Low-Cost Vector Signal Generator, Analyzer for Mobile WiMAX/MIMO
Portable Design News, Thursday July 03, 2008
Keithley Instruments has announced a set of signal creation and analysis tools that extend its RF test capabilities to include WiMAX signal testing.
Keithley’s new solution is built on a DSP-based Software-Defined Radio (SDR) hardware platform that makes it simple and inexpensive to add support for new signal standards, such as 802.16e mobile WiMAX Wave 2 testing with up to 4x4 MIMO channels, without requiring expensive hardware upgrades or different instrumentation. Keithley’s test systems provide frequency coverage from 400 MHz to 4 GHz and to 6 GHz if WLAN measurements are needed.
The Model 2820 RF Vector Signal Analyzer is optimized for automated testing of wireless devices in production test environments, as well as in new product and device research and development. Keithley's Model 2820 is the lowest cost, widest signal acquisition bandwidth, stand-alone vector signal analyzer with both manual and automated operation on the market today. The Model 2820 RF Vector Signal Analyzer is designed to work closely with Keithley's Model 2920 RF Vector Signal Generator. 
Working in conjunction with the two RF test instrument families is Version 2.0 of Keithley’s SignalMeister Waveform Creation Software, for creation of the entire range of signals in accordance with WiMAX and WLAN wireless connectivity standards and 3GPP and 3GPP2 cellular standards. SignalMeister is an expandable software platform with a common user interface that allows creation of waveforms from multiple signal standards with optional additive signal impairments and channel modeling in a single environment. Users download the waveforms they create to any Keithley Series 2900 RF Vector Signal Generator.
The base prices of the Model 2820 and Model 2920 instruments at 4 GHz are US$22,500 and US$17,500 respectively. SignalMeister can be downloaded from Keithley’s web site at no charge; specific software licenses start at US$2,500.
Keithley Instruments, Inc., Cleveland, OH (440) 248-0400 [www.keithley.com]
