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Galtronics Launches High-Performance Outdoor DAS Antennas to Meet Growing Data Demands
 Galtronics Corp. Ltd. has launched its Extent high-performance outdoor antenna products. The Extent product line is designed to help carriers and municipalities meet the rapidly rising demands for data volume and speed brought about by the increased use of 3G and 4G devices.
The Extent line currently consists of two antennas that offer pseudo-omni radiation patterns accomplished by a unique tri-sector design with internal combiners, which delivers enhanced gain and improved coverage. The two offerings available in this product line include:
- Extent P4912 covering 1710 to 2,170 MHz; antenna size: 8” diameter and 48” height
- Extent P4879 covering 698 to 960 MHz and 1,710 to 2,170 MHz; antenna size: 14” diameter and 48” height
The Extent P4879 multi-band antenna is the only outdoor DAS antenna on the market that provides high gain across the cellular bands including LTE in a 14” by 48” form factor. It enables neutral hosts to connect multiple carriers to the antenna. This ultimately results in significant capital expense reduction to the network owner as a well as operational cost savings to the network operator.
“At Galtronics, our quality DAS antennas provide the best performance size ratio required for changing communications needs,” said Ephraim Ulmer, president and CEO of Galtronics Corp. Ltd. “Extent delivers the wireless RF performance needed for today’s outdoor DAS networks in a small size and at a competitive price – a significant bottom line value to our customers. This is another step in our quest to provide real innovation to the fast growing DAS market.”
EDX Releases In-Building RF Planning Tool
EDX Wireless has released version 2.3 of EDX Signal-IQ, a comprehensive software system for the design of in-building wireless networks, including Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS), picocell, femtocell and 802.11 Access Point (AP) deployments.
Extending EDX SignalPro family of RF planning solutions, EDX Signal-IQ is a fully integrated standalone indoor RF design tool focused on the unique and evolving needs of in-building design.
“This release expands the capabilities of Signal-IQ by adding significant new functionality specific for the design of in-building multi-floor active and passive DAS RF networks,” said Steve Webster, director of Product Management at EDX. “We worked closely with our partners to address their emerging needs and in Signal-IQ Version 2.3 have created a comprehensive, yet cost effective in building RF design package.”
Designed with simple operation, yet with accurate RF coverage predictions as its primary goals, Signal-IQ streamlines end to end design of in building RF networks of all types. Due to its efficient calculation algorithms, Signal-IQ can show real-time predicted RF coverage as an antenna or Access Point is moved, allowing the engineer to optimize the coverage from each antenna or AP.
Signal-IQ streamlines the import of building floor plans, including .DWG (AutoCAD) format or via a simple integrated Floor plan converter that converts bitmap images to wall vector files. Signal-IQ also includes advanced wall sketching tools that allow the user to simply and quickly sketch floor plans on imported image files. RF properties can then be assigned to walls and other objects via simple pull down menus. Indoor RF network designs can be rapidly created by placing RF objects and connecting them with various placement tools including automatic RF and active DAS (fiber) cable tools that allows a rapid and intuitive connection between RF objects. Inter-floor cable connections through risers can also be specified and designed in Signal-IQ 2.3. Cable lengths and RF losses are automatically calculated and stored in the Bill of Materials and RF link budget lists. Other features include a schematic view that allows the engineer to visualize the RF components and their interconnection. With the schematic view and other automatic error checking functions, the RF engineer can easily see missing or incorrect connections and RF connector gender mismatches.
With the RF design placed on the floor plan, Signal-IQ allows the user to simulate and display the coverage of the indoor wireless network via a wide range of available RF study options. Another innovation is the RF design optimization tool, which calculates EiRP and predicted coverage in real time as the antenna is moved around the floor plan of the building. This innovative feature allows the user to rapidly try what-if scenarios and optimize the coverage of each antenna in a complex DAS system.
Additionally, Signal-IQ 2.3 contains many advances in overall workflow and usability. Helpful features have been added to streamline complex processes which are easily accessible with a quick context sensitive menu.
 New DSA815 Spectrum Analyzer with Digital IF Technology
Rigol Technologies, Inc. has introduced the new DSA815 spectrum analyzer, featuring all-digital IF technology. The DSA815 covers a frequency range of 9 kHz to 1.5 GHz and features a compact design and easy-to-use interface. Available for the starting price of $1,295, Rigol’s DSA815 gives customers a way to rethink their lab setup by offering a high performance, reliable spectrum analyzer for the cost of a digital oscilloscope.
Rigol's latest spectrum analyzer has a typical displayed average noise level (DANL) of -135 dBm, offset phase noise of -80 dBc/Hz @10 kHz and a total amplitude uncertainty of <1.5 dB, making it well suited for benchtop or field apps in RF and wireless testing and production. DSA815 spectrum analyzers include a wide range of standard functions including AM/FM demodulation and a preamplifier, plus a variety of optional enhancements such as an EMI filter and quasi-peak detector kit and a 1.5 GHz tracking generator.
Rigol's digital IF design technology offers users the ability to measure smaller signals by enabling smaller bandwidth settings, thereby greatly reducing the displayed average noise level. With a minimum resolution bandwidth (RBW) of 100 Hz, Rigol's digital IF filter also facilitates the ability to distinguish between small signals close in frequency.
Compliance testing has become a critical task in today's design process. Each compliance lab trip can cost thousands of dollars, therefore the ability to verify and debug boards and products before sending to a lab can save time and money in new designs.
The Tracking Generator option ($200) provides a complete additional set of functionality. Use the instrument as a VSWR tester with a bridge or simply connect to test passive and active RF components. The Generator will also function as a static signal source generator from 10 MHz to 1.5 GHz by setting the Spectrum Analyzer to zero span mode.
The DSA815 also features highly precise amplitude readings, virtually eliminating errors that occur when using traditional analog IF designs. As a result, the DSA815 is easy to use and highly reliable in even the most demanding RF applications.
CONEC Offers IP67-Rated Metal and Plastic LC Fiber Optic Connectors
 CONEC has developed rugged ODVA-compliant connectors specifically for harsh environment applications, such as WiMax, Long Term Evolution (LTE), and Remote Radio Heads using Fiber To The Antenna (FTTA) connectivity, which require rugged connector and cable assemblies suitable for outdoor use. Designated the LC Series, CONEC offers the broadest ODVA-compliant fiber-optic connector portfolio in the industry, providing both full-metal and plastic versions of the IP67-rated interconnects.
CONEC’s extensive ODVA-compliant product portfolio gives customers design flexibility, and ensures that FTTA systems meet telecommunication industry standards as well as harsh environment requirements. In addition, CONEC can provide cable and plug kit assembly services to deliver a complete FTTA system interconnect solution.
The water-resistant LC series connectors provide increased protection from contamination and moisture in addition to mechanical stability, temperature resistance and vibration immunity. The connectors use OFNR (optical fiber nonconductive riser) breakout cables rated for outdoor usage and/or direct burial. The IP67-rated LC series connectors feature a 1/6th turn bayonet coupling for a fast and secure mate/unmate, even with gloved hands. The compact LC series connectors are also compatible with industry standard cables and interconnect products.
“CONEC has expanded its product offering to meet FTTA system requirements for fiber-optic connectors that provide high-speed data transmission in a rugged universal housing. The reliable ODVA universal housings, combined with our value-added assembly services, provide complete connector solutions with shorter lead times and time-to-market for our customers,” said Peter Persico, technical support specialist at CONEC.
The product line includes panel-mounted receptacles, mating plugs, and protective caps. Pre-terminated jumper cables, including cables suitable for outdoor use and direct burial in standard lengths from 1 meter to 100 meters, are also included. Custom lengths are also available.
The IP67-rated LC series connectors ensure a continuously secure connection and are dustproof and weatherproof, with a silicone ring seal that makes a watertight connection to the panel.
The LC Series duplex connectors are available from $20.00 in OEM quantities, with a lead time of stock to four weeks.
Agilent Technologies Introduces Real-Time Oscilloscopes with 63-GHz True Analog Bandwidth
 Agilent Technologies, Inc. has introduced Infiniium 90000 Q-series oscilloscopes with real-time bandwidth of 63 GHz on two channels and 33 GHz on four channels. The new lineup includes 10 four-channel models ranging from 20 GHz to 63 GHz, all of which are bandwidth upgradeable. These new scopes deliver low noise and have a low jitter measurement floor in the oscilloscope industry, ensuring improved measurement accuracy.
“The 90000 Q-series represents another breakthrough for Agilent Infiniium oscilloscopes,” said Jay Alexander, vice president and general manager of Agilent’s Oscilloscope Products Division. “In the last five years, we have introduced oscilloscopes with the deepest memory, the lowest noise floor and the highest bandwidth. The 90000 Q-series is the culmination of all these innovations, and it features all three industry-leading characteristics to help engineers design and validate devices that use emerging technologies.”
At its maximum bandwidth the Q-series breaks the 60-GHz barrier, with a -3 dB point of 63 GHz. The 33-GHz model allows engineers to simultaneously trigger on and capture signals on all four channels with no compromise. These two specifications allow the oscilloscopes to make measurements on devices designed to conform to emerging standards.
“Based on early prototypes from Agilent that we were able to use for initial testing, our team progressed toward taking the next steps in high-data-rate coherent detection research,” said Dr. Peter Winzer of Bell Labs.
The new Infiniium 90000 Q-series oscilloscopes depict digital edges more accurately than competitive oscilloscopes, thanks in large part to its low intrinsic jitter and noise floor. This increased measurement accuracy returns critical design margin to engineers.
 STMicroelectronics Applies Advanced Miniaturization Expertise for Better 4G Smartphone Experiences
STMicroelectronics has revealed a highly miniaturized IC for 4G smartphones for even more attractively sized designs offering high GPS performance.
By design, 4G smartphones will use multiple cellular connections to deliver mobile broadband services at speeds of more than 100 Mbps. With Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS also built in, some of the handset’s receivers must share an antenna to save space. ST has used its advanced packaging expertise to create a 1.14 mm² antenna-sharing IC, the DIP1524, capable of delivering high signal strength to several RF receivers simultaneously.
Achieving such an efficient antenna connection is especially important for handset GPS functionality, since the received satellite signals are relatively weak. Users of smartphones featuring the DIP1524 will experience advantages including faster GPS startup time (time to first fix), more accurate position detection and, as a result, even more reliable location-based services that benefit from strong connections to several satellites.
The DIP1524 diplexer utilizes ST’s Integrated Passive Device (IPD) technology, fabricated on a glass substrate that minimizes insertion losses compared to the ceramic substrates used by other manufacturers. Its flip-chip package has a footprint the same size as the chip itself, thereby occupying 65 percent less pc-board area than competing devices in conventional packages with a total footprint larger than 3 mm². The DIP1524 enables handset designers to connect receivers for GPS/GLONASS satellites, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and LTE band 7 to the same antenna.
The DIP1524-01D3 is sampling now in a 4-bump flip-chip package, and will be available in high volumes priced from $0.129 for orders over 1000 pieces. Alternative higher-volume pricing options are available on request.
 CommScope Builds Better, Smarter Bridge for Linking Base Stations to Distributed Antenna Systems
An all-in-one intelligent point of interface from CommScope offers a smarter way to bridge the connection between base transceiver stations (BTS) and the distributed antenna systems (DAS) that enable wireless connectivity in buildings and large venues.
By some industry estimates, more than 75 percent of today’s mobile calls originate or terminate indoors. Carriers are ramping up DAS deployments to match this growth. With an active option like CommScope’s i-POI, they have another tool for helping manage an aspect of the network that’s been a blind spot and potential source of expense, especially when issues go unnoticed only to become major problems over time.
CommScope’s i-POI lends insight into BTS conditioning, helps gain control over passive intermodulation (PIM), provides power control for multi-operator deployment and blends all of these capabilities into a single, compact module.
“Wireless operators, systems integrators and facility owners commonly face issues when planning a DAS deployment or upgrading an existing system,” said Matt Melester, senior vice president and general manager, Distributed Coverage and Capacity Solutions, CommScope. “Their most pressing concerns surround the lack of visibility into the BTS conditioning process, drops in data throughput due to PIM and space constraints. i-POI meets these challenges head on—whether in current CommScope Intelligent Optical Network (ION) environments or a third-party DAS infrastructure.”
i-POI’s smart approach to reducing the components required for BTS conditioning also enables increased visibility into the process of preparing signals for broad distribution. In conventional configurations, BTS conditioning is implemented by piecing together several different discrete components, often from multiple manufacturers. That requires more space and equipment. Design and installation costs also go up and there’s greater potential for introducing PIM into the network.
Multiply that by several carriers with varied frequency bands and things fast become difficult to manage. i-POI makes a complex problem simple and delivers further local and remote monitoring capabilities for setting, controlling, and alarming input and output power levels. Also compared to conventional footprints, i-POI’s sleek, smaller form reduces space requirements by up to 75 percent. i-POI is available now in North America and launches in other regions in the coming months.
Fujitsu Introduces New LTE (TDD and FDD) Optimized Multiband Single IC to Join its Family of Transceivers
Fujitsu Semiconductor Wireless Products, Inc. (FSWP) has introduced the MB86L13A LTE (FDD and TDD) optimized transceiver. The new transceiver has been developed for LTE-only applications and features the architecture pioneered by Fujitsu that eliminates the need for external low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and inter-stage surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters. Along with the MB86L11A 2G/3G/4G multimode, multiband transceiver released last month, the new device augments the Fujitsu MB86Lxxx family of transceivers now shipping in volume.
The MB86L13A, which covers the frequency spectrum from 700 to 2700 MHz, is sampling now and will be available in volume Q2 2012.
"The MB86L13A can speed time to market for baseband providers looking to add robust LTE capabilities to their existing 2G/3G solution," said Vivek Bhan, vice president, Fujitsu Semiconductor Wireless Products. "The new device provides multiband LTE support on a single IC, complementing the 2G/3G-only solutions offered by platform partners for the growing LTE market."
The MB86L13A multiband LTE transceiver delivers world-class performance for current drain and RF parameters. The advanced application programming interface (API), which is available on the other Fujitsu transceivers, minimizes factory calibration time, provides flexible port mapping and adds monitoring of customized key performance indicators (KPIs). Fujitsu already offers 2G/3G/4G multimode, multiband (MMMB), single IC transceivers.
The availability of multiple transmit, receive and diversity ports on the MB86L13A offers significant flexibility to map ports and bands for roaming requirements. The transceiver uses an open standard MIPI DigRF(SM) 4G v1.1Rev0.06 interface to the baseband. The device supports all global FDD bands 1-21, 23-25, and TDD bands 33-41. The MB86L13A supports all LTE bandwidths up to 20MHz. Future transceivers on the roadmap for this year include a 3GPP Release 10-compliant, single RFIC solution.
PREMO Enhances Its Emitter Antenna Range with the KGEA-HB Series
 The new series of broadcast antennas KGEA-HB, are designed for field emission LF (low frequency) and allow remote access to the car to those customers who have identification devices as vehicle passive entry. The antenna is protected and sealed by a system of ultrasonic welding.
This half bridge antenna can be inserted in the bumper or trunk of the vehicle and/or in some locations subjected to extreme environmental condition. Waterproof connector built-in proper plastic box provide a fully sealed antenna system to avoid any kind of dust and water ingress.
Key features include: transmitter low frequency (LF); high stability in temperature (-40ºC up to 85ºC); ideally used in keyless smart entry system; resonant frequency adjusting below ±1 percent; medium-large reading distances with average current 1-3Apk-pk; strong anchor points which provide an easy assembly and will ensure mechanical robustness; and custom L-C value (F-Res) under demand.
 Anritsu Company Enhances Signal Analyzers for Evaluation of Microwave and Radar Systems
Anritsu Company has introduced options for its MS269xA series that enhance the wideband FFT analysis of the signal analyzers. By expanding the measurement capability of the MS269xA series with the hardware options, Anritsu provides a highly accurate analysis tool that can capture wideband signals used in satellite and radar systems, as well as in LTE Advanced designs.
With the new MS269xA-077 Analysis Bandwidth Extension hardware, the MS269xA series has increased analysis bandwidth of 62.5 MHz, while adding the MS269xA-078, extends analysis bandwidth to 125 MHz. The options provide instrument flexibility, as engineers can select analysis bandwidth to 31.25 MHz, 62.5 MHz, or 125 MHz, depending on their current test requirements. The high-end analysis bandwidth allows the MS269xA to conduct wideband FFT analysis at frequencies up to 26.5 GHz.
The new options also improve the overall performance of the MS269xA series. A high performance ADC has been designed into the hardware options so the signal analyzers have improved display average noise level (DANL) of -147dBm/Hz. The high accuracy and capability of the MS269xA series permits the signal analyzers to support analysis of transient phenomena that are hard to capture using sweep-type spectrum analyzers.
Additionally, an optional Microwave Pre-selector Bypass is available for the MS2692A Signal Analyzer. Adding the bypass to the MS2692A with an analysis bandwidth expansion option supports wideband FFT analysis measurements in the 62.5/125 MHz bands at frequencies up to 26.5 GHz.
The hardware options complement the existing measurement performance of the MS269xA series signal analyzers, which feature excellent total level accuracy and modulation accuracy for wideband signal analysis. The instruments have a vector signal analysis function that supports FFT analysis, a built-in digitizer for capturing signal waveforms as digital data, and support signal quality analyses from various perspectives, including the time and frequency domains.
In addition, the signal analyzers can read saved data and perform the necessary analyses, as well as perform modulation and simulations in coordination with third-party commercial tools. Unlike sweep-type spectrum analyzers, the MS269xA series can perform analysis of frequency hopping and other unexpected phenomenon, including phase drift, as well as transients, such as short-term spectrum degradation and noise.
A vector signal generator option is also available for the MS269xA series. This option supports all TRx characteristics evaluations required by both R&D and factory production lines seeking higher throughput and yields.
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Wireless Infrastructure Cable and Antenna Testing Using The Next-Generation in 
Applying the Science of Microwave Materials 
International CTIA WIRELESS 2012 Conference & Exposition
EDS 2012
2012 DAS Congress
IMS 2012 - The IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium