Spectrum Instrumentation Corp.

Company Profile

Spectrum_Corporation_Logo

Spectrum Instrumentation has been a world-leading manufacturer of ultra-fast, high-resolution solutions for signal capture and signal generation since 1989. Our unique modular concept of motherboards and many daughter-boards enables us to offer more than 500 products! So every customer gets the Perfect Fit solution to their specifications for a fair price and available from stock. All backed by our industry leading, 5 years warranty for your peace of mind plus out-of-warranty advice, service and repairs for all products from the past 15 years.

All digitizers-boards and AWG-boards are available in the common industrial standards: PCIe, LXI, PXIe, PXI and PCI. For stand alone solutions, we offer "Netboxes", which contain up to 6 boards with Ethernet connection to PCs. Our "SBench6" software guarantees the easiest operation of boards when measuring or creating signals. All boards are shipped with drivers for Windows and Linux and they support C/C++, C#, Visual Basic, .NET, Python, Java, IVI, LabVIEW, MATLAB and more. Our hardware and software creates leading edge, powerful instruments: digitizers, oscilloscopes, fast long-term data-loggers, spectrum analysers, logic analysers or transient recorders.

All products are completely developed, produced and extensively tested by Spectrum with world-class support directly from Spectrum's hardware and software engineers for fast responses.

Contact Information:


Phone: 201-562-1999

Location:


Spectrum Instrumentation Corp.
401 Hackensack Ave, 4th Floor
Hackensack NJ 07601
United States

Multimedia

Spectrum M4i.66xx PCIe 16 Bit Arbitrary Waveform Generator with 1.25 GS/s

The M4i.66xx AWG series offers up to 4 synchronous 16 bit high speed output channels with either 1.25 GS/s or 625 MS/s output speed. The output level can be as high as 2.5 Volts into 50 ohm termination. Models are available with 200 MHz and 400 MHz signal bandwidth and come with 2 GSample of on-board memory.

Instrumental Software

SBench 6 is a powerful and intuitive interactive measurement software.SBench 6 combines the setup of hardware, data display, oscilloscope, transient recorder, analyzing functions and export functions under one easy-to-use interface.

M2i.49xx - Mid-Range Versatile 16 Dit Digitizer

M2i.49xx PCI Express and PCI digitizer for ultrasound, laser, radar and medical applications. The card series offers up to 8 synchronous 16 bit digitizer channels with 10 MS/s up to 60 MS/s sampling speed. Inputs can be switched between single-ended and differential.

M4i.44xx 14/16 Bit 500 MS/s Digitizer

The M4i.44xx series offers 2 and 4 synchrnonous high resolution digitizing channels with either 500 MS/s, 250 MS/s or 130 MS/s sampling speed. The PCI Express x8 Gen2 interface allows continuous online data streaming with more than 3 GByte/s.

DigitizerNETBOX

The digitizerNETBOX is a remote solution that connects the digitizer to a network using Ethernet and the LXI standard. The digitizerNETBOX can be used as a bench-top instrument or mounted in a 19" rack. It can be directly connected to a laptop, a desktop PC or the company LAN, making it accessible from virtually anywhere.

Spectrum M4i.77xx PCIe Digital Data Acquisition Card with 720 MBit/s

The M4i.77xx-x8 series digital waveform acquisition (logic-analyzer) cards include versions with 32 synchronous channels, either single-ended with programmable threshold levels or differential. The large onboard memory can be segmented to record different waveform sequences.

M4i.22xx 8 Bit 5 GS/s PCIe Digitizer with 1.5 GHz Bandwidth

The M4i.22xx series offers up to 4 synchrnonous high speed digitizing channels with either 5 GS/s, 2.5 GS/s or 1.25 GS/s sampling speed. The PCI Express x8 Gen2 interface allows continuous online data streaming with more than 3 GByte/s.

Spectrum: 10 facts in 90 seconds

10 facts about SPECTRUM INSTRUMENTATION in 90 seconds

Spectrum M2p.59xx Introduction

The M2p.59xx series of mid-speed 16-bit digitizers for PCIe bus include 20 different models with one, two, four or eight channels and sampling rates between 20 MS/s and 125 MS/s.

SCAPP - Spectrum's CUDA access for parallel processing

SCAPP - Spectrum's CUDA access for parallel processing

Spectrum M2p.65xx AWG-series Introduction

These 16-bit AWGs provide 1 to 8 AWG-channels on a single PCIe card only 167 mm in length. The "65" series offers eight product variants with 40 MS/s to 125 MS/s speed.

Scanning Atoms with the Tip of a Needle

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Digitizer from Spectrum helps researchers to improve the atomic force microscope

At the University of Newcastle, Dr. Michael Ruppert and his team are improving the key elements of AFM systems to simplify the operation as well as to enhance the overall performance, using a model DN2.593-08 digitizerNETBOX from Spectrum Instrumentation.

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AWG-Card by Spectrum Used to Move Around Single Atoms

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The Physics Department at the University of San Diego is building a model of atoms moving in an optical lattice, attempting to cool the atoms to near absolute zero and then move them into a triangular lattice formation using pulses of laser light. To achieve this, a Spectrum Instrumentation M4i.6622-x8 Arbitrary Waveform Generator was used.

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Spectrum Instrumentation Digitizers, AWG Used for Atmospheric Research

Spectrum

Atmospheric research uses pulsed laser beams to measure temperature and wind speed along the beams by measuring the Doppler shifted and backscattered light at 100 km height in the atmosphere. The returning light signals are very weak and can be blocked by sunlight, but The Leibniz Institute for Atmospheric Physics (IAP) has solved this problem.

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15 Year Old Spectrum Digitizer Cards Still Playing A Vital Role at DESY

DESY

DESY, short for Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, is based in Hamburg, Germany and operates particle accelerators to investigate the structure of matter. The accelerators run 24/7 for international experimenters so it is vital to have equipment that can be relied on to work perfectly and for many years. Spectrum Instrumentation has become one of DESY’s suppliers of choice for digitizer cards for the past fifteen years because of its reputation for quality. 

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Spectrum’s Digitizer is Key for World’s Highest Indoor Magnetic Field at University of Tokyo

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The International MegaGauss Science Laboratory, part of the Institute Solid State Physics (ISSP) at the University of Tokyo, is attempting to set a new world record for the highest ever, indoor magnetic field. To do this, the ISSP needed to improve the precision of the firing processes with sub-nanosecond measurements and has installed a Spectrum Instrumentation digitizer to achieve this.

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Modular PXIe Digitizers for Wideband Applications from Spectrum Instrumentation

Spectrum Instrumentation has expanded its line of PXIe-based (PXI Express) high-speed digitizers with nine new cards. The new M4x.22xx series includes modules that offer one, two or four fully synchronous channels. Each channel is equipped with its own analog-to-digital converter (ADC), with real-time signal sampling at rates from 1.25 GS/s to 5 GS/s, and scope-like signal conditioning circuitry that allows programming of parameters such as input gain, signal offset and coupling.

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Spectrum's AWGs allow easy signal generation in automated and remote applications

The release of a new line of Arbitrary Waveform Generators (AWG), based on the LXI instrumentation standard, opens the door for engineers and scientists who need to generate electronic signals in automated test and remote applications. Spectrum has released seven new instruments in the generatorNETBOX series to give users a wide choice of performance levels.

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digitizerNETBOX units

LXI-Based digitizerNETBOX Series: DN6.59x

Spectrum Instrumentation added DN6.59x series digitizers are all based on the latest high-resolution 16-bit ADC technology and come with a choice of maximum sampling rates (20, 40 and 125 MS/s) and bandwidths (10, 20 and 60 MHz.) 

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Next Generation 16-Bit Digitizers

Next Generation 16-Bit Digitizers

The first analog module series available for the M2p platform is the new 59xx module family, which consists of four different speed options of 20, 40, 80 or 125 MSPS and the choices of 1, 2, 4 or 8 channels. 

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Spectrum

Spectrum Launches Next Generation of 16-Bit Digitizers

Spectrum Instrumentation announced the first products of a digitizer card series, featuring a completely new design. It consists of the new M2p platform-board, which will be the PCIe base for all upcoming products for the next years. The other part is the new 59xx module, which will be available in many variations. The M2p platform and 59xx module form 13 different new digitizer cards with numerous options regarding speed and channels.

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DN6.22x series

Spectrum Releases DN6.22x Series of LXI Digitizers

Multi-channel high-frequency signal acquisition and analysis has become much easier with the release of the DN6.22x series of LXI digitizers from Spectrum GmbH. The new series extends the company’s lineup of popular digitizerNETBOX products by adding eight models that feature high-channel count, fast sampling rates and wide bandwidth. The entry level DN6.221 models offer versions with 12, 16, 20 and 24 channels, with each channel capable of sampling electronic signals at rates up to 1.25 GS/s. 

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M4i4450Boxcar_highres

Spectrum's New Boxcar Function Smooths Out Noise to Give Clear Signals

Spectrum GmbH has announced a new function for its extensive range of modularly designed digitizers. The Boxcar averaging function smooths out high frequency noise to give a clear signal. It is most useful in situations where signals have been oversampled and it can be used to increase vertical resolution, lower noise and improve dynamic characteristics such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spurious free dynamic range (SFDR). It uses a mathematical signal processing function to effectively recalculate the vertical value of each acquired data point by averaging it with adjacent sample points.

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spectrumdigitizerproducts

Spectrum Adds Increased Sensitivity Option to its Digitizer Products

Spectrum GmbH has announced an option (M4i.22xx-ir40m) for its highly successful, high-speed 22xx series of digitizer products that increases their sensitivity and therefore absolute resolution for low amplitude signals in the ±40 mV up to ±0.5 V range. The current products are optimized to acquire, store and analyze signals in the ±200 mV up to ±2.5 V range.

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Multi-Channel LXI Digitizers

DN6 445-24_low-resSpectrum GmbH has released a range of high-speed 14 and 16 bit LXI-based digitizer products for applications where multiple electronic signals need to be acquired and analyzed. Twelve instruments with up to 24 fully synchronized channels extend Spectrum's digitizerNETBOX family. The 16 bit ADC models offers sampling rates of either 130 MS/s or 250 MS/s, while the 14 bit units feature sampling rates of 500 MS/s.

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PXIe Arbitrary Waveform Generators: M4x Series

M4x 6622-x4 low resolutionSpectrum’s M4x series of PXIe Arbitrary Waveform Generators offer a cost effective solution for automated testing applications that require fast and accurate electronic signal generation. Based on the modular PXIe instrumentation standard, the M4x series includes five new modules that provide one, two or four channels. Each channel is equipped with the latest 16 bit digital-to-analog converter technology.

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Arbitrary Waveform Generators

DN2 662-08The release of a line of arbitrary waveform generators based on the LXI instrumentation standard, opens the door for engineers and scientists who need to generate electronic signals in automated test and remote applications. Spectrum has released seven instruments in the generatorNETBOX series. The units combine the latest digital-to-analog converter technology and can generate signals from DC up to 400 MHz in frequency.

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High Speed PXI Express Digitizer Family: M4x.44xx Series

High speed PXI Express DigitizerSpectrum GmbH has released its first high-speed digitizer product line based on the popular PXIe (PXI Express) modular instrumentation standard. The M4x.44xx series consists of six new products, each packaged in a dual-width 3U module. The digitizers include versions with two and four fully synchronous channels and they come with resolutions of either 14 bits, for sampling at rates up to 500 MS/s, or 16 bits, for sampling at rates up to 130 or 250 MS/s.

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Tools to Learn Basics of Waveform Generation, Acquisition and Analysis

SB6_Guide_Examle4_QuadraturSpectrum is pleased to make available a number of academic tools that can be used to learn the basics of waveform generation, acquisition and analysis. The tools are freely available for download on the Spectrum website and are designed so that they can be used by teachers and other educators for structured learning classes or by students who wish to follow a self-tutorial style  process. The academic tools are also helpful for first time digitizer and AWG users.

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Embedded Server Option: DN2.xxx-Emb

DN2_Embedded ServerSpectrum's Ethernet based digitizer products releases the Embedded Server option DN2.xxx-Emb. It can be ordered with any of the companies digitizerNETBOX series of LXI instruments. It effectively turns them into PC based data acquisition units that can operate independently or, when connected to a LAN, as parts of a larger system. The digitizerNETBOX family, with more than 30 different models, offers the widest choice of LXI based data acquisition capabilities.

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Digital Data Acquisition Cards: M4i.77xx Series

M4i7735-x8The Spectrum M4i.77xx series of digital data acquisition cards represent a major performance breakthrough for test engineers who require high-speed digital data logging with multi-channel logic analysis over extended time periods. Based on Spectrum's proven M4i series PCI express (PCIe) platform the cards are small and compact. Each card comes equipped with 32 fully synchronous channels and a large 4 GB on-board memory.

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Two Arbitrary Waveform Generators

Two Arbitrary Waveform GeneratorsSpectrum has announced the release of two arbitrary waveform generators that set new standards for speed, precision and size. The models offer one or two channels each capable of outputting electronic signals at rates of up to 1.25 Gigasamples/second (GS/s) with 16-bit vertical resolution. The combination makes these new AWG's ideal for generating high frequency signals up to 400 MHz with the best possible accuracy and fidelity.

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PC-Based Digitizer / Generator Cards Storage System

Spectrum_Streaming_SystemFor applications requiring extended electronic waveform acquisition and generation, Spectrum has announced a storage system that works with their PC-based digitizer and generator cards to dramatically increase possible recording and replay times. The new system can be used with any of Spectrum's M2i, M3i or M4i series of PCIe digitizer or waveform generator cards and delivers data storage sizes from 1 to 32 TB with full support for continuous data streaming at rates up to 3 GB/s.

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High-Speed 5 GS/s PCIe Digitizer Cards

5 GSs PCIe Digitizer CardsFor the first time, Spectrum is offering a solution to engineers and scientists looking to capture and analyze fast electronic signals in the DC to 1 GHz frequency range. The company has greatly extended the performance of its PCIe based instruments by adding nine new models to its M4i series of digitizers. These cards boast real-time sampling rates up to 5 GS/s and high bandwidth making it possible for them to measure signals, edges and pulses.

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Low Noise Pre-Amplifiers

Spectrum_SPA 1411_pre-amplifierFor applications where low level electronic signals need to be acquired and analyzed Spectrum has added a range of pre-amplifiers that can be used to boost signal levels. When combined with a Spectrum digitizer these low noise pre-amplifiers can greatly increase the measurement systems overall dynamic range and sensitivity. Seven different pre-amplifiers are available making it easy to select a model that can best match the digitizer being used.

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Digitizer Handbook

free Digitizer HandbookTo keep engineers and scientists up to date with the latest developments in PC based digitizer technology, Spectrum has published a handbook that covers the major product features of this powerful class of instrument and also explains when a digitizer can replace an oscilloscope. The 120 page booklet is printed in full color and includes a number of graphical images that highlight and explain key digitizer concepts and their application.

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High-Precision 625 MS/s 16-Bit AWG's

M4i series Arbitrary Waveform Generators (Spectrum has announced the release of three new M4i series Arbitrary Waveform Generators (AWG's) that set new standards in speed and precision. The new models of the M4i.66xx series offer one, two and four channels with each channel capable of outputting electronic signals at rates of up to 625 Megasamples/second (MS/s) with 16 bit vertical resolution.

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High-Speed 5 GS/s LXI Digitizers

LXI DigitizersFor applications where fast electronic signals in the GHz range need to be remotely acquired and analyzed Spectrum has extended its popular digitizerNETBOX series of LXI based instruments and released eight new models. Available with two, four or eight fully synchronous channels the new units feature sampling rates up to 5 GS/s, bandwidth in excess of 1.5 GHz and on-board acquisition memory up to 8 GSamples.

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Downloads

Creating, Capturing and Transferring AWG Waveforms

Creating, capturing and transferring waveforms for arbitrary waveform generators using SBench 6.

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Spectrum Catalogue - Precision and Performance in PC Instrumentation

The latest Spectrum catalogue that summarizes current instrumentation range.

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Creating AWG Waveforms in SBench 6 using Equations

Arbitrary waveform generators (AWG's) are among the most powerful signal sources available for testing. They offer an extensive range of waveshapes which can be created and selected to rapidly provide a broad range of test events. This application note provides an overview of the rules for waveform creation along with a series of detailed examples. Let’s start with an overview of the waveform creation elements available in SBench 6.

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SBench 6 - Software Tool for Digitizer Data

Modular digitizers are typically small compact devices that allow the capture and conversion of analog electronic signals into digital data. The data can then be stored in on-board memory or transferred to a PC. As digitizers are ‘blind’ instruments they do not normally have an integral display to view, measure or analyze the data they collect. Instead, these functions are usually performed by a PC. Thanks to today’s technology PC’s offer massive amounts of processing power, large displays and huge storage capabilities. Notebook PC’s can even be used to provide easy portability in remote or mobile applications.  

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LXI based Multi-channel Digitizer Instrument

Have you ever been challenged to take multiple measurements in a short period of time? In this article we will discuss the key features of the digitizerNETBOX, an LXI digitizer instrument, and demonstrate how it can make real world measurements on an air compressor. We’ll show how to install and connect the instrument and then set up the measurement with the included software - all within a few minutes.

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Software Support for Modular Digitizers

Although modular digitizers can be considered computer hardware they require suitable firmware and software in order to be integrated into the host computer system. Digitizers use embedded software and require device drivers, maintenance software and operational applications to control, view and transfer the digitizer’s data. Software can be supplied or it can be custom developed, this application note provides an overview of the software required to support modular digitizers.

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Triggering and Synchronization in Modular Digitizers

Digitizers are used to convert electrical signals into a series of measurements that are then output as a numerical array of amplitude values versus time. To make this information useful the time information is typically related to a specific reference point which is most commonly the trigger position. The trigger point can be something that occurs within the measured signal or it can be from other external sources. The function of triggering is to link the time measurements to a specific known point in time.

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Proper Use of Digitizer Front-End Signal Conditioning

Modular digitizers and similar measuring instruments need to match a wide variety of signal characteristics to the fixed input range of the internal analog to digital converter (ADC). Digitizer front ends must also minimize loading of the device being tested and provide appropriate coupling. Additionally, filtering may be needed to reduce the impact of broadband noise. All of these features are provided by the instruments ‘front end’ which includes all the circuitry between the input and the ADC. 

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Using Modular Digitizer Acquisition Modes

Modular digitizers offer many acquisition features matched to the primary application of acquiring multiple channels of input data and transferring that data at high rates to analysis computers. They also offer multiple acquisition modes that are intended to use on-board memory efficiently and decrease the dead time between acquisitions. This is especially true with signals that occur at low duty cycles in such applications as echo ranging (including radar, sonar, lidar, and ultrasound), and transient data collection applications (such as time of flight spectrometry and other stimulus-response based analysis).

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Advantages of High Resolution in High Bandwidth Digitizers

Two of the key specifications of digitizers are bandwidth and amplitude resolution. These specifications are not independent - with increasing resolution available with decreasing bandwidth. Users must make a tradeoff in selecting a digitizer to meet their measurement needs. This article discusses the advantages and limitations of high resolution in high bandwidth digitizers. Where high resolution is greater than 12 bits and high bandwidth is greater than 20 MHz.

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An Introduction to Modular Waveform Digitizers

This article provides general information about digitizers. The article explains in detail different features and the difference between digitizers and digital oscilloscopes. In addition this article provides a glossary of common digitizer specifications and terms. 

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Signal Processing for Digitizers

Modular digitizers allow accurate, high resolution data acquisition that can be quickly transferred to a host computer. Signal processing functions, applied in the digitizer or in the host computer, permit the enhancement of the acquired data or the extraction of extremely useful information from a simple measurement. Modern digitizer support software, like Spectrum’s SBench 6 and many third party programs incorporate many signal processing features. These include waveform arithmetic, ensemble and boxcar averaging, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), advanced filtering functions and histograms. This application note will investigate all these functions and provide typical examples of common applications for these tools.

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Using Spectrum Digitizers in Ultrasonic Applications

The use of Ultrasonic products is increasing as new techniques and improvements in instrument performance constantly expand the range of applications. Spectrum digitizers are ideal tools for making ultrasonic measurements and can play a key role required in the development, testing and operation of these products.

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Using Digitizers as Oscilloscopes

This application note discusses using digitizers as oscilloscopes.

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Using Probes and Sensors with Modular Digitizers

Probes convert signal levels, change impedance levels, or offer convenient connection methods. Sensors or transducers convert physical phenomena to electrical signals. Examples include current probes, accelerometers, and photomultipliers. Both types of input devices are supported by Spectrum digitizers. This application note deals with using both probes and sensors with Spectrum modular digitizers.

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RF Measurements Application Note

Modern modular digitizers, like the Spectrum M4i series PCIe digitizers, offer greater bandwidth and higher resolution at any given bandwidth than ever before. Although they are in the class of general purpose measuring instruments they are capable of many RF and lower microwave frequency measurements. This article focuses on some examples of common RF measurements that can be performed with these modular digitizers.

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RFQ