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Keithley Instruments, Inc. announced a set of signal creation and analysis tools that extend its RF test capabilities to include WiMAX signal testing. Keithley’s new solution is built on a next-generation hardware platform that makes it simple and inexpensive to add support for new signal standards, such as 802.16e mobile WiMAX Wave 2 testing with up to 4x4 MIMO channels, without requiring expensive hardware upgrades or different instrumentation.

In addition, the new instruments support testing to lower frequency bands down to 400 MHz, an increasingly important capability for new WiMAX solutions being developed.

Keithley’s RF test solutions are based on the company’s award-winning model 2820 RF vector signal analyzers and model 2920 RF vector signal generators. Because these test instruments rely on a next-generation DSP-based Software-Defined Radio (SDR) architecture, they are capable of making extremely high-speed measurements both thoroughly and accurately.

The SDR architecture enables Keithley’s highly flexible offering with instruments that are easy and less costly to upgrade as new wireless and cellular standards are introduced. In addition, the same Keithley signal analyzers or signal generators can be used in an automated production environment or can be moved easily to the bench for stand-alone test applications.

Keithley’s test systems provide frequency coverage from 400 MHz to 4 GHz and to 6 GHz if WLAN measurements are needed. Coverage in the lower frequencies, below 2.4 GHz, has become more important recently, as the 400-700 MHz bands are being opened for new mobile wireless communications services where WiMAX solutions are likely to be employed.

The model 2820 RF vector signal analyzer is optimized for automated testing of wireless devices in production test environments, as well as in new product and device research and development. It features measurement speeds up to three times faster than competitive instruments in production test, takes up half the space, and costs half as much as competitive products.

The model 2820 RF vector signal analyzer is designed to work closely with Keithley's model 2920 RF vector signal generator. Together, these two instrument families form a powerful RF test and measurement solution that reduces test times and capital equipment costs for testing RF devices.

Working in conjunction with the two RF test instrument families is version 2.0 of Keithley’s SignalMeister Waveform Creation Software, for creation of the entire range of signals in accordance with WiMAX and WLAN wireless connectivity standards and 3GPP and 3GPP2 cellular standards. SignalMeister is the only waveform creation software tool available that uses an object-oriented graphical interface that is optimized for MIMO signals, allowing engineers to easily create basic and complex waveforms.

The base prices of the model 2820 and model 2920 instruments at 4 GHz are US $25,000 and US $23,000 respectively. SignalMeister can be downloaded from Keithley’s web site at no charge; specific software licenses start at US $2,500. All units are available six to eight weeks ARO.