Keithley Announces
Industry Leading MIMO RF Test Solution
Includes new capabilities for its family of RF
signal generators and analyzers along with new signal analysis software
Cleveland, Ohio – October 9, 2007 -
Keithley Instruments, Inc. (NYSE:KEI), a leader in solutions for emerging measurement needs,
has released the industry's leading 4X4 MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) RF test system for
R&D and production testing of next generation RF communications equipment and devices. Keithley's
MIMO RF test system consists of its new Model 2920 Vector Signal Generator (VSG) and Model 2820
Vector Signal Analyzer (VSA), Model 2895 MIMO Synchronization Unit, and powerful MIMO Signal
Analysis Software. No other MIMO test system in the industry offers:
- support for 4X4 MIMO applications
- support for a multitude of commercial standards, including cellular, WiMAX, and WLAN
- +/-1 nanosecond signal sampler synchronization
- less then 1 nanosecond peak-to-peak signal sampler jitter
- less than 1 degree of peak-to-peak RF-carrier phase jitter.
By allowing for tight multi-unit synchronization with these high performance measurement
specifications, the new Keithley system can support MIMO measurements on demanding signals such as
802.11n 40MHz WLAN MIMO and 802.16e Wave 2 Mobile WiMAX. For more information on Keithley's MIMO RF
test solution, visit www.keithley.com/pr/077.
MIMO is a growing technology that uses multiple radios for both transmitting and receiving data.
In RF communication devices, it increases data throughput rates without the need for additional
bandwidth. Keithley's 4X4 MIMO test capability provides the most advanced, high performance MIMO
testing platform available for future product development with the ability to test the most complex
signal structures, including WiMAX Wave 2 and 4G LTE (long term evolution) and UMB (ultra mobile
broadband), with a simple software upgrade.
Highly Accurate and Repeatable Measurements up to 6GHz
Forming the core of Keithley's MIMO RF test solution is a new RF signal generator and an RF
signal analyzer that support expanded frequency ranges to 6GHz. The latest addition to Keithley's
growing RF product line is the Model 2920 Vector Signal Generator. The Model 2920 is available in
two configurations with maximum frequencies of 4GHz or 6GHz and can generate signals as low as
10MHz. An optional 80MHz arbitrary waveform generator bandwidth with 100MSamples of waveform memory
gives users the capability of testing a vast array of commercial communications signals, including
GSM, EDGE, W-CDMA, cdma2000, SISO WLAN, and the industry's most demanding 802.11n 40MHz WLAN MIMO
signal.
Keithley's new Model 2820 Vector Signal Analyzer comes with 40MHz of bandwidth as standard in
either a 4GHz or 6GHz configuration. The Model 2820 is highly versatile and can test a range of
signals, including GSM, EDGE, W-CDMA (uplink/downlink), and cdma2000, along with a multitude of WLAN
signals, including the 802.11n 40MHz WLAN MIMO signal in both MIMO and SISO configurations.
The tight synchronization of signals and low sampler and RF carrier phase jitter featured in
Keithley's MIMO RF test solution allow for highly accurate and repeatable measurements that ensure
high product quality and high production yields. In addition, 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.
MIMO Synchronization Unit Provides Precise and Stable Alignment
The Model 2895 MIMO Synchronization Unit provides highly synchronized signals to the system
instruments, which allows for up to 4X4 MIMO test synchronization. This gives the system a highly
precise and stable alignment between up to 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 accurate and repeatable measurements of OFDM
(orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing) MIMO signals.
Industry Leading Software Analysis Tools
Also new is Keithley's Model 280111 WLAN 802.11n MIMO Signal Analysis Software. It is the
industry's leading PC-based analysis tool for either single-channel or multi-channel analysis of
802.11x signals. This fast and powerful software tool features an extensive measurement suite for
analyzing all 802.11x signals and is also capable of supporting 4X4 MIMO channel configurations. The
software user interface is easy to set up and comes with a SCPI command set to quickly and easily
interface with test systems.
Keithley's 4X4 MIMO RF test systems are ideal for research and development engineers and
scientists at WLAN and WiMAX design centers and research and development centers. In addition, test
engineers involved with 3GPP cell phone production and RF power amplifier manufacturing, as well as
W-CDMA base stations and other wireless connectivity solutions in defense and aerospace
applications, can also take advantage of the speed, accuracy, and flexibility that these powerful
test systems offer.
Keithley's next-generation RF test instruments are designed to meet the challenges faced by
designers and manufacturers of today's wireless technologies and are suitable for most future
technologies. Keithley's RF test instruments are built on a next-generation instrument platform that
uses state-of-the-art RF and high-speed DSP technology to reduce the cost of test and shorten time
to market. They provide the measurement accuracy needed to ensure high product quality and
production yields and high test speed and low equipment cost needed to reduce the cost of test.
Price and Availability. Keithley's Model 2820 RF Vector Signal Analyzer starts at $22,500 USD
(4GHz) and is available in four to six weeks ARO beginning in October 2007. The Model 2920 RF Vector
Signal Generator begins at $17,500 USD (4GHz) and is available in six to eight weeks ARO beginning
November 1, 2007. The Model 2895 MIMO Synchronization Unit is priced at $9,900 USD and will be
available in four to six weeks ARO as of December 1, 2007. Lastly, the Model 280111 WLAN 802.11n
MIMO Signal Analysis Software is $9,500 USD and is available in two weeks ARO beginning January 1,
2008. Full pricing information for various configurations is available online.
For More Information. For more information and pricing details on Keithley's new 4X4 MIMO
RF test system or any of its RF test solutions, visit www.keithley.com/pr/077 or contact the company
at:
Telephone: 800-688-9951 440-248-0400
FAX: 440-248-6168
E-mail: publisher@keithley.com
Internet: www.keithley.com
Address: Keithley Instruments, Inc.
28775 Aurora Road
Cleveland, OH 44139-1891
About Keithley Instruments, Inc.
With more than 60 years of measurement expertise, Keithley Instruments has
become a world leader in advanced electrical test instruments and systems from DC to RF (radio
frequency). Our products solve emerging measurement needs in production testing, process monitoring,
product development, and research. Our customers are scientists and engineers in the worldwide
electronics industry involved with advanced materials research, semiconductor device development and
fabrication, and the production of end products such as portable wireless devices. The value we
provide them is a combination of precision measurement technology and a rich understanding of their
applications to improve the quality of their products and reduce their cost of test.
Products and
company names listed are trademarks or trade
names of their respective companies.
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