eNewsletter

September 2009

WIRELYSS Embedded Antenna Technology Enabling the Green-Tech SMART Meter Revolution             
By Norman Smith, Founder & CEO • RF Savvy LLC
There are believed to be more than 2 billion utility meters world-wide, with only about 10 percent of those capable of remote meter reading.

The recent global economic downturn has spurred the passing of US government green-technology stimulus packages, to the tune of billions of dollars, with massive rebates available to utilities installing Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and SMART Meters(1). China, Europe and other countries are also pledging similar infrastructure investments.

Present commercial-off-the-shelf electric utility meter embedded antenna solutions offer inferior and unacceptable price-performance benefits as deployment run-rates push through the 100,000 units/month mark. As price-pressure increases on antenna designers, there exists a pressing need for cost-effective embedded antennas with break-through price-performance benefits.

2009 Antenna Systems Conference Proceedings Now Available for Purchase
Were you unable to attend the 2009 Antenna Systems Conference? Watch, listen or read conference presentations that will keep you informed on the on the latest and most important advancements in antenna systems and technology.

Visit http://www.infowebcom.com/conf_cdorder2009.php to purchase the CD-ROM.

iMAT Antennas from SkyCross Power the Latest USB Dongles from Tecom
SkyCross is providing iMAT antennas to TECOM Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of telecommunications equipment, for its latest WiMAX USB dongles. VMAX, a WiMAX operator and 2.5 GHz license holder in Taiwan, will offer the USB dongles for its full commercial launch in Q3 of this year.

The WiMAX standard requires MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) operation, which typically calls for multiple antennas. However, today’s small mobile devices do not provide the additional space necessary for these antennas to operate without interfering with each other. iMAT solves this challenge by enabling a single antenna element to behave like multiple antennas. Recent field tests confirmed that the antenna is a key component to the overall system throughput, and the iMAT antenna yielded the highest throughput on average compared to PCB antennas, ceramic chip antennas and others.

“We are very pleased that Tecom selected our antennas for the WiMAX network deployment in Taiwan,” said David Williams, director at SkyCross. “This win underscores the benefits that iMAT delivers not only to the device, but also to the network. A greater number of efficient, iMAT-equipped devices on a network can improve the capacity and bandwidth of the entire system, enabling operators to optimize network performance without additional infrastructure investments.”

“First impressions are critical in new network deployments, and iMAT antennas proved to be the best solution for our sleek USB dongles,” said Jonah Kao, senior director at Tecom. “We selected SkyCross because iMAT uniquely optimizes size, performance, and price.”  

Northern Michigan University Launches WiMAX Service on Motorola Network
The Home & Networks Mobility business of Motorola, Inc. and Northern Michigan University (NMU) have launched the school's new mobile WiMAX network built with Motorola wireless broadband infrastructure. The start of this new high-speed campus-wide wireless broadband service coincides with the 10th anniversary of the school's laptop program. NMU, a comprehensive, masters-level university in Marquette, Mich., is the only Michigan university that provides WiMAX-enabled laptop computers to all students as part of their tuition and to faculty and staff employed at the school.

With this rollout NMU becomes the first university in the US to deploy a fully functional Motorola WiMAX network. At the kick-off event nearly 3,000 of the school's more than 9,000 students received new WiMAX-enabled laptops. Students, faculty and guests also had the opportunity to experience WiMAX on the go, including video chat sessions, through demonstration of students using WiMAX in multiple off-campus sites.

In the near future Motorola WiMAX devices, including the USBw 100 USB adaptor (dongle) and desktop CPEi 150 and CPEo 450 will be available to students and others with older laptops so they, too, can connect to the WiMAX network. The mobile network currently consists of four sites with plans to expand to seven locations. Backhaul for the WiMAX network is provided by Motorola's point-to-point wireless broadband solution.

"We selected Motorola for this project because of its leadership position in deploying WiMAX networks worldwide," said Dave Maki, NMU chief technology officer. "We had an aggressive timeline and were confident they could meet our needs. With our new WiMAX network, NMU is providing greatly enhanced wireless broadband coverage across a 30-mile radius. Through our Educational Broadband Service license we'll also provide high-speed wireless broadband access to local school and municipal offices - extending the benefits of WiMAX broadband to our entire community."

In a region like the Upper Peninsula that traditionally relied on lumber and mining to fuel its economy and now must provide educational opportunities for new types of employment, many workers are unable to attend a traditional college campus. Consequently, reliable, affordable wireless broadband access is a key component to educating the state's workforce.

"With this mobile WiMAX network, NMU and Motorola are pushing technology forward to bring the many benefits of WiMAX broadband access to students and faculty and to foster economic growth in the region," said Dave Wangrow, senior director, WiMAX product management, Motorola Home & Networks Mobility. "Wireless broadband, and Motorola's WiMAX networks, truly are connecting the unconnected whether in developing countries or in rural areas in developed countries."

NMU, with its laptop program and providing campus-wide WiMAX coverage, is setting a precedent for universities especially for campuses located in rural areas throughout the US. Areas that present certain geographical challenges have historically been inaccessible for wireless broadband Internet service. Due to these challenges, students at such facilities are forced to work via a fixed connection which limits their mobility and by extension their educational experiences.

PCTEL Delivers Precision Aviation GPS Antennas for Deployment in India
A major US defense contractor will deploy PCTEL's high precision Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) ground station GPS antennas for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Airports Authority of India.

The deployment of PCTEL's WAAS antennas for the Global Positioning Satellite-Aided Geosynchronous Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system further establishes PCTEL as a leader in the precision GPS antenna market. PCTEL's WAAS antennas are currently deployed for the North American WAAS system and Japan's MTSAT Satellite-based Augmentation System (MSAS).

PCTEL's WAAS antennas, a product line within PCTEL's military and government antenna product family, are terrestrial-based antennas that enable highly precise navigation and tracking of aircraft. It features state-of-the-art, high-rejection filters and covers L1, L2 and L5 GPS frequencies.

"PCTEL is proud to offer this advanced level of precision antenna technology for the aviation industry and expand our activities outside the US," said Jeff Miller, vice president and general manager of PCTEL's Antenna Products Group. "We stay committed to the development of high performance GPS antenna solutions for commercial and defense markets."

Agilent Equipment Used to Test First Mobile WiMAX Forum-Certified Products in China Lab
Agilent Technologies, Inc. has announced that the China Academy of Telecommunication Research (CATR), a division of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and a WiMAX Forum Designated Certification Laboratory (WFDCL), has successfully used Agilent's N6430A Series Mobile WiMAX Protocol Conformance Test system to complete the first test of Mobile WiMAX products in mainland China. The test was conducted in June.

"We're delighted CATR is successfully using our N6430A to perform protocol conformance testing," said Niels Faché, Agilent's Mobile Broadband Operation general manager. "As the WiMAX Forum's Designated Certification Laboratory in mainland China, CATR plays a leading role in enabling WiMAX products to reach world markets, especially in Asia."

Agilent's N6430A Protocol Conformance Test (PCT) systems deliver a comprehensive suite of test solutions for Mobile WiMAX PCT, NCT and development testing, from a scripting interface to a fully functional radio bearer based on the Agilent E6651A platform. The N6430A supports validated WiMAX PCT and NCT test cases. The E6651A portfolio supports multiple R&D testing needs in addition to PCT, including base-station emulation, RF parametric measurements and radiated performance testing (RPT).

"We are happy to be working with Agilent as we move ahead with our Mobile WiMAX certification test program," said Director of CATR WFDCL Xiao Li. "Agilent has supported us well with our WiMAX program. Its system is the most versatile available and is performing well for WiMAX RPT, PCT and NCT testing."

National Instruments Introduces Wireless Sensor Network Platform
National Instruments has introduced the NI wireless sensor network (WSN) platform, a complete remote monitoring solution that consists of NI LabVIEW graphical programming software and new reliable, low-power wireless measurement nodes. The adoption of wireless technology for remote monitoring applications is growing, yet engineers and scientists struggle to find an integrated solution that can provide the required measurement quality, power management and reliable hardware for long-term, remote deployments. The NI WSN platform takes advantage of more than 30 years of NI data acquisition system leadership to deliver an easy-to-use solution that provides high-quality measurement data, the flexibility to manage power consumption and the ability to customize wireless hardware for added functionality. A key differentiator of the platform is LabVIEW software, which integrates seamlessly with the new battery-powered, industrial-rated NI WSN measurement nodes that can be deployed in rugged conditions for long periods of time.

Engineers and scientists worldwide are adopting wireless technology to meet distributed and portable measurement applications challenges, such as structural health and environmental monitoring, where wiring is difficult or cost-prohibitive. With the flexibility of LabVIEW, the NI WSN platform simplifies and accelerates the development of these applications by delivering a drag-and-drop programming environment for configuring wireless systems, extracting measurements, performing analysis and presenting data. LabVIEW also offers native Web connectivity for remote interaction with wireless systems.

“The NI WSN platform provides the ease-of-use necessary to quickly configure and deploy wireless sensors in a wide range of applications,” said Dr. William Kaiser, director of the Actuated, Sensing, Coordinated and Embedded Networked Technologies lab at UCLA. “The Center for Embedded Network Systems at UCLA is actively deploying NI WSN sensors in a parking garage at the Ronald Reagan Medical Center to help patients and family quickly identify open parking locations and to research options for proactive communication to commuters on parking availability across campus. The use of NI technology will allow us to improve the commuter experience, reduce additional traffic and emissions as commuters search for parking."

National Instruments is releasing its first two WSN nodes and plans to expand the measurement capabilities of the NI WSN platform. The wireless measurement nodes are powered by four AA batteries for up to three years, making them well suited for long-term deployments. The NI WSN-3202 four-channel, ±10 V analog input node and NI WSN-3212 four-channel, 24-bit thermocouple node have four digital I/O channels that can be configured for input, sinking output or sourcing output. The platform also includes the NI WSN-9791 Ethernet gateway, which is used to connect the measurement nodes to LabVIEW.

The wireless devices include NI-WSN software, which connects the NI wireless devices to LabVIEW software running on Microsoft Windows or a LabVIEW Real-Time host controller. NI-WSN software is based on IEEE 802.15.4 technology and gathers measurement data from the distributed measurement nodes. The software also delivers capabilities for mesh routing and managing power usage across the network, making it possible to increase measurement distance while maintaining network reliability. Additionally, LabVIEW delivers seamless integration with wired measurement devices and a wide range of third-party wireless sensor network platforms.

While the measurement nodes are optimized for low-power, multiyear deployment with limited computing resources, LabVIEW provides the ability to customize the embedded software on each node using the LabVIEW Wireless Sensor Network Module Pioneer. Programming customized logic on traditional wireless sensor network platforms often requires expertise in embedded operating systems and low-level, event-based programming. Using the intuitive graphical programming of LabVIEW, engineers and scientists easily can program the nodes to extend battery life, perform custom analysis and reduce response time with embedded decision making.

Readers can visit www.ni.com/wsn to evaluate the technology and purchase a starter kit for the NI wireless sensor network platform. To view product availability by country, readers can visit www.ni.com/wirelesscertifications.

Yageo Releases the Smallest PIFA Ceramic Antenna for Compact Mobile Devices
Yageo Corp., a passive components supplier, has released the 3216 PIFA ceramic antenna catering to compact mobile device applications. Measuring 3.2 mm by 1.6 mm (3216) in dimension, Yageo’s PIFA ceramic antenna features low profile fitting for multifunctional compact product design and superior signal transmission efficiency up to 90 percent almost on a par with traditional metal antenna.

Yageo’s 3216 PIFA ceramic antenna come with an omni-directional system that supports central frequency of 2.45 GHz with a maximum gain of 2.84 dBi and a working temperature of -25ºC to 85ºC. Currently, the smallest planar inverted-F antenna available in the market, Yageo’s 3216 PIFA antenna is designed to be isolated from environmental interference and achieve transmission optimization in miniaturized electronics applications particularly Bluetooth headsets, ultra-slim handsets or wireless mouse. Samples are available for customers with mass production underway.

“To meet growing demand for multifunctional portable gadgets, our customers are constantly in search of solutions for efficient integration of functions within increasingly compact space,” said Vincent Hu, president of Yageo Global Sales Business Group. “Statics and interference arise from a crammed circuit board has often resulted in poor transmission quality to further exacerbated the problems for product designers. Yageo’s 3216 PIFA antenna represents our latest innovation to help system designers to align antenna efficiency with processors.”

Moving forward, Yageo is looking to further enhance the yield and production lead time of 3216 PIFA antenna by leveraging its technology strength in manufacturing process and circuit design and expects its 3216 PIFA antenna to contribute to 40 percent of chip antenna shipments within two years.

Anritsu Redefines Wireless Field Test with Introduction of ‘E’ Platform for Handheld Analyzer Family
Anritsu Company has introduced a new platform for its family of handheld analyzers, which is the de facto industry standard for field test instrumentation. The new platform features integrated functionality in a robust, lightweight, field-proven design that provides field personnel with all the tools necessary to deploy, maintain and troubleshoot today’s most demanding wireless equipment and networks.

“Anritsu has a product portfolio that is both deep and broad to satisfy all our customers’ installation, testing, measurement and maintenance requirements. Our new platform allows technicians, contractors, and services providers to work faster and smarter, improve service quality, meet increasingly rigorous key performance indicators, and keep their prices competitive,” said Donn Mulder, VP and General Manager, Microwave Measurements Division. “All of these benefits are critical in a market that is characterized by fierce competition, rapidly evolving technology, and cost sensitivity.”

The new platform is designed into Anritsu’s Site Master, Spectrum Master and Cell Master analyzers. All of the analyzers represent the next generation of wireless field test because they are robust, lightweight and have the functionality of multiple instruments, saving money and improving efficiencies. An intuitive user interface, high-quality construction, and unmatched price/performance are trademarks of the new analyzers. In addition to providing the technology necessary for today’s field testing requirements, Anritsu is offering certified training and world-class support for field technicians.
The new analyzer family can reduce both capital equipment and operational expenses because of its multifunctional capabilities. Ease of use and automated reporting capabilities boost efficiency in the field as well as the office. The high performance of all the analyzers allows for greater confidence in measurement results, reduced measurement times, and gives users the ability to detect small problems before they become costly network failures. Ruggedly designed, the analyzers can withstand the roughest field conditions and activities.

The Site Master,  S331E/S332E/S361E/S362E, are full-featured handheld analyzers for installing, provisioning, maintaining and troubleshooting wireless base station cable and antenna systems. The analyzers feature the highest performance and most capabilities offered by Anritsu in a compact handheld test instrument since it introduced its first line sweeper in 1995. With frequency coverage from 100 kHz to 6 GHz, the new models can be configured to include a cable and antenna analyzer, spectrum analyzer, interference analyzer, power meter and GPS receivers. Site Master offers typical sweep speed of 1 msec/data point, 4 hours of battery life, dual display capabilities, USB for data transfer, touchscreen keyboards, and much more.

The Spectrum Master also covers the 100 kHz to 6 GHz frequency with the MS2712E/MS2713E handheld spectrum analyzers deliver superior interference analysis capabilities and the ability to assess signal quality across a broad range of increasingly complex RF signals. They can locate difficult-to-detect interfering signals, including both intermittent and continuous ones, resulting from the proliferation of wireless systems and an ever-crowding RF spectrum. The instruments have dynamic range of >95 dB in 10 Hz RBW, DANL of -152 dBm in 10 Hz RBW, and phase noise of  -100 dBc/Hz max @ 10 kHz offset at 1 GHz

The Cell Master, the MT8212E, is a handheld multi-function base station analyzer that combines all the tools required to deploy, maintain and troubleshoot wireless base stations into a lightweight, battery-operated package. Integrating all this functionality in a single instrument eliminates the need to buy separate equipment for new and legacy networks, which increases efficiencies and simplifies data acquisition. Cell Master features signal analyzer options for 2G and 3G cellular networks and WiMAX fixed and mobile networks.

US pricing starts at $7,160 for the Site Master, $8,950 for the Spectrum Master and $14,950 for the Cell Master. Delivery for the Site Master is two weeks ARO; Spectrum Master and Cell Master are three weeks ARO.

ITT Develops RF Switching Coaxial Connector for Antenna and PC Board Performance Verification
ITT Interconnect Solutions, a manufacturer and supplier of connectors, interconnects and cable assemblies, has developed an RF switching coaxial connector for antenna and printed circuit board performance verification. Designated LPC CP1/CP2, the connector features a high frequency range and low insertion loss, making it well suited for handheld and wireless applications.

“The RF switching connector provides an effective solution to passive switching between an internal circuit and external devices such as test equipment, or an antenna,” said Keith Teichmann, director of marketing for ITT Interconnect Solutions. “With a frequency range up to 2 GHz, the connector is specified for use in mobile phones, two-way radios, military radios and wireless modems.”

The LCP CP1/CP2 connector features a low signal loss of under 0.3 dB, a minimum life of 12,000 mating cycles and a return loss VSWR of 1.2:1 at 2 GHz. A cold pin minimizes RF emissions in unmated scenarios. The connector also features a low-profile 5.6 mm test port, along with the ability to address angular and offset misalignment.

The connector is also available in a waterproof version (LPC SP1), which features a special rubber seal for IP67 compliance. A wide range of accessories are also available to address various test requirements.

Typical pricing for the LPC connector is approximately $0.275 each in medium volumes. Lead time is 10 weeks.

14-18 - 4G World, Chicago, Ill.

Download the July/August 2009 Issue

2009 Antenna Conference Show Issue

Feature Article:
Will RF4CE be the Killer Application for ZigBee?

Feature Article:
Resolving the Antenna Misalignment Dilemma

Feature Article:
Reliability Simulation of an Antenna Array using MATLAB

September 2009

14-18 - 4G World, Chicago, Ill.

21-24 - PCIA 2009, Nashville, Tenn.

October 2009

14-15 - Satcon, New York, NY

26-29 - International Telemetering Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada

27-29 - MAPE 2009, Beijing, China
The 3rd IEEE International Symposium on Microwave, Antenna, Propagation, and EMC Technologies for Wireless Communications

PCIA Wireless Infrastructure Show 2009
9/21 - 9/24, 2009
Nashville, TN

The Wireless Infrastructure Show is an annual opportunity for industry leaders to showcase their products and services, network, collaborate and exchange information.   The 2009 event will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN. from September 21-24.  It is expected to draw more than 1500 executives from the wireless industry and policymakers from all levels of government.   The Wireless Infrastructure Show offers you networking with industry decision-makers; educational sessions on a variety of topics including: 4G/LTE, Distributed Antenna Systems, Wireless Investment Opportunities, ARRA/Broadband Stimulus, Federal, State, and Local Regulatory Issues; lively interactive sessions moderated by top professionals; participation in special events; keynote speeches featuring industry leaders. 

For more information, please visit http://www.wirelessinfrastructureshow.com.

INTERNATIONAL CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & ENTERTAINMENT 2009
October 7-9, 2009
San Diego Convention Center San Diego, Calif.

No matter what your business is - healthcare, entertainment, fleet management or financial planning - wireless can transform how you do business. International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment brings this possibility to life.

With a focus on applications, network architecture and technologies such as LBS, machine-to-machine and WiMAX (just to name a few), this international event brings a community of users, carriers, developers and manufacturers together to generate dialogue, share ideas and debate the economics of MOBILE BUSINESS.

Register now at www.CTIAShow.com!

SATCON – the Satellite and Content Delivery Conference & Expo
10/14 - 10/15, 2009
Javits Convention Center, New York, NY

SATCON is the fall's premier conference and exhibition for satellite communications and content delivery. At SATCON develop strategies to manage your communications infrastructure including video, data, voice and Internet using hybrid networks including satellite, fiber, mobile and wireless. SATCON is part of the CCW (Content & Communications World) family of events, which also features the IP Media Conference & Expo and HD World Conference & Exposition.

SCTE Cable-Tec Expo® 2009
Oct. 28-30, 2009
Denver, CO

Touch the Technology and Scale to New Heights
SCTE Cable-Tec Expo®—the industry’s engineering show of the year—taps into today’s best engineering and operational solutions, technical developments and applications in one cost-effective setting aimed at helping you save time and money. With 20+ technical workshops focused on the “Extensible Competitive Fiber Network”; a hands-on, technology-focused exhibit hall; the new Expo Cable Technology Spotlight featuring the Green Pavilion and an energy efficiency focused General Session and key networking opportunities all cable professionals from field technicians and engineers to executives and marketing specialists can discover and learn first-hand about the latest in cable technology, products and services.

Pre-registration savings are available and expire soon. Register by Oct. 16 to save more than $100 off the regular rate!

Get full show details and register online at http://expo.scte.org.

AMTA
11/1 - 11/6, 2009
Salt Lake City, UT

The Antenna Measurement Techniques Association (AMTA) was formed in 1979 as a non-profit professional organization open to individuals with an interest in antenna measurements. AMTA currently has over 1000 members. AMTA areas of interest include all areas of antenna measurement system production, analysis and test. Members come from a variety of backgrounds including industry, government, and educational institutions, and from many countries around the world.

The primary activity of AMTA is its annual symposium and business meeting. Past symposium papers are available online or CD.  Check online to see this year’s Salt Lake City symposium plans, including information on sponsors and exhibitors, short course, technical tour of L-3 Communications-West facilities, social events and tours, and the preliminary technical program!

IMAPS 2009
11/1 - 11/5, 2009
San Jose, CA

IMAPS 2009 will be largest symposium in the world related to the microelectronics packaging. IMAPS 2009 will feature a powerful technical program, known for years as one of the best in the industry, a state-of-the-art exposition, progressive professional development courses, another informative Global Business Council Marketing Forum, and many other events and activities to share the latest developments in microelectronics. The 42nd Annual International Symposium on Microelectronics attracts over 3,000 attendees who represent all facets of the microelectronics and electronic packaging industries. These include: engineers, technicians, R&D, purchasing, manufacturing, management, and many more. They represent the automotive, communications, medical, aerospace, computer, defense, homeland security and consumer industries.

2009 Loughborough Antennas & Propagation Conference
Nov. 16-17, 2009
Loughborough United Kingdom

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
• Bioelectromagnetics in Antennas and Propagation

Please visit www.lapconf.co.uk for more information.

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