5G systems operate over various frequencies, which are often separated into three distinct regions – low-band, mid-band, and high-band. In this blog post, discover the differences between high-frequency millimeter wave (mmWave) systems and lower frequency 5G bands, as well as advanced test techniques for optimizing amplifier performance in demanding mmWave environments ..read more

The Boonton RTP5000 Series Real-time USB Peak Power Sensors are ideal instruments for fast, accurate, and reliable RF power measurements. This blog post reviews how the RTP5000 Series sensors can address the most complex and demanding test challenges ..read more

Hosted in Washington, DC, SATELLITE 2024 is a premiere conference for the global space and satellite communities to discuss the latest innovations, products, and services. In this blog post, learn what attendees can see from Maury Microwave at booth #2112 during this year’s show ..read more

Error vector magnitude (EVM) is an important metric for analyzing and optimizing digital communications systems. However,EVM measurements can be timeconsuming and require expensive equipment. In this blog post, learn how the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) can be used to measure amplifier linearity and predict EVM degradation easily, quickly, and cost efficiently for OFDM signals with high-order modulation systems ..read more

Local oscillators (LO) are crucial components used in the upconversion and downconversion chains of radar and satellite communications systems. In this post, learn the role of the LO and how its performance can significantly affect the way systems operate. Local Oscillators in Radar Systems A radar signal typically goes through several upconversion steps before leaving the radar antenna. The purpose of upconversion is to shift the signal to a higher frequency. With an upconverted signal, radar systems can resolve targets in greater detail due to improved resolution, since increasing the frequ ..read more

A characteristic of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) and other digital modulation schemes is high crest factor values or peak-to-average-power ratios (PAPR). High PAPR signals can strain amplifiers, leading to challenges such as waveform clipping, nonlinearities, and increased bit errors. Since crest factor is a single numerical value, the complementary cumulative distribution function (CCDF) can be used to provide a more comprehensive view of signal behavior ..read more

Applications such as radar and communication systems rely on the control and manipulation of pulse-modulated RF signals. Peak power sensors are often used to measure and characterize pulsed waveforms to maintain optimal system performance. These test instruments offer fast rise times for pulse edge tracking, wide video bandwidth to accurately measure envelope power, fine time resolution to analyze pulse shape and timing, and triggering capabilities to control and synchronize pulse measurements ..read more

Peak power sensors have a small smoothing capacitance and low-impedance load across the smoothing capacitors to discharge rapidly when the RF amplitude drops, which results in wide video bandwidths and fast rise time specifications. The RTP5000 Series, for example, achieves a rise time of less than 3 nanoseconds and 195 MHz of video bandwidth.  ..read more

Peak and average power measurements offer valuable insight on signal behavior and system performance. What are the differences between measuring a signal’s envelope power, peak envelope power, average power, and pulse average power ..read more

All signals experience random fluctuations in phase, a phenomenon referred to as phase noise. This blog post takes a look at real-world RF signal behavior from both a time and frequency perspective, and discusses the impact of phase noise on wireless systems.  ..read more