Model MC-6500 from FEI-Elcom contains two independent frequency-upconverter/downcoverter sections capable of as much as 2-GHz real-time bandwidth from 1 to 18 GHz (and higher, with options). It is well-suited for radar, electronic-warfare (EW), and spectrum-analysis/monitoring applications. The downconversion channels translate signals from 1 to 18 GHz to L-band outputs at a 1.75-GHz center frequency (other L-band frequencies are available as options); the upconversion channels translate the same 1.75-GHz L-band signals to an output frequency range of 1 to 18 GHz. With a built-in antialiasing filter, unwanted signals are rejected by 80 dB. Spurious content is held to typically −60 dBc for both upconversion and downconversion. The frequency downconverters provide 20-dB gain with ±1-dB gain flatness, 15-dB noise figure, and 1-dB input compression point of −5 dBm. The frequency upconverters boast 20-dB gain with ±1.5-dB gain flatness, 15-dB noise figure, and 1-dB compression point of +15 dBm.
The downconverters draw 9 W DC power per channel while the upconverters require 11 W power per channel. The frequency converters control group-delay variations to a mere 4 ns. Options include frequency coverage to 26.5 and 40.0 GHz. Standard units are supplied in a 6U VPX commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) housing, with standalone, ruggedized hermetic enclosures available as an option. Matching dual frequency synthesizers—either PLL or faster DDS sources—in support of the frequency converters are also available as options.
