MUNICH, Germany, 9 Oct. 2007. Keithley Instruments Inc. in Cleveland is introducing a 4X4 multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) RF test system today at European Microwave Week 2007 in Munich, Germany. The system is for research and production testing of next-generation RF communications equipment.
Keithley's MIMO RF test system consists of its Model 2920 vector signal generator (VSG) and Model 2820 vector signal analyzer (VSA), Model 2895 MIMO synchronization unit, and MIMO signal analysis software.
The device offers support for 4X4 MIMO applications; support for commercial standards such as cellular, WiMAX, and WLAN; +/-1 nanosecond signal sampler synchronization; less then 1 nanosecond peak-to-peak signal sampler jitter; and less than 1 degree of peak-to-peak RF-carrier phase jitter.
The Keithley system can support MIMO measurements on demanding signals such as 802.11n 40 MHz WLAN MIMO and 802.16e Wave 2 Mobile WiMAX. MIMO is a growing technology that uses several radios for transmitting and receiving data. In RF communication devices, it increases data throughput rates without the need for additional bandwidth.
An RF signal generator and an RF signal analyzer that support expanded frequency ranges to 6 GHz form the core of Keithley's MIMO RF test solution. The Model 2920 vector signal generator is available in two configurations with maximum frequencies of 4 GHz or 6 GHz and can generate signals as low as 10 MHz.
An optional 80 MHz arbitrary waveform generator bandwidth with 100 megasamples of waveform memory enables users to test commercial communications signals such as GSM, EDGE, W-CDMA, cdma2000, SISO WLAN, and 802.11n 40 MHz WLAN MIMO.
The Model 2820 and Model 2920 can be set up in 2-, 3-, or 4-channel configurations. These dual-purpose instruments can be used either as standalone instruments or as part of a 4X4 MIMO test system, so users don't need to dedicate individual signal analyzer or signal generator units to a task.
The Model 2895 MIMO synchronization unit provides synchronized signals to the system instruments, which allows for as much as 4X4 MIMO test synchronization to give the system an alignment among as many as four signal analyzers and generators.
The Model 2895 distributes common signals such as a local oscillator and common clock and precise trigger to all the instruments connected to the system and allows repeatable measurements of OFDM (orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing) MIMO signals.
Keithley's Model 280111 WLAN 802.11n MIMO signal analysis software is a PC-based analysis tool for either single-channel or multi-channel analysis of 802.11x signals, and has a measurement suite for analyzing all 802.11x signals, and is capable of supporting 4X4 MIMO channel configurations.
For more information contact Keithley online at www.keithley.com.
