Market Development: Radio Frequency Calibration
In 2001, Fluke Calibration was considering entry into the RF calibration marketplace. Martin Technical Research was hired to:
OEMs that were interviewed included Fairchild Semiconductor, Belden Communications, Lucent Technologies, Hamilton Sundstrand, Siemens-Stromberg Carlson, Dictaphone, 3Com, Xircom, Baldwin Contract Electronics, Honeywell, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Novatel, Motorola, Verizon, Storage Tek and Singular Wireless.
- Understand what issues and trends were affecting the existing environment for RF calibrations.
- Identify market drivers that would shape the future needs of RF calibration labs.
- Dedicated third-party RF calibration labs.
- Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who performed their own RF calibrations.
- OEMs who shipped their equipment to outside sources for RF cals.
OEMs that were interviewed included Fairchild Semiconductor, Belden Communications, Lucent Technologies, Hamilton Sundstrand, Siemens-Stromberg Carlson, Dictaphone, 3Com, Xircom, Baldwin Contract Electronics, Honeywell, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Novatel, Motorola, Verizon, Storage Tek and Singular Wireless.
Results: The final report identified the two most frequently RF-calibrated items – spectrum analyzers and signal generators. Additionally, 57% of respondents to an open-ended question said that development of automated software test procedures would be the single greatest improvement to their RF capabilities.
And anecdotal comments from end-users, including this comment from a communications engineer describing his RF application as it related to the Patriot Missile defense system, brought valuable insight to the RF design team….
Application quotes from end-user : “We're testing radio equipment, mostly. Also for field testing, to see if there’s a jammer out there. Typically we set up a spectrum analyzer to see if anyone’s jamming us. (We) measure RF frequencies where we are. We’re trying to find out who’s out there.”
Bandwidth : 1350 Mhz to 1850 Mhz.
Key Measurements: “Harmonics, attenuation, measuring cables, attenuation cables, spurious responses, noise figures.”
This study was the first step in Fluke’s path toward rapidly becoming the marketplace leader in RF calibrations.
http://us.flukecal.com/products/rf-calibration
