Digital Step Attenuator
Ranatec offers Digital Step Attenuator systems and modules that covers all mobile frequency bands and gives a calibrated attenuation range of more than 90 dB in steps of 0.25 dB, and offers both serial and parallel control logic.
Ranatec’s digital attenuators are used to accurately and reliably set RF-signal levels, either as an integral part of an in-service RF-solution or as part of a wireless test automation system. Applications span multiple industries and technologies.
Ranatec has developed a range of wireless test automation products, enabling accurate and efficient test and verification of RF and microwave subsystems, products and solutions. The Ranatec test automation procuct range contains both general pupose instruments as well as solutions tailored to customer specific demands and are used for design validation and verification, homologation and certification as well as production testing and in-service monitoring.
High precision, general purpose, 4-channel, RF digital Attenuator
Features
- Four individually controlled RF channels
- Attenuation setting through web-interface or API
- 100 MHz to 8 GHz frequency range
- Attenuation steps of 1 dB
- Each channel individually calibrated
- 20 to 110 dB attenuation range (up to 6 GHz)
- 0.5 dB attenuation accuracy (up to 6 GHz)
- 2 W maximum input power
Specification
- Supply voltage: 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
- Power consumption: < 40 W
- Operating frequency: 100 MHz – 8 GHz
- Impedance: 50 Ohm
- Input power (max): +33 dBm
- Max DC at RF inputs: 0 VDC
- Return loss: >10 dB (any port)
- Attenuation step size: 1 dB
- Attenuation accuracy: 0.5 dB (up to 6 GHz) 2 dB (6 to 8 GHz)
- Attenuation range: 20 to 110 dB @ 0.1-6 GHz 24 to 100 dB @ 6-8 GHz
- X-channel isolation: <110 dB
- Operating temp: +5oC to +45oC
- Storage temp: -20oC to +70oC
- Relative humidity: 95% at +40oC
- Dimensions: 450x133x320 mm
- Weight: 5.5 kg
- Connectors: 50 ohm SMA(F)
(front or rear mounted)
Overview
The Ranatec Digital Attenuator Box 100 MHz – 8 GHz, 1 U, is a high performance, digitally controlled, 4-channel RF attenuator system. It is intended for any automated RF testing, where high accuracy signal power control is needed. It offers very good attenuation accuracy, high dynamic range and speed.The high performance of the Digital Attenuator Box 100 MHz – 8 GHz, 1 U, is obtained through a high precision attenuator design, along with extensive factory calibration procedures. Although the nominal setting is done with a 1 dB granularity, the actual attenuation is fed back from the attenuator. For the frequency range up to 6 GHz, this yields knowledge of the actual attenuation within +/-0.25 dB.
Control Options
- Web-interface, for manual operations
- Textual (SCPI-like) API
- Binary API
Application
The RI 4410 Digital Step Attenuator is ideal for 8×8 MIMO, 5G LTE, and WiFi 6E automated RF Testing. The Ranatec Step Attenuators are used in applications where it is necessary to continuously vary the level of a signal. The key element in the attenuator is a PIN diode. By controlling the voltage of the PIN diode, a continuously variable level of attenuation can be achieved. The Ranatec Digital attenuators are suitable for wideband applications and have low insertion loss.
The Attenuator Box 100 MHz – 8 GHz, 1 U, is intended for any testing where accurate RF power control is needed over a wide dynamic range. Typical applications include transmitter, receiver as well as system-level testing of mobile, WLAN and Bluetoth devices:
- During all phases of product development
- For (pre-)conformance testing/homologation
- Production testing / Quality assurance
