Eindhoven, The Netherlands — Fluke Europe B.V., the European Sales and Service organization of the Fluke Corporation has announced the Fluke 9640A-LPN (low phase noise) RF Reference Source, a higher-performance synthesizer designed to simplify RF calibration and improve calibration lab productivity for even more demanding workload coverage.
The 9640A-LPN Reference Source joins the company's 9640A in delivering level precision, dynamic range and frequency capability in a single instrument. They can be used to calibrate a broad range of RF test equipment including spectrum analyzers, modulation meters and analyzers, RF power meters and sensors, measurement receivers, frequency counters and attenuators.
The phase noise specification of the 9640A-LPN is designed around maintaining adequate calibration margin capable of verifying the most demanding spectrum analyzers, including the Agilent PSA series and Rohde & Schwarz FSU Series. Previous systems typically used two or more signal generators to cover close-in and far-out measurements, or simply didn't have the necessary test accuracy ratio. Now calibration labs get the performance they need with a single Fluke 9640A-LPN.
Designed to replace popular but now discontinued synthesizers, the 9640A matches or exceeds performance of the HP 3335A Synthesizer/Level Generator, while the 9640A-LPN matches or exceeds the phase noise performance of the HP 8662A or HP 8663A synthesizers. Typical phase noise at 1 GHz for the 9640A is 10 kHz offset -122 dBc/Hz, 1 MHz offset -130 dBc/Hz. For the 9640A-LPN, it is 10 kHz offset -138 dBc/Hz, 1 MHz offset -152 dBc/Hz.
The 9640A-LPN features integrated signal leveling and attenuation within its precision leveling head, eliminating the need for characterization using a separate power meter and step attenuators, which is time consuming and difficult to automate. The leveling head delivers signals directly to the unit under test (UUT), maintaining signal precision and noise immunity throughout a +24 dBm to -130 dBm dynamic range to minimize losses, noise, mismatch errors and to maintain the calibrated integrity of the signal.
The 9640A comes with a 50 ohm leveling head and has an option to add a 75 ohm head, which extends the instrument's capability to calibrate workload with 50 and 75 ohm inputs, a unique characteristic in modern signal sources.
Designed to simplify calibration lab applications, the 9640A features dedicated function keys, context-sensitive softkeys and a bright color display. Users can set a level or frequency step size and deviate the output to match specified target values while displaying the calculated UUT error for calibration certificate documentation.
The 9640A-LPN is supported by a range of common RF workload procedures within the company's MET/CAL® Plus Calibration Measurement Software, allowing quick automation of the calibration process while simplifying the documentation requirements for quality standards and tracking assets.
Visit www.fluke.eu for further information.
