Microwave tuner analyzes RF signals at high speed rates

Tyco Electronics is shipping the M/A-COM TU-6401, a lightweight low-power SIGINT microwave tuner designed for signal search and collection applications.

The M/A-COM TU-6401 provides simultaneous narrowband and wideband IF outputs centered at 160MHz (100MHz bandwidth) and 1GHz (500MHz bandwidth). The tuner's frequency range operates from 0.5-18GHz and features an RF down converter, which is integrated with a direct digital synthesizer to uncouple tuning speed from phase noise to provide what the company claims is the industry's fastest tuner.

The M/A-COM TU-6401 microwave has a built-in local oscillator distribution system, making it useful in beam forming and direction finding systems, as well as in a wide range of other electronic signals intelligence and electronic warfare applications.

The M/A-COM TU-6401 is housed in a two-slot 6U VME package, weighing less than seven pounds. The IF and log video outputs are suitable for direct input into an external ADC for special signal processing, spectral analysis and pulse parameterization. The tuner's noise figure is rated less than 15dB (- Ismini Scouras
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