PicoSource AS108
Sku: PIC-SOURCE-AS108
Price: R16610,60 incl Vat
PicoSourceAS108 8 GHz Agile Synthesizer
Product Information
PicoSource AS108 Overview
Professional and portable performance at low cost
The PicoSource™ AS108 Agile Synthesizer generates signals to meet the needs of both benchtop and integrated module applications. Its broad 300 kHz to 8 GHz frequency range, fast settling and programmable phase, frequency and amplitude match it to a wide range of applications, with the added advantages of low cost, small footprint and 12 to 15 V power requirement.
The AS108 has professional-grade performance that is effective in both static and parameter-agile applications, making it a bench or field instrument for developers, scientists, educators, students, and service and installation technicians. Its speed, external clock referencing, trigger capabilities and user-programmable power-up mode all suited to system integrations such as automated test, unmanned installations and multi-signal stimulus.
The AS108 is a full-function USB-controlled vector (IQ) modulating signal synthesizer. It is supplied with a clean, easy and efficient user interface for controlling its amplitude, frequency and phase agility; including modulations, sweeps, hopping and list modes from Microsoft Windows. Multiple synthesizers can be controlled from multiple instances of the software running on a single controlling PC or device. Remote control is also possible using the API included.
Specification highlights
- 300 kHz to 8 GHz operation
- –15 dBm to +15 dBm dynamic range
- Fast 55 μs frequency settling time to 10 ppm
- Fast amplitude settling: < 25 μs to 1 dB and < 200 μs to 0.1 dB
- Sweep, hop and list of frequency and level or list phase and level
- −100 dBc/Hz phase noise typical at 1 GHz and 10 kHz offset
Powerful and Capable
- FM, ØM, and AM modulation, internal sine or external input
- External reference clock I/O and trigger I/O
- Use sweep lists to emulate schemes such as QPSK, QAM, ASK, and FSK
- Adjustable dwell and trigger sweep or trigger next point modes
- Work in and convert units of measurement to suit application
- Programming examples for LabVIEW, C, C#, Python, and MATLAB
- Suited to bench, field, and system integration applications
- USB-controlled from a Windows PC, display, or tablet
- Touch, mouse, keyboard, or remote interface software (API included)
- Multi-unit operation with synchronised modulation, sweeps, hops, and lists
- Configurable stand-alone operation mode
- Remote control operation
The PicoSource AS108 is supplied with a DLL that allows you to control the device from C and C-compatible languages and applications such as C++, C#, Python, Keysight VEE, National Instruments LabVIEW, and MathWorks MATLAB.
Download the SDK (go to PicoSource > PicoSource AS108 > Software > PicoSynth 2).
Multiple Device Operation
You can control multiple AS108 signal synthesizers from a single PC by running multiple instances of the PicoSynth 2 software. Each time you start a new instance of PicoSynth 2, it will list all compatible connected devices that are not yet being controlled. You can then select any device in the list for connection.
Demonstration Mode
The “User Interface Demo” device is always available in this list and allows PicoSynth 2 to run for demonstration purposes without a connected device. You can use this mode to try out the software before purchasing a device.
| General | ||
|---|---|---|
| Standard conditions are ambient temperature between 15°C and 30°C, 20 minutes after power-up. |
| Carrier wave | ||||||||||||||
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| Parameter | Applicable range and values | Condition | ||||||||||||
| Frequency range | 300 kHz to 8.192 GHz | |||||||||||||
| Frequency resolution |
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| Frequency settling time |
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to ±10 ppm | ||||||||||||
| Frequency accuracy (internal reference) | ±5 ppm | |||||||||||||
| Output power range | −15 dBm to +15 dBm | |||||||||||||
| Output power resolution | 0.1 dBm | |||||||||||||
| Output power setting accuracy | ±1.5 dB | |||||||||||||
| Output match (VSWR) |
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| Output amplitude settling time |
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| Output protection | 25 V DC pk and 20 dBm | |||||||||||||
| Phase noise at 10 kHz offset |
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Measured phase noise at 1 GHz | |||||||||||||
| Harmonics |
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Output power set to +10 dBm | ||||||||||||
| Sub-harmonics |
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Output power set to +10 dBm | ||||||||||||
| Spurious |
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Output power set to +10 dBm | ||||||||||||
| Sweep, hop and list modes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Parameter | Applicable range and values | Condition |
| Sweep, hop or list parameters | Frequency; level; phase; frequency and level; phase and level | |
| Discrete sweep or list points | 2 to 10 001 (or 2 to 1750 points when saving power-up settings to device) | Hop is a special case of sweep with only two points. |
| Frequency stepping dwell time | 27 to 65 500 µs (or 27 µs to 1750 µs when saving power-up settings to device) | Excepting any step exceeding ±2.2 GHz to or from the frequency band 7.0 GHz to 8.0 GHz, minimum dwell 100 µs. |
| Modulation | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parameter | Applicable range and values | Condition | ||||||
| Frequency range internal sine source | 10 Hz to 5 kHz | |||||||
| Internal modulation sample rate | 37 kS/s | Sampled sideband spurs are generated at 37 kHz offset. At 1 kHz modulation typically < -30 dB relative to sidebands. | ||||||
| Frequency resolution and accuracy | 1 Hz resolution ± 0.1% accuracy | |||||||
| AM depth range |
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| FM deviation | 2% carrier frequency or 200 kHz maximum | |||||||
| PM deviation | ±180° | |||||||
| External modulation input bandwidth | DC coupled to 10 kHz | |||||||
| External modulation input sampling | AM: 125 kS/s FM/PM: 89 kS/s at 12-bit resolution |
Sampled sideband spurs are generated at 125 / 89 kHz offset. At 1 kHz modulation typically < -50 dB relative to sidebands. | ||||||
| External modulation input sensitivity |
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for selected depth or deviation | ||||||
| External modulation input protection | ±5 V DC + AC pk | |||||||
| Synchronization I/O | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internal 10 MHz reference output |
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Into 50 Ω | |||||
| External reference input |
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| External reference lock range |
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| Trigger input threshold voltage |
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| Trigger output logic levels |
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Into 1 kΩ Into 50 Ω |
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| Trigger output rise and fall times |
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Into 50 Ω | |||||
| Trigger in to trigger out delay |
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Gives a lead of 17.5 µs to frequency / phase step, 37.5 µs to a level step. | |||||
| Trigger out to triggered event delay | 17.5 µs typical | Frequency or phase step | |||||
| 37.5 µs typical | Level step | ||||||
| Dwell period holds off (prevents receipt of) a further trigger. | |||||||
| Trigger input protection | ±10 V DC + AC peak | ||||||
| Trigger output protection | ±4 V DC + AC peak | ||||||
| Reference I/O protection | 4 V AC p-p ±15 V DC | ||||||
| Miscellaneous and environmental specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Power requirements | +12 V to +15 V DC, 12 W, 2.1 mm jack, centre pin positive | |
| Control interface | USB 2.0 | |
| Dimensions | W 173 mm x L 232 mm x H 56 mm | Excluding connectors |
| Weight | 1.78 kg | |
| Operating environment | +5°C to +40°C, 80% RH non-condensing, Pollution Degree 2 | |
| Storage environment | −20°C to +50°C, 80% RH non-condensing, Pollution Degree 2 | |
| Vibration tolerance | 0.5 g | 5 Hz to 300 Hz |
| Safety | Declared conforming to: EN61010-1:2010 and EN61010-2-030:2010 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use, general requirements and for testing and measuring circuits. |
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| EMC | Declared conforming to: EN61326-1:2013 Electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use – EMC requirements. Group 1, Class B. (Emissions) EN61326-1:2013 Electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use – EMC requirements. Basic Environment. (Immunity) EN61326-2-1:2013 Part 2-1: Test configurations, operational conditions and performance criteria for sensitive test and measurement equipment for unprotected applications. CFR 47 Code of Federal Regulations FCC: part 15 Subpart B – Frequency devices – unintentional radiators. Radiated emissions standard. Class A. |
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| Warranty | 3 years | |
Recommended Products
| Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Adaptor 18 GHz SMA(f)-N(m) TA314 Recommended |
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Attenuator 3 dB 10 GHz 50 Ω SMA (m-f) TA181 Recommended |
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Attenuator 6 dB 10 GHz 50 Ω SMA (m-f) TA261 Recommended |
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Attenuator 10 dB 10 GHz 50 Ω SMA (m-f) TA262 Recommended |
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Attenuator 20 dB 10 GHz 50 Ω SMA (m-f) TA173 Recommended |
||
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Precision sleeved coaxial cable (30 cm) TA265 Recommended |
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Precision sleeved coaxial cable (60 cm) TA312 Recommended |
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Dual-break torque wrench N-type connector TA358 Recommended |
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Dual-break torque wrench SMA / PC3.5 / K-type TA356 Recommended |
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For more information, please click here
| Resource | Language | Version | Size | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Sheets: | ||||
| PicoSource AS108 Agile Synthesizer Data Sheet | English | 6 | 2 MB | July 13 2020 |
| User’s Guides: | ||||
| PicoSource AS108 Agile Synthesizer User’s Guide | 2 | 4 MB | September 15 2022 | |
| Programmer’s Guides: | ||||
| PicoSource AS108 Agile Synthesizer Programmer’s Guide | English | 2 | 1 MB | October 12 2023 |
| Quick Start Guides: | ||||
| PicoSource AS108 Agile Synthesizer Quick Start Guide | English | 1 | 444 KB | December 18 2018 |
| Declarations: | ||||
| PicoSource AS108 Agile Synthesizer EU Declaration of Conformity | English | 1 | 268 KB | February 22 2019 |