Why Record RF? A Permanent Record of the Electromagnetic Spectrum As engineers, we’ve become accustomed to continuous improvements in cost, speed, and performance. Our customers demand it and we expect it from our vendors. After being in the industry for a while, it’s hard to get excited about routine upgrades. Why record RF? Every once in a while, a whole … Read More
Reduce Uncertainty with an RF Recorder
Reduce Uncertainty with an RF Recorder In engineering, uncertainty has always been a terrible monster. In fact, the entire field of test and measurement exists to eliminate it wherever possible. Despite this never-ending quest, some portions of RF system design remain plagued by guesswork and rules of thumb. We’re not here to postulate but to reduce uncertainty. Predicting real world … Read More
The Evolution of RF Signal-Observation Tools
The Evolution of RF Signal-Observation Tools This article appeared in Microwaves and RF and Electronic Design and has been published here with permission. Tools used to visualize RF signals have evolved over time from the spectrum analyzer to today’s RF recorders. However, each era’s tools have had limitations. This article shows how the modern approach builds on the best aspects … Read More
Three Key Technologies That Power the RF Recorder
Three Key Technologies That Power the RF Recorder RF recorders are still the new kid on the block compared to the ubiquitous spectrum analyzer. The foundational technologies behind the spectrum analyzer have existed for over 50 years. That’s not the case for RF recording instrumentation. So why did it take us so long to get here? Three key technologies have … Read More