We have mapped the various combinations of chambers and positioners to cover this. An overview is given in the images below, or you can download the complete overview here.

HOWEVER: Far-field distance is only a part of the picture when choosing the anechoic chamber size. An anechoic chamber with the wrong depth-to-width ratio can make your measurements worse than expected due to wavelength vs. absorber size vs. incident angles. They all play a dominant role when selecting the appropriate chamber size.

If you are unfamiliar with this, contact us to discuss your specific application. We have spent time investigating these phenomenons and can guide you to the right solution.

No, we don’t. All threaded inserts are on the the outside of the absorbers. It is safe from a measurement perspective since they will not cause stray reflections to disturb measurements. The reason is that the absorbers are shielding twice: If you have a signal strong enough to penetrate a ~50dB attenuating mmWave absorber, the reflected signal would then need to re-enter through the same ~50dB absorber to disturb the measurement, but the signal attenuation would now be ~100dB.

We deliver reference code written in Python and MatLab. Both versions are similar in structure and take care of driving the measurement loops. The code is easy to modify since much of the complexity is in the underlying intelligent motor controller. The controller provides signals for AZ, EL, ROLL and will handle acceleration, resolution, homing sequence, and so forth. Furthermore, the controller works in absolute coordinates, so an “AZ5.5 EL4.5 ROLL90” instruction will take you to that location, no matter the positioner’s current position. The controller keeps track of it all, so you don’t have to count pulses in software. It’s all embedded in the controller.

It gets better: The motor system has the electronics built onto the stepper motor, so the motor itself only needs 24V, a direction signal (DIR), and step pulses (STEP). You can use any inexpensive GPIO module from your PLC provider of choice, whether it is National Instruments, Allen-Bradley, or Beckoff. Finally, all three motors have a closed-loop feedback encoder system built-in in the motor. It runs autonomously, so you don’t need to deal with pulse-counting or closed-loop control in your PLC.

We have selected the very best in the market, and they are more effective and rated to higher frequencies than any other.

The absorber specs are met at the Factory Acceptance Test in the blue-painted appearance. You will find our absorber specifications here.

Yes, it is key to a structurally strong design.

First of all, we make positioners in large sizes, so it is vital to have a strong design, even under heavy payloads. Our investments in in-house production on our own CNC equipment give us that benefit. Further advantages are that we can design and produce any size positioner or custom chamber, large aluminum structures, large NRL arcs for reflectivity measurements, and so forth.

Second, apart from the strength, you need a precise manufacturing process to deliver high precision. CNC machining is accurate and provides very low and repeatable tolerances in plastic and even lower in aluminum. Combined with high-end rotational platforms, we can deliver high-quality products. 

We are not shying away from 3D printing and use it where applicable as a vital tool in our manufacturing toolbox. For example, we use 3D-printed PET and ABS for the AC1120 and AC888 chamber hinges and clamps, cable holders, and general beautification parts for the DUO positioners.

Stepper resolution tells you how fine resolution you can rotate the stepper but gives you no information of the positioner’s precision.

There could be many reasons that suppliers do it this way: Either they work in an application field where it’s not important because customers don’t care about it. Or, maybe they haven’t spent time mapping out the precision. Or, perhaps they did spend time mapping out the precision but didn’t like what they realized.

You can always ask the supplier about repeatable precision if you don’t find it on their website.

We have large ( > 1”) through-holes in the elevation axis for cabling, and the DUO5 axle is scaled to host a waveguide rotary joint if required. The azimuth platform is similarly well-proportioned for cabling.

If you need a slipring because your application requires continuous rotations, the DUO5 comes standard with a 12-channel slipring, where you will have 6 channels available. You can use this for power and signaling with your DUT or use them for a 3^rd axis ROLL system mounted on the DUT plate.

Email us if you need more information on slip rings or the ROLL system for the DUO5.  

Absolutely, a large part of our sales is in the US. Our desktop chambers AC888 and AC1120 and all our UNO and DUO positioners are packaged to be shipped by air. AC1224 walk-in chambers can ship by air as well, but they usually ship by sea transport.

Chambers and positioners ship under a Harmonized Tariff Code (a.k.a. HS / HTS / USHTS number) which is duty-exempt (0%) in most global trade agreements.

If you are US-based, you may have to pay state tax as per the state requirements. If you are in the EU, no duties or taxes are involved when buying from us.

Sometimes, local US customs charge an inspection and handling fee of 100-150$, depending on state rules and regulations.

We offer ExWorks (EXW) and Delivery At Place (DAP) shipments, following Incoterms 2020.

When we ship DAP, we will get a price from our preferred shipper, and the price will be included in our total quoted price. We will then handle the shipping process and ensure it is shipped to your location.

We also ship EXW, especially for large customers with their own shipping departments, which arrange the shipping procedure.

Time intervals below do not cover manufacturing. For lead times, please contact us.

For EU customers

Positioners are delivered in a week or less using courier shipment.

The desktop chambers AC888  and AC1120 and the walk-in chambers AC1224 are delivered using land transport. Northern and Central Europe typically receive them within one week, and Southern Europe within two to three weeks.

For US customers

Positioners are delivered in a week, or less, using courier shipments.

Desktop chambers AC888  and AC1120 are delivered by airfreight within two weeks, usually closer to one week.

Walk-in chambers AC1224 are normally delivered by sea transport. Depending on the arrival port, handling and the subsequent land transport, we typically see delivery between 4 and 8 weeks. Contact us for a quote including shipping.

Yes! They were designed for field network installers in the first place, so absolutely optimized for outdoor use: The Spectrum Compact series is weatherproof ( IP54 ), they use a resistive touch screen so they can be operated with gloves on, they run for 3-4 hours on battery and records data in internal memory to eliminate the need for a connected PC.

The V-band and E-band Spectrum Analyzers are delivered with V-band or E-band antenna; Universal power supply 5.9 VDC; Micro USB to 3.5mm cable for audio; Micro USB cable for data; Water and shockproof case; Lanyard and PC software. 

The Spectrum Compact 24-40 GHz ships with RF 2.92mm cable, AC/DC USB-C charger, Leather bag, USB-C – USB-C Cable, USB-A – USB-C adapter, Lanyard, Waveguide adapters 24-33 GHz and 26-40 GHz, and PC software. 

We came across this video review quite recently: Shahriar from “The Signal Path” is an expert within his field and knows what he is looking for, and he is smitten with the performance and quality delivered by the Spectrum Compact Series from SAF Tehnika.

The overview of the instruments start at 03 min 15 sec:

SAF mm-Wave Spectrum Compact 56 – 67GHz Portable Analyzer Review, Teardown & Experiments

Did you there is a Spectrum Compact app for Apple iPhone to give you a feel for the touch-based User Interface? Try out the functionality with this new emulator, download it directly from the Apple App Store: http://bit.ly/_SAFAppStore