1257A0 pages
Astronics Test Systems Inc.
Racal Instruments™
1257A
Scalable RF Interface Unit
The Racal Instruments™ 1257A is a sixth-generation RFIU design with four
Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) options from 1U to 4U. It comes with a new
easy-to-use LXI Core 2011-compliant device and new enhanced features.
Key Features
• User-selectable standard
congurations
• 1U through 4U sizes, in rackmount
or benchtop conguration
• Choice of Dow-Key, Agilent, and/
or Radiall relays with 18, 20, 26.5,
and 40 GHz frequency options in
terminated or unterminated relays
• Choices of switch topology –
SPDT, DPDT, 2xSPDT, 3xSPDT,
SP3T, SP4T, SP6T
• LXI/Ethernet, USB, and GPIB
control interface
• Scalable – Up to 96 switch
channels
• Front-pluggable relays for easy
expandability and replacement in
the eld
• Relay counter
Product Information
The Racal Instruments™ 1257A is a Commercial-Off-The Shelf modular RF interface
unit (RFIU) that can be exibly congured in order to meet specic application
requirements. This unique scalable design
enables you to select from a 1U to 4U size
and specify the number, frequency range
and switch topology of the relays to be
installed by at the factory. Front pluggable
relays with connectors enable easy service
and high density within a small footprint.
The 1257A RFIU offers an LXI interface
based on Ethernet with a discovery and
web-based interface. It incorporates many
high-level software commands for easier
programming and faster development. The
design keeps track of all relay operations
and sets alarms for end of life, so you will
know when they need to be replaced. This
ensures that they won’t fail in service or halt
the production line.
The 1257A COTS RFIU’s offer exible
conguration, modular architecture, and
scalability in order to preclude the need to
design and fabricate a fully custom RFIU
solution for many applications. The benets
of utilizing a COTS solution are lower costs,
faster delivery, and easier replication.
In those rare cases where a standard
1257A is unable to meet specic application requirements, we also offer the
1257A-C, a fully-customized engineered
and fabricated RFIU solution, and the
1257A-D, a complete modular developmental kit that enables you to congure
and self-assemble your RFIU.
Applications for the 1257A
Common applications for the 1257A RFIU
include the testing of communications
equipment in production/installation/
949.859.8999; 800.722.2528; atssales@astronics.com; www.astronicstestsystems.com
Copyright © 2014 Astronics Test Systems Inc.
commissioning and the operational monitoring of RF, Microwave, and radar signals.
It can be used for base station, satellite
antenna, or ATE test applications.
Relays with a frequency range of up 40
GHz can be selected to accommodate a
wide range of signal types. In many cases,
the RFIU is utilized for routing and switching signals from one or more UUT’s or
antennae to different RF test and monitoring equipment such as spectrum analyzers,
frequency counters, and/or power meters.
Easily congured to your application
requirements
In order to cost effectively address the wide
range of application needs, the 1257A
offers a broad range of pre-qualied relays
that can be mixed and matched within the
instrument chassis to suit individual
requirements. The relays are front pluggable with connectors, and are available
in a variety of frequency ranges, and switch
topologies. Terminated or non-terminated
relays, and extended life options are
available.
Easy to Service and Support
Relays may be conveniently installed
or removed from the front of the RFIU,
and a full selection of pre-qualied spare
relays are available for order. Additionally,
relay counters provide visibility when
components reach the end of their
useful service life, enabling preventative
maintenance instead of system downtime.
Easy to Control and Program
The 1257A comes standard with LXI/
Ethernet, USB, and GPIB control
interfaces. A rich SCPI command set
and IVI drivers provide easy integration
and compatibility with almost all software
environments. This new LXI interface is