Test & Measurement: 300-MHz PC Single/Dual-Frequency Synthesizer Boards Pinch Pennies

April 26, 2004

The Synth300S and Synth300D are 1- to 300-MHz single/dual-channel direct digital synthesis (DDS) PC cards that come economically priced at $1495/$1995, respectively. Each is separately programmable in increments of about 0.223 Hz. Besides single- and dual-tone generation (500 mV into 50 Ω), they can be used to generate frequency-swept signals with user-defined sweep rates. Also, by utilizing the four independent user-defined frequency/phase profiles associated with each synthesizer card, frequency and/or phase-modulated waveforms (FSK, PSK) can be generated and controlled by software or external hardware. Delivery is within 30 days.

Furaxa Inc. www.furaxa.com (925) 253-2969

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.