Microwave Journal
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Narda Showcases Full Product Portfolio

June 9, 2009

As it has for decades, the International Microwave Symposium will be a major showcase for the products of Narda Microwave-East. Narda has made significant advances in virtually every area of its portfolio since last year’s symposium, from its rapidly-expanding family of innovative microwave integrated circuits (MIC) to modulator drivers for lightwave applications, RF safety products, and the world’s largest inventory of RF and microwave components. The company will display all its new models at the symposium.


Narda has the industry’s most diversified portfolio of RF and microwave components, and about 1,000 different models are available from stock. The portfolio includes attenuators, couplers, phase shifters, power dividers and combiners, isolators, and circulators, as well as solid-state and electromechanical switches, and components dedicated to satellite communications applications, and many others. Some of the most popular models include the 4246B-10 miniature stripline coupler, the 4326B-2 and 4456-2 two-way power dividers, SEM123D and SV133DC PIN switches, and 4372-2 and 3372A-2 power dividers tailored to applications in popular wireless band.

At IMS 2009, Narda will introduce its second generation of products based on advanced MIC that technology that uses innovative approaches to deliver greater performance than conventional MIC designs. The new MIC product families that will be unveiled at Narda’s booth further reduce the size, weight and cost of MIC assembly, and have higher levels of integration as well. Narda’s three families of advanced MIC product methodologies include Ultimate MICs, Multifunction MICs and Surface-mount MICs.

The Ultimate MIC family combines multi-layer printed circuit fabrication with microwave hybrid manufacturing to yield very high levels of integration, along with the benefits of using digital components such as FPGAs rather than analog components to perform digital signal processing, real time temperature compensation, and control functions. The Multifunction MIC family uses new materials and attachment technologies to achieve superior electrical performance and compact size. Surface-mount MICs are targeted for frequencies up to 26 GHz and are well suited for high-volume, low-cost applications.

The Model 10512 linearized-VCO-based arbitrary FM waveform generator is a flagship product in the Ultimate MIC family. The subsystem digitally generates uniformly-distributed, pseudo-random noise that can be applied to each of two independent carriers. The characteristics of the noise waveforms, including center frequency, video bandwidth, dispersion bandwidth and other parameters are digitally controlled via the module’s parallel interface. Two VCOs and a high-speed, PIN-diode-based SP2T switch allow the unit to rapidly toggle between the two carriers and each carrier’s center frequency can be changed by up to 50 MHz in less than 100 ns. The amplitude of each carrier is controlled using Narda-developed, PHEMT-based, 63 dB digitally controlled attenuators with 1 dB step size. FPGAs provide precise filtering and shaping of the modulation waveforms, enhance VCO linearity, and provide tight temperature stability without the need for an oven. The Model 10512 consumes less than 11 W of DC power, measures only 4 x 4 x 0.6 in. and weighs less than 14 oz.

The DCA Series of 63 dB digitally controlled attenuator family is another example of how Narda’s innovative MIC design and fabrication techniques can produce unique benefits. The DCA employs GaAs SP2T pHEMT switches that deliver fast switching speed, full monotonicity and low power consumption. Operating temperature range is –55º to +95ºC, the 2-bit, 3-bit and 6-bit models are available in frequency ranges of DC to 6 GHz or DC to 18 GHz. Each model provides 1 dB resolution with +/-0.25 dB accuracy and a switching time of less than 90 ns between any two settings. They consume only 50 mW from a +/- 5 V DC power supply.

Narda’s Multifunction MIC portfolio will be represented by a Ka-band 10 W solid-state power amplifier, Ku-band and Ka-band block up/down converters, and a family of variable phase and variable output power amplifiers covering 2.7 to 43 GHz. For satcom ground terminal applications, Narda will demonstrate frequency generators that can serve as local oscillators in frequency converters and transceivers. The quad-band downconverter, for example, uses a proprietary source that produces outputs at 6.3, 8.75, 9.6, 10.0, 10.5, 10.75 and 11.25 GHz from RF inputs of 5.0 and 6.3 GHz. In addition, the Model 15172 L-band transceiver adapts military 70 MHz satellite communication modems to single-band, tri-band, or quad-band block converters that require L-band IF inputs and outputs. It converts signals at the 70 MHz IF frequency to any L-band frequency from 950 MHz to 2 GHz with a 1 MHz or optional 20 kHz step size.

Narda's Surface-mount MIC products employ custom DC-to-40 GHz packages within connectorized MIC assemblies to produce cost-effective solutions in a small form factor. Excellent examples include an X-band, 50K noise temperature LNA and a family of oscillators for 10 Gb/s and 40 Gb/s lightwave applications, such as a 39 to 44 GHz voltage-tunable dielectric resonator oscillator for use as a clock source in OC-768 40 Gb/s fiber optic communication systems. The module provides 51 MHz of linear electronic tuning range, exhibits very low jitter, and has phase noise at 44 GHz of -90 dBc/Hz at a 10 kHz offset.

Narda just expanded its family of lightwave communications products with the FO-MDA-40-25G-1. The low-cost, high-performance lithium niobate optical modulator driver is designed for 300-pin MSA transponders with data rates up to 43 Gb/s employed in DPSK long-reach 40 Gb/s lightwave communication systems. It combines MMICs developed by Narda specifically for modulator driver applications along with proprietary fabrication techniques. The result is a three-stage module that produces an exceptional eye pattern and has a 3 dB bandwidth of 85 kHz to 40 GHz, gain of 29 dB, input and output return loss of 12 dB, RMS additive jitter of only 550 ps, rise and fall times (20 to 80%) of 10 ps, and output power up to 8 Vpp with an input voltage of 450 mVpp. The FO-MDA-40-25G-1 features electronic eye-crossing control of 40% to 70%, has variable amplitude from 0.5 to 8 Vpp, operates from 0º to +70ºC, and measures only 1.1 x 1.1 x 0.34 in. The lightwave product family also includes clock oscillators, phase-locked oscillators, electro-absorptive modulator driver amplifiers and pulse carver drivers.

Narda Safety Test Solutions continues to be the global leader in instruments designed to accurately measure electromagnetic fields, from DC to over 100 GHz. Its products are used to calibrate EM field levels as well as protect workers and the public from exposure to high levels of electromagnetic radiation. Narda holds 95% of all patents for EMF measurement and its instruments are considered the standard of reference by industry as well as government agencies worldwide. Its extensive line-up includes narrowband and broadband instruments, personal and area monitors, complete survey systems, as well as comprehensive training services.

The company’s premier product, the SRM-3000 frequency-selective field strength measurement system, is the world’s first instrument that makes RF radiation safety measurements practical at multi-transmitter sites. The compact, hand-held SRM-3000 sorts out individual emitters, measures field strength and displays compliance of each one with safety standards. It employs a specialized probe with three orthogonally-mounted isotropic monopole antennas that are automatically switched at high speed to ensure that measurements on all three axes are rapidly performed before conditions change. The electromagnetic field is measured selectively by service and frequency and the results are displayed as field strength or as a percent of the legal limit. An immediate summary of all sources with their field strengths is available in real-time.

Narda also offers the compact NBM-520 and NBM-550 broadband electromagnetic field meters with unique features that set them apart from every other competitive instrument. NBM series probes are available to measure either the E or H-fields and cover from a few kHz to over 100 GHz. New for 2009 is the wideband EF 0691 probe (100 kHz to 6 GHz) designed for EMC and telecommunication uses. The NBM series offers a broad range of operational features including remote data acquisition and reporting software that provides all the data required for survey reports. The NBM-550 can even be configured with an optional GPS receiver and antenna that mount on the instrument and allow precise geographical coordinates to be incorporated in the measurement record – including satellite photos and maps from services such as Google Earth.

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