4G: The Fine Print

Thanks to the trade and business press, the Long Term Evolution (LTE) of UMTS networks that is beginning its rollout has been labeled the coming of "4G", that is, the fourth generation of wireless services. However, LTE, as it will be rolled out at 700 MHz in the U.S. is actually not a fourth generation standard. It is rather "3.5 G", which if you've been following wireless standards for awhile won't be unfamiliar, since there has already been 2.5 G, which was earlier called 3G until it couldn't deliver the goods.

Fourth generation services will actually be implemented with LTE-Advanced, which will form Release 10 from the 3rd Generation Partnership Project  (3GPP). LTE-Advanced will add significant features to those of previous releases to produce a true fourth-generation wireless technology with very high data rates. LTE-Advanced came about in 2008 when the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) grouped the features together within IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications)-Advanced. This separated IMT-Advanced from capabilities of digital wireless standards past, which are included under the umbrella of the ITU's original global wireless plan called IMT-2000. The latter includes UMTS/WCDMA, CDMA 20001xRTT and 1xEV-DO, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX, and LTE Release 8.

The data rate requirements of IMT-Advanced (100 Mb/s in high mobility scenarios and 1 Gb/s fixed and low mobility conditions) made it impossible for LTE Release 8 to be considered a true "4G" mobile communication system. So LTE is not officially a 4G technology but is indeed a big step in right direction. LTE-Advanced will be the real show-stopper.

 Trivia Questions 

1. How much time-- in months-- does the average American motorist spend during his lifetime waiting for the red lights to turn green?

2. What great thinker proved a lunar eclipse is the circular shadow of the Earth on the moon?

3. What essential piece of office equipment did Johnann Vaaler invent in 1900?

Greetings {FIRST_NAME},

A Message from Sam Benzacar

  

New Web Sites Make Selecting Our Products Easier Than Ever

We're proud to announce our completely redesigned Web sites - Anatechelectronics.com and AMCrf.com, each one serving a unique purpose. We have worked hard to make these sites as useful and easy to navigate as possible, with more comprehensive technical resources than ever. Let me explain each one to you.

Anatechelectronics.com

Our basic strength at Anatech Electronics is our ability to design and manufacture high-performance, high-quality filters and other products to meet unique sets of specifications from our customers. Anatechelectronics.com is dedicated to these capabilities and is tailored to speed you through the process of specifying filters, duplexers, couplers, circulators, terminations, power dividers/combiners, EMI filters, and many other product types. Armed with this knowledge you can then request a quote from Anatech on the phone, by e-mail, or directly through the Web site. Whatever method you choose, an Anatech representative will contact you immediately to discuss your request for quote. So for custom filters, anatechelectronics.com is the first place to start and the only resource you'll need.

AMCrf.com

For more than 20 years, Anatech Electronics has designed and manufactured thousands of filters, each one with different specifications. Many of the most commonly-requested models are available from our Web store, AMCrf.com, which features standard models available either from stock or with very fast response times, and semi-custom models that can be modified quickly as well. Standard products can be purchased directly from the site using popular credit cards.

We've made it extremely easy to find the filter you're looking for, whether your application is cellular, public safety, WiFi, satcom, radar, or many others. AMCrf.com also has many other Anatech standard products, including duplexers, power dividers/combiners, directional couplers, isolators, circulators, EMI filters, and much more.

Please check out our Web sites and let us know what you think or them (positive or negative) so we can improve them even further.

 

Anatechelectronics.com: Where you'll find custom products, design wizards, tools to help you correctly specify our products, and simple ways to request a quote.

 

AMCrf.com: Our Web store, with hundreds of products at your fingertips that you can buy directly at the site.

If you have any questions regarding our products, or comments on our newsletter, please email us at: filters@anatechelectronics.com  

Featured Products

10 MHz Crystal Notch Filter

The AS10CN801 crystal notch filter has a notch center frequency of 10 MHz, notch bandwidth of 1 kHz, rejection in the notch bandwidth of 80 dB, a low-side passband of 9.8999 to 9.999 MHz, high-side passband of 10.001 to 10.201 MHz, and insertion loss of less than 1.3 dB. The filter's power handling ability is 10 dBm, and it employs SMA female connectors. The AS10CN801 measures 6 x 1 x 1 in. 

16-dB Attenuator Covers Up to 4 GHz 

800 to 2500 MHz Directional Coupler

The AM1650DC838 directional coupler provides 6 dB of coupling with flatness of +/-1 dB from 800 to 2500 MHz with insertion loss of 1.5 dB or less, a VSWR of 1.2:1 or less, and 40 W power handling ability. Directivity is 20 dB, isolation is at least 20 dB, and intermodulation distortion is better than -140 dBc. It uses Type N connectors and measures 4.2 x 1.6 x 0.9 in.

950 to 1450 MHz Circulator

The AM950-1450CIR196 circulator provides isolation of at least 18 dB, insertion loss 0.4 dB or less, VSWR of 1.25:1 or better, and isolation of 18 dB. It operates from 0 to +50 C, handles 50 W CW average and 500 W peak power, and measures 70 x 70 x 22 mm.

All four products are available on our Web store, AMCrf.com.

Answers to last month's Trivia Questions 

1. What M-word did Texas citizens choose as a town name that would "attract" folks? Magnet

2. What country has been the planet's largest aid donor since 1991? Japan

3. What interstate highway connects Boston and Seattle? I-90