Overview

Pendulum PFA-127 is a revolutionary new concept for CW & Pulsed RF Power & Frequency analysis up to 27 GHz. Replace a Peak/Average power meter and a Frequency Analyzer in one single instrument.

Track frequency and Power vs. time in parallel on the graphic screen, for trend or modulation analysis, with high resolution up to 20 MSa/s.

PFA-127 features zero dead-time gap-free measurements, and includes also an outstanding 2-Ch. 400 MHz Time Interval Analyzer with down to 14 ps resolution (7 ps optional).

New analysis features for Microwave R&D

The PFA-127 brings new capabilities to microwave signal analysis by combining simultaneous frequency and power measurements with sample intervals down to 50 ns. Its wide 27 GHz analysis bandwidth makes it ideal for characterizing fast frequency-hopping signals and complex modulation formats, including FM, PWM, FSK, BPSK, and AM.

For pulsed RF applications, the PFA-127 provides real-time analysis of pulse width, PRI, frequency, and power, including pulse-to-pulse variations. Gap-free measurements ensure that no events are missed, while the 20 MSa/s measurement speed enables detailed modulation-domain analysis and visualization of fast signal changes.

The integrated dual-channel 400 MHz baseband analyzer shares the same time scale as the RF measurements, making it possible to correlate baseband events with RF signal behavior and analyze both simultaneously.

Save Money in Production Test

The PFA-127 helps reduce both equipment costs and test times by combining a high-performance 27 GHz microwave frequency analyzer and RF power meter in a single instrument. Replace two separate instruments with one and save cost and space. Or replace significantly more expensive test equipment like Spectrum Analyzers, while still performing simultaneous power and frequency measurements.

In addition, the PFA-127 can perform two parallel frequency measurements, allowing simultaneous verification of a baseband signal up to 400 MHz and an RF signal up to 27 GHz,  on channel C.

High-speed connectivity further improves test system efficiency, supporting block measurements of up to 170k samples/s, helping reduce overall test time and increase throughput.

Main features and Specifications

• Multi-function Microwave Power & Frequency Analyzer with one RF input up to 27 GHz and two independent 400 MHz inputs, featuring parallel timestamping on all channels.
• Simultaneous analysis of CW, modulated, and pulsed RF signals.
• Measurement speed of up to 20 million measurements per second (20 MMeas/s).
• Time resolution down to 7 ps per timestamp with the optional high-resolution upgrade.
• Frequency resolution of up to 13 digits/s using statistical resolution enhancement.
• Power resolution of 0.01 dB with a 1 μs gate time.
• Typical RF power accuracy of ±0.5 dB (2σ) for CW signals from 1.5 GHz to 15 GHz; ±0.8 dB (2σ) across the full frequency range, at room temperature.
• Software-upgradable RF frequency range from 15 GHz to 20 GHz and 27 GHz, protecting your investment and enabling future expansion.
• Choice of standard TCXO or optional high-stability and ultra-high-stability OCXO timebases.
• Standard Ethernet and USB connectivity, WLAN support via external USB Wi-Fi adapter, and optional GPIB interface.
• Graphical user interface with numeric, trend, modulation, distribution, and Allan deviation (ADEV) displays.
• Operation via 5-inch color touch screen, USB mouse, or integrated web interface for local and remote access.

Easy-to-understand Graphical Presentation

One of the great features of the PFA-127 is the graphic display with its multiple views. Measurement values are presented both numerically and graphically, and both RF Frequency and RF Power are displayed simultaneously.

The graphical presentation of results (distribution, modulation, trends, live ADEV) gives a much better understanding of the nature of signal stability, or instability. It also provides you with a much better view of changes vs time, from slow drift to fast modulation. The same data set can be viewed in Numerical, Distribution, and Trend view modes. It is very easy to capture and toggle between views of the same data set. A zoom and pan function with cursor read-out further enhances analysis.

Flexible Configuration and Effortless Operation

The PFA-127 is designed to grow with your requirements, allowing you to match performance and budget without compromising future flexibility. Users can choose between TCXO, high-stability OCXO, and ultra-high-stability OCXO timebases, while the standard 15 GHz model can be upgraded to 20 GHz or 27 GHz at any time through software license keys.

Additional software options include enhanced 7 ps resolution, a pulse generator, TIE measurements for jitter and wander analysis, Frequency Offset measurements for simplified frequency calibration, and ADEV graphing for oscillator stability characterization.

The intuitive color touch screen, mouse support, and integrated web interface make operation simple in both laboratory and production environments, while intelligent Auto Set functions help optimize measurement settings automatically.

For remote and automated applications, the PFA-127 offers Ethernet, WLAN, USB, and optional GPIB connectivity, enabling users to control the instrument, access measurement data, and monitor performance locally or remotely from anywhere in the world.