Site Links - Test & Measurement

The web site of Carl G Lotstrom, there is quite a lot of useful information, including details of a log probe for use up to 600 MHz and a page of small projects that Carl has documented.

Focus

This company produces modern measurement equipment for microwave circuit development (key words: Noise Measurements, Harmonic Tuners, Load Pull Measuring Sets, etc.). This is an opportunity to become familiar with these areas of technology with the help of various Application Notes. For refined topics (example: Windows-led Design-Software for RF-Power-Amplifier) you do need to enter a personal password. It will be mailed to you after registration.

Address: http://www.focus-microwaves.com

ANRITSU

A well-known name in the world of gauging equipment manufacturers, especially in the field of microwave, noise and distortion measurement technology. If you search the homepage site carefully, you can find a page with application notes on this subject to be downloaded. Naturally, the company’s own equipment is used here, but the basics concerning each individual subject are very well done and can be used both for familiarisation and for personal information on the current state of art.

Address. http://www.anritsu.com

Maury

A well-known name, famous as manufacturers of high-quality and expensive microwave test rigs. It’s always worth visiting this homepage for, in addition to data sheets for all their equipment, you can also find some very carefully written application notes. They not only describe the precise applications for the equipment in connection with the most frequent measurement tasks, but they also lay out the theoretical principles involved once more and present them clearly – something users can always profit from. We can particularly recommend the two introductory brochures covering the measurement of intermodulation and noise.

Address: http://www.maurymw.com

Test & Measurement World

The homepage of this technical review has an interesting Article Archive, which you can access through the search function in the usual way. There are also some publications on HF and microwave technology in html or pdf format ready for downloading. This service is free and it’s always worth going back from time to time to see what’s new.

Address: http://www.tmworld.com/index.htm

Satori Technology high dynamic range USB 26.5GHz power meters

Field pioneers Satori Technology have extended their product range of USB power meters with the release of the ST265. This pushes the frequency limit for high dynamic range USB power meters up to 26.5GHz going beyond what is currently available in the marketplace. The ST265 now covers a frequency range of 10 MHz to 26.5 GHz.

The ST series are complete miniature RF & microwave power meters. All measurement data and settings are sent via a USB interface to and from a PC or laptop. This gives the concept of using a computer as the user interface in classic microwave power measurement. Each power meters contains a CPU which controls the sensor, processes the measurement results and operates the USB interface.

The ST265 is a significant enhancement to the existing series (ST124 and ST185 USB Power Meters) and brings with it greatly improved performance. Extended individual calibration procedures have resulted in improved temperature compensation and better linearity performance with RF frequency. The use of a K-type^TM RF connector gives repeatedly low reflection coefficients up to 26.5GHz.

Satori Technology supplies its own easy to use software toolkit which is powerful, flexible and enables multiple power meters to be operated simultaneously. Drivers are available for Agilent VEE^TM and National Instruments LabVIEW^TM. With a size of only 34 x 43 x 125 mm and weighing in at only 83g the ST range of power meters are the ultimate in portability as well as saving space and reducing costs in rack-mounted systems.

Address: www.satori-technology.com/products.htm

Various Scans of HP manual, etc.

If you are like the author always looking for manuals on measuring instruments, this site will be invaluable to find that special manual.

Address: http://www.kennethkuhn.com/hpmuseum/scans/

Microwave Detectors

Old things can be interesting and delightful. This information is over 30 years old but has been revised again and again plus presented as an Application Note by Agilent (formerly Hewlett Packard). It concerns the correct use of the detectors 423B and 8470B.

What makes this brochure so useful is the detailed cross section and exploded views of older plug e.g. BNC, N, ApC7 etc as well as the notes on correct handling them and the repair or exchange of such detectors. Some people will also find more memories in this Application Note.

Address: http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/00423-90103.pdf

SWR Bridge and Power Meter

This is a very nice example of a home construction project. It is a good development project that is well documented. Looking closer you will find some interesting things.

Address: http://f1frv.free.fr/main3h_SWR_Bridges.html

Noise and Noise Figure Measurement

This is a very descriptive Website with extensive material. It is honestly more detailed and more accurately described than most people need.

Address: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~black/Noise/ppframe.htm

OML Millimeter Wave test equipment

This homepage offers a wide spectrum of products plus many other documents. As an example there is “Harmonic mixer Application Notes”. Please try the search.

Address: http://www.omlinc.com/map.htm

Return loss bridge

Those who have thought of building such a measuring bridge should visit this site. There are many fundamentals explained and also practical information.

Addresses: http://www.qsl.net/n9zia/rlb/index.html

http://www.k8iqy.com/testequipment/returnlossbridge/returnlossbridge.htm

http://www.vk2zay.net/article/179

K04BB´s homepage

The homepage is already interesting and offers many things. However for the author the site was a pot of gold. I suddenly found an undreamt of quantity of the measuring instrument manuals that I had looked for for a long time. However the lists contain everything and the sublists must be searched like a forest. For example I had never seen the manual for a Nelson Ross spectrum analyser module used in old Tektronix oscilloscopes. I have had one in the cellar for decades. Really worth having a look.

Address: http://www.ko4bb.com/cgi-bin/manuals.pl

Microwave power meter of information

Who always wanted to know how the HP power meter works or has searched for documents or information on the measuring heads. That can be found here.

Address: http://www.xertech.net/Tech/Pwr_Mtr/Pwrmtr_main.html

Johnson´s homepage

This is an historic homepage with information on Tektronix and HP measuring instruments with their data listed including a photo in a gallery.

Address: http://www.barrytech.com/

Windfreak Synthesiser

Two readers of VHF Communications (José Geraldo Chiquito and Ted Bottomley) have contacted me and asked me to add this synthesiser to this list. The Windfreak Synthesizer is a low cost 137MHz to 4.4GHz software tuneable, PLL synthesized RF signal generator, controlled and powered by a PC running Windows XP or Windows 7 via its USB port. It costs €249.

Address: http://www.windfreaktech.com/synthusb.html

Continental Compliance Ltd

This one is for the weak signal enthusiasts with noise sources and noise measurement products. Plus there is an impressive list of links for all those standards that you are wondering about.

Address http://www.rfdesignuk.com/

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