The Overview
Empower RF Systems’ model 2237 is a high-performance, liquid-cooled, pulsed transmitter operating from 1 to 2 GHz. The unit is the latest variation of the company’s Gen3 platform and is designed for maximum waveform flexibility.
Who Needs It & Why?
The model 2237 transmitter is configured for applications in L-band radar, test, and electronic warfare, further solidifying Empower RF’s solid-state, high-power, liquid-cooled, L-band product lineup. For those seeking an upgrade path as future transmit power needs evolve, the unit’s modern architecture provides scalability through adding hardware to the existing system.
Under the Hood
Arrangement of the model 2237 comprises a system controller in a 3U 19-in. rack unit and 16 hot-swappable 2U amplifier drawers. Each amplifier drawer contains an integrated power supply in its 2U chassis; there's no separate system-level power supply. As a result, risk of an RF section or single power-supply failure taking the entire amplifier offline is eliminated. In the event of an RF pallet or PA booster failure, there’s only a fractional reduction of output power and the amplifier system remains on air.
These Fast Field Replaceable (FFR) drawers (see video below) facilitate hot or muted swapping with a mean time to repair (MTTR) of less than 15 minutes, which yields a system with very high effective mean time between failure (MTBF).
The system delivers what Empower RF calls a breakthrough in complex waveform handling through sophisticated digital input and output RF detection algorithms to measure peak, RMS, and envelope power. Digital processing of the detectors allows capabilities not previously found on COTS pulse amplifiers, including:
- Random pulse widths and duty cycles
- 500-kHz pulse repetition frequencies (PRFs) and 10% duty cycle
- Pulse widths from 200 ns to 500 µs
- Optional droop correction and digitally modulated signals on the pulse carrier