Product briefs

Handheld 7.0 GHz spectrum analyzer

Anritsu recently debuted a handheld spectrum analyzer capable of measuring 802.11a, ultrawideband and WiMAX signals in a range from 100 kHz to 7.1 GHz.

The MS2721A measures 7 pounds, making it suitable for field applications, and offers one-button operation to measure strength, channel power, occupied bandwidth, adjacent channel power ratio and carrier-to-interference ratio. “The one-button operation makes it easier for lower-tech people to use,” said Steve Thomas, product marketing engineer.

Another key improvement over earlier models is the daytime-viewable color display, according to Thomas. “It’s the first product in its class with such a display,” he said. “Plus, it has the largest display of any portable unit.”

The unit also provides multiple language capability — English, German, French, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Italian — and Anritsu plans to add more languages later, Thomas said. It operates on 4-hour Lithium ION battery but can be connected to a 12-volt charger for longer deployments.

“It also comes with a cigarette-lighter charger,” Thomas said.

While RF operators are the primary target audience, Anritsu also is looking toward enterprise customers that operate Wi-Fi networks, law-enforcement agencies that need to set up remote communications networks at incident locations, and warehouse operations. “There are a lot of shadow areas in warehouses,” Thomas said. “Shelves block signals. This unit will allow a user to find the dead spots, after which they can put in extra access points or reposition the antenna.”

Thomas added that handhelds like the MS2721A are ideal for chasing interferers.

OTTO intros ICOM radio accessories

OTTO Communications recently announced a line of audio accessories to support ICOM F50 and F60 series radios. The line includes speaker microphones, lightweight and heavy-duty headsets, surveillance kits and replacement parts, the company said.

Klein adds heavy-duty radio cases

Klein Electronics recently unveiled the ArmorCase, a line of heavy-duty leather cases designed to fit TEKK radios. The cases are backed by a lifetime warranty, according to the company.

Motorola debuts Canopy 900 MHz radio

The Canopy 900 MHz wireless broadband radio is available in two versions: one provides operators with the ability to use a directional or omni-directional external antenna, while the other offers an integrated 60-degree antenna. Both radios provide a consistent 3.3 Mb/s signaling rate and can reach subscribers more than 40 miles away, “depending on conditions,” Motorola said. The radios also offer multiple interference mitigation techniques — including a 3 dB carrier-to-interference ratio — and GPS synchronization, and are designed to support both line-of-sight — to extend existing networks to remote locations — and increased non-line-of-sight applications. The introduction of the 900 MHz radios “rounds out” its unlicensed portfolio, Motorola said, and is designed to supplement the Canopy 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz offerings to reach customers in “hard-to-cover” areas.

Wilmore intros 200-watt DC-to-DC power converters

Wilmore Electronics has introduced the Series 1720 DC-to-DC converters that provide 200 watts of output power but take up just 1.75 inches of vertical space in 19-inch or 23-inch racks. The converters offer efficiency greater than 90%, are convection cooled and weigh just 8 pounds, the company said. They provide an isolated and regulated DC output, enabling users to supply DC-powered equipment with the proper voltage and polarity using power drawn from existing batteries, according to Wilmore. Input voltages include 24, 48 and 130 VDC, while standard output voltages include 12, 24, and 48 VDC. The converters are designed for use in communications, SCADA and telemetry systems.

MobileAccess unveils in-building Wi-Fi solution

The MA-850 Intelligent RF Switching Hub enables enterprise IT managers to create a Wi-Fi implementation in which passive broadband antennas are used to provide the signal coverage and access points are used solely to provide capacity, which in turn allows the clustering of access points in secure telecom closets. (In a typical Wi-Fi installation, access points are scattered throughout the enterprise too provide adequate signal coverage, even in areas of light usage, according to the company, and are mounted high on ceilings and walls, making them “burdensome to maintain.”) In contrast, the ability to cluster access points through use of the MA-850 results in greater cost efficiencies in terms of maintenance, as well as improved security, MobileAccess said.

TPL adds RF power Amplifier

TPL Communications has added the Smart RXR to the RXR Series of continuous-duty RF power amplifiers. The Smart RXR adds the following features, according to TPL: controlled output levels, amplifier protection, local failure monitoring and outputs for remote monitoring. The Smart RXR will accept any of TPL’s standard amplifiers from VHF low band through 960 MHz, with output levels of up to 125 watts, and fits into a 7-inch vertical rack space. Like the standard RXR, it is designed for installation into a cabinet, leaving sufficient room for airflow with the door closed, according to the company. It also has a circuit breaker/on-off switch and five LED indicators located on the front panel with a self-contained switching power supply.

Editor’s note: This item originally appeared in MRT, July 2004, page 54, but the copy was for another TPL product. MRT regrets the error.