Latest new products - News Briefs

Communications News, May, 2000

Optical switching

ALL-OPTICAL LIQUID CRYSTAL SWITCHES deliver faster switching times than alternatives that must rely on moving mechanical components. The WaveWalker N-1x2 Multi-Module Switch provides all-optical switching for fiber-optic networks and can be configured as a 2-,4- and 8-1x2 optical switch. Featuring a liquid crystal-based design, the switch provides low insertion loss of 1.0-1.5 db, low polarization dependent loss (PDL), low crosstalk over temperature and wavelength, and a small form factor. All WaveWalker components come equipped with intelligent control and telemetry signaling for complete functional control and continuous health and status monitoring. Applications for the WaveWalker N-1x2 Multi-Module include dual ring protection, add/drop network reconfiguration, and field test equipment multiplexing.

--SpectraSwitch

www.spectraswitch.com

Circle 328 for more information

Worldwide cellular

ONE WORLDWIDE MOBILE PHONE NUMBER allows businesspeople to stay in touch no matter where they are. Nextel announces Nextel Worldwide, providing customers one phone, one number, worldwide cellular service. Nextel Worldwide is a dual-mode iDEN/GSM 100% digital wireless service in the U.S. and 65 other countries. Customers can now make and receive wireless calls worldwide for one flat rate based on the area they are in. Nextel Worldwide will be available with the i2000 phone from Motorola that also works with additional services like Nextel's digital two-way radio feature and text/numeric paging.

--Nextel Communications, Inc.

www.nextel.com

Circle 332 for more information

Cool and powerful

CHASSIS PROVIDES EXTREME POWER AND COOLING performance for high-density digital test boards. The Tracewell HPC VXI system is designed for high-channel-count test systems and comes with either single or dual power modules to supply up to 4KW. High-volume cooling fans remove up to 200 watts of heat from each of the chassis 13 slots. The rack has a low profile design, taking up only 10U of rack space. Multipoint temperature, voltage, and fan monitoring provides front panel status of vital functions and shuts down the system in case of faults. Unit can be remotely monitored and has the ability to notify the user of a past voltage fault, even if it returns to formal. Cooling and power modules utilize a rear access plug-in design to reduce replacement time. The Tracewell HPC VXI is plug-and-play compliant for one- and two-tier receivers, and compatible with many Teradyne digital test instruments.

--Tracewell Systems, Inc.

www.tracewell.com

Circle 333 for more information

Radio power meter

RUGGED DIGITAL POWER METER offers ease of use in remote power in both analog and digital RF system. The Model 5000 Thruline digital power meter from Bird Electronic Corp. features rugged construction and rechargeable NiMH battery for field use. Intuitive menus and five speed keys that initiate common functions simplify use. The Model 5000 utilizes an external power sensor with sockets that accept Bird AMP series elements. Power measurements of .1-10,000 watts can be made in digital or RF systems operating at .45-3,600 MHz. Accuracy of measurement is /-5% and is displayed in large 5/16" numerals and a 20 segment bar graph. A secondary numeric display on the screen allows a technician to view two measurements at once (e.g., forward power and reflected power can both be displayed at the same time). Weighing only 4 lbs. it is 8"Hx4-5/8"Wx1-3/4"D.

--Bird Electronic Corp.

www.bird-electronic.com

Circle 334 for more information

Visual RF planning

GET RF COVERAGE PREDICTION, interference analysis, frequency management, and equipment layout facilities to handle in-building and campus-wide wireless deployments. As an easy-to-use computer-aided design system, SitePlanner provides accurate prediction of campus and indoor system performance, and maintains a complete project parts list and bill of materials. CAD drawings, scans, and plans sketched on a PC can be imported to provide a model of the test environment. Three-dimensional modeling allows network designers to "see" network performance and allows the results of equipment location changes to be viewed quickly. SitePlanner instantly analyzes in-building and microcellular coverage in real-time as the mouse pointer becomes a transmitter or receiver on the forward or reverse link. All measurements, models, part lists, and predictive models are available in an open, well defined, ASCII tab-delimited file format to provide compatibility with any other tool. The system is Internet enabled to allow the transfer of measured data, drawings, parts lists, and RF models to other locations.

--Wireless Valley Communications, Inc.

www.wvcomm.com

Circle 338 for more information

What time is it?

SHARE ACCURATE TIME throughout your Ethernet network. The new Network Time Provider Model 8189 from Spectracom Corp. has both an Ethernet interface and the industry standard NetClock RS-232 and RS-485 time code outputs for non-networked devices. Time and attendance systems, voice recorders, and alarm and video systems all benefit from synchronized accurate time. Accurate to within 100 microseconds of UTC anywhere on Earth, the Model 8189 derives its time from up to eight satellites simultaneously. The unit includes a window-mount GPS antenna, 50' of coaxial antenna cable, and an SMA connector. It operates in temperature ranges of -30 to 80 [degrees] C and is only 2"Hx6"Wx7"D.