ABI's Electronic T&M Systems Cover Most PCB Repair Needs

ABI's electronic test and maintenance systems give you internal control over your repair needs.  They are easy to use and supported all over the world. #Repairdontwaste.

Here's what some ABI customers are saying:

Saelig is ABI's USA technical distributor.  Want a demo?  Just call 585-385-1750 !!!

What is an oscilloscope?

LinkedIn has a nice introductory course for beginners using oscilloscopes (see below).

While the ubiquitous multimeter is useful for examining and debugging DC circuits, it has limits. For circuits that only have constant voltages that's usually OK, but for more complex circuits thoyou need to see the waveforms of voltages that change over time -maybe an audio signal playing music on a speaker.

An oscilloscope is just that it shows on its screen just how a voltage changes over time. It displays the measured signal with voltage on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis. Often the challenge is to know how to drive the scope so that it shows you clearly what's going on with your signal. 

We have lots of introductory videos on our YouTube channel and plenty of entry-level scopes to choose from to buy.

If you're a beginner, or need the basics, take a look at this free LinkedIn course: 

Electronics Foundation Course:  Oscilloscopes  http://bit.ly/2q2kbmt

So what IS an RTSA?

You mean - what IS a Real Time Spectrum Analyzer?

Oscilloscopes display signals in the time domain (voltage against time), and some have quite insensitive FFT capabilities too for frequency information. But spectrum analyzers are dedicated units that display signals in frequency domain (amplitude against frequency). This allows users to track signal levels and phase noise, as well as identify unwanted signals and their frequencies. 

As RF bands get increasingly crowded, engineers are expressing a need to examine frequency bands for available channels, as well as identifying interference sources. For intermittent noise sources you really need real time spectrum analysis - not an analyzer that takes time to do a frequency scan.

Real time spectrum analyzers (RTSAs) offer an almost instant real-time indication of the RF environment without waiting for lengthy sweep/scans. This means you can now catch short-burst GSM signals, FHSS transmitters, and intermittent spurious signals.

The Spectran V5 Series of Real Time Spectrum Analyzers. These analyzers  provide 20GHz scans in less than 20mS at a price point much lower than competitor models. This line of analyzers is fully customizable, with various optional upgrades, accessories, and frequency ranges, allowing you to “mix and match” to build the perfect real time spectrum analyzer kit for your test and measurement application.

Below is a handheld RTSA, but rack-mount and USB-connected versions are available:

SPECTRAN V5 Handheld Real Time Spectrum Analyzer shown with optional Locking Frames accessory.

Spectran HF-8060 V5 Realtime 6GHz Spectrum Analyzer

Aaronia’s SPECTRAN V5 RSA is a rack-mounted real-time 6GHz Spectrum Analyzer that can be remote controlled to capture even shortest signal transmissions. It offers a remarkable performance at an unbeatable price-performance. This 1U unit can be mounted in a common 19“ instrument rack but it is also perfectly suitable for bench use in laboratories as well, thanks to its low power consumption. It is also well suited for mobile use in measuring vehicles or satellite broadcasting vans.

 

The analyzer is controllable through a USB interface or LAN/Ethernet, allowing a continuous logging and streaming of any frequency range and direct access to the analyzer through an Internet-connected PC.

 

• Continuously stream and store any spectrum of interest – even remotely!
• Monitoring multiple sites from one centralized location
• Eliminate trips to difficult locations
• Up to 24TB data storage inside the remote unit
• Optional I/Q Generator (6GHz) and Power Meter (40GHz)
• Includes World´s first 3D Real-Time Spectrum monitoring and recording Software “RTSA Suite” (gapless streaming and playback)

• Frequency Range: 9KHz – 6GHz (Optional Low-End Extension to 1Hz)
• DANL With Preamplifier: -150dBm (1Hz)
• Max Power at RF input: +20dBm
• Resolution Bandwidth (RBW): 1Hz – 3MHz
• Real Time Bandwidth (RTBW): 44MHz (Optional 80MHz Upgrade)
• Units: dBm, dBµV, dBV, dBmV
• Detectors: RMS, Min / Max, AVG
• Attenuator Range: 45dB (0.5dB steps)
• Demodulator: AM, FM
• Input: 50 Ohm N, RF-input (f)
• Accuracy: +/- 1.5dB (typical)
• Interface: USB 2.0 (standard), LAN (with Monitoring Software Upgrade)
• Size: 19″ Single Rack
• Weight: ~10.6 lbs

Includes

• 19″ Single Rack Mount RF Spectrum Analyzer
• Pre-installed 20dB internal preamplifier
• AC Power Adapter / Charger
• Flash drive containing RTSA Suite Software and user manuals

Options, Upgrades, and Accessories

20dB Internal Low Noise Pre-Amplifier LNA (Option 020): Provides an internal super-low-noise 20dB preamplifier for measuring very weak signals. This is controlled via true RF switch. INCLUDED IN USA RSA MODELS.

Monitoring Software Upgrade (Option 185): Available for V4 RSA Models (RSA6000 and RSA9000) only.

Upgraded On-board CPU (Option 183): Upgrades internal CPU from standard PC (See spec sheet) to Intel i5-2405S 2.4GHz. Available for V4 RSA Models (RSA6000 and RSA9000) only.

20GHz or 40GHz Power Meter (Option 220, Option 240): Highly accurate internal power meter, up to 40GHz.

5ppb (0.005 ppm) OCXO Timebase (Option 002): Extremely precise OCXO timebase offers significant noise / jitter reduction, and allows the use of narrower filters to increase sensitivity and more precise measurement capabilities.

1Hz Low Frequency Extension (Option 003): Extends the low end of each model’s frequency range down to 1Hz, via 2nd LF path (see previous paragraph discussing internal switching and diversion). This offers improved dynamic range (from 80dB to 100dB), and is fully functional real-time controlled by DDS sweep. Available for V5 RSA Models (RSA 8060, 80120, 80160, and 80200) only.

Ultra-Low Phase Noise (Option 004):

6GHz Tracking / I/Q DDS Generator (Option 007):

160 MHz Real Time Bandwidth Expansion (Option 160): Standard units offer up to 80 MHz RTBW, but this upgrade allows expansion up to 160MHz RTBW.

Real Time Broadband Peak Power Meter (Options 203, 204, 205): Real Time Broadband Peak Power Maker (10 MHz and up) for V4 RSA Units only. 6GHz, 8GHz, and 10GHz available.

Docking Station: High quality docking station / analyzer stand for bench top use, with integrated connectors (USB, SMA).

20,000 mAh External Power Bank: Extending the autonomous run time from ~2 hours to ~6 hours, the external power bank is highly recommended for field applications where AC power may not be readily available, or applications requiring full-featured usage / internal logging that may quickly drain internal battery resources.

GPS Logger: This optional GPS logger offers 6 sensors (GPS, Gyro, 3D Tilt, Digital Compass, Height, and Accelerometer) and integrates with the analyzer directly to pinpoint locations. This is ideal for automatic for recording field measurements and generating heat maps (with Google Maps, for example), as well as visualization of network coverage for GSM, WLAN, etc.

Broadband Antennas: Our full line of precision broadband antennas includes directional LP antennas, low frequency magnetic field tracking antennas, and omnidirectional radial isotropic antennas.

External Low Noise Pre-Amplifiers: Spectran V5 Analyzers also interface directly with our full line of external battery-powered LNA, to heighten sensitivity up to -170dB and sniff out extremely weak signals.

Near Field Probe Set: Available in passive and active models, AaroniaUSA near field probe sets offer 5 probes with or without 40dB preamplifier, to sniff out weak signals in near-field EMC testing applications.

Cables and Connectors: AaroniaUSA offers a wide variety of compatible cables and connectors, including 1 meter, 5 meter, and 10 meter SMA cables, DC blockers to prevent the 50 Ohm SMA input from being destroyed by DC voltages, 20 dB attenuator to expand the measurement range to 33dBm, SMA-SMA connectors, SMA-N connectors, and more.

Versatile Dual Channel 13.6GHz Microwave Signal Generator

Innovative, low-cost, stable RF signal generator is software-tunable from 54MHz to 13.6GHz in 0.1 Hz steps

The Windfreak SynthHD PRO is a temperature-compensated, dual-channel, software-tunable RF signal generator and frequency sweeper, controlled and powered via a USB port on a device running Windows or Android software. The Windfreak SynthHD PRO’s dual, independent 54 MHz to 13.6 GHz channels can be configured to run at two different frequencies, or at the same frequency with different phases. This allows its use in antenna beam steering applications or quadrature signal generation commonly used in image-reject frequency conversion. The Windfreak SynthHD PRO also has nonvolatile on board memory so it can be programmed to start up by itself on any frequency, power, sweep or modulation setting (or combinations thereof) to run stand-alone in field use. This makes it a highly mobile, low power, and light weight signal source for many RF signal generation needs.

The Windfreak SynthHD PRO’s typical channel output power is 20dBm maximum and -40dBm minimum, with the variable gain set via a 16-bit D/A.  Each RF channel’s power and frequency is independent, with dBm power levels settable in 0.01dB increments and frequency resolution of 0.1Hz or less with 2.5ppm frequency accuracy. For more complex applications the Windfreak SynthHD PRO also has an internal 100 point Frequency and Amplitude Hop Table, with a 0.01 degree phase control on each channel and a fast 4mS RF lock time.

On-board calibration is attained through a user-programmable look up table, plus two overall bias constants. Full unique device calibration can be performed at the factory and stored in onboard EEPROM. All parts of the signal chain have high quality voltage regulation, and the D/A’s driving the VGAs have a 1% voltage reference controlling their outputs. The Windfreak SynthHD PRO can measure its own temperature, allowing for excellent power and frequency control over a wide temperature range. Open source Labview GUI software, which features an Absolute Power display, is provided for setup and control of the unit via a USB port. 

Compact in size (2.8” X 2.2”), the Windfreak SynthHD PRO will find application in wireless communications systems design, antenna beam steering, quadrature oscillators for image-reject mixers, RF and microwave radios, software-defined radio (SDR), radar systems including FMCW, automated test equipment (ATE), radiated immunity pre-compliance EMC testing, etc.

Designed and manufactured in USA by Windfreak Technologies, a designer of low cost, innovative RF products that are in use worldwide in a variety of technical applications, the Windfreak SynthHD PRO is a highly mobile, low power, lightweight solution for sophisticated RF signal generation needs.

Details here:  http://www.saelig.com/RWMOD/synthhd-pro.htm

Isolated USB to RS232/485 Converter Cables With World-Unique Device IDs

The USB-232-K and USB-485-K are isolated USB to serial converter cables that are ideal for computers which do not have a serial port, or where an extra serial port is required. The USB-232-K is an isolated USB-to-RS232 converter, while the USB-485-K is an isolated USB-to-RS422/485 converter.  These 39” cables are distinctive in the marketplace in that each unit has a world-unique device ID which ensures that it appears under the same COM port number regardless of which USB port on a particular PC it is plugged into. This simplifies application software configuration and eliminates many tech support issues.  Powered entirely from the USB port using an internal isolated inverter, these converter cables can transmit signals at a data rate of up to 115kbps (USB-485-K) or 230kbps (USB-232-K).  The supplied software drivers support Windows 98, ME, Win2000, WinXP, Vista, Win7, Win8, and Win10 (32 and 64 bit).

Many PCs and laptops today lack serial ports and are required to be used in situations where isolation is required for safety or for operational quality and thus a conventional interface converter cannot be used.  These isolated converters are the solution in these circumstances.  Isolation for both the USB-232-K and USB-485-K is 100% tested to 1500V AC RMS. Female screwlocks are provided on the DB-9 side, making them physically resemble a standard serial port.  All the standard serial handshake lines are supported to allow for maximum compatibility.

The USB-485-K performs automatic driver enable (ADE) automatically, activating the RS485 drive for each transmitted character and eliminating the need for the application software to provide RTS control. This can be overridden by grounding pin 9 of the DB9 connector to permanently enable the drive stage for RS422 (or 4-wire RS485 Master) applications. The USB port provides sufficient power for a full-spec RS422 or RS485 interface capable of driving termination resistors and long cables. 

The addition of an optional DB-9-to-XLR cable makes the USB-485-K ideal for use with many professional audio controllers. The USB-485-K converter plugs directly into the USB socket of a PC or laptop and the three pin XLR plug connects to the remote interface port of the controller allowing remote control using the audio equipment’s software.   

The USB-232-K and USB-485-K converter cables are produced by KK Systems, Europe’s foremost serial interface manufacturer, and are now available from their USA distributor Saelig Company, Inc. Fairport NY.

More here:  http://www.saelig.com/category/MFR00050.htm

GPS-Logger With Gyro/Tilt/Compass and Accelerometer

  Six sensors log GPS position, 3D Gyro, digital compass, altitude sensor and acceleration in one compact device

The Aaronia GPS Logger is a six-parameter datalogger that has been designed principally for recording the position and orientation of RF antennas such as the Aaronia HyperLOG X, HyperLOG EMI, and Magnotracker series during field investigations; but it is also extremely useful for a wide range of non-RF applications where position and movement logging is needed.

The Aaronia GPS Logger includes 6 state-of-the-art sensors in a tiny form factor, with a fast data capture rate of up to 35 logs/second. This small (4” x 1.7” x 0.9”) logger with its built-in battery weighs just 3oz and fits in the palm of your hand.   Booting up in <30 -165dbm.="" 350mph="" 60="" 66-channel="" 6="" a="" aaronia="" accuracy="" altitude="" and="" antenna="" built-in="" features="" feet="" gps="" logger="" maximum="" measurements="" nbsp="" of="" p="" positional="" providing="" seconds="" sensitivity="" sensor="" signal="" the="" to="" velocity="" with="">

The GPS sensor allows for easy collection and documentation of position and elevation. The tilt-sensor and the digital compass capture the inclination and orientation of an object such as an antenna during the measurement process. The 3D/triaxial accelerometer measures g-forces up to 8g with 4mg resolution.  Using the GPS-Logger during RF measurements means that these special capabilities can be used to easily create an “RF heat map” including frequency, direction, and strength of an RF source with a 360 degree view.

All sensor data can be captured at up to 35 readings/sec per second on to a microSD card or via USB streaming.  The real-time indication of data makes the Aaronia GPS Logger extremely useful for instantly assessing position-variable information.  Supplied with 2GB of microSD data card storage and with an internal 650mAh LiPo battery, the logger can record up to two days of full speed data on the card. The data rate can be lowered to allow for weeks or even months of logging time. Made in Germany by Aaronia AG, Europe’s award-winning manufacturer of RF site survey tools, hand held spectrum analyzers, antennas and EMC test probes. The Aaronia GPS Logger is available now with a 10-year warranty from Saelig Company, Inc., technical distributor for Aaronia USA.