Articles by TRAK Microwave Corp.

Smiths Interconnect’s TRAK Microwave brand has released the 8836 series tactical GPS time and frequency system. The design approach integrates a ground-based GPS receiver module (GB-GRAM), a rubidium oscillator, time and frequency signal generation, and control/status circuitry in a compact, ruggedized enclosure. Standard outputs include 1 PPS, low noise 10 MHz network time protocol (NTP) and two IRIG B outputs over multi-mode fiber.

Smiths Microwave Subsystems  announced the release of the TRAK X-Band Surface Mount (SMT) Circulator. This device is a low-cost, true SMT circulator compatible with tape-and-reel (pick-and-place) and standard solder reflow profiles.

The Model MFC147 from Smiths Interconnect’s TRAK Microwave brand provides 13.75 to 14.50 GHz coverage for civilian and military Ku-Band SATCOM applications, including in-flight entertainment (IFE) and UAV communications. The unit features a ruggedized design with innovative thermal management, utilizing surface-mount construction with no open die, to withstand challenging airborne environments.

Smiths Interconnect’s TRAK Microwave brand's microstrip isolators integrate ferrite circulator/isolator substrates on printed circuit board (PCB) material providing for a high performance, yet economical, solution. They’re extremely well-matched devices with innovative integrated power terminations. Current solutions have been designed for popular mm-wave frequency bands. Model T001110 covers 29.6 to 30.6 GHz, and T001111 covers 34.5 to 35.5 GHz.

Smiths Interconnect’s TRAK Microwave brand’s Ka-Band dual-junction latching circulator-isolators can be designed to cover a variety of bandwidths across the 16 to 35 GHz range. Model OKJ221-FM features 1 µs switching speed and a very low insertion loss of 0.2 dB in transmit mode, and 0.4 dB in receive mode. These devices will handle +39 dBm transmit power with 25 dB isolation to protect the receiver while transmitting, and are well matched with 25 dB return loss and better than -60 dBc RF leakage.

Smiths Interconnect’s TRAK Microwave brand’s Model 8461 Stratum 1 Network Time Server weighs less than one pound and provides time synchronization of <1 µs of time reference. It is synchronized from an optical IRIG-B DC-level shift link or a wireline modulated IRIG B link. The optical link provides a time synchronization bridge to isolated network domains while an onboard OCXO provides holdover capability in the event that synchronization is lost from the IRIG reference.

Model MFC146 from Smiths Interconnect’s TRAK Microwave brand is a dual band block downconverter (BDC) covering the Ku band segments of 10.7-11.7 GHz and 11.7-12.75 GHz. IF outputs for the two bands are 950 to 1950 MHz and 1100 to 1250 MHz, with overall gain of 18 to 22 dB, maximum noise figure (NF) of 13.5 dB (<9 dB typical), better than -95 dBc/Hz phase noise performance, less than -90 dBc spurious and maximum group delay variation of ±1 ns.

Smiths Interconnect’s TRAK Microwave brand’s compact, frequency and time reference module (C-FTRM) has been designed to be among the smallest in its category of tactical frequency and time reference devices. Model T001008is a 2.40” x 2.66” module which includes a 50-channel GPS receiver, a low g-sensitivity double-oven crystal oscillator, and time and frequency generation circuitry. It provides reference outputs of 10 MHz, 1 PPS, and time of day (TOD).

The Model MFC147 from Smiths Interconnect’s TRAK Microwave brand provides 13.75 to 14.50 GHz coverage for civilian and military aviation Ku-band SATCOM applications, including in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems and UAV communications. The unit features a ruggedized design and innovative thermal management technique to withstand challenging airborne environments. Input frequency to the block upconverter (BUC) is 950 to 1700 MHz, with Ku-band output of +12 to +17 dBm. 

TRAK Microwave, a Smiths Microwave company, located in Tampa, FL, a leader in technically differentiated electronic and radio frequency products that connect, protect and control critical systems for the wireless telecommunications, aerospace, defense, space, medical, rail, test and industrial markets is pleased to announce that it has received OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 re-certification for its safety procedures and it’s environmental quality management.