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ACE9600 Series

ACE9600 Series

The Advanced Channel Emulator (ACE) is the most advanced non-terrestrial RF channel emulation solution to date. The emulated impairments include delay, signal Doppler, attenuation, phase offset, AWGN, frequency hopping, payload and multipath fading. The instrument can house up to four 600 MHz instantaneous bandwidth channels. Impairment emulation can be set to fixed values in Static mode, or continuously changed in real time in Dynamic mode without any phase discontinuities.

Specifications

No. of Channels

Inst. Bandwidth

Typ. Noise Floor

Frequency Offset

Attenuation

Delay Range

1, 2, 3 or 4

600 MHz

-141 dBm/Hz

+/- 6.0 MHz

0 to 70 dB

0.007 - 700 ms

 

Features & Benefits

  • 600 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth per channel
  • Timing synchronization up to 16 channels
  • Link Emulation including:
    • Phase continuous delay, Doppler, and attenuation changes
    • AWGN and Eb/No
    • 12 tap (path) multipath fading with Rayleigh, Rician & CW. Angle of Arrival (AOA), k-factor, and correlation controls
    • RF frequency agile up/down converters
  • Payload Emulation including:
    • IMUX/OMUX amplitude and group delay distortion
    • Amplifier Compression (AM/AM and AM/PM)
    • Phase Noise
  • Static and dynamic link emulation
  • Ephemeris data generation using SATGEN
  • Remote instrument control through ACEClient application

Filters

Number of independent ch

Center frequency

1 dB RF bandwidth

Minimum delay per channel

Max delay/ch Full Bandwidth

Max delay/ch Reduced BW

Name Number of independent chCenter frequency1 dB RF bandwidthMinimum delay per channelMax delay/ch Full BandwidthMax delay/ch Reduced BW
ACE9072 1, 2, 3 or 4140MHz or 1125MHz72 MHz20 μs700ms11,200ms
ACE9125 1, 2, 3 or 41125MHz125MHz20 μs700ms11,200ms
ACE9300 1, 2, 3 or 41125MHz300MHz7 μs700ms11,200ms
ACE9600 1, 2, 3 or 41125MHz600MHz7 μs700ms11,200ms

Advanced Channel Emulator (ACE) Client is a comprehensive application that enables the remote control of all ACE functions, graphically displays impairment file contents, and provides wizards for creating custom profiles for payload impairments. The ACE Client also enables signal capture, which generates both time and frequency domain plots of the excitation signal, and the output signal after the application of impairments.

Specifications

Operating System

Minimum Memory

Windows XP or 7

512 MB

Features & Benefits

  • Remote control of all ACE features
  • Signal capture before and after impairments
  • Intuitive wizards to control channel impairments:
    • 128-tap FIR filter
    • AM/AM and AM/PM distortion
    • Phase Noise
  • Ephemeris data generation using SATGEN
  • Timing synchronization up to 16 channels
  • Time-domain visualization of I and Q signal components
  • Convenient ACE impairment file management

dBm’s latest satellite orbit modeling software generates link parameter files formatted specifically for the Advanced Channel Emulator. The new SATGEN offers an enhanced graphical user interface, which easily identifies when transceivers are within the line of sight communication. The transceivers can be programmed to move along a defined path with variable velocity.

 

Specifications

Operating System

Minimum Memory

Windows XP or 7

512 MB

Features & Benefits

  • Automatic generation of ephemeris data for up to 4 channels with up to 8 transceivers in each channel.
  • New sophisticated path loss model includes:
    • Atmospheric gas losses as a function of frequency
    • Temperature
    • Humidity
    • Free space losses
  • Transceiver types:
    • Fixed earth terminals
    • Ground vehicles
    • Ships
    • Aircraft
  • Files generated for:
    • Delay
    • Doppler
    • Path loss

dBm’s ACE plug-in for Ansys Systems Tool Kit (STK)⁽ᵀᴹ⁾ provides a control interface between STK and the Advanced Channel Emulator (ACE). Data parameters generated by STK are automatically implemented in the emulator hardware in real time. When operated in dynamic mode, STK is synchronized with the ACE and the dynamic channel parameters are graphically displayed in the STK control interface. The UI Plugin extends the STK⁽ᵀᴹ⁾ Desktop Application’s user interface by adding a custom toolbar, menu, and control window.

Specifications

Operating System

Prior Software License

Windows XP or 7

Ansys STK

Features & Benefits

  • Static and dynamic modes of link emulation
  • Supported impairments:
    • Delay
    • Frequency offset
    • Attenuation
    • Noise density
Explore more

Related Resources

01

Lunar and Translunar Emulation

In this application note, learn how the ACE9600 enables comprehensive communications system testing in the laboratory environment for renewed space exploration applications.

02

Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)

This article will give an overview of the architectural implementation of MUOS, its current status and an update of the associated satellite RF link emulator test equipment.

03

Maury Microwave & Rohde & Schwarz Solutions for 5G NTN

Read our application note to uncover Rohde & Schwarz and Maury Microwave solutions for testing and validating 5G NTN.

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