R. A. Wood Associates QuickNews

New Version 1.3f of RFPathAnalysisToolki Available

Hello Everybody!

We've just uploaded a new version 1.3f of RF Path Analysis Toolkit. This new version contains several minor fixes and several new features:

• Excel messages (save file before closing. etc.) are now displayed after RF Path Analysis Toolkit is closed. Excel messages are suppressed while RF Path Analysis Toolkit is running. Previously when RF Path Analysis Toolkit was closed, Excel messages were still being suppressed causing updated Excel files to possibly not be saved (no warning to save file before closing).
• You can now include a custom description to the Simple Transmission Line component. This allows the user to create quick RF parts (cables, pads, equalizers, etc) and label them without having to take time to add components to the RF Component Library. The custom description information is saved in the RF Path file.
• The registration process has been modified. Hopefully it is simpler and more robust.
• The Template Analysis Spreadsheet and the RF Component Library have been modified slightly to make custom changes to these files easier to implement:
• Custom changes to the library (such as more parameters) are more robust. The database grows as more columns are added.
• Custom changes to the Template Analysis Spreadsheet are simpler. A new button on the Settings panel will create an unprotected Template Analysis Spreadsheet for customizing (for registered users).
• The "About" screen now shows the RF Path Analysis Toolkit logo and software version number

The software can be downloaded for our Software Products Page. Give it a try and let us know what you think! Bob Wood

New Computer Automated RF Test Station developed and delivered

We designed and developed a Computer Automated RF Test Station for one of our customers. The Computer Automated RF Test Station is capable of testing 4 different RF and RF/digital modules, but is flexible enough to test many possible RF modules. The Test Stations were built and tested at R. A. Wood Associates. Computer automated test software was also developed to test the 4 different modules using LabVIEW. RFSpecTest was used in a "scripted" mode to perform all RF tests. More information about the Computer Automated RF Test Station is available at this link.

New scripting features built into RFSpecTest!

This year we added some major enhancements to our "off the shelf" computer automated RF test software suite. RFSpecTest, which was originally designed to work in a laboratory environment through a user interface, has now successfully been made "script-able". This means that all tests you can perform through the user interface in a lab environment can now be performed in an automated test environment. RFSpecTest can be called as a dll to perform all tests (gain, intermodulation products, gain compression, relative isolation, leakage and spurious, etc) from LabVIEW or other programming environments. All test setup parameters can be created and validated in the RFSpecTest user interface. Let us know if you would like additional information (315-735-4217). Thanks! Bob Wood

New Leakage/Spurious Test added to RFSpecTest

Hello Everybody. We've added a new RF test to RFSpecTest. Now you can perform Leakage/Spurious measurements in addition to Gain, Gain Compression, Intermodulation Products, Relative Attenuation and Isolation, and Amplitude/Frequency Tests. The Leakage test allows the capability to search frequency bands, with options to skip around the carrier and harmonics, and find the highest spurious or leakage product in the search band. Applications include mixer spurious tests, receiver or transmitter spurious tests, receiver or local oscillator leakage tests. Please call us (315-735-4217) if you would like more information. Thanks! Bob Wood

TunerHelper Update Released 2/1/2005

Hello Everybody,
We uploaded a small maintenance update to TunerHelper. If you downloaded TunerHelper between Jan 27, 2005 and Feb 1, 2005, you should download and re-install Tunerhelper. This short interim version was missing the menus on the "Define Preselection Filter" panel. This was corrected in the version uploaded on Feb 1st. The upgrade is free. The current SpurFinder/TunerHelper installation file is RAWood_Installer3_7e.exe, and can be downloaded by following the links from our Software products page.

Flash Demo Added for TunerHelper

We are continuing to add Flash tutorials for our software products. This should help reduce the learning curve for our products. We have created another quick tutorial for TunerHelper. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

TunerHelper 2.2 Released

Hello Everybody

We've released an upgrade to TunerHelper Version 2.2. This upgrade adds some minor interface improvements. The front panel buttons now work smoother, and the pre-selection and post-selection filter panels and controls now work better. Any registered users can download and upgrade to Version 2.2 for free.

The software can be downloaded from our software products page: www.rawood.com/software_products.

Special note: if you downloaded this program (RAWood_Installer3_6.exe) between Dec 08, 2004 and today (Jan 25, 2005), you may find interface problems when the pre-selection and post-selection filter panels are selected. We strongly recommend downloading this new version, which fixes this problem.

Please let us know what you think about this upgrade. Thanks again! Bob Wood

Join our New Contact/Mail List

We've added a new web-based contact/mail list manager (PHPlist). You can now subscribe to several lists:

• RF and Microwave Software Products
• RF And Microwave Courses
• R. A. Wood Associates GuestBook

The web-based form allows each person to subscribe, unsubscribe, and update their contact information directly on-line. Your e-mail address is validated by your replies to the subscription. Here are the links, if you want us to keep you posted on new developments at R. A. Wood Associates:

• Subscribe
• UnSubscribe
• Update Contact Information

Your contact information will not be made available to any third parties.

We are adding Flash demonstrations of our software products

We are starting to add Flash tutorials for our software products. This should help reduce the learning curve for our products. So far we have created a quick tutorial for SpurFinder, and for the RF Path Analysis Toolkit Main Panel. Stay tuned for more updates!

SpurFinder 3.2 Released

We've made some improvements to SpurFinder and have released version 3.2. The new release improves some of the user interfaces, making it easier to adjust frequencies without stopping the program. We've also eliminated Run and Stop buttons. The whole spurious search process should be smoother and simpler. The new version can be downloaded from our software products page. Upgrades are free from versions 2.x and up. Just download the new version and install onto your computer. Your current registration will still work.

Painless Extraction 1.4 Released

Hello Everybody! We've updated Painless Extraction to Version 1.4. This version adds a few interface improvements with the Agilent 8720 and 8510 Series Network Analyzers. We also added a control to "Hide Frequencies" on the Data Analysis Panel. This is helpful in areas where displaying actual frequencies could be "sensitive". Give it a try and let us know what you think. Thanks! Bob Wood

RF Path Analysis Toolkit now available!

We have released a "beta" version of our RF Path Analysis Toolkit environment. You can download and try a trial version at our Software Products page. This program will allow RF designers to use Excel spreadsheets to analyze RF paths (Cascade Analysis). Some of the features are:

• Use Excel "template" spreadsheets to perform RF path analysis (1 template included)
• Analyze noise figure, gains, signal levels, third order intercept points, any other parameters for any RF paths
• Use Excel "library" spreadsheet for organizing a database of RF components
• A preliminary RF component library is included with 100's of parts to start with
• The program is built with a LabVIEW user interface, controlling Excel where needed
• Load and save RF paths and parameters from text files

The program allows the flexibility to develop different template spreadsheets and libraries, but eliminates problems associated with modifying Excel spreadsheets for each unique RF path. This program works best for designers who would like to build up an RF component library, and analyze several to many RF paths using common database of library parts.

RF Path Analysis Toolkit Coming Soon

We are very close to releasing a "stable" beta version of our RF Path Analysis Toolkit environment. This will allow engineers to create RF path (cascade) analysis spreadsheets to analyze their RF and microwave designs. The program uses library files, RF path files, and template spreadsheets within a LabVIEW user interface to create an full RF path analysis environment. Please stop by again soon to download and try out this new software package.

We've added a new Software Support Forum

We've added a new Software Support Forum, where you can post questions or help contribute your expertise for our various software products. We are looking forward to watching this grow and enhance our software user community. Try it out at http://support.rawood.com!

We've uploaded a correction to PathLossSolver (Version 1.1h)

Some people had trouble installing PathLossSolver on their computer. We've added a revised version (1.1h) of the program that should be easier to install. Go to our software download page for the latest updates. Thanks for your patience!

We've released an upgrade to SpurFinder (Version 3.1g)

We've added a few improvements to SpurFinder Version 3.1g. Some of the improvements are:

• In the demo version, the LO can now be adjusted to 16.0 +/-0.25, which will allow the user to see some of the input and output frequency tracking features
• The "Sliding Input Frequencies, Fixed Output Frequencies" and "Fixed Input Frequencies, Sliding Output Frequencies" controls now work for both up and down conversions, high and low side LO's (all combinations)
• The filename for the current spur scenario is displayed on the front panel for better documentation of results
• This is a free upgrade to users of Version 3.0 and above

Fonts updated in all software programs (Windows XP users)

For some Windows XP users, the fonts used in our software programs were not available in Windows XP, causing the front panel fonts to be substituted with other fonts. This caused some displays to become overcrowded. The newer versions use a font that is available in all Windows versions. You can download the newer versions if you have had trouble with the front panel display fonts. Go to our software download page for the latest updates

New Software Program Painless Extraction Version 1.3e now available

We have released a new version of Painless Extraction. New features include:

• The capability to extract S-parameters from Agilent (HP) 8510, 8720 and 8753 Network Analyzers!
• The capability to load and save files in ".S2P" (Touchstone) format
• Improved and simplified user interface
• A great way to view S2P files!

Painless Extraction will allow users to extract S-parameters from Network Analyzers, and save the data into S2P files. S-parameters can be retrieved from the Network Analyzer or from saved S2P data files for data analysis. Data analysis is performed on the selected S-parameters, providing statistics such as average, min, max, RMS, standard deviation, P-P flatness, best fit line (BFL) curve fit, slope of BFL, P-P variation from BFL, and more. The current program works for Agilent 8720, 8510, and 8753 models. A must for anyone using a Network Analyzer!

New Software Releases with integrated payment and registration!

We've updated our software products to improve the payment and registration process. You can now pay for registration directly through PayPal, E-mail, or using a WWW form. This feature is built in to the software programs. The User Name and Registration Key are sent to us electronically. After payment is confirmed, we will send you a Registration Number electronically via E-mail. This should make the whole payment and registration process smoother and simpler.

TunerHelper Version 2.1e for PC is now available

Version 2.1e adds new features, including:

• The capability to analyze and predict spurious products up to 20R X 20L order
• Increased efficiency of program, spurious products are calculated and plotted up to 50% faster
• Added Cancel Button to Preselection Filter, Mixer, and Post Selection Filter panels
• Moved save and open commands to the File Menu.

A new program to help in designing a receiver or transmitter frequency conversion. Specify input filters, mixers, and output filters, and see all the signals and spurious products in your design! The trial PC and Macintosh versions are available for download.

SpurFinder Version 3.1e for PC is now available

Version 3.1e adds new features, including:

• The capability to view spurious products up to 20R X 20L order
• Added "Conversion Mode" selection to allow input or output frequencies to "slide" with LO frequency
  • "Sliding Input Frequencies" - Used for fixed IF down conversions or
  • "Sliding Output Frequencies" - Used for fixed input up conversions
• Moved save and open commands to the File Menu.

This program will help a designer to analyze the spurious products in any frequency conversion scheme (up or down conversion). The trial version of the PC and Mac versions are ready for download.

PathLossSolver Version 1.1k, a NEW Software Product for Calculating the RF Signal Level at a Distance from a Transmitter - available now!

We have released a new software product called PathLossSolver. This program calculates the one-way path loss from a transmitter to a receiver. Calculate receiver sensitivities vs range from a transmitter. Lots of pull-down menus, and a great user interface. Check it out! The latest version (1.1k) is a minor upgrade, eliminating the close boxes on the transmitter and receiver loss panels.