Tektronix expands wideband RF/microwave signal generation choices

BANGALORE, INDIA: Tektronix Inc., a leading manufacturer of oscilloscopes, announced a new capability for the AWG7000C Series of Arbitrary Waveform Generators (AWG) that delivers the industry’s only commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) solution for creating wide modulation bandwidth RF/Microwave signals to 2.5 GHz and improved rise/fall time of 35 ps for High Speed Serial signals.

With a significantly lower price point, the wide bandwidth option allows customers to purchase a dual channel 12 Gsps solution that will create fast rise/fall time, wide modulation bandwidth signals for less than $100,000.

Introduced last Fall, the Tektronix AWG7000C Series instruments are designed to meet high-performance signal generation needs across a number of market segments including RF/Microwave design and characterization tasks in avionics, radar, and short range wireless communications, such as ultra wideband (UWB), WirelessHD and WiGig. With the need to continually create wide-bandwidth signals, the AWG is a critical component in the modern test suite.

“This new capability for the AWG7000C Series continues our tradition of listening to customers and meeting their needs with the most capable and versatile wideband RF/Microwave signal generation solution in the industry,” said Bob Hiebert, director of Marketing, Sources/Analyzer Product Line, Tektronix. “For wideband signal creation, our arbitrary waveform generators are the only commercially available solution to provide an accurate, repeatable wide bandwidth signal without the need for custom-designed equipment or golden DUTs.”

Through use of direct synthesis, the AWG7000C accurately creates wideband “bandwidth on demand” waveforms up to a 4.8 GHz carrier frequency with the new Option 02. For greater frequency performance, the AWG7000C can still be configured with the higher data rate option that doubles the data rate to 24 Gsps and produces even higher 9.6 GHz carrier signals.

To replicate real-world signal behavior, the AWG7122C can generate signals up to 1 GHz of modulation bandwidth with 54 dBc, 2.5 GHz of modulation bandwidth with 46 dBc spurious free dynamic range (SFDR). Dynamic jump and sub-sequencing capabilities enable the creation of complex waveforms that respond to ever changing external environments.

Tektronix AWGs are integral components in complete Tektronix test solutions for both RF/Microwave and High Speed Serial designers when used with either RFXpress or SerialXpress software application packages. RFXpress simplifies the creation of complex wideband signals for Radar, EW and communications applications. SerialXpress enables creation of the exact waveforms required for design characterization and validation, margin and conformance testing of high-speed serial data receivers and considerably simplifies signal creation and jitter simulations, thus reducing overall development and test time.

The AWG7000C Series are available immediately for order.