RF generators get better radar pulse-modulation performance

Test-and-measurement supplier Anritsu is adding pulse modulation enhancements to its existing MG3690B signal generators. Anritsu's MG3690Bs provide guaranteed 21dBm signals (at 20GHz), with -94dBc/Hz phase-noise (at 1kHz offset), while typically switching at 5ms/point.

The enhancements

The pulse modulation enhancements will give you more precise simulation of pulsed signals as used in both civilian and military radar applications. These enhancements provide narrower leveled pulses, and increased resolution when using the internal pulse generator. The improvements also include higher-frequency internal waveform generators to simulate modulated signals.

As such, the MG3690B's pulse modulation performance can now meet the needs of radar systems designers, especially those working on systems in the 1GHz to 2GHz L-band. These are typically used for ATC (air traffic control, TCAS (traffic and collision avoidance systems), JTIDS (Joint Tactical Information Distribution System) and DME (distance measuring equipment.

Narrower leveled-pulse widths

To precisely simulate pulse radar signals, the MG3690B family now provides 10x-narrower leveled-pulse widths, from 1?s to 100ns between 1GHz and 2GHz. For simulating doublet, triplet, and quadruplet pulse trains that reveal radar blind spots, the internal pulse generator improves resolution from 25ns to 10ns.

The box's internal waveform generator is also increased to 10MHz. With that change, an MG3690B can simulate complex signals. You can save space, have more simplified setups, and realize reduced cost by using an enhanced MG3690B instead of a signal generator plus an external pulse generator.

Any band

In addition to analyzing pulsed signals operating in L-band, the MG3690B Series can generate virtually any microwave signal, due to broad frequency coverage from 0.1-Hz to 67-GHz, in a single output.

For millimeter-wave frequencies, external multipliers can provide outputs up to 325GHz. Six models operating at 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50- and 65GHz (operationally up to 67GHz) are available in the MG3690B series.

New pulse and internal generator enhancements for the MG3690B generators are priced starting at about $4,750.

- Alex Mendelsohn

eeProductCenter