So why is a famous name like M/A-COM making VME-based microwave tuners instead of handheld police radios? Our guess is because “that’s where the money is” (with apologies to bank robber Willie Sutton). VME is ideally suited to rugged, mission-critical systems, and that’s where the M/A-COM TU-6401 low-power SIGINT microwave tuner is aimed. The onboard oscillator is ideal for stand-alone VME systems in beamforming, direction finding, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and other EW applications.
The two-slot 6U combo provides outputs at 160 MHz (100 MHz b/w) and 1 GHz (500 MHz b/w) and provides simultaneous narrowband and wideband IF. Input frequencies span 0.5 to 18 GHz in 500 MHz steps with noise rated at 12 dB (typ.). Sweep speed is less than 100 microseconds with a step tune speed under 5 microseconds for any step size. Weighing under 7 pounds and boasting a customizable onboard FPGA, the front-end tuner and digital down converter provides a highly credible entry into the VME radio market.