RSA to answer RFID challenges

BANGALORE — Tektronix Inc, one of the leading provider of test and measurement equipment, today announced a new series of real-time spectrum analyzers that provide the first complete measurement package for engineers developing cutting-edge Radio Frequency (RF) technologies, ranging from RF Identification (ID) tags to sophisticated radar applications. Real-time spectrum analysis provides the unique ability to trigger, capture and analyze time-varying RF signals.

RF signal characteristics are becoming more complex as RF communications increasingly replace wired technologies in applications ranging from inventory identification to video games.

Today’s RF signals carry complex modulation and change from one instant to the next, hopping frequencies, spiking briefly, and then disappearing. As a result, these RF signals are difficult to measure and present unpredictable behavior, making engineers’ ability to observe RF devices with existing spectrum analyzers extremely challenging. This evolution in RF technology has spawned an unprecedented demand for a new approach to spectrum analysis.

Real-time spectrum analysis (RSA) has emerged as the vehicle to address this RF technology evolution. Tektronix has employed the technology in its new portfolio of real-time spectrum analyzers, including the RSA2200A Series and the RSA3300A Series.

These instruments address time varying and transient RF signals by triggering on events that swept spectrum and vector signal analyzers fail to see, seamlessly capturing and storing a record of signal activity and enabling in-depth analysis and troubleshooting with time correlated multi-domain visual displays.

"As we see multiple industries using RF technology to enable seamless connections between electronic systems and devices, the technical requirements are having a significant impact on engineers trying to identify and understand the characteristics of the signals," said Mr V. Srinivasan, Director — Sales and Marketing, Tektronix (India) Limited.

"Where it was once enough to provide a basic view of the spectrum or simple modulation analysis with a swept spectrum analyzer, today’s RF applications require much more. Through long-term relationships with key RF customers, Tektronix has been able to identify the need for real-time spectrum analysis capabilities, and as such, is meeting the challenges of today’s RF engineers," he said.