14 January 2016

Advantech Wireless releases lighter block upconverter for SATCOM manpack terminals

Advantech Wireless Inc of Montreal, Canada (which manufactures satellite, RF equipment and microwave systems) has released a lightweight, more powerful gallium nitride (GaN)-based block upconverter (BUC) suitable for SATCOM manpack defense and security deployments.

The integrated 16W/20W BUC includes power supply, phase-locked oscillator, mixer, filter and cooling mechanism, together weighing less than 2.6kg (5.5lb). The weatherproof hub-mounted units are claimed to be the smallest fully integrated units on the market.

The smaller, lighter and more powerful 16W/20W in Ku- and extended Ku-band GaN-based BUC can support manpack and fly-away terminals for tactical and ruggedized industrial applications. Used in remote and extreme environmental locations, these critical terminals provide quick and secure critical communications support for in-theater, intelligence gathering, surveillance, defense and homeland security applications in harsh environments.

"The mobile satellite market, including portable manpack terminals, demands smaller and higher-efficiency BUCs, while maintaining a high linear output power availability," says Cristi Damian, VP business development. With a design based on Advantech Wireless' industry-proven GaN-based solid-state high-power amplifiers, the new units achieve a 40% reduction in size and energy consumption compared with the firm's previous generation of Ku-band BUCs. "The use of high-reliability GaN technology, high-efficiency power supply and conservative thermal designs contribute to the trouble-free operation of the unit," says Damian. "With low weight and size, comes also a high degree of versatility and user friendliness," he adds.

The units can cover both the standard 14.0-14.5GHz band or the extended Ku-band band of 13.75-14.5GHz by simply activating an external hardware switch. "This universal approach reduces inventory cost and operating expense," concludes Damian. 

Tags: GaN HEMT

Visit: www.advantechwireless.com