to overcome cable losses from the signal generators or whenever higher power is required.
The Giga-tronics GT-1040A and GT-1050A microwave power amplifiers are suitable companions to the new Giga-tronics 40 GHz and 50 GHz Microwave Signal Generators. Output power is impressive across the band, with 1 watt from 2 GHz to 10 GHz, 0.75 watt up to 30 GHz, as well as the 0.5 watt up to 40 GHz and 0.25 watt to 50 GHz. The amplifiers feature high reverse isolation, excellent input and output match and the long life and reliability of solid-state technology. Delivery is 6 to 8 weeks ARO.
National Instruments Introduces Software-Defined System for Testing WiMAX Devices National Instruments has introduced the NI Measurement Suite for Fixed WiMAX (IEEE 802.16-2004), a software suite that can be used to configure software-defined PXI RF measurement systems. With this suite, engineers can test WiMAX base stations and mobile subscriber stations as well as components such as transceivers, power amplifiers and other RFICs. Engineers can purchase the suite software alone or with preconfigured hardware bundles. Because the system builds on the NI PXI instrumentation platform, engineers who have PXI RF instruments can quickly add WiMAX capabilities to their test systems. Additionally, by selecting specific tools from the Measurement Suite for Fixed WiMAX, engineers can work with the same equipment they use for testing WiMAX devices to test hardware that complies with other standards such as wireless local area network (WLAN), GPS, GSM/EDGE/WCDMA and many others.
The suite’s software includes the NI Signal Analysis Toolkit for Fixed WiMAX, which works with RF vector signal analyzers (VSAs), and the NI Signal Generation Toolkit for Fixed WiMAX, which works with RF vector signal generators (VSGs). Combined with high-performance multicore processors, PXI Express-based measurement systems for WiMAX which are built on this software package can help engineers complete error vector magnitude (EVM) and spectral mask measurements two to three times faster than leading traditional box instruments. For automated test applications, the suite offers programming APIs for signal generation and analysis in programming environments such as the NI LabVIEW graphical system design platform and LabWindowsTM/CVI ANSI C development environment as well as ANSI C. While signal generation and measurements are compliant with IEEE 802.16-2004 (also referred to as IEEE 802.16d) specifications, engineers can use the software-based approach to customize measurements. Because the Signal Analysis Toolkit for Fixed WiMAX provides access to both the raw I/Q data and the measurement result, engineers also can use it with RF VSAs, high-speed digitizers and digital waveform analyzers.
In addition to its software toolkits, the Measurement Suite for Fixed WiMAX offers multiple software-defined hardware options to meet different application needs. A standard NI test bundle for WiMAX includes an NI PXIe-5663 6.6 GHz VSA, PXIe-5673 6.6 GHz VSG, PXIe-1075 18-slot high-bandwidth chassis and PXIe-8106 dual-core controller. With this system, engineers can perform accurate RF characterization with residual Fixed WiMAX EVM results of -45 dB at 3.5 GHz in loopback mode. The 6.6 GHz RF instrumentation suite, including the NI PXIe-5663 and PXIe-5673, can perform a variety of RF measurements faster than traditional box instruments. For example, WLAN EVM and spectral mask measurements can be performed up to 10 times faster than traditional box instruments. Additionally, the same system can achieve WCDMA EVM and ACLR measurements five to 10 times faster than traditional boxes.
To view a video on NI wireless solutions and learn more about the Measurement Suite for Fixed WiMAX, readers can visit www.ni.com/wireless/testing_devices.
Be a Part of the World's Premier Conference Focusing on the Latest Advancements in Antenna Systems & Technology!
This two-day conference will serve OEM developers of products that utilize antennas and antenna systems; system operators; design engineers; integrators; antenna manufacturers; and component and material suppliers interested in learning the latest capabilities and best practices in this rapidly changing field. Don't miss this opportunity to present to peers, leading technical experts and potential business partners involved in technology solutions serving a variety of applications and systems.
For more information on the 2009 Antenna Systems Conference visit the conference Web site or contact Heather Krier at 720-528-3770 ext.129 or by email.
Australian CIO Summit 2009
July 27 – 29, 2009
Crowne Plaza Royal Pines Golf Resort & Spa, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
At the 8th Annual Australian CIO Summit 2009 the most senior IT executives from leading Australian companies will meet to discuss the optimal ways to meet growing business demand for IT services and operate efficiently under increasingly tight resource constraints. The profession’s current challenges and opportunities will be highlighted through visionary keynote presentations and case studies delivered by your most esteemed peers and thought leaders in the IT community.
SUPERCOMM provides a foundation for the communications industry to explore the technological transformation created by broadband innovation. By creating a world-class platform where global brands showcase the entire broadband continuum, service providers, and enterprise and institutional communication buyers have the ability to identify the solutions enhance their networks and monetize investments in broadband. From enabling technologies to content delivery and next generation applications, SUPERCOMM is the forum where the vision of broadband technology comes to life. SUPERCOMM will showcase the very latest innovations and technologies in next generation services enabling infrastructure networks and will demonstrate how the communications industry delivers fast content, applications and services in a converged world. Register now for SUPERCOMM 2009. October 21–23. Chicago, Illinois.
Following the success of previous events, the 5th Loughborough Antennas & Propagation Conference is taking place on the 16-17th November 2009 at the excellent Four Star Conference Centre on Loughborough University campus, UK.
LAPC 2009 will feature invited talks from world experts, research posters, a technical exhibition, University Research Activity, free computer simulation workshops and excellent networking opportunities for delegates and exhibitors.
The conference will include special sessions on:
Small Antennas & Arrays for MIMO Applications
Innovative Metamaterial Antennas & Technology
Channel Characterisation and Modelling for Emerging Applications in Wireless Communications
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Complementing a line of compact Lab Brick Universal Serial Bus (USB) powered and controlled signal generators, Vaunix Technology Corp. has released a family of Lab Brick Digital Attenuators with 63 dB of programmable attenuation through 6 GHz. The first two standard models are the LDA-102, with frequency coverage of 0.1 to 1,000 MHz, and the LDA-602, with a frequency range of 6 to 6,000 MHz. Both units are powered and controlled by connection to a personal computer's USB port or a powered USB hub, and provide programmable attenuation from 0 to 63 dB with simple control via the included graphical user interface (GUI) software. 
Microchip Technology, Inc., a provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, has released the ZeroG Wireless ZG2100M and ZG2101M Wi-Fi Modules, ZeroG IEEE 802.11 Development Kit for Explorer 16 and the ZeroG Wi-Fi PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter Board. Microchip and ZeroG Wireless, Inc. signed a multi-year, non-exclusive deal, which began with a joint engineering program to develop an optimized Wi-Fi solution for embedded designers and resulted in modules for Microchip’s 8, 16 and 32-bit PIC microcontrollers (MCUs) and dsPIC Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs). The agreement ensures long-term compatibility and availability of this joint solution. 
National Instruments has introduced the NI Measurement Suite for Fixed WiMAX (IEEE 802.16-2004), a software suite that can be used to configure software-defined PXI RF measurement systems. With this suite, engineers can test WiMAX base stations and mobile subscriber stations as well as components such as transceivers, power amplifiers and other RFICs. Engineers can purchase the suite software alone or with preconfigured hardware bundles. Because the system builds on the NI PXI instrumentation platform, engineers who have PXI RF instruments can quickly add WiMAX capabilities to their test systems. Additionally, by selecting specific tools from the Measurement Suite for Fixed WiMAX, engineers can work with the same equipment they use for testing WiMAX devices to test hardware that complies with other standards such as wireless local area network (WLAN), GPS, GSM/EDGE/WCDMA and many others.
