Aeroflex has released its 3500 radio test set, a lightweight and portable radio set designed specifically to test vehicle-based  radio systems used predominantly by first responders. It incorporates the latest technology in rugged design, portability, battery life and high performance. Thus allowing the user to test all aspects of the vehicle’s system — from the radio to the cable and the antenna —  with powerful features typically found only in bench-top radio test equipment.

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With a built-in generator and receiver, the Aeroflex 3500 radio test set operates from 2 MHz to 1 GHz and it is capable of measuring high power (up to 200 Watts with an external attenuator) as well as finding faults in antenna, power amplifiers and interconnects. It performs a wide variety of AM/FM transmitter and receiver tests including RF power, RF frequency error, AM modulation, FM deviation, receive signal strength indicator (RSSI), distortion and SINAD/sensitivity.

Since many radio system faults actually originate in the cabling or antenna rather than in the radio, the 3500 radio test set allows the user to measure the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of both the cable and the antenna. A large VSWR can indicate a high return loss caused by a bad cable, connector, or antenna. Isolating the problem in the cable, connector or antenna prevents the user from returning a good radio to the manufacturer or depot for repair, thus avoiding unnecessary extra cost as well as the inconvenience of radio system down time.

The radio test set weighs just 8.5 lbs. (3.86 kg.) including the battery and solid aluminum weatherproof case. And offers an operating temperature range of -10 °C to +50 °C with rugged construction specifications for humidity, altitude, shock and vibration. It has a battery life of seven hours and can be fully recharged and ready to operate in only four hours.

In addition, the radio test set is designed to enable quick “drive-by” testing, allowing the user to connect to the supplied antenna, key up the radio and measure the radio parameters over-the-air. A microphone/speaker combination handset is provided to check voice quality of the transmitter and receiver.

Furthermore, the 3500 radio test set utilizes a software-defined radio (SDR) architecture where the software defines almost all of the functionality of the test set from the RF physical layer and up. Because it is software-defined, it allows for future updates and improvements to the capability of the instrument and the user can easily add options or update functional improvements in the field without the need to return the instrument to the factory. According to Aeroflex, future product enhancements will include spectrum analyzer and oscilloscope functions.

The 3500 radio test set pricing starts at $14,995 for a base configuration that includes an internal battery, AC to DC charger, audio/ microphone handset, audio/microphone cable, VSWR load TNC female and TNC to TNC cable. A combination cover/stand, 150-W (200 Watts intermittent) 20-dB attenuator, 50-W 20-dB attenuator, various antennas as well as a hard and soft carrying case are optional. The 3500 radio test set is available 8 weeks after receipt of order.
www.aeroflex.com